Sailability NSW Inc. Celebrates 30 years of Freedom on the Water
During June, Australia’s largest state-based inclusive sailing network, Sailability NSW Inc (SNSW), celebrated the 30th Anniversary of giving everyone the opportunity to participate in the sailing community, regardless of ability. Like almost all 70+ Sailability branches across Australia, Sailability NSW is entirely volunteer run.
At a 30th Anniversary dinner at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, some 120 guests from 25 branches across NSW celebrated the milestone. The following day, a conference was held with 70 branch representatives participating. Branch members from across the state who had completed 10, 20 or 30 years were presented with commemorative recognition-of-service pins.
Two of the five former Sailability NSW presidents, Neil Anderson, Elizabeth Atkin, with current president John Price are seen in the photo cutting the cake at the 30th Anniversary Dinner. Other past presidents, Grahme Rayner and Denis Critchley were also at the dinner but retired early. Alan Jones OAM passed away in 2004.
More than a dozen Sailabilityalumnae were invited to participate, in recognition of their years of dedicated service. These included Denis Critchley, president of the first Sailability branch, in Gosford, Chris Mitchell of Hansa Systems, which supplies all the universal-design sailboats, and outstanding competitionsailors Wendy Evans, Lindsay and Maria Dalmon and Maryanne Ireland.
Twenty year-plus veteran Sailability sailor Wendy Evans, a “wheelie” with cerebral palsy, was one of a coterie of special guests at the 30th Anniversary celebrations. Wendy says: “When I’m on the water, I forget my disability. I’m in control and I’m free.” This photo of Wendy in Hansa Liberty at the 2004 IFDS Worlds in Melbourne captures the spirit of Sailability over the 30 years.
A more recent sailor, Ame Barnbrook, member of the Paralympian sailing team, was a guest, as well as NSW MP Liesel Tesch AM, Paralympic medallist.
Also present were Peter Wrigley, who opened up the possibilities for disabled sailors at Dobroyd Aquatic Club, Neil Anderson (SNSW director and former SNSW president) and Paul Tayler (treasurer). Neil and Paul, from 1996, worked tirelessly to establishand grow Sailability NSW. The pair were two of only a handful of recipients of the 30-year pin. Neilwas also Chair,for its duration, of the committee of Sailability Australia, facilitated by Australian Sailing, with member Graeme Adam, Sailability’s publicity officer from 2004 to 2018.
The agenda and speaker line- up was of a high standard. Specialist speakers included Michael Arico on boat insurance, Tim Micninson from Sailability Victoria on sailing simulators, Niall Powers with news from Australian Sailing, and Dr Steven Wilson on parasailing.
Sailability NSW speakers included Chair and MC, Clare Archer who spoke on the new vision and values statement, Neil Anderson on 30 years of fund-raising, Jason Elwes (Training Coordinator) and John Sanderson (Assistant Training Officer) on developments in training, and SNSW president John Price on Learning to sail though headset visual effects.
Some of the top performing branches shared new ways of doing things that have improved the sailing experience for participants, many with no prior skills. Before the close, the conference broke into groups to brainstorm the best ways ahead.
According to President John Price, the association is stronger than ever and ready to face new challenges. “We have a new vision statement: ‘Remove all barriers and provide opportunities for everybody to sail, regardless of ability, to participate in the NSW sailing community’. Inclusionremains a challenge, and we want to work with all sailing bodies to remove the last vestiges of exclusion.”
Sailability is affiliated with Australian Sailing
Hansa Class is recognised by Australian Sailing
