Lord's Taverners Victoria
  • Home
  • News
  • About Us
    • Vic History
    • Committee
    • Life Members
    • Legends
    • Governance
    • Magazine
  • Membership
  • Sporting Chance Raffle
  • Events
  • Photo Gallery
  • Annual Reports
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Donations

Robyn Smith's speech about Sport Inclusion Australia and the connection with the Lord's Taverners Australia.

6/27/2016

0 Comments

 
Sport Inclusion Australia’s philosophy to assist people with an intellectual disability to join the mainstream community as a valued member using sport as the medium.
​

Scenario
I am a child and I can’t do everything the same as my peers.   My milestones are delayed.  I look exactly the same, but my parents are becoming frantic.  Extra help is provided but I am not improving.
 
I am starting to feel that I am different – not as good as other children.
 
When I start school, an exciting time for most others, children laugh at me, tease me and I struggle to fit in.   No one lets me join in school yard games and to make it worse I have to have a specialist teacher in the class because I do not understand the work.
 
I am not happy about much in my life and spend a lot of time on my own.   I hate school, I become rebellious, Mum and Dad are at their wits end to control me and make me happy.  I don’t have many friends.
 
I leave school with incredibly low self-esteem.  I need to get a job, but I have no qualifications and limited skills combined with low self-esteem make it near impossible to get a job.   What am I going to do.
 
If I am lucky enough to get a job it is going to be something simple like collecting trolleys at the supermarket.
 
Then Sport Inclusion Australia comes along helps me find some sporting activities in the community (CRICKET) - No pressure, opportunity to make some friends, chance to develop my skills.    Hey I am ok at this.   I like this, people don’t laugh at me, I get to wear a uniform like everybody else, I am making friends, I get to join a club alongside some excellent athletes and people I admire.
 
I am improving at such a rate that a coach takes me under their wing.   Oh my goodness, there is an international pathway, a Lord’s Taverners organisation which is also helping me to improve and potentially represent my State and maybe even my country.
 
People shake my hand and ask me my name and ask me how I am and are genuinely interested in the answer, people encourage me and make me feel good about myself.   I want to contribute more and more to gain their approval.  I LOVE SPORT.
 
I no longer feel different, but feel I belong.
 
Being part of a club and respected makes me want to help others.
 
This is one scenario, but quite a common one for people we represent.
 
Sport Inclusion Australia in partnership with sporting organisations and the Lord’s Taverners organisations are helping us transform lives. 
 
Sport is a great community leveller and should allow all Australians a fair go. A chance to be respected for one’s ability; no matter what that ability is.
 
The relationship with the Lord’s Taverners and Sport Inclusion Australia has now spanned 23 years.  It is a strong relationship and our goals are similar the main essence being to
 
Make a difference in the lives of others
 
I thank the Lord’s Taverners organisations in particular the Victorian branch for their years of service and hard work to provide funds and moral support for organisations and individuals who have had limited opportunities.
 
It is a genuine pleasure working with people who care about others
​
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    David Hayden is a passionate believer in the benefits of playing cricket, or any sport that is inclusive and rewarding for all participants. David contributes on the committees of Taverners Victoria and Taverners Australia.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    December 2017
    August 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    October 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    December 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    August 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.