Good Surf is Australia’s first surf school for people living with a disability.
Founder, James Gissing, says he started Good Surf – located on the NSW south coast – for the sole purpose of helping people living with a disability to discover the sea and learn to surf their way.
“Life in coastal communities often centres around the sea but for those living with a disability, there is almost no way to access the joy, freedom and sense of purpose that comes from being in the water,” he said.
“Our programs focus on creating a safe and nurturing environment that enables our clients to be their most authentic self and to experience the healing power of the ocean.”
When James was keen to expand their programs to include local children living with a disability, he turned to Variety for support.
A Variety We Join Community Grant of more than $10,000 enabled the organisation to purchase adaptive surfboards and a Surf N Turf Wheelchair.
James described the equipment as a ‘game-changer.’
“The boards that we got from Variety, there’s only a handful in the country. They’re a world first in that they’re a stock, adaptive surfboard for people to surf prone on it, people with spinal injuries and wheelchair users,” he said.
“They’re the first in our region and for regional towns to have access to such equipment, it is amazing. Having that beach wheelchair is a game changer. You can’t do what we do without it. People can’t access the beaches at all without it.”
A recent ‘Come and Try Day’ at Cave Beach, gave local families the chance to use the equipment for the very first time.
Wesley Kington, Dad to 12 year old David and 11 year old William, shared his experience.
“These kinds of resources, really positively impact the wider community. Seeing from the shoreline individuals get out there and, and really have fun in the surf, it provides them with that unique opportunity to enjoy the surf as much as everyone else here.”
His son David agreed.
“I really liked standing on the board because I was doing something new and like I was getting the hang of it. And it was really fun for me.”
James hopes to build on the success of the community day by working with local schools and families to offer regular lessons for local children living with a disability.
He is excited by the unlimited potential for lifelong passions to grow.
“Inclusivity is everything, it’s life-changing. It gives people meaning, purpose, introduces them to a community, a social group that they may not have had before.”
“Our Variety grant is enabling us to get more people into the water surfing, more kids from local schools into the water, which is just amazing.”
“Ultimately, I would love to see surfing recognised as a paralympic sport, yet there is almost nowhere for kids with a disability to learn to surf.”
“Together with Variety, we are changing that – anything is possible.”
“Inclusivity is everything, it’s life-changing. It gives people meaning, purpose, introduces them to a community, a social group that they may not have had before.”
“Our Variety grant is enabling us to get more people into the water surfing, more kids from local schools into the water, which is just amazing.”