Taking to the water are (from left), Craig Salway, carer Jude Flower, instructor Paul Blundell and Aaron Ingram.
“When participants are given the opportunity to steer their own boat, their faces light up. It’s fantastic
to be a part of that experience.”
This is how Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club commodore Peter Creighton describes his time spent helping people with a disability enjoy yachting.
The Sunshine Coast club is using a $50 000 grant from the Department of Communities’ Active Inclusion program to support its work in allowing people of all abilities to sail.
Grants are open to sport and recreational clubs, councils, schools, universities, religious groups and
other not-for-profit agencies.
The club used the funds to buy more safety equipment, including a new rescue boat, and deliver training for volunteers.
“Our programs were set up in the mid-1990s for people of all ages with a disability and teenagers,” says Peter.
“In consulting with the community to help us grow, we identified a need for more recreational activities for people with a disability.
“The new rescue boat is particularly beneficial for our program for people with a disability because it has soft sides and is extremely stable.
“This is important when rescuing a person who has capsized or when someone requires instructions while leaning on the edge of the boat.”
The club runs activities year-round. For more information go to www.nyrc.com.au
Applications for Active Inclusion grants are scheduled to open in September 2011.
For more information go to www.communities.qld.gov.au/sportrec and click on Funding and then
Overview of all funding programs in the dropdown menu.
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