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Accessing the Geraldton Aquarena has become much easier for people in the local community who live with disability or mobility challenges, thanks to a great collaborative effort to bring accessible equipment to the pool!
Rocky Bay, the City of Greater Geraldton, Rotary Club of Geraldton-Greenough and Variety Midwest pulled together to source, fund and install the accessible equipment for community use.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor, Shane Van Styn, thanked Rocky Bay and the local organisations who worked together to help fund over $25,000 to increase access and inclusion at the Aquarena.
“(Rocky Bay’s) advice and support has led to the identification and installation of highly useful equipment at the facility which includes two hoists, a variety of slings, a pool wheelchair and a commode,” he said.
“The equipment sourced by Rocky Bay and joint funded with Rotary Club of Geraldton Greenough providing $10,000, Variety Midwest $7,310 and the City $8,000 will certainly enhance the centre’s facilities.
“These welcome additions, along with a new disability access ramp currently being built in the outdoor pool, will help meet the needs of people with mobility impairments who want to use the pools.”
Rocky Bay NDIS Practice Manager, Cheryl Lockwood (previously Regional Site Coordinator at our Geraldton hub), said a meeting was pulled together between the Rotary Club and the City to determine the needs of the Aquarena and their wish to become a more accessible venue.
Rocky Bay submitted an application to Variety Midwest to apply for funds to help cover the commode and hoist in the changing rooms.
With the grant application a success, our team in Geraldton sourced the items, including the pool hoist, slings and pool wheelchair, with the funds received from Variety Midwest, the City and the Rotary Club.
“It’s fantastic knowing that the Aquarena can now offer accessible equipment that will benefit everyone. It was really rewarding for us to be able to be involved,” Cheryl said.
“We really tried to get to know the community and listen to their needs to see what value we could offer. The Aquarena project was a great collaboration between the community and organisations to make for a safe and accessible aquatic experience to support not just Rocky Bay customers, but the entire Geraldton community.”
Rocky Bay Physiotherapist, Portia Ho, said that Rocky Bay were excited to contribute to the Geraldton community.
“Not only can Rocky Bay offer hydrotherapy more effectively to our Geraldton based customers, but the whole community can benefit from a safer pool experience, with much improved manual handling to support people with poor postural balance, and people who use wheelchairs.“
For more information on the equipment and availability, contact Aquarena on 9956 6906. To find out more about Rocky Bay services in Geraldton call 1800 570 525.
Photo L-R: City of Greater Geraldton Acting Coordinator Community Development Peter Treharne, Manager Sports and Leisure Marks Adams, Jasmeet Flora-Drage and Portia Ho from Rocky Bay, Variety Midwest Regional Coordinator Jan Ajduk, Jim Dillon and Jason McCarthy from Rotary Club of Geraldton Greenough and City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn with the recently purchased and installed accessibility equipment at the Aquarena.