Boys' School Hosts Halberg Foundation Parasport Day

The Halberg Trust Vision: ‘All sports for all New Zealanders - No Exceptions’
Sir Murray Halberg (ONZ)

On a bright and crisp spring day, our Year 8 boys welcomed some special guests for the 4th annual Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Parasport day; a day that gives students with physical disabilities an opportunity to enjoy and shine in a range of tailored sports events. Approximately 70 students from 35 schools congregated on the turf in front of the Jubilee Sports Centre before joining in on their first assigned sport alongside our Year 8 mentors.

Running races, discus and shot put were some of the games on offer during the morning’s activities. Our Year 8 boys diligently played their part in assisting their visitors when and where needed, alongside the families and staff from their support networks. Staff from the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, who had helped organise the event, were also on hand. Our boys ran alongside their guests, helped them perfect their sports techniques, encouraged and congratulated them, and then shared in their triumphs.

Aside from enhancing the lives of physically disabled children through sport, part of the aim for the day is to include the Year 8 boys in a service element. We were proud to witness the boys taking full responsibility of their physically disabled peers in wheeling them around the courts from activity to activity and through their dedicated involvement, showed the meaning of inspiration, compassion and spirit.

So that our athletes and supporters were well fuelled for their big day, the Parents and Friends volunteers were on hand with a rolling morning tea for visiting staff and parents upstairs in the Sports Centre Lounge. Downstairs beside the courts, the volunteers ensured the barbequed steak and sausages were ready for sandwiches.

During the afternoon’s activities, Paralympic sports were introduced and set up inside which were more suited to individual impairments and disabilities. Adaptive tennis, blind bowls, goal ball and boccia were all played out before the much awaited prize giving commenced.

Former Boys’ School Principal and now CEO of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, Mr Geoff Burgess spoke at the prize giving on behalf of the organisation on how much of a success the day had been and thanked the volunteers, organisers and sponsors for their contributions. Prizes and spot prizes had been given out over the day and all participants who joined in received a goody bag upon leaving. Congratulations to Fairburn School who came first overall in the competitions and was awarded the Junior Parasport Day Top School trophy from Mr Burgess.