Dozens of children and young people living with autism have experienced the joy of surfing in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Esperance’s Twilight Beach.
With the support of Mineral Resources (MinRes), Ocean Heroes delivered free surfing lessons to 50 participants aged five years to 30 over a recent autumn weekend.
It was the fourth year that the Western Australian-founded charity has brought the confidence-building surf sessions to Esperance.
Esperance local Sue Walker said Ocean Heroes had a profoundly positive impact on her 29-year-old son Brock, who lives with autism, dyspraxia and ADHD.
“He won’t go into the ocean with us, we’d be lucky to get him to go as far as his ankles, but every year he goes right out into the water with Ocean Heroes and he loves it,” Sue said.
“The instructors are amazing. No what matter what the age group, they are so patient – I can’t speak highly enough of them. When Brock goes down to the beach he lights up when he sees them.”
Ocean Heroes WA Free Event Program Co-ordinator Xander de Haan said providing children in WA’s regions with experiences they wouldn’t normally be able to access was a highlight.
The Esperance visit was made possible with the support of a MinRes Community Grant. Last year, funding from MinRes also enabled Ocean Heroes to purchase eight specialized stand-up paddle boards.
MinRes General Manager, Communities and Heritage Heath Nelson said: “We are proud to help Ocean Heroes bring this program back to the Great Southern and to have such a positive impact on the lives of young Western Australians.”
Community organisations operating in the Pilbara and Goldfields-Esperance regions or within the Shires of Yilgarn, Irwin and Mingenew can apply for a MinRes Community Grant.
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to support programs and initiatives that focus on education, Aboriginal engagement, health and wellbeing and the environment. For more information, go here.
