Savu family make history

A committee to encourage people with disabilities to take part in sport has been set up in Broome, with the town to have its first ever representative in the upcoming Special Olympics WA State Games in Perth.

Representatives from Perth-based Special Olympics WA visited Broome earlier in the year searching for volunteers to form a Kimberley committee, which has now been put together.

Tui Savu has been elected as the chair, with his wife Helen also part of the contingent. Amy Andison, Dean Holder, Mike Doyle, Melinda Knox and Adriel Burley complete the committee.

Savu said the aim was to make sport accessible for all.

“We have got a very good committee and we are all very excited,” he said.

“We have seen the opportunity to give children support that they may not have had in the past.

“We hope that we can touch children’s lives and want to make sport available for all.”

Doyle said there has been development in inclusion policies around sport in the Kimberley over the past 12 months.

“This year in particular there has been real development in access and inclusion in sport in

Broome, and there have been great steps in the right direction,” he said.

“It is important to get people engaged that may not have had the opportunity to do so before.”

Samisoni Savu, Tui and Helen’s 17-year-old son, will be the first Special Olympics athlete from Broome to compete in a State tournament when he travels to Perth in October.

The committee will organise fundraising events ahead of the trip, with Samisoni to take part in the swimming and basketball disciplines at the tournament.

For more information contact Mr Savu on info@savuesq.com.au or 9192 3366.