Blue illusion is celebrating Christmas in July by inviting SOSUNS athletes to model their clothing and then donating 20% of all proceeds to SOSUNS.

Don’t miss a fun, fantastic opportunity to not only purchase some new clothes but also to support Lucy, Nalyn and Caitlin in their modelling debut.

Recently I received the following letter from a mother of a Special Olympic athlete.  This athlete, Alistair, represented NSW in the softball at the recent National Games in Adelaide.

‘Alistair had the best time in Adelaide at the 2010 Special Olympics National Games.  Alistair came home a different young man.  He is much more confident and his language has improved as he is concentrating on trying to be understood.  Alistair is now saying his sentences much more clearly and they are sentences, not just one word answers.

Alistair fields for the NSW Blues

Every time Alistair attends a Special Olympics camp he comes home a changed young man.  His self esteem is way up there, he is so much more confident in himself and he looks people in the eyes when he is talking to them.   Even just this morning when Alistair said goodbye to me there was no slouching of the shoulders and eyes to the floor.  He looked me in the eyes and said goodbye.  He gave me a lovely kiss and told me to have a good day.  Just wonderful!

Bring on more experiences like that for Alistair!

The softball team he played in were just that, a real team.  They looked after each other, looked out for each other and rose way above the level they had trained at.  They were all so excited to be there and when on the field, they listened intently to all instructions given to them by their coaches and carers.  Their concentration was just wonderful to watch.

Alistair happy at the National Games

The team came 4th and there were a few disappointed faces but the majority of the team didn’t seem to be too upset that they didn’t win a medal.  In fact some didn’t understand that they hadn’t won, they just loved the game!  They had played their best and were cheered on at various occasions by the other three teams who they had played against.  There was such comraderie; smiles galore; high fives happening; and ‘go blues’ being yelled that they were all consumed with the experience of attending the National Games.  They were all such good sports and were having so much fun that several members of other teams wanted to join the NSW Softball team.’

Here you will find days, times, location and contact details for the SOSUNS tennis programs.

North Ryde RSL Club
Cnr of Magdala and Pittwater Rds, North Ryde
Monday: 6pm - 7pm
Contact: Bob Hayes - 0407 727 405 rhay5145@bigpond.net.au
Wednesday: 6pm - 7pm
Contact: Ling Khoo - 9888 7102    khoo_ling@hotmail.com
Thursday: 6pm - 7pm
Contact:  Teresa Muzman - 0413 804 817  teresamuzman@bigpond.com

Pymple Ladies College
Avon Road, Pymble
Wednesday: 4pm - 5pm
Contact: Li Chi -  0414 680 538   kgchi@hotmail.com

Waitara Tennis Centre
Park Avenue, Waitara
Tuesday: 5pm - 6pm
Contact: Bryan Walsh - 9449 2727  walbande@tadaust.org.au

Mills Park Tennis Centre
Baldwin Avenue, Asquith
Tuesday: 5pm - 6pm
Contact: Cate Fogarty -  0409 975 581   c8fogrt@bigpond.net.au

Willoughby Tennis Program
Willoughby Girls High School
Mowbray Rd, Willoughby
Saturday: 1pm - 2pm
Contact: Gillian Ruckriegal - 0413 495 895  ruckies@bigpond.net.au

Kim Warwick Tennis Academy, Hornsby (Senior advanced)
Thursday: 5pm - 6.30pm
Contact: Sue Walker - 0408 777 075  heyya@bigpond.net.au

Tennis World
12-18 Epping Road, North Ryde
Monday: 5pm - 6pm
Contact: Vincent Yu   0417 418 180   vince@citisystems.com.au

Senior Girls Tennis Program
Cnr Midson Road and Whyralla Avenue, Epping
Wednesday: 5pm - 6pm
Contact: Steve Walker  - 0417 899 107  trishwalker3@aapt.net.au

Senior Mixed Tennis Program
Thomas Thompson Oval
Cedarwood Drive, Cherrybrook
Wednesday: 5pm - 6pm
Contact: Dianne Chng - 9638 2927  accounts@chungs.net.au

Tennis offers multi disciplinary skills from hand eye coordination, reflex sharpening and predicting to social conversational skills as the athletes wait for the next game.  Special Olympics caters for athletes who are beginners learning skills through to those who can play matches.

