WARRIORS MEET AUCKLAND SCHOOLS ATHLETICS - Welcome Special Olympics West Coast - APRIL 2018
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APRIL 2018
BUMP
ER
ISSUE
Welcome Special Olympics
West Coast
NATIONAL SUMMER
GAMES NOMINATED
FOR SPORTING AWARD
WARRIORS MEET AUCKLAND
SCHOOLS ATHLETICS
Abu Dhabi here we come
READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz
FROM: THE CEO’S DESK
It is great to see that we have had such a positive start to 2018.
We are thrilled that our 2017 National Summer Games has been
selected as a finalist in the “Community Impact” category in the
2018 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards.
We are so proud that the achievements of our athletes We are focused on adding greater depth to our
and volunteers will be highlighted publicly through the sanctioned sports which includes rolling out our coach
national Awards process. development programme and ensuring that we are
providing expanded opportunities to engage new
We wish to acknowledge and athletes and their families/caregivers. Additionally we
are starting to place more emphasis on engaging new
congratulate all the finalists supporters through our Unified Sports Programme.
this year. If you have an opportunity to engage new individuals or
groups in a Level 1 Unified Sport event then please
With the retirement of a number of long-standing
take this up. I can assure you it will be a very rewarding
volunteers at the end of last year, we have had a
experience. There is nothing our athletes enjoy more
seamless transition with the recruitment of new
than spontaneously engaging new players in their
volunteers in most positions at Club level across NZ.
chosen sports!!
This has meant that there has been no disruption to
our regular training and competition pathway.
Managing succession planning effectively is part of the
core business process of any successful organisation.
Kathy Gibson, Chief Executive Officer
#OURCOACHES
Special Olympics New Zealand is committed to connecting our volunteer coaches with the training opportunities,
tools, resources and information they want and need for their growth and development as coaches. As an
organisation, we believe it is important that we offer our coaches a clear and accessible pathway for their
own growth and development to the level they aspire to.
In 2017 we asked our coaching community for feedback on what they would like from us in terms of Coach
Development opportunities. We had a great response and some very definite guidance on what our coaches
and Clubs would like. As a result, you will be seeing a couple of new initiatives coming out from Special Olympics
New Zealand in the next few months.
The first of these will be the launch of the #OurCoaches quarterly email newsletter, sharing links to relevant
coaching tools and resources and training opportunities around the country and online.
Interested in receiving this? Email coaching@specialolympics.org.nz
2 READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018
FRESH YOUNG TALENT
AT WAIKATO POWERLIFTING
New talent was on display at Special Olympics
Waikato’s powerlifting event on 10 March.
“We have four new athletes under the age of 20 all showing huge potential,”
said Special Olympics Regional Sports Coordinator, Colleen Black. “There’s a real
indication that this sport is growing throughout the North Island.”
The four new athletes were:
• David Bell, Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga (18): first in Squat, Deadlift,
Benchpress and Combination Lifts.
• Darryl Lewis, Special Olympics Manawatu (17): fifth in Squat, third in Benchpress,
second in Deadlift.
• Kate Timp, Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga (15): first in Squat,
second in Benchpress, first in Deadlift.
• Courtney Duncan, Special Olympics Waikato (22): second in Squat,
first in Benchpress, third in Deadlift.
The event was opened by Special Olympics Waikato competitor and Global
Messenger Alex Johnsen. “Alex spoke with confidence and enthusiasm, welcoming
everyone and wishing them good luck and a great competition. He also thanked
all of the very supportive volunteers,” Colleen said.
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT GETS
BOCCE GOING IN AUCKLAND
Special Olympics Auckland has now got Bocce up and running, thanks to
the involvement of committed volunteers Jenny Collins and Nazrin Samin.
The two volunteers have got weekly Club training going with a group of
athletes, held at Selwyn College in Kohimarama.
The Auckland Club will begin hosting Bocce events in this month, at Bridge Park Bowling Club in Mangere.
Both Jenny and Nazrin got involved with Special
Olympics Auckland through their children and have
grown their volunteer involvement from there.
Jenny was interested in Bocce as she was keen to see
a new sport being offered to the athletes. “I enjoy
seeing athletes being able to participate in sports that
they love and might not have had the opportunity to
participate in ordinarily,” Jenny says.
