BLIND SPORTS AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER | September 2015 Blind Sports Australia September 2015 Promotion, Participation & Advocacy of Sports for the Australian Blind Community IN THIS ISSUE A Message from the CEO A Message from the CEO Page 1 The last three be competing at an international Meet Your Board Member months have been a level to have a go at competing at the Member Updates: Blind Sports & period of closing off 2024 Paralympic Games. Recreation Vic one financial year Blind Sporting Association of NSW Blind Sports Australia now have a Page 2 and preparing for a dedicated grant writer resource – big year for Blind Sports Australia. Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Margarita Herouvim. Margarita has Association many years working with not-for- Page 3 The annual accounts have been profit organisations and running finalised and audited, and while at a Association of SA Blind Sporting Clubs sponsorship, grants and bequests WA Blind Sports Federation headline the result was not as good as programs. She has already submitted Page 4 what BSA hoped for there are some four grant applications for members Morning Tea in Moreland promising signs. For the first time all and member organisations can utilise Page 5 the monies received from the Margarita to assist them with grant Australian Blind Bowlers Association Australian Sports Commission were writing – contact me for more details. Blind Cricket Australia directed to our member organisations. Page 6 BSA was able to fund the operational Over the last year I have been asking Blind Golf Australia costs from other revenue sources and sports to ensure that all members Goalball Australia were able to fund into a national and volunteers are in the BSA Page 7 ‘Scratch and Win’ promotion member database. This is still a Blind & Vision Impaired Tenpin Bowling themselves. The rebuild of BSA is requirement by the Australian Sports Other News largely on track with its three outward Commission and BSA’s recognition Page 8 facing objectives – Participation, status has been downgraded to being Upcoming Events Promotion, and Advocacy, and two a provisionally recognised National Page 10 inward facing objectives – Financial Sporting Organisation due to the non- BSA Board Members & Member Sustainability and Internal Capability. completion of the database. This is Organisations putting the ASC funding BSA receives Page 11 On a Saturday in August an inaugural (and is completely directed to Blind Football forum was held in member organisations) at risk for the Melbourne and attended by Blind Sports Australia 2016-2017 year. It would not only representatives from Queensland, assist BSA but each and every A Foundation Member of the NSW, South Australia, Western member organisation (not just your Australian Paralympic Committee Australia and Victoria. The outcome is member organisation) if we could get a strategic plan is being developed for ABN 68 008 621 252 full compliance. football in Australia with the ambition PO Box 2114, Oak Park Vic 3046 that football is developed enough to PAGE 1 BLIND SPORTS AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER | September 2015 Lastly, a reminder that the BSA Sport Blind Sporting forum will be on the weekend of the What have our 24th and 25th October, with the AGM Association of NSW at 2.30pm on Sunday 25th October. Members been All interested parties are welcome to Multi-Sports Gala Day attend (just let me know for catering up to? purposes). Agenda and invitations The Blind Sports NSW MULTI SPORTS will be out shortly. Blind Sports & GALA DAY held at Strathfield in Sydney on Sunday September 6th Stephen Barnes, CEO Recreation Victoria was another ground breaking event ceo @ blindsportsasustralia.com.au supported by key stakeholders and On Thursday October 15th from Department of NSW Sport and 10am - 12pm, we are running a free Recreation. Meet Garry morning tea for people who are vision impaired and their Humphries friends/companions at the Italian Sports Club in Werribee, to celebrate One of our the 2015 Seniors Festival and White Cane Day. This event has been new Board supported by the Wyndham City Members Council. Also, Blind Sports Recreation Victoria, The day started with Ten Pin bowling Garry Humphries joined the Board in with the support of Transurban and and an orientation of volunteers from December 2014 and brings great the City of Moreland Council, would Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to the 10 experience to Blind Sports Australia like to invite you to our Morning Tea volunteers on hand including 8 having worked with Federal, State in Moreland program. Friends are students from Australian College of and Local Governments in welcome. It runs the last Tuesday of Physical Education. Participants then Queensland. each month at 10:30am with venue were shuttled across to Trinity location to be advised beforehand. Grammar School to participate in Garry values practical on the ground September 29th we are heading to cricket hosted by Blind Cricket NSW, solutions to give small communities Yiannis Pantheon Cakes, 425 Sydney Futsal/Soccer, Vision