The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Wins 2016 Clubs NSW
‘Disability, Welfare & Social Inclusion’ Award
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club has
won the ‘Disability, Welfare & Social
Inclusion’ Award in the prestigious
2016 Clubs NSW Club & Community
Awards for its Integrated disAbled Sailing
Program.
The award, the first of the night was
further recognised in its importance
by being the only award of the night
presented by the NSW Premier Mr Mike
Baird at the Royal Hall of Industries.
The award recognises the outstanding
work The RPAYC and its members have
achieved within the local community
through their Integrated disAbled
Sailing Program (IdS) which supports the
funding and integration of sailors with
disabilities into the Club’s regular sailing
program.
The award was accepted by Commodore
Ian Audsley who spoke of the recent
broadening of the program which
now involves ‘Soldier On’, a charity
dedicated to supporting ex-service men
and women back into civilian life, the
‘Another Challenge’ program and the
continuing partnership with Sailability
which has been in place for decades. He
commended the efforts of long time
Sailability volunteer Allan Jones who was
present for the presentation.
After presentation of the award, The
RPAYC General Manager Suzanne Davies
commented, “We are very proud of this
award and it will recognise the efforts
of many participants, volunteers, staff
and all RPAYC members who have so
generously shared their club, welcomed
participants on their boats and helped
raise funds.
“Nathan Vardanega who runs the Soldier
On program, was unable to make it
tonight, but I’m sure he will be thrilled.
“Dan Fitzgibbon, in particular will
be very excited, as will John Bacon
of Link Healthcare! A locally based
Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology
business, who has financially supported
this program from its inception.” Suzanne
Davies said.
Central to the Another Challenge
program is 2012 Paralympic Gold
Medallist Dan Fitzgibbon who, along
with his sailing teammate, Liesl Tesch,
have been selected for the 2016 Rio
Paralympics and Alyse Saxby who, in
2015, won Gold at the Special Olympics
in Los Angeles.
The IdS Program is now firmly embedded
as an important part of the Club. The
award reinforces the importance of
sailing as a sport for participants of all
abilities and the benefits that can be
gained in participating in this wonderful
pass time.
Commodore Ian Audsley later confirmed
that, “Looking forward, The RPAYC
will continue to grow the IdS Program
to share more of these experiences
with those who face more significant
challenges in their lives than most of us.”
Funds To Improve Disabled Sailing Opportunities
Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes has
announced $25,000 to support the Royal
Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s disabled sailing
program.
The funds have been provided under the
NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant
Program and come as Sailability NSW
is celebrating its 20th anniversary in
Pittwater.
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
is a long-term supporter of disabled
sailing opportunities and is currently
working towards the introduction of new
pontoons and an accessible ramp.
“This is a fantastic project that will help
get more sailors out on the water,” Rob
Stokes said today.
“Along with Sailability the Royal
Prince Alfred Yacht Club has done an
outstanding job breaking down the
barriers to sailing and ensuring people of
all abilities can get involved.
“There’s no better place to learn to sail
than Pittwater – so it’s great that new
opportunities are being created for those
who require extra assistance.
“Over the past twenty years we’ve seen
huge improvements in disabled sailing
opportunities throughout our community
and it’s largely thanks to Sailability and
its strong relationships with our local
clubs and community groups.
“This project will be a great addition to
our community and I’m delighted the
NSW Government is getting behind it,”
Rob Stokes said.
“ We were thrilled when Rob Stokes
MP, Member for Pittwater advised
the Club earlier in the week that the
Grant application made to the NSW
Government’s Local Sport Grant Program
administered by the NSW Sport and
Recreation had been successful and that
$25,000 had been awarded to assist
in building accessible pontoons at our
Crystal Bay hardstand facility. “ General
Manager of the RPAYC Suzanne Davies
said on Saturday.
“Sailability has been sailing from this site
for many, many years and
we have developed plans to
improve accessibility for our
disabled sailors by installing
floating ramps to provide
access to the launching
pontoons.
We are delighted with the
Grant which will contribute
to the provision of these
facilities and is also further
recognition of our Integrated
disAbled Sailing Program
which was last week was acknowledged
at the Clubs & Communities Awards
taking out the category for Disability and
Social Inclusion.
The Award was presented by Mike Baird
and accepted by Club Commodore Ian
Audsley. I attended the evening as did
Sailability Crystal Bay President Allan
Jones, the Club Director and Chair of
our Integrated Disabled Sailing Board of
Governors along with Club member and
Solider On volunteer Bruce Fergusson.
This is the second award for this program
in 12 months, joining the Marina Industry
Association Award for Best Community
Program which was presented in
Queensland in May last year.”
(Article Source: Pittwater Online News)