Good News – June, 2024
[Image ID - White text reads “Good News - June 2024” on a green background overlaid on top of an image of participants of the Leicester Tigers Down’s Syndrome rugby team.]
Hello and welcome back to Disability Sports Australia’s (DSA) Good News roundup.
At DSA, we love discovering the wonderful things people are doing for the active disability space. We love seeing our inbox full of good news stories that people want to share.
Do you have a story you want us to tell?
Please send the story and your contact details to marketing@sports.org.au
35th Tenpin Bowling National Disabilities Championship in Canberra
The 35th annual Tenpin Bowling championships were held in Canberra. This was the biggest event since the pandemic with nearly 400 participants.
Players travelled to great lengths for the event, with some costs reaching $4,000. Beyond the love of sport, a community has been built across the country. Thanks to the sport, many players have made friends living on the other side of Australia.
The event spanned over 10 days, with competitors ranging from beginners to elite players. Marty Sammut, chair of the National Disability Championships, stated that there is a range of disabilities represented within the sport, including vision impairment, wheelchair users and restricted ranges of movement.
The championships wrapped up on June 15.
[Image ID - A woman with short hair and glasses standing in front of some bowling lanes, smiling at the camera wearing a bright orange polo with varying pins across the front.]
Image credit: Tenpin Bowling Australia
Leicester Tigers Down’s Syndrome Team
In 2023, Leicester Tigers set up a rugby team for children with Down’s syndrome to come and play rugby. Since the launch in October of last year, they now have over 40 families registered and attending the fortnightly training sessions.
Families stated that the team had positive impacts on their kids and described it as indispensable. It is filling a needed community participation gap as they are part of a team that is made specifically for them.
The coach, Megan Kirby, stated that there have been great changes in the children. Many describe themselves as Leicester Tigers players. Older participants coachi the younger participants throughout the sessions. Kirby encourages other sports to introduce similar programs after the success shown with the Leicester Tigers.
Read the full story here.
[Image ID - In the foreground on a rugby field is a woman in a pink jacket, carrying a rugby ball under one arm and holding the hand of a young girl who is smiling and wearing a green rugby top, participating in the Leicester Tigers Down’s Syndrome Rugby Team. In the background are a group of other participants all taking part in the team.]
Image Credit: Leicester Tigers
Alfie Wright - Four Time World Disabled Strongman
Four-time world disabled strongman champion, Alfie Wright, found solace in strength training in her weightlifting journey.
She has battled competing in harsh conditions, mental challenges, and facing misconceptions about disability. These impacted her travel to international events.
As a tube-fed athlete, Wright had to figure out the best way to keep her body nourished for competitions. While other athletes can consume their traditional high-calorie meals, Wright found a balance that worked for her to keep her body well nourished, consuming high calories and protein. She does this on top of her rigorous weightlifting and cardio workouts.
Wright sees a bright future ahead for Disabled Strongman. She hopes to one day rival the able-bodied competition. With more interest in the sport, she is continuing to pave the way for future athletes.
Rose Chin Finding Herself With Wheelchair Basketball
Rose Chin, a 67-year-old woman and wheelchair basketballer for Inverness Wheelchair Basketball team. She was partially paralysed by a stroke in 2018 and has been using a wheelchair since. In her recovery, she entered a dark place. Her social worker suggested trying a sport.
Chin to tried out for the Inverness wheelchair basketball team. She motivated herself to attend the last of three tryout sessions. In that session, she made the team.
Two years on, she attends weekly training, plays in the matches and has a personal trainer helping her with weightlifting and diet. Chin states she no longer feels isolated. She feels she is part of a little family and wants to play for as long as possible.
Read the full story here.
[Image ID - Rose Chin in her wheelchair wearing a blue basketball jersey holding the basketball below her chin ready to shoot for goal.]
Image credit: The Guardian
GB Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team coach awarded MBE
Richard Osborne, the coach of the Great Britain Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team, has received an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list for services to disability sports.
Richard coaches the South Hants club team and has had a big influence on the sitting volleyball community. He has been involved in the Invictus Games since, where he led the Georgian Armed Forces to the gold medal in 2017. Richard also participates regularly in Volleyball England’s Sitting Grand Prix Series and has helped many people find their space in sport.
He has received a lot of heartfelt messages from friends, players and other coaches, which “reminds [him] why he loves coaching.”
Read the full story here.
[Image ID - An image of Richard Osborne at the Invictus Games, wearing a white shirt and watching the game closely.]
Image credit: Volleyball England
Triathlete Fiona Livock’s Ocean Swim Fundraiser for Disabled Athletes
Triathlete Fiona Livock has taken up the challenge of completing a 10km ocean swim to raise funds for athletes with a disability. Fiona, who has amniotic band syndrome, understands that expensive specialist equipment can be a barrier to participation for disabled athletes.
The money she raises on 30th June will be donated to Sporting Dreams, a Queensland-based not-for-profit run by Paralympian swimmer Marayke Jonkers that had supported Fiona in 2022.
Fiona has invited other swimmers to join her charity ocean swim.
Read more and find out how to donate here.
[Image ID - On the left is paralympic swimmer Marayke Jonkers, smiling at the camera, with Fiona Livock on the right, holding a trophy and smiling at the camera.]
Image credit: Noosa Today
That is our latest Good News wrapped up!
We are sure to have missed something. If you have a story that you want us to share, please let us know!
You can send the news to: marketing@sports.org.au
