"Mid
North Coast"
We are having our
second "DSA Let's Go Surfing Day" on Saturday 26th of April
10am. With over 22 years of existence, and braches in every state of
Australia the Disabled Surfers Mid North Coast Association are proud to
announce the their second "Hands on Day" at Scotts Head
With a very
successful first event under our belts the Disabled Surfers Mid North
Coast Branch is holding their Second "Let's go Surfing" event at
Scott's Head on Saturday 26th of April 10am meeting at the surf club.
The day is all
about sharing something we love, and take for granted with the whole
community…. The joy of going for a surf. So the call is out to anyone
with a disability who just wants to have a bit fun in the surf.
With a massive
turnout of 200 people for the "train the helper" we are looking
forward to having a massive turn out on Saturday 26th of April. The day
will provide a safe fun beach and surfing experience for anyone with a
disability, no matter how severe. There will be complete supervision in
and around the water, with rash shirts, wetsuits, safe soft surfboards and
plenty of shade. Everything is provided with a free BBQ and drinks for all
DSA participants' helpers and carers. There will be a $10 charge for all
non member participants, with memberships available on the day.
The events are run
with safety as a priority and no-one ever comes away at the end of a
"Hands on Day" without a smile on their face. It will be a great
day and with it's main objective of giving everyone a safe beach and
surfing experience.
Please ring Nikki
Thompson on 02 6569 9049 0r Bryn Goode (0401 477 612) for more
information.
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"NEWS
FROM THE GOLDIE"
Another DSA Gold Coast season finished with probably
our best day yet on the 29th March 2008. Huey finally answered our
prayers and turned on near to perfect surf for a DSA event with a glassy two
foot swell and no wind, sweeps or rips to worry about. With a good turn out on
the day of new and old faces participants and volunteers were out in force and
a great day was had by all.
One new DSA surfer from Brisbane, Teresa Bechard
(pictured
right), was a stand out on
the day and experienced the DSA surf stoke that we all know so well. Teresa had
a fall four years ago and is now a C6 Quad but that wasn’t stopping her! After
riding some great waves for the first time of her life on a surf board (Teresa
is 57 years young) the tears of joy were flowing by all involved. A few of the
Goldie crew went up to Noosa the following weekend to
lend a hand at the Sunshine Coast’s second event (which by the way was a great
success!!) and Teresa turned up again to ride some more waves (this time with
half of her wonderful family along to watch) – that DSA bug just keeps on
biting!! Well done Teresa!!
Steve Pickering who is our Disability Coordinator (and for those that don’t know a C5
Quad) is now doing some mind blowing body surfing on his back with the help of
a few of his mates after our events. It just goes to show that nothing is
impossible and that the ocean is a great playground under the right conditions.
 With great sadness we will be saying goodbye at the
end of April to the lively “Texas Teri”
who is heading back to the USA after 8 months here on the Gold Coast where she
has been studying at Bond Uni. Teri (pictured
left) has CP and has been a regular surfer at Gold Coast, Byron Bay and
Sunshine Coast events and her infectious love of life has helped make a lot of
friends along the way. Not bad for some one that lives hundreds of miles from
the ocean!! So, good luck back in the USA Teri – we will see you back in the
water when you return to Australia!!
So that’s it for another season –
thanks, as always, goes out to all involved with our branch, the wonderful
participants and volunteers, all our supporters and sponsors and the hard
working committee. Keep an eye on the web site for next season’s dates and we
look forward to catching up with some of the DSA crew at the National AGM (all
being well to be held on the Gold Coast later this year).
See you in
the surf!!
Craig and the Goldie Crew.
Volunteers
comment:
I was a
volunteer on the Gold Coast day on 29th March and have just read the
comments from a participant on your website. I will never forget
that day either nor her face as she sped towards the shore. It was
extremely well organised event and as a new volunteer it was an eye
opener for me.
Thanks
to Craig and the team.
Jen
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"Sunshine
Coast - Noosa"
The sun has set
on the 07/08 season for the Sunny Coast branch, our first season. What
a year it has been, two big events, a train the helper and a demo for
the Festival of Surfing, phew.
Saturday 5th April saw us end the
season with a gorgeous day at Noosa main beach. Huey was most kind to
the crew and delivered some clean smokin two foot sets and plenty of
sunshine for the day. With 35 participants booked in for the day
(final count was 49) it was primed to be a big one. With a bit of a
minor hiccup in the morning, hey we didn't know they were getting
married where we set up the barbie!
