Tasmanian Terry Roles reflects on historic Deloraine NTFA win and MND diagnosis

Though unable to stand as the buzzer sounded on the Kangaroos' historic victory, it didn't mean it wasn't felt. In fact, for Terry Roles the win meant more than he could put into words.

It was only last year the 60-year-old had to step away from the club as a trainer and manager, as the symptoms of his motor neuron disease continued to take its toll.

But for Roles, being able to watch on as his club claimed the Shield after 11 consecutive grand final defeats was a day to remember.

"The win was very, very special. Particularly the fact that it has been so many years since they've had a win," he said. "I think it was a pretty big day for the whole town as well.

The community have gotten right behind them, the club. There is a great culture in Deloraine. Not just through the football club, but the whole community.

"It's sad now, last year was my last with the club. Physically I was unable to do it. But through that association I formed a very close bond with the players and the committee."

MND is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for muscle control. It is unforgiving - impacting a person's ability to move, speak, breathe and swallow.

Roles, a former horse trainer and nurse, was diagnosed with the condition in 2019. However, he had been showing symptoms in the months prior - some at the most unfortunate of times.

Two weeks after returning from an overseas holiday in 2018, Roles daughter Sophie, who was 22 at the time, was diagnosed with a brain tumour that required immediate surgery.

"I remember the day Sophie's tumor was removed. Roseanne and I were sitting in Hobart waiting room," Roles recalled.

"That's when I noticed all these muscles in my arms were twitching and having spasms. That was in November and I ended up being diagnosed the following March."

The diagnosis hit Terry and his family hard - they had already been through more than most would seen in a lifetime.

Along with Sophie's brain tumour, which she has now recovered from, Roles' other daughter Erin was also involved in a life-threatening horse accident in 2006, spending seven weeks on life support.

Now, the "matriarch of the family" Roseanne is also dealing with her own health battles. However, she says her focus remains on caring for her husband and their two girls.

And despite the hardships that the family has endured in recent years, Roles said he has always tried to look at the positives.

"It's very frustrating to start losing things. Everyday I find there are things I can't do, that I could probably do yesterday or last week. But I know that's the nature of the disease," he said.

"There is no point working against it. You have to work with it. You've got to have a positive attitude because you aren't going to change things."

Roles retired from full-time training in 2012 after exactly 30 years in the horse racing business - a career he looks back on fondly.

While he misses riding horses, climbing mountains and kicking a football, he says he considers himself lucky.

"At the end of the day I have basically had 60 years of being reasonably fit and healthy person. I've been able to do the things I love.

"I've lost a lot of abilities now, but some people aren't even afforded that luxury. They are born with disabilities.

"So I am very lucky i have been able to do what I do.

"The racing industry was obviously a big part of my life. Horses were the love of my life and to have the success and do something I was passionate about, I feel really blessed."

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