Soldier on Family Day
The first Solider On Family Day with the
Club was a great success on Sunday 13
March. The day was organised by Tom
Spithill and Bob Bennett to get Soldier
On participants along with their families
to enjoy a day out on Pittwater for a Sunday BBQ at Portuguese Beach.
The kids were kept busy sailing on the
Hobie Waves and with Ted Andersen
on the BBQ everyone was kept well fed.
Including a cheeky goanna who wasn’t
shy to come say hello!
With the help from Club volunteers; Ted
Andersen, Bruce Ferguson, James Huon,
Rachel Bower, Evelyn Forster, Clare Costanzo and Lauren Crossman was made a
great success.
This is the first of many family days to
come from the Club’s partnership with
Soldier On Australia. Soldier On participants have regularly been coming
down the Club to get out sailing on both
members’ yachts and the Club’s Elliott 7s.
Their progress through sailing has only
been positive and the aim of the Family
Day is to bring everyone together in a
social setting.
Nathan Vardanega, Reintegration Officer
for the Solider On was very pleased with
the Family Day at the Club.
“It was exactly what we are trying to
do, give veterans a reason to leave the
house, try something new and have an
experience that they won’t always get,
and be able to do it with their families.”
Said Nathan
Georgina Edwards, a Soldier On veteran
who has currently been learning how to
sail through the program has claimed it
was one of the best day’s she has ever
had!
“It was the best day, it was great to meet
new people, I’ve seen people from the
Club and Solider On but the Family Day
was great because we meet each other
properly. “ Said Georgina
Georgina has been so thankful of what
the Club has provided for her and Solider
On that Georgina has put her hand up
to help do a few tasks from the Sailing
Office to give something back.
“It’s been such a great experience sailing
here (RPAYC) and to give something back
I will be helping out the Sailing Office
with cleaning some of their trophies.”
RPAYC will continue working with Solider
On throughout 2016 and beyond. There
are two more Family Days scheduled this
year plus other events. If you would like
to help out contact on the Sailing Office
on 9998 3700 or email sailing@rpayc.
com.au