The Sureway Wollongong Roller Hawks have received a boost to their community engagement programs after receiving a grant through Stockland CARE Grants. 

 

 

The grant will be put towards the club’s ‘Come & Try’ Program which sees the Roller Hawks take wheelchair basketball to schools and community events and allow school children and members of the public to experience what it's like to be in a wheelchair and what it takes to overcome the difficulties of living with a disability in an interactive and safe way.

“We’re very grateful to receive this grant from Stocklands CARE.” says Roller Hawks Club President Geoff Adams. 

 

“Fundraising forms a key part of the club’s revenue streams and unfortunately with Coronavirus the opportunity to fundraise through BBQs and trivia nights has been hampered. This grant will help ease the burden on our players and committee members who do everything on a volunteer basis.”

 

“At the moment we’ve been unable to host ‘Come & Try’ Days during the pandemic but we’re excited about resuming the program once it is safe to do so.”

 

The program provides people who may not have had much to do with people with a disability to meet and hear from someone with a disability first hand as well as experience what it's like to live with a disability. 

 

“People are keen to have a go and have fun pushing around in a chair but soon realise, to control the chair and a basketball at the same time is not easy. This allows people to gain an understanding and appreciation of what life is like for many people in a wheelchair every day, where environments are not controlled and mobility is limited.” 

 

‘Come & Try’ days also provide an opportunity for people, many who play no sport at all, to get involved by trying it on the day and then coming to a regular training session and then taking up the sport. 

 

The Stockland CARE grant is a coming full circle of sorts for Roller Hawks’ guard Luke Pople who was recruited while 'hanging out' at Stocklands Shellharbour.

 

Having not played sports until discovering wheelchair basketball at the age of 13, Pople (pictured left alongside fellow Roller Hawk Tim Rusby-Smith) says being able to engage with school aged children is a great way to grow the sport.

 

“It’s important that people of whatever age who have a disability, come along to a ‘Come & Try’ day because it can open up so many different avenues whether it be physical exercise, making new friendships and the opportunity to play a great game and have fun,” says Pople.

Wheelchair basketball is a sport for all abilities and ages and the club caters for all levels. Participants don't have to have a disability or be permanently in a wheelchair to play the sport, many able bodied people (particularly those with knee and joint problems) love to get involved in what is a fun and team oriented sport. To learn how you can get involved in playing wheelchair basketball, send the club a message via Facebook or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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