WITH fewer than eight regular players, Werribee’s only wheelchair basketball and handball team has high hopes for this season.
The Werribee Wheelers, a club for people with or without a disability, is inviting residents to come to Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre and give wheelchair sport a spin.
Member Bradd Smith said that while the team was passionate and the sport fostered fun and friendship, they were able only to play scratch matches between themselves.
‘‘There’s a basketball league in Knox, which we can get to on the train, but it’s just too much of a trip. But it’s the game that gets us out and active, and we’ve all become great friends in the time we’ve been doing it,’’ he said.
Wyndham’s Access All Abilities officer Wayne Slattery said the club could host a round-robin tournament every second Sunday if it could get at least 15 people to take part.
The club is pushing to start a western suburbs league and is trying to drum up support from local businesses to help fund a trip to the first wheelchair handball championships in Brazil this September.
The Wheelers, the only wheelchair handball club in Australia, recently received permission to rattle tins in the CBD and around the MCG to muster up money to take them abroad.
Mr Slattery said wheelchair basketball and handball were sports anyone could play. ‘‘We have equipment for people wanting to get involved and have wheelchairs available. Families can come down to compete together if one brother or sibling is disabled – it’s fantastic to have a sporting activity they can all join in.’’
More details: 0402 003 118.