Nazrin has been a registered volunteer for about
nine months, and originally got involved as an Indoor
Bowling coach for the 2017 National Summer Games.
“I enjoy helping the athletes and teaching them how to
play Games like Indoor Bowling and Bocce,” Nazrin said.
Thanks Jenny and Nazrin for your outstanding commitment! THE TEAM AT TRAINING AT SELWYN COLLEGE
READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018 3
WELCOME SPECIAL OLYMPICS WEST COAST
Last month we were very excited to welcome a new Club to the Special
Olympics New Zealand family – Special Olympics West Coast!
The Club held its first meeting and AGM on 1 March,
followed by its first official event on Saturday 3 March
– a Tier 1 Golf event. The event was followed by an
informal launch event, attended by special guest,
Mayor Tony Kokshoorn.
“Special Olympics West Coast is born out of the
excitement generated by the Special Olympics
schools swimming and basketball events we have
been running in Greymouth for the last couple of
years,” says Special Olympics New Zealand Regional
Team Leader, Julia Sanson.
“The success of the events has brought together a
CHAIR JOS STURKENBOOM THANKS SPONSORS
core group of parents who together with support from AS MAYOR TONY KOKSHOORN LOOKS ON
the local community, want to provide a way for athletes
to move into a Club environment, and provide a life-
long sporting pathway.” Special Olympics West Coast Chair Jos Sturkenboom said
he’s excited and privileged to be part of the new Club.
Regional Sports Coordinator Graeme Bain has worked
with a strong group of volunteers who form the new “As a parent it’s such a buzz to see
Club Committee, and want to develop the Club to
provide opportunities for athletes from Westport
all our athletes out participating
to Hokitika. In true ‘Coaster’ style, the community together, having fun and making
has come together to get behind the new Club with friends,” Jos said.
strong support from the Grey District Council, Regional
Sports Trust, schools, service providers, community “A big thank you to Graeme Bain, to our Secretary Jenny
groups, families and mainstream volunteers, as well Green who has been a real driving force, and to the
as funders and sporting venues. community, which has really got behind us.”
The Upper South Island Regional Council (USIRC), Special Olympics West Coast will offer Golf, Basketball,
has also committed to supporting the West Coast Swimming and Equestrian. The Club will next host a
volunteers in the development of the Club. Basketball Tier 1 event in June.
SCHOOL SWIMMING SUCCESS
The West Coast also played host to a schools
swimming event at Hokitika Community Pool
on Friday 2 March.
29 students from Westland High, Grey High, Karoro School, St Marys School
and Grey Main School took part, and there was great support from the
new West Coast Club, with four volunteers and two athletes helping out.
Eight Year 12 students from Westland High also volunteered as timekeepers
and ‘in the water help’ and local swim clubs supported the event.
“The day ran to time and parents and teachers all said it was a great event –
when can we do it again!” said Regional Sports Coordinator Graeme Bain.
WESTLAND HIGH TIMEKEEPERS
“The water was five degrees warmer than most pools, so it was a job to get AT THE READY
them out! They loved the day.”
4 READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018
GOLF TEES OFF
ON THE WEST COAST
Special Olympics West Coast’s first Ribbon Day event was held on Saturday
3 March at the Greymouth Golf Club. 29 athletes from Special Olympics
Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast took part on a very
warm West Coast day.
SOME OF THE WEST COAST TEAM
“It was great to see the West Coast athletes out there in their first Club AT THE GOLF DAY
competition meeting the athletes from other Clubs and making new
friends,” said Regional Sports Coordinator Graeme Bain. “The Greymouth
Golf Club made us very welcome and closed nine holes of the course so
we could run the Level 1 event.”
The day was sponsored by The Eagles Golfing Society who also supplied
three volunteers as scorers for the skills competition. Coast Wide Honda
also provided support.
“The Special Olympics West Coast committee did a huge job catering for
everyone. It was brilliant,” Graeme said. “Some new athletes came along THE MARLBOROUGH TEAM
AT THE EVENT
and there was a really good feeling about the whole event.
NATIONAL SUMMER GAMES FINALIST
IN NATIONAL SPORTING AWARDS
The 2017 National Summer Games have been made the cut as a finalist
in the 2018 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards, in the Community
Impact section!