Your fellow athletes and supporters at SOSUNS are so proud of you all.  You have trained and played hard.  You deserve your selection not only because you are great softball players but also because you are team players!!

Well done, good luck and have a brilliant time representing your country.

Accommodation will be at Fisko’s Lodge which is located in the grounds of the Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre.

With the extra couple of days skiing this year and the opportunity to compete in the interschools competition, the cost will be $1600.  This will cover accommodation, meals, ski hire, lifts tickets, instructors and lessons.  This also covers the cost of transport from Sydney for those who need it.  If your family is dropping you off the cost will be less.

SONSW Contact:  Kenn Brown (Winter Sports Coordinator)  kennb@tsn.cc  Home 0265842513  mobile 0401109996

DWA Contact:  Paul Gardner  (Program manager, NSW)  dwa3@bigpond.com   0414748903

Interest in the camp is very high.  A deposit of $800 is now needed to get things rolling.  Please send this to your regional treasurer (for SOSUNS athletes PO Box 262, Mona Vale, 2103) who can then email Kenn to confirm your payment.  Your deposit will then be sent to the state treasurer Helen Downes.

Please note:

DWA arranges the facilities, programs and qualified instructors for these camps.  The Special Olympics Winter Sports Coordinator collects all the papaerwork, liaising with DWA on bookings and coordinating athletes and carers to attend the camp.  The only exception to this rule is DWA Membership which ALL athletes and helpers must have.  This is to be sent to the DWA and details and forms can be dowloaded from www.disabledwintersport.com.au

Avondale Golf Club Pymble

Wednesday 4.00 - 5.00 pm
Contact: Debbie Dawson - 0417 277 344 deb_dawson@bigpond.com

Special Olympics Upper North Shore does not currently run it’s own athletics training.  All of the local Little Athletics Associations in the Upper North Shore Region happily accept registrations for athletes with intellectual disabioities.  Parents are however, asked to supervise and help their child each week.

Athletes who participate in weekly Little Athletics training are eligible to participate in all Special Olympic Regional and State competitions provided that they are registered with Special Olympics.

Athletics offer events such as the 100 metres, hurdles, marathon, high jump, long jump, shot put, relays, wheelchair events and more.

In addition, Special Olympics offers events for lower ability level athletes to compete in basic athletics skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to longer competitive events.

As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to events, ability level, age and gender.

Today Special Olympics Athletics is the most popular Special Olympics sport, with 889,538 athletes (as of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report) participating.

See our Soccer timetable for details

Hornsby Police Citizens Youth Club
Wednesday 6pm - 7pm
Contact: Sabine Schreuder  0428 220 864  sabines@westnet.com.au

North Sydney Police Citizens Youth Club
Wednesday 6pm - 7pm
Contact: Prudence Anderson 0404 821 935  prue.anderson@aemc.gov.au

West Pymble Public School - additional cost
Sunday (during soccer season only) 10am - 11am
Apollo Avenue
West Pymble
Contact: Paul Phelan 0404 810 038  specialneeds@wpfc.asn.au

Oakhill College School
Old Northern Road
Castle Hill
Monday 7.15 - 8.15pm
Contact: Sue Teale - 0401 051 905 
teales@bigpond.com

Abbotsleigh Aquatic Centre
via Ada Avenue, Wahroonga
Monday 7.00 - 8.00pm
Contact: Carolyn Bourke  -  0401 853 194
cmoir@bcs.org.au

Ryde Aquatic Centre
Tuesday 7.00 - 8.00pm
Bob Hayes - 0407 727 405 
rhay5145@bigpond.net.au

The Brickpit
Dartford Road
Thornleigh
Sunday: 4pm - 5pm
Contact: Anthea Karseboom  0418 778 869  antot@hotmail.com

North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre
Cnr of Clarke and Oxley Rds
Crows Nest
Sunday 4pm - 5pm
Contact:  Tina Kitromolides  0411 243 374    tinakit@optusnet.com.au