Term Welcome. In this issue: Happy Easter break to you all. - Jan

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1 Term Welcome The first term always arrives too quickly after summer break then it appears to be finished before we are ready. I m sure this is not just an issue we deal with here at Special Olympics. We would like to thank all those who have been involved in this term s events. Especially South Canterbury schools and volunteers, due to pool space the event was held very early in the term. However it was obvious that there had been some training over the summer break congratulations to our athletes. The Dunedin aquatics event had a large turnout of volunteers, many of them from Otago Polytechnic, the experience these students gain from assisting at this type of event, stays with them for a long time. We have a great team of regulars who turn out to volunteer for this event also, thank you. Central Otago saw the first schools aquatics event take place with 20 swimmers and a brilliant turnout of Wakatipu students volunteering as officials. Southland had more swimmers registered than the Otago event way to go! With support from Special Olympics Southland, primary and secondary school students compete at this event; it is an amazing way to introduce parents to our organisation. Youth volunteers are to be celebrated and congratulated thank you to the many schools who have supplied us with awesome volunteers this term. Happy Easter break to you all. - Jan In this issue: 1 Term update 2 South Canterbury Aquatics Ribbon Day 3 Otago Aquatics Ribbon Day 4 Central Otago Aquatics Ribbon Day 5 Southland Aquatics Ribbon Day 6 Club contacts and volunteer opportunity 7 Sports Calendar and contact details Special Olympics Otago club and Special Olympics New Zealand have 2 significant events coming to Dunedin in 2012 and If you are interested in volunteering for either of these events, let us know there are roles for everyone. Go to page 6 for more information. 1

2 South Canterbury Schools/Club Aquatics Ribbon Day, Century Pool, 16 February 2012 Due to availability of pool space in Timaru, we ran this event very early in the term however following on from the last event ran in 2011, we were able to see the improvements the swimmers had made over the summer break. Well done! Officials and volunteers came from local schools, Timaru Girls High School, Timaru Boys High School and Roncalli College. Some of these volunteers were so impressed in the swimming that they joined us for the ribbon presentation after the event. Special Olympics South Canterbury club have finished their summer season with an athletics ribbon day at Aorangi Park, all athletes competed to the best of their ability with very positive comments coming from the coaches. Football is now underway. Contact Gail Mckenzie for further information, If you are a school student and would like to join your local club in regular training sessions with more competition opportunities, let your local club know, or contact Jan Aitken. Club contact details are on page 6. Hi Jan- our guys had a great day. They were thrilled with their achievements as they had been practising. Thanks for your efforts. Margaret, Opihi College Hello Jan, I loved what I saw today. I was so impressed with your high school student volunteers also, they were amazing encouragers. Well done on another successful event. Cheers Emma Byrne, Aoraki Polytechnic 2

3 Otago Schools Aquatics Ribbon Day, Moana Pool, 29th February 2012 Not only did we have the biggest turnout of volunteers from Otago Polytechnic for this event, but we had students from St Hilda s Collegiate and Otago Girls High School volunteering in the pool with photographers from Aoraki Polytechnic turning the swimmers into stars! Other officials and volunteers came from Sport Otago, Swim NZ, Swimming Otago and Special Olympics Otago. Ribbon presenters were Mark Wilkinson from Guardian Trust, John Brimble from Sport Otago, Rob Torrance who was head of delegation for the Special Olympics New Zealand Summer team which competed in Athens last year and Brian Benn who is current head of delegation for the Special Olympics New Zealand Winter team heading to South Korea in All volunteers and presenters were aware that the athletes were able to show joy, pride, their competitive streak and witnessed inspirational comradeship taking place congratulations to all the swimmers at this event. Well done to Taieri College for a mass cheer for our swimmers! Quotes from Queens High School Tegan: Anna: Tayla: Amy: Eve: Darcie: Shontelle: Helen: I had lots of fun. Happy! I like going in the swimming sports because Claire was helping me. I like swimming and I won 6 th and 4 th ribbons. I cheered for Ricky White. I like doing the kicking and my arms as well. Winning is my favourite thing. Swimming. Hi Jan, Thanks for today - the boys came back really happy, showing their ribbons. Thanks Clare, Bayfield High School Photo taken by Riley Baker, Aoraki Polytechnic Photo taken by Riley Baker, Aoraki Polytechnic Photo taken by Simon Tumilty, Aoraki Polytechnic Photos taken by Simon Tumilty, Aoraki Polytechnic 3