The finalists were selected across six categories: Commercial Partnership, Community Impact, Event Excellence,
High Performance Campaign, Innovation Excellence and the Future Leaders Scholarship. The full list of finalists are:
COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMPAIGN
• Badminton New Zealand and Massey University • New Zealand Black Ferns' Women's Rugby World
• Hockey New Zealand and Vantage Windows and Doors Cup Campaign 2017 – NZ Rugby
• Surf Life Saving New Zealand and BP • World Championship Gold Medal Men’s Shot Put
• World Masters Games 2017 and Barfoot & Thompson 2017 – Athletics New Zealand
• World Doubles Squash Championships 2017 Gold
COMMUNITY IMPACT Medal Mixed Pair – Squash New Zealand
• Fiordland Trails Trust – Lake2Lake, Te Anau to
Manapouri Multi-use Trail INNOVATION EXCELLENCE
• The Shift Foundation – Shift: Just Shift It • Athletics New Zealand: Vertical Pursuit 2017
• Special Olympics New Zealand – 2017 National & Beyond!
Summer Games • Sport Gisborne Tairᾱwhiti: i-COACH
• Waka Ama New Zealand: IT Solutions
EVENT EXCELLENCE
• The DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 – NZ Rugby FUTURE LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP
• World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships • No finalists named – winner to be revealed at
2017 – The NZ Shearing Foundation the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards.
• World Masters Games 2017 The winners will be announced at an Awards Dinner on 28 May.
READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018 5
SCHOOLS
SPECTACULAR
It’s been a busy few weeks with schools
events happening up and down the country
– check out some of the highlights.
WARRIORS
MEET AUCKLAND SCHOOLS ATHLETICS
The Warriors win against the
Rabbitohs at the start of their
season must have been a good
omen. That confidence and team
spirit was alive as members of
the Warriors ascended on the
Special Olympics Central Schools
Athletics event at Mt Smart
Stadium on Thursday 15 March.
GLOBAL MESSENGER MONIQUE IRVINE (LEFT) PICTURED
In total 260 students from nine schools in the Central WITH SOMMERVILLE SPECIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS AND
region took part in the event. The day featured WARRIORS TEAM MANAGER DAN FLOYD (BACK MIDDLE)
AND CAPTAIN SIMON MANNERING (RIGHT)
Warriors giveaways and free tickets to attend a live
game drawn by captain Simon Mannering, which was Fairfax Media came along to film some of the day’s
won by Mt Roskill Grammar student James Wilson. events and Warriors photographers stood track side
James uses a wheelchair and Simon Mannering went up to capture some heart-felt moments as students
into the grandstand to personally present the award. crossed the finish line. The day also featured fun
wheelchair races with the Central Auckland Specialist
“It is really great to see a student School challenging the Warriors who were on foot
win a prize that will allow them doing antics like playing leap frog in a bid to distract
and entertain the audience.
to see their heroes in action.
2018 Global Messenger in training Monique Irvine
What made this even more special spoke about her experiences at Club and international
is the stadium a few years ago level with Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga at the
had consent to build a wheelchair Opening Ceremony, to help encourage school athletes
to transition into Clubs.
ramp at the front gate for easier
access for mobility.” “Thanks to all the schools that attended and left with
a smile on their dial, the Warriors and Regional Sports
“I think it’s great that we can offer free tickets and Coordinator Megan Grayson, who worked tirelessly on
make it attainable for James to attend this event the field to ensure everyone moved from station to
without the access challenges some stadiums present,” station to complete their events. Wishing Megan the best
says Regional Sports Coordinator Helen Ferguson. as she leaves to start her new role at Auckland Rugby.”
6 READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018
HEADING FOR THE FINISH LINE!
OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER TURN-OUT
IN SOUTH CANTERBURY
The South Canterbury schools event was blessed with a sunny day
on Tuesday 20 March for the competition at Aorangi Park in Timaru.
Five schools from the South Canterbury region took “We had almost as many volunteers as athletes
part and were supported by amazing volunteers from competing which was a real luxury as an event manager.
Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury, Timaru Boys The volunteers hadn’t had any previous experience
High, Waitaki Boys High, Mountainview High School with Special Olympics but embraced the event and
and Roncalli College. our student athletes with enthusiasm, sharing in the
efforts and achievements of the students.”
