Full of energy: Jonathan Skinner is a charismatic personality in the Shepparton News office who can brighten anyone’s day.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A friendly face around Shepparton News office, is Jonathan Skinner.
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A hard worker, bowling extraordinaire and a bubbly personality that would brighten anyone’s day, Jonathan is a lot of things and a man of many talents.
Jonathan also lives with Down syndrome but he doesn’t let that stop him from enjoying life.
Being that October is World Down Syndrome Awareness Month, The News sat down to talk to Jonathan about what he loves most about life.
Full of energy and spirit, Jonathan is often found walking around the The News office on Tuesday mornings joking around with staff members on top of completing his usual job routines.
“I take the papers around to everyone and I spray and wipe down the benches and clean out the coffee machine,” Jonathan said.
“I enjoy seeing the people here.”
Jonathan is in his third year of working at the The News and is often accompanied by his support worker, Andrew McCormack, who first met Jonathan in 2013.
“I think he enjoys that people treat him kindly and with respect and just see him for who he is,” Andrew said.
“He loves that he gets the opportunity to work here, he’s out of the system in a way and for him he can come here and engage with more people and make more friends.”
A social butterfly, Jonathan is most certainly always making new friends wherever he goes and loves hanging out with his best friends.
Whether it’s bowling, drama classes or just having some musical fun together, these moments are always special for Jonathan.
“My friends are awesome, I love them,” he said.
Jonathan is also very close with his twin brother Daniel, who was also born with Down syndrome.
The two of them are often hanging out in Andrew’s disco room he created for them in his back shed where they spend hours jamming to music with their friends.
“I like to rap, my favourite artist is Matty B,” Jonathan said.
“I play the bass guitar and my favourite song to play on it is Katy Perry’s Fireworks because it’s cool. I also enjoy Pink songs too and Keith Urban, they’re awesome.”
Not only are both Jonathan and Daniel blessed with musical genes, but as Jonathan eagerly pointed out, it also seems to run in the family.
“My brother is a singer and plays guitar and my sister sings,” Jonathan said.
A master at a lot of things, Jonathan is always looking for his next challenge.
His next goal; learning how to drive.
“I’m hoping to get my car licence soon, so I can drive,” Jonathan said.
For now, Jonathan’s main form of transportation is his bike which he spends riding around in the evenings and to work when he can.
Awesome friendship: Jonathan Skinner and his support worker Andrew McCormack have become good friends over the years.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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