Nearly a year after Paralympic gold medallist David Hall OAM came to Orange as the city's Australia Day ambassador, he was back again to promote people with disabilities to get active.
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Mr Hall was in Orange Central Square Shopping Centre on Monday as a representative of Wheelchair Sports NSW. It was the first day of a week-long road trip that will hit regional cities across the state.
"We know the benefits of wheelchair sport and if you have a disability or an injury from playing able-body sport there is the option to try wheelchair sport," he said.
"It's not just beneficial from a fitness perspective but a social and mental as well, especially if you've had an injury recently and you're finding your way back.
"Socially, to get together with other guys and girls in chairs, you're kind of welcomed to a different family."
Mr Hall was injured in a car crash at the age of 16, which left him in a wheelchair.
He said getting into wheelchair sport was something that helped him cope.
"I tried tennis and loved it and turned it into a career," he said.
"That was all because wheelchair sport was available. It doesn't have to lead to professional, it can just be a hobby. Nowadays we can reach so many different people, now it's more prevalent."
He was pleased to see so many people - both able-bodied and not - stop to chat to them.
"People are curious and we're handing out the balls and the flyers to give as much information as we can."
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Riley Krause
I am a senior journalist for the Central Western Daily. A jack of all trades, I cover everything from sport, to human interest stories and crime. Drop me an email at riley.krause@austcommunitymedia.com.au
I am a senior journalist for the Central Western Daily. A jack of all trades, I cover everything from sport, to human interest stories and crime. Drop me an email at riley.krause@austcommunitymedia.com.au
