By Casey Neill
It would have taken the Dandenong and Casey Special Olympians a year of sausage sizzles and chocolate drives to raise the cash it received from State Trustees last month.
“It came as a terrific surprise to us. It came out of the blue,” chairman Mark Guinane said.
“We’re very, very grateful. It was in excess of $5000.
“I believe it’s their workplace giving, which is amazing for the people that work there.
“The beneficiaries are our intellectually and physically disabled athletes that take part in bowling, athletics, basketball, tennis – a whole range of sports.”
The donation came through the State Trustees’ workplace giving program, Wholehearted Giving, which encourages employees of Victoria’s public trustee to make regular salary donations.
The Dandenong Casey Titans were one of three beneficiaries this year to share $16,200.
“I can’t say enough how grateful we are. It’s just marvellous,” Mr Guinane said.
“This sort of thing really blows you away.”
They put the money towards new uniforms and travel costs associated with the TransTasman tournament due to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, in November.
“Most of our money comes out of mums and dads’ pockets,” Mr Guinane said.
“We would be doing a heck of a lot of fund-raising to achieve that.
“People have big hearts, is what it comes down to.”
He said the group recently rebranded from Dandenong Valley Special Olympics to Dandenong Casey Titans.
“We’ve got upwards of 100 athletes over various sports,” he said.
From basketball to bocce, 10 pin bowling, tennis and swimming, athletes take part in competitions across the state.
Members come not only from Greater Dandenong and Casey, but Cardinia and beyond.
“We recently had our state games, which involved ten pin bowling and basketball,” Mr Guinane said.
“Our club hosted them at the Narre Warren ten pin bowl, and the basketball games and the opening ceremony were all held at Cardinia LIFE.”
He said the athletes “remind you what sport is supposed to be about”.
“They’re as competitive as anybody but they are so supportive of each other, including opposition,” he said.
“They just want to see each other do well.
“It’s not all about sledging and ‘win at all costs’. It’s about competing and the social aspects.”
Mr Guinane’s 25-year-old son has autism.
“For a lot of years there you just didn’t know where to go,” he said.
“You don’t know what exists until you have to go looking for it, I suppose.
“It was only five years ago that we discovered Special Olympics.
“He found his thing with his 10 pin bowling and that’s what he loves.
“You just wish you found it earlier, that’s all.
“It’s a real outlet for parents as well as the athletes. It’s a whole new world.”
There are Special Olympics organisations across Australia working to transform the lives of people with an intellectual disability through regular sport, competition and personal development.
