City of Newcastle Council is dropping into history to support Paralympian Paul Nunnari to activate NSW’s first wheelchair-accessible skate bowl as part of a $20,000 boost for local inclusive sports events.
Eight initiatives will share in the pool of Council funding, which was allocated as part of the Inclusive Sports Pitch Night at this year’s Count Us In Sport festival.
The grants will allow community-based sporting organisations and recreation providers to deliver events and activities designed to increase the participation of people with a disability in sport.
This includes a ‘come and see’ wheelchair motocross (WCMX) demonstration hosted by Mr Nunnari, which will showcase how wheelchair users can fully engage with the inclusive skate bowl and terrain park at South Newcastle Beach delivered through City of Newcastle’s multi-faceted Bathers Way project.
The event aims to promote the physical and social benefits of being involved in sport and highlight the importance of inclusive sports facilities.
Council Executive Director of Creative and Community Services, Alissa Jones said the grants contribute to ensuring everyone has access to the benefits of sport.
“The funding awarded to these eight organisations represents our commitment to changing the narrative for people with a disability in Newcastle,” Ms Jones said.
“These initiatives not only open doors for participation but also inspire a more inclusive sporting community.”
Mr Nunnari said he is proud to be a part of an initiative that will open up new possibilities for wheelchair users.
“This skate bowl is more than just a facility, it’s a space where everyone has dignified, equitable access and can thrive and have fun,” Mr Nunnari said.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase how accessible skate facilities can showcase the skills of wheelchair users (WCMX) and the broader disability community. This is the first of its kind in NSW, and I know it will set a benchmark for other communities to create similar inclusive spaces.”
A range of other sports including water polo, soccer, dance, lawn bowls, tennis and surfing will also be made more accessible to the community thanks to the Council grants.
Rachel Pond will continue to facilitate weekly sports activities through her organisation, Wheelchair Sports for Kids at the Newcastle PCYC. After identifying a need for age-appropriate accessible sessions for her two-year-old, Ms Pond developed this program for wheelchair users aged 12 and under.
The New Lambton Eagles Football Club, known for their longstanding support of footballers with disabilities, will install soft cushioning around their synthetic multi-sport playing surfaces to enhance the safety for those who have less balance or are at higher risk of falling.
Local hubs will be created at Bar Beach and District Park Tennis Courts to provide opportunities for people to learn and play standing adaptive tennis, while Learn to Surf Newcastle will host five group learning opportunities for people with a disability.
The Fun Fit water polo initiative, supported by NSW Water Polo, aims to create an inclusive space for participants of all abilities, including those with disabilities, to play in a non-contact and non-competitive environment.
Greater Newcastle Bowls will trial an all-abilities program to make lawn bowls more inclusive. While accessible bowling exists nationally and internationally, this initiative will create pathways for local players to participate and engage at these levels.
Council’s annual Count Us In Sport festival was held from August 8-15 to champion the importance of making sport accessible for all.
The program featured a range of events and activities designed in consultation with City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Advisory Committee and community members with lived experience of disability, including a ‘come and try’ sports day and an inclusive sports forum featuring former Newcastle Knights NRL player, Alex McKinnon and Paralympian, Rae Anderson.
