Access for All Abilities co-ordinator Jacinda Erich, and Interchange participants Josh Vick and Nick Mellies wonder what it would be like to sail around Lillydale lake. 54295_02
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
LILYDALE’S leading sailing group is on the verge of sinking, despite youth groups wanting to take part.
The program is experiencing several problems, including the need for a committee overhaul, no on-site storage facility for the sailboats and weeds obstructing Lillydale lake.
Sailing for Everyone began more than 16 years ago when Yarra Ranges disability worker Jenny Hoskins teamed up with Dandenong resident Chris Mitchell, who had created special boats that are virtually uncapsizable and able to be steered by people who have limited physical movement.
The program has now grown to international status with more than 10 countries importing the boats.
But the inaugural Lilydale group is struggling; a sight that Ms Hoskins said was difficult to take in.
“The volunteers that have been there, have been there for a long time, but they need new blood to share what’s happening,” she said.
Sixteen years ago Ms Hoskins was told to “get something great happening on Lillydale lake”.
“We put Chris’s boats on the water and had a go, and the boats were great,” she said.
“To be in something that had so much impact was really quite amazing.”
Ms Hoskins said the boats gave people with disabilities a freedom they wouldn’t usually have, mentioning in particular the story of a woman whose body was in the shape of an ‘s’ and who only had movement in her chin.
“We made her comfortable in a boat and after a quick lesson from Chris she just took off, and she kept going around the island and we couldn’t get her back in,” Ms Hoskins said.
“She wrote us the most amazing letter of the feeling of her freedom, being in control and being able to go wherever she wanted.”
Young adults with a disability, who take part in the Interchange Outer East Balance program in Lilydale, are also keen to give the boats a go.
Participants Josh Vick and Nick Mellies excitedly told the Mail they would love to go sailing on the lake and thought it would be “so much fun”.
Balance co-ordinator Mel Knoll is doing everything she can to ensure her participants can take part in Sailing for Everyone on a regular basis.
Up until the last sailing season Lilydale had more than 120 users every week at the lake.
Yachting Victoria, Sailability and Access for All Abilities Yarra Ranges will hold a public meeting about the future of Lilydale’s Sailing for Everyone, at 7pm on Tuesday 12 October at Lillydale Lake Community Room, Swansea Road, Lilydale.
