When 19 year old Charles Brice (2008) jumped on a motorbike to ride with friends on their farm, he never imagined that, within hours, a doctor would tell him he was a quadriplegic. That moment became the catalyst for a remarkable journey that has seen Charles become an accomplished ABC News Breakfast reporter, raise over $300,000 for spinal cord injury research and attempt the unprecedented challenge of handcycling from Perth to Sydney.
Old Scholar Engagement Manager, Will Cutts caught up with Charles to discuss his career at ABC, his record-breaking cycling challenges and the lasting influence of his time at Pembroke.
Congratulations on your success at ABC News Breakfast! What has been the highlight of your journalism career so far?
There’s been a lot of highlights throughout my time with News Breakfast. I’ve been able to interview some high-profile people, go to great events and share amazing stories of everyday people. Being trusted with covering the Paralympics in Paris has been the pinnacle of my career so far. It was incredible to see the city come alive and to watch the best in the world compete in their discipline. I was able to see a number of friends compete, win medals and break world records.
Over long but rewarding days, I would liaise with our other reporter to decide on what each of us would cover, which events we attended and where we would meet for our nightly crosses. Each night we chatted to various programs, recapping Aussie athletes’ successes, interviewing families and telling stories of interest. We finished our days at 1am, ready to do it all again from early in the morning. It was so memorable to do live crosses beneath the Arc de Triomphe, watch the Blind Football Final with the Eiffel Tower draped in the background, and the Equestrian at the Palace of Versailles. I won’t say covering the Games was a once-in-a-lifetime experience because hopefully I’ll be able to do it again.
What do you enjoy most about being a journalist and presenter?
I never wanted to be a ‘journo’, it was never in my plans. But when I was forced to rethink my future, journalism appealed to me. During my time in hospital and rehab after my injury, the news was constantly on TV. I knew it was something I could physically do, and I enjoy writing, so I jumped at the opportunity to enrol in university.
Live TV is always exciting and is what I enjoyed most about being a news presenter. There’s no opportunity for a second take, you’re on show for the nation to see and there’s nowhere to hide when you stuff up. And stuffing up is easy to do, mispronouncing ‘sets’ when talking about tennis, or just completely forgetting what I’m meant to say – I’ve been there.
Outside of the newsroom, you’ve become a passionate handcyclist. How did you first get involved in the sport?
I first got into cycling when a friend of mine wanted to fundraise. The idea was to cycle from the Riverland to Adelaide. I bought the bike without having tried it before, but once I got it, I was hooked. Having a competitive nature, I wanted to compete as well, which has been both rewarding and humbling.
You’ve already raised more than $300,000 for spinal cord injury research. What has been the most rewarding part of that journey?
Knowing that I am contributing to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries has been the best part of our fundraising. It’s easy to sit back and let others do the hard work and hope that organisations get funding through other means, but to be able to say that I helped fund that study is incredibly rewarding.
On 4 August you set out on your biggest challenge yet, handcycling from Perth to Sydney. How did it feel to take on something no quadriplegic had done before, and what was that experience like for you?
Scary! It didn’t feel real until the morning I started, and knowing I’ve got 4000km ahead of me was daunting. I had never tried something of that distance and duration, and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to complete it. But my fitness was great, I consistently rode 100km or more each day. I knew I had it in me to get to Sydney. The hardest part was driving from Ceduna to Adelaide after developing a pressure injury, which meant I had to press pause on the journey.
I hope my bike ride is something that can show able-bodied people what people with spinal cord injury are capable of. I hope it can educate people that there are many hidden side-effects of an injury beyond not being able to move your legs.
Looking back, what role did Pembroke play in shaping your journey into journalism and beyond?
Pembroke gave me the foundations and confidence to be able to further my education. It gave me the space to be curious and to ask questions, which ended up being great training for a career in the media. More than anything though, Pembroke taught me the value of working hard and backing myself.
A lot of my fond memories come from my three years in the Boarding House and on the sporting fields. Mr Shillabeer was the Head of Boarding during my time at Pembroke and was a great leader. Athletics Day was one of my favourites, playing First XVIII Football in Year 10 was great fun, and so was living with close friends.
What advice would you give current Pembroke students?
Everyone will experience setbacks in their life, it’s your attitude towards dealing and overcoming those setbacks that will set you apart. There are many different pathways that lead you towards your goals, some harder than others. Your Year 12 result is just a number, it’s not the be all and end all.
Finally, what excites you most about the future, both in journalism, in your advocacy work and aiming to report and participate Los Angeles 2028?
I’d love to be chosen to report in LA, but as far as competing, it’s probably wishful thinking. I’m excited for where my career will take me though, hopefully it’s a long and successful one in the media.