Impaired tennis the opportunity to fully develop their Road Coburg, for traditional Greek coached by Kathy Fahim and finally local athletes and encourage broad sweets and coffee. This program Goalball hosted by NSW Goalball. participation by all ages. He believes provides an opportunity for people Government can only be successful if with a vision impairment to socialise, they engage, understand and partner sample a range of culturally diverse with small communities. Garry’s foods, increase confidence travelling research into alternative service on public transport and get to know delivery models for sport and the Moreland locality and all it has to recreation and the partnering offer. undertaken by him and his team with small communities throughout If you are interested in attending Queensland has helped many bush either of these events, please contact towns to enhance their livability and Miriam Bilander, Project Coordinator, Over 30 participants attended the many people to reach their potential. on 98228876 or email day ranging in age from 9-55. A big [email protected] thanks to all involved on a very Welcome to the Board Garry! successful day. If you would like to be Miriam Bilander a part of our next day planned for late Blind Sports Victoria January or any of our on-going PAGE 2 BLIND SPORTS AUSTRALIA NEWSLETTER | September 2015 sporting programs including Futsal & competing as members of a committee from Multicap Pine Cricket which are both about to kick mainstream sports clubs or Rivers and an army of volunteers off their season please contact organisations to be eligible for from the club, drew over 200 President Murray Elbourn by email at nomination,” she said. participants with a disability this year [email protected] – a vast increase on the 36 who “There are also categories to participated when the initiative celebrate the valued contribution of started in 2009. The event now also coaches, officials, volunteers and attracts participants from four other inclusive services. You don’t have to service providers – Endeavour, ROPE, be a member of the Association to CPL and Centacare. nominate someone for an award, so we are encouraging nominations Ninety percent of the event was run from across the community.” by people with a disability, driven by a sports development committee, Naomi said the quality of who worked as a team over 10 weeks nominations for athlete awards was to organise advertising, invitations, Murray Elbourn, President expected to be high again this year trophies, uniforms, catering and Blind Sports NSW given outstanding performances by training nights. On the day, people Queensland athletes with a disability with a disability manned the gate, ran Sporting Wheelies & at world championships and other the canteen, cooked the barbecue events leading up to the Rio 2016 and spurred the teams on through Disabled Association Paralympics. their cheerleading. of QLD Coaches from the club and players Nominations close at 5pm on from the under 15’s team assisted 2015 Annual Awards nominations Monday 12 October. Winners will be with skill development for the open announced at the 2015 Annual training nights and during the event. Awards Presentation Dinner on “It opened the junior players’ eyes Nominations are now open for Friday 20 November at the Kedron and changed their outlook on the way Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Wavell Services Club in Brisbane. they see people with a disability,” Association’s Annual Awards, which said Vernon. recognise outstanding achievement For more information, including in sport and healthy activity for Award categories, visit The day culminated in a modified 9-a- Queenslanders with a disability. www.sportingwheelies.org.au side game allowing participants to test their skills in a team Thirteen award categories will Development day provides multiple environment. Rugby league legend honour individuals and organisations opportunities for people with a Petero Civoniceva attended the event for their achievements between 14 disability and was suitably impressed, even October 2014 and 11 October 2015. donning a jersey to run out with the Member Services Coordinator Naomi A longstanding partnership between players. Sharon Rowe, from Multicap Oliver said the aim of the awards was a passionate coach, a service provider Pine Rivers, stated, “At the end of the to recognise “the best of the best” in and the local club continues to day that’s who we all look up to and sport and healthy activity for people provide access to rugby league for an it was great for the players to be able with a physical disability or vision increasing number of people with a to run out with him. Petero would like impairment across the state. disability in the Moreton Bay region. to be an Ambassador for this day, The annual Rugby League which will provide a great deal of “In 2014 we broadened some of the Development Day was held on 5 awareness within the community awards criteria to include people who August at Deception Bay Junior Rugby about the abilities of people with a may not necessarily be members of League Football Club (JRLFC).