The day looked set for some good
vibes and smokn rides .With well over 100 volunteers and six teams in
the water it was almost poetry in motion ,DSA style .With our new
Maroon marquees in place on the beach, a most professional outfit we
did look.
The day was a real mixed bag of participants but one
deserves a special mention our "Surfer of the Day" trophy
winner, 70 year old Elsa with M/S and being wheelchair bound she was
an inspiration to every one on the beach.
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Local
Radio Station Zinc 96.1
Radio
interview with Elsa. First
time in the surf for 15 years!!!
Click
Here
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I would like to thank all
our volunteers for their help and support throughout the year
,Christian Surfers (bbq cooks, ala tops) All our committee members for
their enthusiasm and input throughout the season, first class gang
.The Festival of Surfing ,Tropic Surf ,USM events and Global Surf
industries for inviting us to be part of the festival and the generous
donations , cheers crew ! Let's keep the momentum going again next
season and all come back for another blast of DSA magic.
See ya out the
back Gav.
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"Gerroa
Attracts Huge Crowd"
Over 300 people turned out for the 7th annual ‘Hands On Day’ at
Gerroa on Sunday April 6 for the region’s disabled to get out and
have a go at experiencing the thrills of surfing.
Despite the forecast of showers the Disabled Surfers honorary deity,
Huey the Surf God, intervened giving a perfect day for the beach.
With volunteer host surfboard Club Malnutrition being heavily
supplemented by students from 12 local high schools, together with
surfers and helpers from the local community, the total helper pool
was just under 200.
The 52 participants came from as far as the central coast and included
our legendary Kelly McCann, a C2 quad who needs resuscitation the
whole time she is in the water surfing with 30 helpers and 2 nurses.
The Northcott Society brought down from Sydney an extra 3 amphibious
wheelchairs to add to the pool of 5 others enabling mobility
challenged participants easy access to the beach and the waves.
With up to 10 boards operating at the same time, each with a minimum
of 10 helpers, each participant enjoyed up to 3 surf sessions before
the whole group retired back to the assembly point at Emery Park for a
BBQ lunch.
At the
prize-giving ceremony the major awardees were:
Sand modelling: Marusha Rowe (Sydney)
Throw the flipper champ (a pilot pre-Olympic
event): James Griffiths
Furthest Travelled on the Day: Kay Lawler
(Leumeah)
Best Novice Surfer of the Day: Trent Potter
(Wollongong)
Wave of the Day: Keiran O’Keefe (Umina)
Wipeout of the Day: James Griffiths and his
dad Malcolm (Nowra)
Longest Unseen Tube Ride of the Day:
Jenaleen Wolfe (Sydney)
Most Inspirational of the Day: Grace
Kennedy (Vincentia)
Trophy for Surfer of the Day: Holly Laughlin
(Tomerong) |
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Helpers of the
Day Awards went to Jane Keel (Bomaderry High), Said Metwalli (Sydney)
and Aleisha Brooke-Smith (Kiama High) - from an great field of
helpers.
Disabled
Surfers South Coast branch president Ian Picton was hard pressed to
thank all contributors but the short list included Kiama Council,
students from the local schools, longboarders Club Malnutrition, surf
club members from Corrimal, Thirroul and Tathra, Lands Edge for the 40
wetsuits, recently retired top 10 surfer Michael Lowe for a dozen new
wetsuits and some surfboards (thanks Lowey), all the region's surf
shops for the generous amount of give-aways and all the volunteers for
giving up a day to put
"smiles on dials", Cowabunga Jim
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Gold Coast gave
me the most wonderful and never to be forgotten experience on Saturday
29th March 2008. I thought I would never ever feel the surf again,
having an accident in 2004 which resulted in me becoming a
Quadriplegic. The DSA helpers and volunteers were out of this world,
fantastic and wonderful. No actual word is available to describe what
they do for us. I can't wait for my next time.
Currumbin
29/03/08- will be a day my mum will never forget ...thankyou,
thankyou, thankyou to everyone involved with DSA. To see mum yahooing
on a surfboard will certainly be something i will also remember with a
smile on my face. What you guys do for others cant be thanked enough.
Sunshine Coast 08/04/08-Thanks
guys for yet another fantastic day of surfing on Saturday !!Needless
to say Lucy had her usual wonderful time and Maddy, as a volunteer,
says " Mum I had the best time " - it is so great to see her
wanting to be so involved as well, not just with her sister but all
the participants. She was bubbling over with enthusiasm about who she
had helped and how great it was.It is lovely for us to feel such a
part of the group and to be so welcomed when we arrive as well as
renewing friendships and making new friends.
