A message from Charmaine Guest
There are some amazing people involved with disability and at the Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA) women’s camp, Falls Creek (Fri 18 Aug – Mon 21 Aug 2023) I met some of them.
The two-day skiing camp was expertly organised and managed by Melinda (Min) Middleton, DWA, Victoria Camp Manager- Falls Creek.
My daughter, Greer, has been skiing intermittently for some years and her confidence has grown. However, this two-day intensive program – including five hours daily on the snow – took her skiing to another level.
By the end of day two, Greer had graduated from green/beginner runs (Drover’s Dream, Wombat’s Ramble 2.2kms Australia’s longest run) to blue/intermediate runs (Highway 83, Main Street).
Greer told me afterwards, “I love skiing and I love the snow”. Interestingly, she also said, “It took me out of my comfort zone”.
The camp logistics were straightforward. Accommodation, breakfast and dinner at Howman’s Gap, 5kms from Falls Creek. Lunch was catered by the cafe opposite the DWA hub/shed. This hub is located on Falls Creek prime real estate adjacent to the Halley’s Comet quad chair. All very convenient.
The DWA depends on dedicated volunteer guides, all of whom are advanced skiers to escort disabled skiers on the snow. These guides do a magnificent job. Greer had two guides, one skiing ahead of her (Hilary) and the other (Leo) behind her at all times. Both Hilary and Leo were instructive, attentive and patient – wonderful, fun people.
For me, as Greer’s mother, the weekend was very emotional. Oppositely, for Greer as a participant it was enormously empowering.
Greer is not particularly athletic and to see her included and succeeding in a mainstream sport was truly sweet.
