InFocus
In the 1970s, three members,
Dawn Bos, Julie Isles and Therese
Parker, went to the USA and brought
back the idea for a basketball team.
Sport has played a huge role in
bringing short-statured people
together and an Australian team
has attended the World Dwarf
Games since 2009, competing in the
categories of basketball, track and
field, swimming, table tennis, power
lifting and boccia. SSPA members
have won many medals at the Games.
Robert Paton, who has attended
the Games several times said: “To time with people who share the same be proud of ourselves. I tell them,
be able to compete with other difference for one whole week of ‘Walk like you’re famous. Think of
short-statured people in competitive the year without being stared at by famous actors who can’t walk out
basketball is a dream.” average-size people. without being looked at. You’re just
Of course, not everyone in this
Past-president Meredith Young
community is a sportsperson and said: “The main message I like to give
the main joy to be experienced from to young people who come along to
the annual conventions is spending SSPA conventions is that we need to
like them’.”
This year the annual convention
will take place in Townsville.
www.sspa.org.au
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infocus
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