The Disability Sport and Recreation Festival began in 2010 and promotes and celebrates physically active lifestyles for people of all abilities on International Day of People with Disability each year.
It offers Victorians with, and without, disability the opportunity to explore and experience accessible and inclusive sport and recreation through hands-on activities and information sharing.
In 2019, 48% of festival attendees surveyed said they had found a new sport or recreational activity to take part in. It was also the first year in which Vision Australia Radio was invited to host a live outside broadcast from the centre of the festival activity zone, interviewing attendees, community groups and some Victoria’s local sporting talent living with disability.
“Broadcasting from the promenade of the Yarra River on the edge of the CBD was a highlight of the year for all involved. It was such a positive experience for all that gave their time to presenting, producing and panelling on the day and the chance to share stories of people living with a disability who are actively involved in different sporting codes was a privilege” says Jason Gipps, Vision Australia National Business Development Consultant.
Over 2 and a half hours from 10:30am until noon on the International Day of People Living with a Disability (December 1) we gave voice to a range of inclusive sporting groups, celebrated the community’s sporting successes and challenged our audiences across our Victorian radio network and any preconceived ideas that they may have had around people living with a disability and their sporting ability.
If you missed out broadcast in December you can listen to parts one and two of the program below.
In this hour, the Vision Sports team speak to:
- P. Saunders (The Disabled Surfers Association Of Australia)
- Beverley Pinder (Councilor)
- Scott Nicholas (Disability and Program Manager of AFL Victoria)
- Ned Brewer-Maiga (AFL Blind player)
- Daniel Pritchard (Goalball Player)
- Richard Amon (CEO of Disability Sports and Recreation) and
- Maria Strong (Seated Thrower and Runner).
In the second part of the broadcast, the Vision Sports team speak to:
- Matt Volk (President of Law Enforcement Torch Run Victoria)
- Kristen Stone (Lacrosse Victoria)
- Murray Frasier (Victorian Police Priority Communities Division)
- Doug Sloan ( Chairman of the Blind Golf Association and former president of Blind Cricket) and
- Tim Lachlan (WCMX & Adaptive Skate Australia).
Special thanks to the City of Melbourne for making our broadcast possible and of course Disability Sport and Recreation for having us on board.
Visit www.dsr.org.au for more on their inclusive sports programs and varadio.org for the latest news on our radio network and programing.