“I was completely blown away with the incredible
response to my call for volunteers - what an amazing, The event also included a Unified Play event. 32 people
supportive community!” said Julia Sanson, Regional joined in and had fun in a Unified relay, with teams
Team Leader for Special Olympics New Zealand. made up of two mainstream school volunteers and
two athletes. “There was fun, smiles and enthusiasm…
and a definite edge of competitiveness!” Julia said.
MANAWATU DO YOU HAVE THE
ATHLETICS FUN RIGHT GLASSES
FOR YOU?
Some 360 pairs of glasses have been made for
athletes who had their eyes screened at the
National Summer Games last year. Grant, Evan and
the Essilor team have been working hard to get
these made and sent to National Office for
distribution. If you have received someone else’s
More than 150 students from eight schools across glasses by mistake - please send them to:
Wanganui, Manawatu and Horowhenua took part in the
Manawatu Secondary Schools Athletics event on 20 March. Rachel Clarke, Healthy Communities Coordinator
c/- Special Olympics New Zealand
The event was supported by 19 student volunteers Pelorus Trust Sports House
from Freyberg High School in Palmerston North, 93 Hutt Park Rd
who were all part of the Elite Sports Programme Seaview, Lower Hutt, 5010
and under 16. As well as supporting the athletes,
some of the student volunteers also tried their If you have any questions about your glasses please
hand at a Unified softball throw! email Rachel at Rachel@specialolympics.org.nz
READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018 7
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
UPDATE FOR ATHLETES
SCREENING athletes with Down syndrome assessed had
Keratoconus. Keratoconus occurs in about 1/2000
AND TREATING (0.05%) of the general population so these results
suggest that the condition may be up to 600x more
KERATOCONUS common in people with Down syndrome. These results
IN ATHLETES WITH highlight the fact that keratoconus may be affecting
a large proportion of individuals with Down syndrome
DOWN SYNDROME in New Zealand. The team from The University of
Auckland will be conducting research into Keratoconus
A team from The University of in individuals with Down syndrome in the very near
Auckland* joined the Opening future to determine exactly how common the
condition is in these individuals and what is the best
Eyes Screening at the National
way to manage it.
Summer Games in November 2017
in Wellington. The team consisted Dr Aki Gokul is following up on all of the athletes in
of Dr Aki Gokul, Dr Samantha whom Keratoconus was detected himself. When Dr Aki
Simkin and Joyce Mathan, who Gokul makes contact with the athletes and/or their
families he will provide information about the
are optometrists and researchers treatment options and make a referral for treatment
specialising in special needs to the appropriate health provider. This treatment is
populations and an eye free if the athlete needs to see a specialist in the public
condition called Keratoconus. health system. However, this is often associated with
lengthy wait times so the option of seeing a specialist
Keratoconus is a chronic, potentially blinding disease privately is also offered but this does come at a cost
of the cornea; the transparent, dome-like tissue located if the athlete does not have private health insurance.
at the front of the eye, and is thought to be more Furthermore, if the athlete is required to see an
common in people with Down Syndrome but this has optometrist this will also incur a cost. For those athletes
not specifically been investigated in New Zealand. out of the Auckland area Aki will refer the athlete to a
The goal of the team was to identify Keratoconus local health provider in your area. If you have not heard
in athletes with Down Syndrome but the service from Dr Aki Gokul or you have any questions, you can
was also provided to any athletes in which Keratoconus contact him on akilesh.gokul@auckland.ac.nz
was suspected.
*The Keratoconus team are based in the Dept of Ophthalmology,
A total of 44 athletes were found to have Keratoconus. Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences at The University of Auckland
The screening also revealed that 38/110 (34.5%) and are led by Professors Dipika Patel and Charles McGhee.
HEALTHY EATING: Apples are a great fast food snack. Give them a wash
before eating and cut them into slices or spirals to make
APPLES them fun to eat. Eating apples regularly is a great way
to get one of your 5+ A Day fresh fruit and vegetables.
NZ apples are harvested between February and May
and are best kept in the refrigerator.
FAST FACTS
• There are more than 7000 varieties of apples
grown worldwide
• Fresh apples float because they contain 25% air
• Like pears, apples are “pome” fruit.
8 READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE GREEN
PRESCRIPTION (GRX) PROGRAMME?
These FREE health & wellbeing workshops can support you to get active and improve your health.
The focus of the Healthy Communities work in 2018 is to support the wellbeing of athletes through health
education and to promote opportunities for athletes to participate in wellness programmes.
