Open to All (Latest Mayor’s Column – 26 May 2018)

I was delighted to be asked along to Sportz Central this week by Sport NSW to help open their Activate Inclusion Sports Day.

The Activate Inclusion programme is a ground-breaking initiative that focuses on providing access to sport students aged five to 18 years with a physical, intellectual or sensory disability. The day also caters for students with learning and mental health difficulties.

Basically it gives children who are often segregated from main stream school PE, because of a lack of the necessary knowledge and equipment to adapt sports for their needs, the opportunity to experience a variety of sports in a fun and inclusive environment. The students who came along to the Sports Day got the chance to try AFL, Basketball, Cricket, Judo and Wheelchair Rugby.

Encouraging everyone to be an active part of the community is a major focus for Council, so I was very happy to come along. We are huge champions of every opportunity that aims to include all members of the community and sport is such a fundamental and fun activity for all ages and abilities. I’m really pleased we were able to support this event.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

It was great to see so many Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea events happening this week. Now in its 25th year, the Morning Tea is one of the Cancer Council’s leading fundraising events and the largest, most successful event of its kind in Australia.

Probably everyone in the Coffs community has been affected by cancer. It may be you yourself, it may be a relative or it may be a friend. I doubt any of us has been untouched by this terrible disease.

But every year research uncovers new drugs, new approaches and new treatments and it’s vitally important that life-saving research is supported until cancer becomes consigned to the history books. Well done to everyone who ran a Morning Tea or donated – your contribution does make a difference.

Buddy Up at the Museum

Do you love local history, culture and stories? Do you talk up Coffs Harbour everywhere you go? Do you enjoy meeting new people and being part of a team? Have you thought about joining the passionate volunteers at Coffs Harbour Regional Museum?

If you’re enthusiastic, motivated and interested in being part of the team that looks after our important heritage collections and stories, please contact Council for more information on 02 6648 4900.