Minister Burton launches Sailability Kogarah Bay

by Graeme Adam on 2 Oct 2006 The Honorable Cherie Burton MP, Member for Kogarah, Minister for Housing and Patron of Kogarah Bay Sailing Club opened the new pontoon for Sailability Kogarah Bay on Saturday in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic sailors at the Club’s picturesque location at Dover Park, Blakehurst. Also attending were the Mayor of Kogarah, Councillor Michael Kitmiridis, the CEO of Yachting Australia Phil Jones, the President of Sailability Australia Bruce Dickson, the President of Sailability NSW Grahme Rayner and other VIPs.

As part of the opening, four new Access dinghies were launched with bubbly from the new pontoon. Acquisition of each of these boats was made possible by local donors who participated in the launching.

'Billy Dunn' was launched by Doris Dunn in recognition of the financial support and encouragement of the Intellectual Disability Foundation of St. George. 'Dragonfly', sponsored by St. George Foundation was launched by the manager, Corporate and Social Responsibility, St George Bank, Helen Dwyer. 'Melvin Jones' was launched by Kevin Greene MP, State Member for Georges River on behalf of seven local St. George Lions Clubs. 'Mission Possible', sponsored by Hurstville Central Rotary and Nationwide Real Estate was launched by Peter Monk.

The opening of the new facilities was the culmination of four years of hard-work and fund-raising by a team headed up by Sailability Kogarah Bay President, Howard Courtney. Significant funding came from NSW Maritime, NSW Sport and Recreation and Kogarah Council.

Additional support came from local service organizations such as the Intellectual Disability Foundation of St George, St. George Zone Lions, Lugarno Lions, the St. George Foundation, Kogarah Rotary, Hurstville Rotary in conjunction with Hurstville Nationwide Real Estate, Oatley RSL & Community Club, L. W. Riley Marine, Bunnings Warehouse Caringbah, and artist Rodney Monk.

According to Howard Courtney, the new facility will give people with disabilities from the Kogarah municipality first-class access to the sport of sailing.

'With these new accessible facilities and friendly volunteers, we will be able to attract sailors with disabilities from all over southern Sydney. On Saturday Sailability Days, we will offer relaxed introductory sailing. More serious competitive sailing (class racing) will be available for experienced sailors in conjunction with Kogarah Bay Sailing Club. In the longer term, we hope to offer mid week sailing to special school groups and rehabilitation patients from St George Hospital.'