• Bayside News Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Friday, August 19
Trending
  • 8 Danny Street, Rye
  • Firearm found in car
  • Council implements parental leave policy
  • Jet ski safety under consideration
  • Chain of parks site must be replaced soon – report
  • D-day looms large for local clubs
  • Wild weather strikes, finals fixtures locked in
  • The publisher of ‘The Standard’ stands for council
Facebook Twitter
Bayside News
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
Bayside News
Home»News»Many hands make beach access easier
News

Many hands make beach access easier

Keith PlattBy Keith Platt29 January 2014Updated:21 February 2014No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

HOW easy is it on a hot day to go for a swim or lie on a surfboard? Not very, if you happen to have a physical disability.

On Saturday 18 January, close to 300 people at Pt Leo Beach were given an insight into each other’s lives when Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula held its first event for 2014.
More than 230 volunteers made it possible for 41 disabled surfers to know the feeling of being on a board pushed along by the natural energy of a wave.

The simple joy of being hit by a wave can be fraught with danger for someone who does not have full control or use of their body.
But with volunteers to help you onto a board and then lining up to provide a human safety net, accessing this simple pleasure becomes a reality.

As well as organising volunteers, carers and their charges, the DSA’s peninsula branch has come up with innovative solutions to make it easier for the disabled to get to the beach and try surfing.

Over winter the branch trialled a bead-filled “seat” that allows a disabled surfer to sit up and enjoy the view as they surf toward the shore.

A harness has also been developed to make it easier to pull special wide-tyred wheelchairs along the beach and through the sand dunes.

“The aquaducks developed by the branch in consultation with all DSA branches throughout Australia performed above expectation and provided the surfers with a safer experience,” peninsula president Stewart Lockie said.

The new harness had made beach transfers “much easier and safer”.

“Heaps of people volunteered both surfers and non-surfers and all their contributions were invaluable,” branch treasurer John Bowers said.

“As well as the sea, there is a really innovative approach to the problems that the terrain sets us and, fortunately, we have a committee that is keen to solve problems. There’s also a network of talented people we are able to access.

“The new harnesses reduced the physical strain of moving wheelchairs through the sand.”

The next DSA surfing event at Pt Leo is on Saturday 15 March with a free barbecue for participants and volunteers. Register at infodsamp@gmail.com or www.disabledsurfers.orgHelping hand

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Keith Platt

Related Posts

Firearm found in car

17 August 2022

Jet ski safety under consideration

17 August 2022

D-day looms large for local clubs

16 August 2022

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Aug 19, 2022 - Fri
Chelsea, Australia
13°C
14 km/h, WNW
68%
762.82 mmHg
fri08/19 sat08/20 sun08/21 mon08/22 tue08/23
13/11°C
12/8°C
13/11°C
10/8°C
11/8°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click Here to Read

25 July 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click Here to Read

26 May 2022
Council Watch

Council implements parental leave policy

17 August 2022

Kilkenny a minister

6 July 2022
State Elections 2022

Late election pick for Libs

15 August 2022

Shire accused of political bias

23 May 2022
Interviews

Murder mystery on the water

25 July 2022
Property of the Week

8 Danny Street, Rye

17 August 2022
100 Years Ago this Week

The publisher of ‘The Standard’ stands for council

16 August 2022
Contact

Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915

Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.