Stepheny, 7, and Aiden, 4, with mum Kathaleen Hall, from Kingaroy, were having a go at the wheelchair basketball … the activity, offered by the Suncoast Spinners, provided an opportunity for the general public to experience what wheelchair sport feels like
March 8, 2021
A special Expo which aimed to “fill in the gaps” in knowledge about what disability supports are available in the South Burnett was held at Kingaroy Showgrounds on Sunday morning.
The Disability and Mental Health Expo was organised by two local residents with a passion for helping people: Laurel Cohen and Tony Scrimshaw.
Tony was formerly with APM Kingaroy but has now set up his own business, Living Actively Disability Support Services, while Laurel is a parent of a child with a disability.
Laurel said she could see there was an information gap that needed to be filled just from her own experience.
“I didn’t know what services were available in the area, and the places I asked didn’t know everybody because there are a lot of independent services now,” she said.
Tony said the invitation to have a stall at the Expo was also extended to services from outside the region who could work with people in the South Burnett.
There were 25 stallholders booked in – ranging from the Rockin Our Abilities group from Murgon (who were providing live music) to the Suncoast Spinners wheelchair basketball group and Wunderdogs who offer “animal assisted activities”.
Laurel said the day had been fantastic but the success was due to the efforts of a lot of people.
Tony said he hoped the Expo would be the first of many.
Expo organisers Tony Scrimshaw and Laurel Cohen were pleased with the turnout on the dayBen Campbell, from Landsborough, travelled to Kingaroy with the Sippy Downs-based Suncoast Spinners … the team brought along seven wheelchairs for people to try outNeil Rose, from Rosie’s Fun 4 All, brought along one of his amusement rides and also had games for the childrenRockin Our Abilities were adding a musical accompaniment to the morning … from left, Brian Robinson, Patrick O’Donnell (Barker’s Creek Bush Band), Jae Clarke, Jarrod Edwards and Ray RobinsonZandria and Nicholas Tapp, from Zan and Nick’s Retreat in Kingaroy which offers short-term accommodation for plan-managed and self-managed NDIS participantsSouth Burnett CTC Disability Services team leader Jen Lonsdale-Light had information about all the various services that CTC offersTracy Goldsmith and Michelle and Gary Swindale, from VisQue Planner in KingaroyWunderdogs, from Murgon, offers animal-assisted activities … Pam Holmes and Kate Maudsley with Sereniti, 9; Parker, 11 and Hunter Simpson, 6; and ‘Oscar’, ‘Bella’ and ‘Yarn’Christian Sutton, Amber Oliver and Vikas Nautiyal, from Conquer Fitness … the gymnasium recently moved into the former tenpin bowling building in Stehbens Street, KingaroyKingaroy Transformation Project manager Allan Christensen, Cr Danita Potter and KTP liaison officer Kristy Board share information with Amanda Peterson, Kingaroy … the KTP plans to provide more wheelchair parking bays throughout the Kingaroy CBDKerrie Le Du had a display of home aids and other information available from Wondai-based Burnett Home Aids, part of the Salus Group, including this off-road mobility scooter
