Wheelchairs make impossible beach visits a reality

IT’S been roughly 40 years since Lynette Field was last able to dip her toes into the ocean. As a long-time aged-care resident with limited mobility, visiting the beach just wasn’t possible.

On Thursday February 29, thanks to Wollongong City Council Lifeguards and staff from Anglicare Eileen Armstrong House in Woonona, Lynette was able to enjoy the sun and surf at Thirroul Beach for the first time in a long time.

Over the years, Council has been working to improve accessibility at patrolled beaches so that everyone can enjoy then, including people with disability. One of the newest changes, was the purchase of beach wheelchairs. These beach wheelchairs are made available for free to community members and can be booked for use during patrol hours. This as well as the beach matting, was the change that made Lynette’s visit to Thirroul Beach possible.

“It was a real pleasure for our team to meet Lynette and her family at Thirroul Beach. Together, we were able to help the Anglicare staff bring Lynette to the water, something she had been really missing,” Wollongong City Council Operations Manager Beach Services (Acting) Murray Copas said.

“Our beach wheelchairs are a relatively new accessible feature, and they build on the work we’ve been doing over the years. That includes gradually upgrading toilets with accessible facilities, installing and maintaining pathways, providing accessible parking and offering beach matting at some of our beaches.”

“We have some of the best beaches in the Illawarra. We want to make sure everyone can enjoy our coastal areas, and it’s a real positive when we’re able to support community members make use of this new accessible service.”

There are currently four accessible beaches in the Wollongong Local Government Area: Thirroul, Austinmer, North Wollongong and Port Kembla. See here for more details on each beaches’ accessible features.

A free beach wheelchair can be booked to use at the accessible beaches, or at other patrolled beaches (based on requirements) online or by calling Council on (02) 4227 7111.

Lifestyle Coordinator at Woonona’s Anglicare ‘Eileen Armstrong House’, Ruth Hartill-Law was the mastermind behind the beach visit and to celebrate, jumped into the water with Lynette.

“We’re here [at Thirroul Beach] to tick off another bucket list. We ask each resident, if they have a wish they’d like to fulfill, as we’ll try to make it happen. With the help of Wollongong City Council and this amazing lady Lynette, we were able to give her an experience she hasn’t had in a long time,” she said.

“I’d just like to thank the Council for making these facilities available. Now that we’ve got these amazing ramps that people can walk on, nothing is going to get in the way of Lynette living her best life.

“I want to let other people know who live in residential care homes about these facilities. Life is meant to be lived and if we can get more people from nursing homes down here to experience our beautiful waters, why not.”

Lynette’s brother, Glen Brown also came along to Thirroul Beach to enjoy the beautiful weather on his sister’s special day out.

“We just came out to support my sister and it’s a nice day out too, especially with all the other people and the beautiful beach,” he said.

“This trip gets Lynette out of the nursing home to enjoy a bit fresh air and see what’s around the place. It’s never too late to do it.”

More on the Beach and Foreshore Access Strategy at Council’s website.

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