Let’s Get Physical with the VBCA

Joining forces with Guide Dogs Victoria’s Children’s Mobility Service, the VBCA has developed a program to offer a range of sport and recreational activities for families.

Beginning on May 17 and based at the VBCA in Kooyong, the program will run over three consecutive weekends every school term and will cost participants $5 a week.

The aim of the Let’s Get Physical program is two-pronged with the VBCA wanting to make sure that kids have fun while also engaging the parents and showing the need to get their kids playing sport.

“The program will be open to vision impaired students and their families,” VBCA President Rod Pritchard said.
“We want to get the wider community involved and the blind community engaging in sport.”

With support from the State Government through Cricket Victoria’s Harmony in Cricket projects, the VBCA will use funding to promote cricket in Terms 1 and 4.

“We are trying to be creative in how we find and engage people,” Pritchard said.

“It’s important for us to break down that initial perceived barrier that visually impaired people can’t play sport.

“We then need to find how we change prospects into participants and hopefully promoting cricket at Let’s Get Physical will help us do this.

“At the same time we want to increase educational outcomes and increase self-esteem as well as creating wonderful young people.”

The funding from the Harmony in Cricket projects also contributed to the 2015 Victorian Blind Cricket team’s uniforms.

Participating in the 2015 Blind Cricket National Championships, the Victorian cricketers were very proud to don the ‘Big V’.

“To wear a similar uniform to the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers and to have the Cricket Victoria and Harmony in Cricket logo on the uniforms was a very proud moment,” Pritchard said.

“Cricket is a game for everyone regardless of whether or not you have a disability.”