BIG BOATS: Complementary Role of Yachts in Sailability Programs
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Freedom The annual newsmagazine of Sailability Australia Issue 3 2014/2015 With contributions from state and territory Sailability Associations, their Sailability programs, their members, the National Sailability Committee of Yachting Australia and Yachting Australia Freedom to enjoy; a dedicated Sailability SA yacht gives people of BIG BOATS: all abilities a sailing experience Complementary role of yachts in Sailability programs BRENNAN’S JOY: Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron gives Sailability a lift ART FOR AME: Amy Barnbrook’s life under sail subject of friendly caricature VICTORIA SETS THE STANDARD: Encouraging inclusion in sailing clubs From the helm The year in pictures Ahoy there fellow Sailability members, family and friends, I hope this newsletter finds you all happy and excited about the year ahead. Sailability, in Australia, is 20 years old now and it's remarkable to think back & realise what we have helped achieve in those 20 years. An incredible amount of infrastructure has been added to the Clockwise from top left: Four boats travelled 3000 kms to the 2014 Hansa sailing arena to improve access to the Nationals in SA. President Graeme Martin, Vice President Tracy Odiam, Mike Cull water for people with a disabilities. and Genevieve Wickham competed; Sailability Gold Coast received the We have helped people achieve things largest ever donation from Gold Coast Boat Show; Sailability Port Macquarie has that they previously thought were beyond won the Port Macquarie Hastings Council award as part of the 2015 Australia Day their reach. Thousands of Australian's Awards. A three year dream come true for SPM and its wonderful volunteers . have had the joy of experiencing 'Freedom on the Water' that would not have been possible without you - The Sailability Family. There is still lots to be done but every now & then it's good to actually acknowledge what we have helped achieve. So please take a moment to acknowledge yourself for your ontribution to this wonderful organisation. I want to make a special thank you to Graeme Adam, the producer of this great Newsmagazine Through his efforts Graeme has helped share your stories about what's been happening throughout Australia and I'm sure that has helped inspire many to achieve more- thank you Graeme. Remember to keep sending your stories to Graeme so he can continue to share your successes. Happy Sailing - Neil. Neil Anderson Clockwise from top left: The Sandgropers have shone again, taking a bronze at the Chairman - National Sailability World ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyres (Spain) in May; Susie O’Connor reflecting Committee - Yachting Australia on the SA Hansa Class Chps at Port Adelaide Sailing Club: “We had great fun, skills were tested; new friends were made. It was a celebration of ability, not Published February 2015 disability”; Clients and volunteers at Sailability Whitsunday celebrated a boost to day to day operations, with the completion and official handover of a new shed. Freedom Editor, Copy, Design, Production, Distribution, Graeme Adam [email protected] “Freedom” - The Newsmagazine - is published annually in print and electronic form. “Freedom” updates published electronically. Distribution to all Sailability branches and through them all members, to From left- MP for Port Adelaide, great supporter of Sailability, yacht clubs via state yachting associations. Dr Susan Close, Volunteer, Keira Bennett and skipper Suzy O’Çonnor at the 2014 SA State Sailability Championship at PASC. Susan presented the participation medals. Suzy is Contributions for news items up to 50 words with good hi-res digital images or ideas for holding the joystick that she uses for sailing (the large purple ball is a oversize tennis features up to 500 words to the editor. ball to help her to steer); Right: Sailability Manly (NSW) volunteers at the Pirates Day: Helen (and her trusty parrot), Brian, master pirate, Rob (skipper of the Pirate Ship Charlie's Chariot) and Kandy, Pirate Wench. 2 Sailability people...Sailability people...Sailability people...Sailabilility people .....Sailabilility peo- Another Sailability branch in Queensland! When we thought that there were no locations in Queensland to fill, another branch has opened, this time on the Darling Downs. Venue is Cooby Dam which is about 20 minutes’ drive north of Toowoomba . President is Glen Garvey. Boats are 2 x 2.3 Hansa dinghy, 1 x 303 Hansa dinghy, 1 x Walker Bay dinghy. Sailability Darling Downs is in the process of building a lifting arm so they can load sailors more easily. Darling Downs Sailing Club is sponsor club – provid- ing the majority of skippers. Facilities: not much yet – just sharing sheds with the sailing club. Huge potential, greater Toowoomba population is 150, 000. In another move, John Hamaty has retired as president Sailability Queensland (after several years of outstanding service) and Moe Turaga (inset) from Sailability Bundaberg is the new president. Photo and story with thanks