community,

The Disabled Surfers Association South West held its first event of the summer 18/19 season at Bunker Bay exceeding expectations with 170 people having fun in the surf.. More than 40 participants kept 75 volunteers busy with three lines of volunteers keeping the surfers on a straight course for the beach. DSA president Ant Pursell stated how well the event ran with not only regulars attending but quite a few newcomers as well. Participants traveled from as far as Bunbury, Augusta and Pemberton to join in the fun. Westpac Busselton branch manager Kirsten Naude handed out medals for the best wave, best wipeout, most stoked and best volunteer. The most stoked award went to a gentleman in a wheelchair who had not been able to go surfing or swimming for past 14 years because of his disability. This year, Westpac donated $10,000 to the branch which was spent on 173 new different coloured rash vests, yellow for surfers, blue for volunteers and red for team leaders and bright pink for the beach manager. The DSA also purchased 20 lifting mats to help wheelchair bound participants transfer from their wheelchair to the amphibious wheelchairs used by the DSA. One mat was sent to each branch of Disabled Surfers Association in Australia. Mr Purcell thanked generous sponsors Motorfest, Busselton Water, Tas’s Bakery, IGA Margaret River, Vintage Fest, Jeans West, Dardanup Butchers, Busselton Ice and HIF Health Fund. He also thanked the fundraising efforts by Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Vintage Fest and Karen Davies’ Christmas lights. The next event will be held at Bunker Bay from 9am on Saturday, January 19m, the event will finish around noon with a sausage sizzle and an awards presentation.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/S2kBkURjWY7PhPtZJcQ5Zm/44ce3869-12d3-4ca1-87c7-d6895a1fc9df.JPG/r0_78_2784_1651_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg