Cr Damien Tessmann is presented with his “All Walks And Wheels” trophy by co-compere Jason Ford

September 15, 2015

People with disabilities face challenges every day … from simple things such as opening a carton of milk to much harder and potentially dangerous trips to the shops where obstacles lie in wait for a wheelchair.

South Burnett residents and students from local schools had the opportunity to become a bit more aware about these challenges at a special Disability Action Week event, dubbed “All Walks And Wheels”, held in the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt on Monday.

“Celebrity” volunteers and students from Kumbia State School were put through various “challenges” to simulate different disabilities.

A breakfast challenge was followed by a bead-threading challenge and then a wheelchair race around obstacles.

The final of the Celebrity Race was between Cr Damien Tessmann and Kerry Oldfield, from Graham House in Murgon, who raced each other in wheelchairs around witches hat.

Cr Tessmann was triumphant and was presented with the inaugural “All Walks And Wheels” Cup.

The event was a lot of fun for the school students and celebrities but also had a serious message.

It aimed to build understanding and awareness, break down barriers, and support inclusion and integration.

Guest speaker was gold-medal winning Paralympian Jodi Elkington-Jones who spoke about her successful athletics career despite having cerebral palsy.

Earlier in the day Jodi also visited a number of local schools to share her story.

Children from Kumbia State School have a go at the “breakfast challenge” … opening a packet of cereal, pouring it out, opening a carton of milk, pouring it into the bowl, and then eating a spoonful – with their dominant hand held behind their backs
The “Bead Challenge” involved participants trying to thread 20 coloured beads onto a string while wearing  glasses smeared with hand lotion, and rubber gloves

Kumbia State School Year 3 student James Greenup attempts the “Bead Challenge”

In the “Wheelchair Challenge” participants raced around witches hats
Kerry Oldfield, from Graham House, on the starting line for the final of the “Wheelchair Challenge”
Kumbia State School student Lily Barr (Year 6) found the wheelchair race “pretty hard”
Kumbia students cheer on their friends in the ‘Wheelchair Challenge”

Co-comperes Michael Goessing
and Jason Ford

Councillor Kathy Duff tries out a (pink) wheelchair for size
Guest speaker was gold-medal winning Paralympian Jodi Elkington-Jones
Angela Ellwood, Brendan Evans and Annette McCorry were looking after the Gumnut stall
South Burnett councillor Damien Tessmann, right, with an interested spectator at the “All Walks And Wheels” event, Maranoa councillor Cameron O’Neil

 

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