Teens try out wheels
SPEAKER Gary Connor got Leongatha Secondary College students into wheelchairs and onto the basketball court last Tuesday (September 2).
The annual program, called WheelTalk, aims to raise awareness of disability.
Mr Connor, who has paraplegia and uses a wheelchair, came from Disability Sport and Recreation to visit Year 8 students during their physical education (PE) classes.
He described the physical feats he has achieved in his wheelchair, such as completing gruelling endurance races up mountains and taking his university aged children skiing.
“I consider myself the equal of an able bodied man,” he said.
To help break down the stigma associated with disability, he invited students to ask him questions then got them into wheelchairs made specifically for basketball.
The students got a quick orientation in using a wheelchair.
Most were grinning.
“It’s really cool,” student Oscar Pors said.
While moving backwards, a few students spun out of control, while others needed a bit of extra momentum and got a push from Mr Connor.
The group went on to play a game of wheelchair basketball.
PE teacher Paul Borg said the program expanded the school’s concept of “looking after your mates”.
Mr Connor emphasised injury and disability can happen to anyone.
“If you’re out there living life, this could happen,” Mr Connor said.
“You don’t have to be out there being an idiot.”
Mr Connor said young adults are often injured playing sport, riding horses, doing motocross and swimming, or diving into dams and rivers.
“Take control of what happens in your life,” he said.
“If you get dared to do something, you’re the one who’s going to get killed or hurt, not your friend who’s daring you.”
The school held a lunchtime barbecue to raise money for Disability Sport and Recreation.
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