Wasn't Elsa amazing ? She was so stoked to have a go and nearly fell
off her scooter when she won Surfer of the Day !! Please put Lucy's
name down for the two events at the end of the year and pass on our
thanks to the team leaders and marshals etc who all did an amazing
job.
Who knows - we might get Lucy standing up one day!!
Coffs
Harbour,
thank you for a wonderful day today. we had a great time. our son is 7
yrs old and has cerebral palsy. he was so excited and enjoyed it so
much, and his little brother got to have a go too, which we really
appreciated. the helpers were fantastic and very kind . thank you.
looking forward to next time.
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 Disabled
Surfers
South Coast
Branch
7th
Annual Gerroa
"Hands On Day"
Meet
at Emery Park
(on
the northern side of the Crooked River)
Sunday 6 April
2008
Check-in 10.00am…Start
10.30am
Complete Water Supervision
A fun day surfing experience for any person with a disability, no
matter how challenging
All participants receive a bag of goodies – thanks
local surf shops!
All wetsuits, rashvests and soft surfboards supplied for the day
Volunteer Helpers, DSA members and Career's FREE including
lunch and drinks
All Non Member Participants $10
CONTACT… Jim 0410612205, or Ian 42844539 to register or just turn up
Last
year over 200 had a great day!
DSAA Inc Insurance Covers All Events: both public liability and personal
accident
Disabled Surfers – 12 branches strong across Australia
www.disabledsurfers.org
Special
thanks to Club Malnutrition
Our
events are purely about putting “Smiles on Dials” - safely
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DSAA
supports the "Manly
Mental Health Day"
"hold
out your hand "
Official
opening
Sunday
30th March
11.30am
in the Corso
Tony
Bonner MC
Please
join SPERANZA
Mayor
Dr Peter MacDonald
Member
for Manly Mr Mike Baird
Keynote
speaker
Mr
John Brogden
Aboriginal
Elder Uncle Bob Waterer will give the Welcome to Country
to
include all other social and ethnic groups.
A
program of entertainment will follow
featuring
Casey Donovan and other artists.
"DSA
Display at the southern end of Manly Beach".
CALL FOR
VOLUNTEERS
during the day to help us do some demonstrations ( if conditions are
favourable) The DSA will have a tent and static display with our
trailer and will be their all day supporting Club Speranza.
Lots of other
activities along the beach including the mechanical surfboard, surfing
lessons by Manly Surf School and support from Surfing NSW.
"DSA
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED"
Bring your surf gear as it will be highly possible that we will be
taking out our own members and some from the general community.
Call Gary for
further details 02 9759 0997 0424 890 455
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"South Coast
Branch receives Donation"
DSASC announced
today (20/03/2008) that they have had a amphibious wheel chair with
spare wheels and parts donated
to there branch.
This chair
is 4 years old but only used 5 times for his son and is good as new.
Ian said,
"Hopeful
that the Donator and his Disabled Son will join the DSA and come
for a surf one day"
The father
who's name is John Maloney wanted the chair to be utilised more
and he decided to donate it to
DSASC
A BIG
THANKS
Ian
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"DSAA
ACCEPTS DONATIONS"
(Registered
Charity)
through
this website via PayPal secure access.
NOW 
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"DSA
Far North Coast"
First
Event at Coffs Harbour (01/03/08)
Smiles
on dials were the order of the day. The Disabled Surfers
Mid North Coast had there first event on Saturday 1st
of March with a massive turn out. The day was a complete
success with over (70) helpers turning up, and over (10)
eager participants.
The
conditions were perfect with ideal surf running, light winds,
and warm water. There was plenty of action with great rides
all the way to the beach and a few good wipe-outs. The day had
everyone getting plenty of waves and soaking up the surf and
sun. All the surfing made for some hungry surfers who were all
delighted with a free BBQ for everyone. We would like to thank
Coffs Harbour Board riders for their donation of the meat and
bread.
The
Day was a total success for both participants, family’s,
careers and helpers alike, with many touching moments and
seeing the beaming faces of kids and adults alike getting the
surfing stoke. A pure memorable day!!!!
The
next event is at Scott’s Head on Saturday the 26th
of April meeting at the surf cub at
9am
which should be a great
day. We would like to invite anyone with a disability along to
come and have a couple of waves and a BBQ. Also we will need
helpers available. If you haven’t done the train the helper
day it does not matter. Just turn up.