to Dorset Echo Inspirational teen sails for good INSPIRATIONAL sailor Natasha Lambert arrived in Portland (UK) after com- pleting the second leg of an amazing 430-mile challenge. The 17-year-old, who has cerebral palsy and no use of her hands, sailed around the south west coast using only her mouth to operate the specially- designed 21-ft pink and black vessel, Miss Isle, is kitted out with a ‘sip and puff mechanism’ mounted inside a cycling helmet, designed and developed by her electrician dad Gary. Natasha, who is being accompanied on the yacht by her family and her coach Phil Devereux, was welcomed to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy by sailors from Chesil Sailability, a group which provides opportunities for disabled people. Caricaturing Ame Barnbrook Spied by the editor on crack sailor Ame Barnbrook’s Facebook page: “Went and had a chat to the guys from Id8 on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and as a thank-you, one of their designers did this caricature of me sailing a Hansa sailboat.. Check out the toes!” id8 Studio was established in 2002 with the vision of “partnering clients and working together to deliver innovative point of sale displays and merchandising systems that drive sales. http://www.id8studio.com/about/profile/ Meantime, Ame has been busy with her sailing, studies and other interests. In 2014, she competed in the IFDS Combined Sailing World in Canada. In December, she came third in the Sail Melbourne World Cup. Ame’s current goal is to compete in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. Governor-General patron of Foundation Sailing for Everyone Foundation (s4e) (formerly Access Dinghy Foundation) recently launched a new website www .s4e.org and facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/sailing4everyone His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, has accepted Patronage of the Sailing for Everyone Foundation. The Foundation has had a connection with the Office of the Governor-General since 1998 when Sir William Deane AC, KBE became ADF's first Official Patron. Jackie Kay, secretary of the foundation, said: “We are very pleased that His Excellency has chosen to continue this association by taking up Patronage of our organisation, and we look forward to working together to advocate an inclusion for the entire community, including disabled and disadvantaged sailors. Photo and story: Port Macquarie News True freedom on the water Kathryn Stephens loves the freedom of open water, the wind in her face and the spray off the bow stinging her skin. Kathryn is blind but her greatest joy every Wednesday is joining her sailing partner out on the Hastings River as a part of the Sailability program. Thanks to the ongoing support of local business Smarter Property Group, Kathryn is now commandeering a Hansa sailboat. In two years, Sailability Port Macquarie has steadily grown to provide a safe but challenging sporting activity to about 50 people with disabilities every Wednesday. 60 volunteers run the sailing supported by members of Port Macquarie Yacht Club and Port Macquarie Sailing Club. With financial support of Rotary Clubs, the state government, Port Macquarie- Sailability's Peter Gray, Jim Ringlands, Rick Ella, Hastings Council and local businesses, there are now 10 Hansa dinghies. Kathryn Stephens and Smarter’s Paul Loughland 3 3 Supporting inclusion in sailing clubs Yachting Victoria sets the standard “To create environments that encourage and support inclusion in sailing”, this is the purpose of an impressive new resource developed by a Yachting Victoria project group. This project’s manual lays down the standard required by a Yachting Victoria of all its sailing clubs and yacht clubs. It applies to clubs regardless of whether they host or are associated with Sailability programs. Having been already actioned in Victoria, the project was presented at the meeting of the National Sailability Committee of Yachting Australia at Cruising Yacht Club, Sydney, in December by NSC delegate and Sailing Manager, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, David Staley. What is an inclusive club? To quote the publication: “An inclusive club is one where people, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, ability (or disability), sexuality or income have the opportunities to engage in all club activates, and feel fully accepted. “Sadly, this diversity is not reflected in the membership of most clubs, with sailing perceived to be an exclusive activity, discouraging to disadvantaged Australians. Including people with diverse backgrounds benefits participants, the clubs, members and the surrounding communities.” According to Neil Anderson, Chairman of Sailability Australia, “’Inclusive Club Standard” is a program well worth actioning by other Member Yachting The 25 page manual gives the background (“Sailing Associations and their clubs with the moral support of the Sailability family.” Clubs are not inclusive”), a DIY survey and then lays Another useful resource is the on-line content about inclusion and volunteers. down simple steps to remedy the situation.