Did you know that the Green Prescription (GRX) See more information here about the Auckland
programme is available to anyone who wants to programme at: www.sportauckland.co.nz/
improve their wellbeing e.g. athletes, coaches, health-wellness/green-prescription-grx
family members, support workers?
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel
To join you need to: on Rachel@specialolympics.org.nz
• be 18 years and over
There is also a Green Prescription Active Families
• be ready to make changes to your lifestyle service (available nationwide) for school aged children
• have a stable medical condition that could benefit (ages 5 – 17) and families who would like support to get
from regular physical activity, or active and eat healthier. Check out the Sport Auckland
• be at risk of developing a medical condition due programme at: www.sportauckland.co.nz/
to a sedentary (low activity) lifestyle. health-wellness/active-families
GIVE IT A GO!
+ Take a look at this video to learn more this free
Wherever you are in the country, you can attend a GRX
programme vimeo.com/168143104
programme near you, further to self-referral or referral
+ You can self-refer or be referred by your family from your G.P or practice nurse. You will then be
doctor or practice nurse booked in for a one-to-one consultation with a Healthy
+ Ring 0800 ACTIVE / 0800 228 483 to find out Lifestyle Advisor. Courses run throughout the year.
where a GRX programme is available near you.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS…
Rachel, the Healthy Communities coordinator for Please let us know if you graduate from a GRX
Special Olympics New Zealand is working with the GRX programme so we can celebrate your success with you.
team in Auckland to support members of the Special A Special Olympics Certificate will be issued to athletes
Olympics community to attend a programme. who complete 6 sessions of a GRX programme.
HISTORY
It is believed that silk traders first brought the apple Earliest writings by inhabitants from China and Egypt
to ancient Rome from Kazakhstan where the trees mention that man was budding and grafting fruit trees
were cultivated and prized for their fruit. Romans took as early as the first century.
the cultivated fruit with them to England when they
conquered the country. Apple-growing then became Read more at: www.5aday.co.nz/facts-and-tips/
common in England and many other parts of Europe. fruit-vegetable-info/apples/
There is also evidence dating back to the Iron Age that
apples were eaten and preserved in prehistoric lake
dwellings in Switzerland.
READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018 9
MIKE SET TO TAKE ON VOLUNTEER ROLE
AT ABU DHABI 2019
Mike Ryan, Manager – Sports Operations for Special Olympics
New Zealand, has again been selected to undertake an important
international voluntary role - Technical Delegate for Bocce at next
year’s 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi.
Since starting in the same role in Shanghai, China, at the 2007 World
Summer Games, his voluntary work has taken him to Athens in 2011,
Los Angeles in 2015 and now Abu Dhabi in 2019.
Mike first became involved in the sport when as a Special Olympics
Manawatu volunteer he was appointed as Head Coach for Bocce for
the New Zealand team that attended the 1995 World Summer Games
in Connecticut, a role he also did in North Carolina in 1999. In 2003 he
moved into the officiating side of the game and attended the Dublin
2003 World Games as an International Technical Official.
In Abu Dhabi there are expected to be at least 350 Special Olympics MIKE IN HIS VOLUNTARY BOCCE TD
athletes and Unified Partners competing in Bocce over the 12 days of ROLE IN LA, AT THE 2017 SPECIAL
OLYMPICS WORLD SUMMER GAMES
competition, playing on 18 courts.
“I am anticipating more than 750 games will be played during the event, and Mike is hopeful that some will
so it will be pretty full on,” Mike says. apply to continue to the legacy of
New Zealand being represented at
As well as managing the 350+ competitors, Mike also has to oversee the
this level.
coordination of the 120 local and International Technical Officials (ITO),
as well as the Venue Operations personnel. “I am really excited to attend next
year’s Games as I still get a real buzz
“Without having a local sports association to call on to supply match
from watching the faces of the
officials etc for major events such as a World Games, we always have to
athletes, coaches, partners and
start from scratch and train up our Bocce officials to a World Games
family members. It is truly inspiring.
standard in the two years lead in time that we have.”
And the legacy we leave behind in
New Zealand Bocce officials from last year’s National Summer Games in the country once the Games is over
Wellington will all be eligible to apply to work at the 2019 Games as ITOs is also a really great feeling”.
