Disabled ride to day in surf

Jessica Benton
A volunteers training day this weekend will introduce disabled people to the joys of surfing.
Disabled Surfers Association of Australia will run the session after launching its first Victorian branch on the Bellarine Peninsula last year. The association provides volunteers to help disabled people ride waves.
The association will host its training day tomorrow at Ocean Grove’s main beach where a wheelchair-friendly ramp will help provide safe access to the water.
Volunteer Dave Renton said the session would be the first time wife Lorraine had been on the beach since a stroke eight years ago.
“The training day is for team leaders and individuals who want to get involved,” Mr Renton said.
“We’ve had a lot of interest from people about the program. People who have someone with a disability in their family and local surfers have come on board.
“There’s still room for more people, so people can wander down to the Ocean Grove Surf Club from 9am.”
Mr Renton said Ocean Grove had the first surf beach in the region to provide disabled access.
“We’ll have four wheelchairs designed for beach use that will be available free of charge from The Dunes restaurant,” he said.
“The chairs will provide access to the beach for disabled people. They’ll be able to have a splash in the water and we’ll eventually be getting people out in the water for surfing activities.”
The association will also host an open day at Ocean Grove on March 7.