General News
21 November, 2023
Fun for all abilities at Port’
RESIDENTS across the region are invited to spend a day at Port Campbell beach to celebrate International Day of People with Disability. Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club is hosting a program of free and accessible activities on Sunday, December 3...
RESIDENTS across the region are invited to spend a day at Port Campbell beach to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.
Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club is hosting a program of free and accessible activities on Sunday, December 3 from 10am including surfing, guided beach wheelchair rides, and a program of sports and activities at the tennis courts.
The Great South Coast branch of the Disabled Surfers Association will run surfing experiences from 10am to 2pm. All equipment (including wetsuits) is provided.
Guided wheelchair rides along the beach to the suspension bridge are also available from 10am to 2pm.
An All Abilities Unleashed Kids program of inclusive sports will run from 10am to 1pm at the tennis courts.
Registrations are essential for each activity at www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/BeachDay.
There will be a free barbecue lunch and community meeting about improving beach accessibility at 12.30pm in the Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club’s Sunset Room. Learn about the Port Campbell
Accessible Beaches Project – an initiative to improve physical access to Port Campbell beach.
A panel discussion with James Czencz, Corangamite Shire councillor Jo Beard, Emma Olivier, Patrick Caruana and Sara Wakeling will explore access, inclusion and invisible disability from 2pm in the Sunset Room.
Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club president Scott McKenzie said the day aimed to provide fun activities for people with disability, as well as shine a light on accessibility barriers at the beach.
“We are a nation that loves the beach - it’s part of our culture,” he said.
“But a recent survey found that more than 60 per cent of Australians aged 65 or over and those with a disability cannot participate in their preferred beach activity.
“Of these, 26 per cent are unable to visit the beach at all.”
Mr McKenzie said Port Campbell was the only safely patrolled beach between Apollo Bay and Warrnambool.
He said that while it would take a ‘whole of community’ approach to improve physical access to Port Campbell beach, the club was taking steps to be more accessible and inclusive for people with disability.
“We have members driving positive change. For instance, our junior coordinator Georgia Copeland is introducing Starfish Nippers for children with disability into this year’s Nippers program,” Mr McKenzie said.
“James Czencz is another volunteer member who is passionate about improving social inclusion, who along with Natalie Powell, has been instrumental in organising the Accessible Beach Day.
“We also want to thank Corangamite Shire, the Disabled Surfers Association, and Timboon and District Healthcare Service for supporting this event.”
For more information and to register for Accessible Beach Day activities, visit www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/BeachDay.