ABU DHABI
HERE WE Al attended the World Summer Games in Athens in 2011 and in Los Angeles
COME! in 2015 as Head Coach for Basketball. He has more than 15 years’
experience with Special Olympics in a variety of roles together with a
strong business background. Al has been to the Middle East with his work
We are very pleased to announce
a number of times and has a good understanding of some of the challenges
two key volunteer appointments for
that are unique to this part of the world.
the New Zealand team for the 2019
World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. Jonathan has been with Special Olympics for six years. He was an
outstanding Team Doctor for the New Zealand team for the 2015 Games
Al Robson (Special Olympics
in Los Angeles. Jonathan also led the medical teams for our 2013 and
Canterbury) has accepted the
2017 National Summer Games in Dunedin and Wellington.
position of Head of Delegation.
Dr Jonathan Kok (Special Olympics Al and Jonathan will now join the Board Selection Panel for the selection
Manawatu) has accepted the of the Assistant Head of Delegation, Head Coaches, Coaches and the
position of Team Doctor. Athletes. We look forward to announcing the full team!
10 READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS: JILL ALLELY,
TREASURER, SPECIAL OLYMPICS ROTORUA
Jill Allely has been a mainstay of Special Olympics Rotorua for around
ten years. Originally involved as a Mum, Jill’s accounting skills quickly
became known and she became Treasurer of the Club Committee.
Together with the rest of the Committee, Jill has athletes who come along very shy, no social interaction.
promoted Special Olympics Rotorua to the community Some have never been out of Rotorua. To me, when
and in her time the membership has doubled and I see them increase in confidence, socialise, make
the number of sports has increased to five. Jill was conversation, help others and get out there, experience
Assistant Manager for the Rotorua team for the “life”, for me means more than them winning at a
National Summer Games in Dunedin and was Team competition. Not that they might think like that. But
Manager for the Wellington Games in 2017. As if that’s what the volunteers are there to do, help the
that wasn’t enough, Jill is also heavily involved with athletes do their best.
GymSports NZ as a volunteer and works fulltime.
What would you describe as the highlight of
How did you get involved with Special Olympics your involvement?
Rotorua? If I had to pick one it would be the success of our team
I was looking for some sport my son, Conor, could in Wellington (at the National Summer Games 2017).
participate in. Mainstream sports had not been It started with ensuring that all our athletes qualified
successful and my philosophy is that all children for the Games, getting them to competitions
should be involved in a sport. At that time I saw an beforehand, to raising the funds required. I meet so
article about Special Olympics Rotorua’s participation many lovely people from our community along the
in the National Summer Games in Palmerston North. way that were willing to help fundraise. Being able
So I contacted them and took him along to Ten Pin to double our team from Dunedin was a challenge
Bowling, the only sport that had going at the time. especially as half the team had never attended a
My involvement has grown from then. Summer Games before. I was so proud of every athlete.
They all behaved perfectly, helping one another and the
What do you enjoy about volunteering with bonus was coming home with so many medals. I think
Special Olympics? to see volunteers with tears down their faces when
I enjoy the whole philosophy of Special Olympics. But athletes were presented with medals spoke to me
I love my involvement with the athletes. Making their about what Special Olympics is about. That and not
successes happen. I love seeing athletes develop not losing anyone or anyone having to be hospitalised
only their sporting skills but their overall independence, for the whole week!
social skills, developing friendships. We have some
READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018 11CARL HITS THE
WORKFORCE!
Special Olympics Manawatu
basketball athlete Carl Drylie
recently started his first job
out of school, and is loving
every moment of it.
After seeing a stand for disability support provider
MASH Trust at a local careers expo, 19 year-old Carl
decided to put in an application to work with them.
“I had a meeting with them when they asked me
things like what are you good at, what can you do,
what can’t you do,” Carl says. “Then after the National
Summer Games they gave me a call and asked how
soon I could start.”
MASH Trust provides a wide range of support services for
people with psychiatric, intellectual of physical disability New Zealand
or illness. Carl works at a day programme on Mondays
and Thursday supporting people with disabilities.
“I’d been looking for a job for a while so I was happy
to get this job. I’m really enjoying it so far. The people
there are quite similar to people from Special Olympics FOR MORE UPDATES –
which is good. I can relate to them.” “LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK!
Well done Carl!
12 READ MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.specialolympics.org.nz | Fanletter April 2018You can also read