4 Central Otago Schools/Club Aquatics Ribbon Day, Wakatipu High School Pool, 13 th March 2012 This was the inaugural aquatics ribbon day and it was a privilege to be hosted by Wakatipu High School. Students travelled from Wanaka, Cromwell and Lumsden to join swimmers from local Queenstown schools and Special Olympics club swimmers. All up we had 20 swimmers competing. Jenna Faulkner organised local Wakatipu High School students to officiate with Swim School instructor Tasha starting the races and two mums from Cromwell College taking over the marshalling reins. With all this support the day ran very smoothly. Mayor Vanessa van Uden wore her mayoral chains as she presented ribbons. She commented on the cheerfulness of the group and how well they had obviously swum to be receiving so many ribbons. Thanks, Fab day!!!!! Sophie Pete and I loved it. Great people, fantastic swimming. Sophie, Pete and Bridget Thanks to you all for the support you provide for our students. Ferdia s story, (Ferdia is from Wanaka) Ferdia at the swimming pool. Back stroke at the Special Olympics. I came sixth. I was getting my ribbons. I had a fun race. Thank you to Special Olympics. Yesterday was a highlight for many of them. A special thanks to Jan & Jenna for all of your work. Judy, Wakatipu High School Ferdia at the top Rory down the bottom at Wanaka A & P show Thank you Ferdia! 4

5 Southland Schools Aquatics Ribbon Day, Splash Palace, 14 th March 2012 Thank you to Swimming Southland, Sport Southland, Southland Secondary Schools Sports, Ruru School and Special Olympics Southland for providing volunteers this year, without your ongoing support, this ever growing event wouldn t be possible. A mention to Southland Girls High School who provided students to officiate see Teriwa s comment below and to James Hargest College for sharing with us four international students and a Duke of Edinburgh student. Your encouragement and enthusiasm towards the swimmers made them try that much harder. Community Trust of Southland, Invercargill Licensing Trust and Ruru School made sure the swimmers were all presented with ribbons, Peter Dunn as always, was a brilliant MC, thank you! I love swimming, from Rovin It was fun. We got to win lots of ribbons - Chloe I got to swim in the big pool, it was fun Joshua I won a ribbon, it was fun Sam My mum and dad came to watch me. I won a ribbon - Logan I really liked the Special Olympics. I got two ribbons, from Daniel Dear Miss Ward, The Donovan Satellite Class went to the swimming Special Olympics, I felt happy because I won ribbons, from Sam Fenwick Dear Miss Ward, The Donovan Satellite Class went to the swimming Special Olympics, I felt happy because I won first place, from Alex Walker Hey. Thanks so much for having us today. I really enjoyed today, I thought it was a great experience and helping out in the pool was great because we got to interact with some of the kids and I actually learnt something about these people "You can do anything if you try". Overall I had a great day and I'm sure the other girls did too. If you ever need any help again with any of these events I'll be happy to help. Thanks, Teriwa Te Kani Southland Girls High School 5

6 Lower South Island Special Olympics Club contacts and sports offered South Canterbury John Keenan Sports Offered Athletics, Bocce, Football, Indoor Bowls, Snow Sports North Otago Sue Rudduck Sports Offered - Aquatics, Tenpin Bowling, Bocce, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Powerlifting Otago - Carol Melville carolmelville@xtra.co.nz, Sports Offered - Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Equestrian, Football, Golf, Indoor Bowls, Powerlifting, Tenpin Bowling, Snow Sports Central Otago Patsy Blanche jpblanche@clear.net.nz, Sports Offered - Aquatics, Indoor Bowls, Tenpin Bowling, Football, Snow Sports South Otago - Glen Ward gfward@xtra.co.nz, Sports Offered Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Football, Indoor Bowls, Tenpin Bowling, Snow Sports Eastern Southland - Susan Shanks seshanks@xtra.co.nz, Sports Offered Aquatics, Equestrian, Tenpin Bowling, Snow Sports Southland - Alison Saunders alison_saunders@hotmail.com, Sports Offered Aquatics, Athletics, Bocce, Basketball, Indoor Bowls, Football, Powerlifting, Tenpin Bowling, Snow Sports Volunteering Opportunities Volunteers are the backbone of the Special Olympics movement. They are coaches, officials, event organisers, fundraisers, members of committees and team managers. Our volunteers range from teens and young adults through to retiree s with backgrounds from regional sports coaches and athletes through to mums and dads, their commitments can range from an afternoon to a lifetime. Special Olympics are about transforming lives, including those of volunteers. It s about a spirit of giving and teamwork. It's about making your community and neighbourhood a more welcoming and accepting place for people of all abilities. It s also about creating lifelong friendships and finding a new way of thinking about others. Special Olympics Otago club are hosting a Regional Games in Dunedin, 1-2 December athletes 10 sports codes involved Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling (TPN), Equestrian, Football, Golf, Indoor Bowls, Powerlifting. If you are interested in volunteering or just to learn more about this event, contact Rob Torrance, or on torrancer@slingshot.co.nz You can find Special Olympics New Zealand on Facebook check us out on: 6

7 Term 2, May 2012 Football Ribbon Day Dunstan High School, Alexandra 28 May 2012 Football Ribbon Day SBS Centre, Aorangi Park, Timaru 13 June 2012 Football Ribbon Day Edgar Centre, Dunedin 20 June 2012 Football Ribbon Day Gore Multisports Complex, Gore Term 3, August 2012 Tenpin Bowling Ribbon Day Strike Bowl, Queenstown 28 August 2012 Tenpin Bowling Ribbon Day The Galleon, Oamaru 29 August 2012 Tenpin Bowling Ribbon Day Bowl Line, Dunedin 12 September 2012 Tenpin Bowling Ribbon Day Superbowl, Invercargill 7