The atmosphere was electric on Saturday with hundreds of Sydneysiders converging on Oran Park for The Disability Trust’s International Day of People with Disability celebrations.
Renowned for hosting motor sport on its famous racetrack, activities of a slightly more sedate pace were the order of the day.
Wheelchair basketball took over the courts at the Julia Reserve Youth Precinct while the CycleAbility bikes circled the area.
Humanity Matters, Beanz & Co., Mini Melts Ice Cream food trucks and Anneka from Cheek Boutique Face Art also helped with entertainment on the day.
Rain threatened to put a dampener on proceedings at one stage but the skies cleared to help make the day a great success.
With thanks to a $2000 grant from Camden Council, the IDPwD festivities struck a chord with the community who came together to celebrate inclusion and the achievements of people living with disability.
Further south at Shellharbour on Sunday, the KidsWish KidsRock band belted out songs at a free concert at the Stockland shopping centre as part of The Disability Trust’s IPDwD celebrations, a chance for the band members to showcase their musical talent to the local community.
KidsRock were sensational, playing a number of hits from artists such as Miley Cyrus, Imagine Dragons and Linkin Park, and ending with a bang with their iconic cover of ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC.
The performance was led by KidsRock Facilitator Mike Barnard from Illawarra Studios with Rhys on the keyboard, Jamie on drums and Miles on the bongo drums rocking out together.
IDPwD reminds us it’s important to listen to the experiences of people with disability, as we work towards greater inclusion and increased awareness, acceptance and understanding within our community.
The United Nations theme for IDPwD 2023 is “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for, with and by persons with disabilities”.
