Table tennis tables wanted

Peninsula residents are being encouraged to donate unused table tennis tables to Vision Australia as part of an initiative to bring a special version of the sport to local people living with vision impairment.

Project organiser Ms Lauren Davis of Woy Woy who has been legally blind since birth said the tables would be converted to cater for the needs of blind and vision impaired people.

"The Central Coast has one of the largest populations of people living with vision impairment," Ms Davis.

"Yet the region does not have any sport freely available to residents who are blind or with low vision.

"Residents have to travel to Newcastle or Sydney to take part in special activities."

Ms Davis, 22, said the tables would be adapted in order for participants to play Swish, a modified version of table tennis that allows blind, vision-impaired and fully sighted people to play together.

"We are asking anyone in the community who has an unused table tennis table sitting around or who is thinking of getting rid of their old table to contact Vision Australia," Ms Davis.

"So far we have received expressions of interest from several local clubs and community centres looking to have a Swish table available for its members and guests including the Peninsula Community Centre.

"This is a great opportunity for people to help out the community in a significant and unique way."

Ms Davis said she began working on the project after undertaking work experience at Vision Australia as part of her Community Welfare diploma.

She said it was extremely important for all people to have a sport available to them and Swish was a great way to achieve this.

"Often it can be very difficult and challenging for those who are blind or vision-impaired," Ms Davis said.

"But living with the disability myself I can only encourage them to live life and not to let anything bring them down or stop them from doing something they love to do.

"Sure there are obvious things they cannot do such as drive a vehicle.

"But that shouldn't stop them from getting out there and living the best life they can and deserve to live.

"There are so many services put in place by Vision Australia to assist blind or vision-impaired people and I encourage them to make the most of these."

For more information, contact 1300 847 466 and ask for the Gosford office.

Clare Graham, 17 Mar 2010 Interviewee: Lauren Davis, Woy Woy