What's Happening July-August 2016

UNITED
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY: NORTH COASTAL WOMEN’S SHED
.
North Coastal Women’s Shed members enjoy a variety of activities
A connected, caring community…
that was the vision a group of
Merriwa mums decided to turn
into a reality when they launched
the North Coastal Women’s Shed
(NCWS) in April 2014.
The NCWS is a space for women of
all cultures and generations to come
together and learn new skills and
activities while making new friends
in the process. New members are
most welcome and there are always
plenty of activities in which to get
involved.
Currently there is a fitness program
on offer with free weekly classes of
Chi Ball, Laughter Yoga or Zumba.
These are held at 10am on the first,
second and fourth Mondays of the
month respectively.
Past activities include art therapy,
drumming workshops, crocheting
and community gardening.
The group also benefits from regular
guest speakers who share advice
on a variety of topics.
Some NCWA members provide a
free tutoring service to help children
and families in the area who are not
in a position to pay for professional
help.
The group would love more
volunteers to join the tutoring project
because it means more children will
be assisted.
The NWCS group meet on Mondays
and Tuesdays from 9am to 3pm at
the Addison Park Clubrooms on
Baltimore Parade in Merriwa.
Visit ncws.org.au for more
information.
WANNEROO AQUAMOTION DOLPHIN SWIMMING FOR GOLD
AQUATIC
When Blake Veaney first started
swimming with Aquamotion’s
Dolphin program, the (then) six
year old - who was terrified of
water - could not have foreseen
that he would one day swim for
Team Australia in the Special
Olympics and win gold.
Blake, now 20, swam with the
Dolphins for 14 years and only
recently completed his last lesson
there.
His mother Anthea said that all of the
Aquamotion staff had made Blake
feel very special over the years,
particularly Robyn who has been
there from Blake’s very first lesson.
“Blake started lessons with no
swimming ability at all and he was
very frightened of the water,”
Anthea said.
“The Aquamotion team really
needs to be congratulated on the
wonderful effort that they put in with
these special kids every week.”
“The Aquamotion instructors helped
him feel comfortable and safe in
the water… and taught him some
amazing skills which have seen him
win Olympic gold! “We are going to
miss them all.”
The excitement does not end there
though. Blake was recently selected
to represent Western Australia
as part of an Australian Team to
compete at the Special Olympics
Trans Tasman Games in New
Zealand later this year.
“Only eight athletes were selected
from Western Australia to compete
in Athletics and Aquatics so we are
incredibly proud of Blake,” Anthea
said. “We are confident Team Aus
can win gold again!”
Jim Manov, Wanneroo Aquamotion
Business Manager, said he was
incredibly proud of the City’s Dolphin
Swim Program. “It caters for people
with a wide range of special needs,
promotes water awareness, teaches
students to swim independently to
the best of their ability and is also,
a lot of fun.”
The Aquamotion Swim School
team was recently recognised
for their high quality professional
development at a national swimming
convention.
The annual Australia Swimming
Coaches & Teachers Association
(ASCTA) awards recognise
excellence within the swimming
coaching and teaching industry.
Congratulations Blake and
Aquamotion.
Blake Veaney won gold for Australia
at the 2013 Special Olympics.
( 11 ) WANNEROO.WA.GOV.AU