By Tania Phillips
DisABILITY Action Week will be celebrated in the Southern Downs from 9-20 September, focusing on the ‘ABILITY’ in ‘disability’.
Southern Downs Regional Council’s Mayor, Cr Tracy Dobie said a DisABILITY Action Week committee had been working hard for several months to organise the week of activities in the region.
“The committee has broad community representation across Southern Downs’ services in Stanthorpe and Warwick, and is led by Southern Downs Regional Council,” she said.
“Everyone involved has contributed great ideas and the result is yet another fabulous program of events and activities.”
This year’s program will kick off with a very special event on 9 September with Granite Belt Support Services’ “21 years of Celebrating Ability”.
“This event marks a tremendous milestone for Stanthorpe, having celebrated and focused on ‘ABILITY’ in the community for 21 years; something they and the community should be extremely proud of,” the mayor said.
Regular favourites like the Buddy Up Golf Day, River Walk, Sharyn Rowen Memorial Walk, Indoor Bowls and ‘Shimmy Shimmy Shake’ are back on the program, and the Community Choir Concert, Sportsability and Family Fun Day bring a new range of fun activities to be enjoyed by all.
The mayor also highlighted that one in five Queenslanders has a disability of some kind, and disability touches the lives of most Queenslanders in some way.
“DisABILITY Action Week is aimed at empowering people with a disability, so it’s an important celebration,” she said.
“It’s also about raising awareness of disability issues, encouraging positive attitudes towards people with a disability, and improving access and inclusion of people with a disability throughout the wider community.
“We all have a role in creating a truly welcoming and inclusive community, from businesses and government to community organisations and individuals.
“We ask everyone to take part in DisABILITY Action Week and show their support.
“This is a time for all residents to come together as a community to recognise everyone’s abilities,” the mayor encouraged.
The calendar of events and activities for DisABILITY Action Week is available on council’s website at www.sdrc.qld.gov.au.
Please contact the event organisers for details about how you can be involved. For more information about the calendar of events, contact council’s community development officer, Pam Burley, on 1300 MY SDRC (1300 697 372).
