Hi all,
As part of my work I am organising a "come and try" day for people with disabilities to have a go at windsurfing.
We are booked in to do the event with Sandy Beach Cafe at Sandringham with Mike Myers on Monday 29th April from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
It would be really great to have some volunteers to help out on the day, ideally so that we could have 1:1 assistance where needed. Registrations for the event have just opened but the types of disabilities of participants could include aspergers, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, hearing or vision impairments, mental illness or mobility impairments. Participants will generally be young people between the ages of 10 and 25.
You don't need to be an advanced windsurfer or qualified instructor to help out, just to have some general knowledge of how to windsurf.
There will also be some stand up paddling happening so help there will also be appreciated.
If you are interested in helping out please feel free to call me on my work number (9298 8819) or email me at work: peter.johnston@knox.vic.gov.au, or send a PM if that suits.
Cheers,
Peter
So far two volunteers - thanks guys!!
I realise that it is a work day for most people - I couldn't run it on a Saturday unfortunately.
Anyway, I'm still keen to have more volunteers if any of you are interested...
Cheers,
Peter
I'm going and I took the day off. Told my boss it was for a volenteer day and he is trying to organise for the business to cover part of my annual leave.
Looks like carma is already paying off....
Looking forward to it!
I'll give it a red hot crack at trying to schedule the day in Pete. Will give you a bell at work tomorrow
Will need to see if i can schedule a few other 'meetings' in Melb to justify the trip up to the big smoke to the boss.
All good now Pete.
I can get there first thing and help setup etc. Got me for the day.
Breakfast before in the morning lads?
Hi Pete,
I am keen to help, just waiting for my boss to approve my leave for the day. I have the working with children check card needed in order to work with the minors. I can also arrange some more kids rigs from WV if needed.
Let me know the numbers of kids expected.
Cheers, Jez.
Thanks guys for all the offers so far - hugely appreciated! It should be a fun event and hopefully not too cold! At least the water will still be warm.
Jez, thanks for the offer of extra rigs. I will see how many people register then contact you if it looks like things are tight. Mike at Sandy Beach Cafe has quite a few fairly small rigs - around 3m I think. But for the younger ones smaller lighter rigs might be helpful. We will know once all the regos are in.
Hi Peter,
What a great idea. I would love to help out but with the new baby being only 3 weeks old and work being so busy I don't have any spare time or leave.
I notice Jerzy is going to try an help from WV. He is great BBQ cook, may be one of the best. Plus the WV kids club rigs will help too.
Thanks Stephen and congratulations on the new baby! - not my idea though - Dan Poynton has done two of these, one at Inverloch and one at Cowes. Unfortunately I couldn't get to either but apparently a heap of fun was had by all. Much credit to Dan! So I borrowed the idea...
Snags sound great Jez and glad that you can make it! I don't eat meat either so might bring some "not dogs".
It will also be good to support Mike's cafe as he has been generous in supporting this event.
Just hoping now that we get plenty of participants registering...
Select to expand quote Ps PedroE, Ive heard rumours that some of your famous Sandy point Vintage muffins might be making an appearance. Can you confirm/deny???
Yep, definitely muffins Mick, maybe two batches!! 
Hey guys, just had word from Peter its off for Monday due to low registrations.
Better luck next time around Peter.
Would have been nice to have known before the weekend so I could updated my boss and not waste my leave.
Ah, Jez, I'm very sorry! I thought that I had contacted all those who volunteered... My stuff up in not reaching you in time.
Crazy week for me and we were holding out to the last day to try and get some more registrations... but they didn't come through.
We have got about 20 different sports and activities for next week for people with disabilities and most are well booked or full up and others just haven't flown...
If I could give you one of my days off in exchange I would...
Thanks again to all of those who offered to help. I am really disappointed that this hasn't worked this time.
Cheers,
Peter
