News
Opportunities for people with a disability
November 5, 2010
Sunshine Coast home to world-class athletes
The Sunshine Coast is home to world-class athletes with a disability, including swimmer Jana Clancy and athletics superstar Jim Aarsse, who are doing the green and gold proud.
Noosa’s Jana Clancy, recently returned with three gold and three bronze medals from the fifth annual International Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Taiwan.
Jana is ecstatic with her performance and put her substantial achievements down to dedicated training and natural ability.
“I’m very happy and proud of myself that I did my best,” Jana said.
Jana took out gold in 100m freestyle, 4x25m relay freestyle, 4x25m medley relay and bronze in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 4x50m freestyle relay. Proud holder of 34 world records, Jana’s vigorous training includes six sessions a week at the gym and pool with her coaches.
Jana is a client of Endeavour Foundation’s Post-School Services, which helps young people with a disability prepare for life after school. It enables clients to develop skills to live as independently as possible and to access employment.
Jana learns a variety of independent living skills including cooking, reading and financial management.
“We go to the library to read and she enjoys taking bus trips around Noosa, cooking on the barbeque and having picnics,” Jana’s Endeavour Foundation support worker Helen Gleeson said.
October’s Fifth International Down Syndrome Championships was a success for Australia, with 30 new world records, 34 gold, 21 silver and eight bronze medals and named Best Team.
Jana is in good company on the Coast, with Endeavour Foundation Industries Maroochydore’s Jim Aarsse selected to represent Australia at the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011 in Athens next June and July.
The 130-member Team Australia will compete against 185 counties. Jim, 27, will test his skills in the 100m and 200m sprints and the shot put.
“I’m looking forward to competing and to making new friends from other countries,” Jim said.
“I hope to come back with a medal, or at least to do my best performance.”
Jim’s selection for the national team follows his success at the national Special Olympics Games 2010 in April, where he won a gold medal in shot put, silver in the 200m and 4x100m, and a bronze in the 100m event.
Jim has represented Queensland at several National Games but next year will be his first time in the Australian team.
“It’s a dream for Jim to represent Australia and to wear the green and gold,” said Jim’s proud mother Liffy Blake.
Jim is following in older brother Leon’s steps. Leon, 30, has also represented Australia in athletics in the World Games, although next year he will be cheering on his brother, along with mum Liffy, on the sidelines in Greece.
Jim has been a supported employee at Endeavour Foundation Industries Maroochydore for six years, where he packages garden products. His brother Leon also works at the site.
Endeavour supports Jim with an employment and specifically-designed training and personal development opportunity, but it’s the social aspect that sees Jim looking forward to work each day.
Endeavour Foundation Industries Maroochydore employs 80 people with a disability.
The site provides packaging and mailing services, sells wooden stakes and pegs, provides a confidential document destruction service and is contracted to sew banana bags.
Endeavour Foundation provides support, accommodation, training and vocational opportunities for over 3,400 people with a disability across Queensland and in Sydney, to help them lead an ordinary life.
Contact
Jo Glover, Media and Communications Officer
Phone: (07) 3908 7257, 0429 065 440
Fax: (07) 3253 7271
Email: j.glover@endeavour.com.au
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