For
any more info Please call Bryn Goode
on 0401 477 612
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Sydney
Branch - Collaroy
Beach
"Hands On Day"
(23/02/2008)
Just wanted to
say a big thankyou to everyone that supported this event either
through the raffle or by helping out on the day. We raised $1,160 in
the raffle which the Vodafone Foundation has kindly agreed to match $
for $. This money will go directly to Disabled Surfers Association and
will most like be used to fund future events or purchase specialised
equipment such as beach going wheel chairs.
A special
thanks to:
To Justin Lee
and his (20) mates from Vodafone that came and helped out on the day
(the DSA relies on volunteers alone so was great to get so many of you
along )
Vodafone
foundation
- for matching the money raised $ for $
Vodafone -
who provided the surf board and mobile phone (1st
and 3rd
prizes in the raffle) and other prizes
One Barrack
Street -
who provided 2nd
Prize $200 Billabong voucher
Tracks magazine
- for 3 month subscription, t-shirts and hundreds of previous issues
that were given out on the day
Rival swim wear
- for donating a heap of towels, rash vests, shorts etc. all used to
make up prizes on the day
Instyle
Magazine -
for a box of this month's Instyles
Mikey from
Vodafone for sorting out an esky full of kit kats (unfortunately all
got eaten on the day!!) :-)
And finally the
DSA and all it's members for organising and coordinating such a great
day.
We got some
great publicity from Sam de Brito in the smh and The age. See below.
Article published in "The Age" Newspaper
Feb 08
Click
Here
Also EXTRA
SPECIAL THANKS:
To the event sponsors, Global Surf Industries, Warringah Council, Chefs
On The Run, Northcott, Rainbow Signs, Barcoo Landscapes, Wicks Surf
Shop, Northside Concreting, Beach Without Sand Surf Shop, Boardscape
Surf Shop, O'Neill Wetsuits, Australian Surfing World magazine,
the Farrell family and the Wednesday Wheelie Warriors.
A special thanks
to Carl's
Window Cleaning Service
for pushing my car and trailer (disabled surfers written all over
Car & Trailer, full of wetsuites, aquatic beach chairs etc.
for the event) off Spit road at Mosman in a peak traffic period
(when no one else would stop) and the NRMA for getting me going
again in time to make the event.
Pictures
from
the day can be viewed from our
Photo Album:-
Click
Here
Watch a
Video of the day:-
Click
Here
Graeme - Sydney
President
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PRESS
RELEASE
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Mid North
Coast branch
"Our
first Hands On Day"
We
are having our first "Hands on Day" on Saturday 1st of March
9am. With over 22 years of existence, and ` in every state of Australia
the Disabled Surfers Association are proud to announce the their first
"Hands on Day" at the jetty beach (next to Yacht Club) for
the newly formed Mid North Coast branch.
With
a massive turn out of 200 people for the "train the helper"
we are looking forward to having a massive turn out on Saturday 1st
of March. The day will provide a safe fun beach and surfing experience
for anyone with a disability, no matter how severe. There will be
complete supervision in and around the water, with rash shirts, wetsuits,
safe soft surfboards and plenty of shade. Everything is provided with
a free BBQ and drinks for all DSA participants' helpers and career's.
There will be a $10 charge for all non member participants, with memberships
available on the day.
 The
events are run with safety as a priority and no-one ever comes away at
the end of a "Hands on Day" without a smile on their face. It
will be a great day and with it's main objective of giving everyone a
safe beach and surfing experience.
There
will be a general meeting the Wednesday (February the 27th) before the
event at Sawtell RSL at 7pm and all Helpers and DSA trained helpers and
committee are most welcome. Please ring Bryn Goode (0401 477 612) for
more information.
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Mid
North Coast Branch
1st
Coffs Harbour Annual 'Hands On Day'
Meet
at Jetty
Harbour Beach
(next to the Yacht Club)
Saturday
1st March 2008
Check-in
9.00am .. for a.. Start 9.30am .. don't be late!
A
fun day experiencing surfing for any person with a disability, no matter
how severe
Complete
Water Supervision
All
long sleeve rash vests and surfboards supplied for the day
Lunch
and drinks supplied ~
Volunteer
Helpers, DSA members and Career's. FREE including lunch and drinks
All
Non Members Participants $10
 Contact
... Bryn 04014-77612, Liz 6656 1494 or John 0409561494 -to
register beforehand or simply turn up on the day
Don't
forget the 2nd event to be held at Scott's Head ..Sat 26th April..
-Ring
Nikki on 6569 9049 - "Thanks Loggerheads!"
DSAA
Inc Insurance Covers All Events: both public liability and personal
accident.
Disabled
Surfers - 12 branches strong across Australia
All
events are run with safety as the priority and no-one ever comes away
at the end of a 'Hands On Day' without a smile on their face
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