Images: (1) members from Hepatitis B Free, Special Olympics and the Lions Club / (2) a musical group for intellectually disabled children from China, it's a bit hard to see from the picture but they were truly absorbed in the energy and enjoyment of the moment, jamming together and making happy music
Sunday November 24th: Special Olympics Inner West Breakfast Presentations, Burwood RSL
The Special Olympics is a series of sports games held for children and adults with intellectual disabilities worldwide. The sporting events ranged from basketball to dancing, cricket and athletics to ten-pin bowling. The coaches themselves are often passionate volunteers, many have family members with disabilities. In November 2013, Newcastle, Australia hosted the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games...and a little more to come on that later too.
This morning was run to acknowledge the achievements of the athletes and the contributions of various volunteers. Dancing, music and speech performances were given, as well as fundraising for Special Olympics (primarily through selling raffle tickets, which always works).
So, what were we doing there?
Hepatitis B Free has a couple of strong partnerships with other community-oriented organisations, one of them being the Lions Club. As the Lions Club is a proud supporter of the Special Olympics, Hep B Free also got involved with the Special Olympics.
On this particular day, we were there to support and spectate, and help out the existing volunteers with odd jobs like setting up the tables and sorting raffle prize. In addition, mum gave a quick talk as the Hep B Free rep about the PNG project.
What made this event so special was the atmosphere of community spirit. It sounds ridiculously cliche, but that was what it was - people from polar opposite backgrounds and careers working together for a common cause. Lawyers, chocolate makers, families, doctors, politician, business owners, dance teachers. Generous-hearted people who are not just willing, but HAPPY to invest their time and energy into sharing and supporting an incredible cause.
Until a few months ago, I didn't even know Special Olympics even existed - there's a whole world out there, and not even OUT THERE, it's in our own neighbourhood! And yet everyone knows about the Paralympics, it's extremely well publicised, and the Olympics goes without saying.
Definitely worth a sticky-beak: http://www.specialolympics.com.au/Home/home/
More to come another time.
Carrie
