Making a splash: New pool wheelchairs for Albany
There’s good news making waves at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre.
Two brand-new bariatric aquatic wheelchairs were officially unveiled on 1 July, to allow people living with disability to enjoy everything the pool has to offer – from a leisurely swim to hydrotherapy and rehabilitation services.
The upgrade was driven by advocacy from MSWA Community Engagement Coordinator Ronnie Mills and MSWA Client Cheryl Crabtree, who lives with MS.
Cheryl highlighted concerns about the aquatic centre’s ageing wheelchairs during a visit from Scott Leary MLA, Member for Albany.
Every day, people in our community face accessibility challenges – stairs without ramps, narrow door frames, inaccessible bathrooms – and I wasn’t prepared to let the local pool become another inaccessible space."
That conversation sparked action. Thanks to a joint funding effort between the City of Albany, MSWA and Scott Leary MLA, the two new wheelchairs are now available for the wider disability community to enjoy.
Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre Aquatics Supervisor Hayden Parker said the upgrade will help ensure everyone feels more welcome.
“Pools have always been a place for communities to come together, and whether you use swimming for recreation or essential rehabilitation, these new wheelchairs make sure the aquatic centre remains safe and accessible for people of all abilities,” he said.
Adding to the feel-good story, the aquatic centre is also home to the annual MSWA Swim Albany, a seven-hour relay that raises funds to support West Aussies living with neurological conditions. In a full-circle moment, money raised by event participants has helped make the new wheelchairs a reality.
The upgrade will also make it easier for more people to take part in future MSWA Swim Albany events. Client Cheryl said everyone who has supported MSWA Swim Albany should be proud of what they’ve helped achieve.
“This upgrade should make MSWA Swim Albany participants and MSWA supporters very proud. It’s wonderful to see money raised locally being invested back into the community that worked so hard to raise it,” she said.
The new wheelchairs were officially celebrated with an unveiling ceremony and morning tea at the aquatic centre, where staff, supporters and community members gathered to mark another positive step towards making Albany’s aquatic facilities welcoming and accessible for everyone.
The exciting announcement even earned a front-page feature on The Albany Advertiser’s The Extra, along with a feature in The West Australian.
This is proof that when a community works together, great things really can happen!