DSA Australia South Coast Pictures

South Coast Branch

Gerroa Beach 03/04/2005

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Waving goodbye to disabilities

By GLENN ELLARD

There was no mistaking the amount of joy experienced by people taking part in the South Coast Disabled Surfers Association day at Gerroa.
The breadth of their smiles said it all.

There was little Marusha Rowe, brought down from Sydney specially for the day, whose squeals of delight with each wave she caught resounded through the beach and among the estimated 80 participants.
The little girl with cerebral palsy was having her first try at riding a wave, and loved the results according to carers.

There was South African paraplegic Nick Taylor in Australia to play basketball with the Wollongong Rollerhawks, who found out about the surfing day and travelled to the beach for some "awesome fun" riding waves.
And then there was Kelly McCann, a young woman left in a similar situation for former Superman, the late Christopher Reeve, by a car accident when she was just three.
Yet despite being a quadriplegic, needing assistance breathing and having a tracheotomy hole open to the water, she was not going to miss an opportunity to get into the water.
She said her time riding waves was "just incredible", with one of the main attractions "being free of the chair for a while".
As there were obviously risks involved with being among waves, Kelly admitted she was a bit scared the first time she went into the surf at a come and try day at Collaroy, "but once I did it I wasn't scared any more".
In fact she ventured down to Collaroy just to have a look at what was happening, but quickly decided, "I can do that."
That can-do attitude has inspired many people, leading SCDSA secretary Jim Bradley to describe Kelly as "an absolute champion".
But while Mr Bradley was singing Kelly's praises, and saying "what a humbling experience it is for us as helpers in whom she has placed such trust", Kelly showed she had a keen sense of fun.

The 23-year-old giggled at suggestions of taking out two boards, and sending one back carrying nothing other than the hand pump used to help keep her breathing while she was out in the water - just to give the helpers a shock.

Helpers on the day were divided into several teams, each helping a range of people experience the thrill of surfing, with the biggest crew being assembled to assist Kelly in the water.

Poem by Kelly's nurse Marisa Smith - Click Here

Lenny puts body and soul into surfing

Lenny Snowden smiles broadly as he declares himself a surfer.
"Absolutely I'm a surfer," he says with great enthusiasm.

There was a time when Lenny rarely went in the water, but life has changed dramatically in the past 15 years since Lenny lost nearly half his body in an industrial accident at Blue Scope Steel in 1992.

Now missing his right arm and leg, Lenny took to the water for the first time when the Disabled Surfers Association formed in 1993 - and has not looked back since.

He said he was in the water on average once a month, and "I'm good at hanging five, but I'm no good at hanging 10," he laughed.

While he loves surfing tandem, Lenny's biggest joy comes from using his specially-designed body board top ride waves on his own.

It is done with a determination and zest for life that has seen Lenny described as an ambassador for disabled surfers around the world.

It is a role he takes seriously, spending much of his time training able-bodied people how to assist on Disabled Surfers Association days.

By GLENN ELLARD

..
Squeals of joy, raucous laughter and smiles to melt the sternest heart were all the rage as people of all ages took to the waves at Gerroa Beach recently.

Sure, some of the people were missing limbs, or had bodies that did not work the way they should, but no-one was going to let that stop the sheer pleasure of being carried along by a wave.

Kelly McCann summed it up best when she said it was all about "freedom".
And freedom is an important attribute of life for 23-year-old Kelly, left a respiratory-affected quadriplegic by a car accident when she was just three.
But she has not let the fact she is constantly in a wheelchair controlled my her mouth, or has to be hooked up to a respirator attached through a tracheotomy opening to breathe, stop her enjoying life.

It was stirring, emotional stuff as Kelly was placed on a board and carried out by a team of helpers including nurse Marissa Smith who was keeping Kelly breathing with a bag.

Then the bag was disconnected as Kelly rode in on a wave with helper Sarah Ciantar also on the board, before the bagging was continued at the end of the wave.

Then there was another wave, then another and another.
If fact the initial plan for Kelly to ride three waves in her first session soon went by the wayside, as the beaming young woman extended her time to eight waves.

Then after lunch she was back for more in the surf day organised by the South Coast Disabled Surfers Association.

It was an effort that had SCDSA secretary Jim Bradley's chest swelling in admiration.
"She's inspirational because she tells the rest of us in society 'what are you whingeing about? Get on with life'," Mr Bradley said.

Taking part in the day were about 60 surfers volunteering to help people with disabilities take to the water, and feel the pleasure and sense of freedom that comes from riding waves.
"It's an honour for us to be invited into their lives," Mr Bradley said earnestly.
"We get and emotional fix out of helping.
"You can't ever say the abled people get more out of it, but by God it seems that way at times."

DSA days are held annually at various places including Gerroa, Thirroul and Collaroy, and later this year will be extending to Batemans Bay to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to try new experiences.
"This is all about surfers giving back some of our time and resources to ensure disabled people have a great day," Mr Bradley said.

"It's for a group of people who rarely get made the centre of attention."
And through its efforts the DSA was ensuring access and facilities were being improved at a number of beaches, ensuring people with disabilities were given the opportunities to get to beaches, feel waves lapping around their feet and sand between their toes - something many of us take for granted.