Governor-General to open swing for children in wheelchairs

Wellington children who use wheelchairs can now experience the exhilaration of using a swing thanks to a new piece of playground equipment installed at Island Bays' Shorland Park.

The Variety Liberty Swing has been gifted to children with disabilities in the Wellington Region by the Lions Club of Island Bay with support from The Trusts Charitable Foundation; The Trust House Charitable Trust; Macquarie Bank Foundation; and Wellington City Council.

 The new swing will be officially opened on Sunday 14 October 2007 at 1.30pm by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Hon Anand Satyanand, and five-year-old Joshua Pask from Upper Hutt has been selected to be the first person to use the swing.

The installation of the swing has been a two-year project for the Lions Club of Island Bay and the Club project co-ordinator Margaret Davis says members are pleased that their idea has come to fruition.   

"This swing will not only benefit local children who use wheelchairs, but also those who visit the popular park from outside the area."

Variety New Zealand CEO, Lorraine Taylor, congratulated the Lions Club of Island Bay for its hard work.

"Wer'e delighted to see this project completed, especially for Wellington children in wheelchairs who now have the same opportunity to participate in playground fun as their able-bodied peers.

"The Variety Liberty Swing provides a rare opportunity for children to experience the thrill of a swing without leaving their wheelchairs.    Where they once may have sat and watched their siblings and friends from the sidelines, they can now be part of the playground fun, experiencing something that most of us take for granted."

This is the eighteenth Variety Liberty Swing in New Zealand and the first for the Wellington region.  Varietys' goal is to provide a Liberty Swing in each of the 74 council regions of New Zealand with the help of inspired corporations, trusts, local councils, service clubs and sponsors.

To ensure appropriate use of the Variety Liberty Swing, the swing is locked and access is through a key that can be obtained by calling Wellington City Council (04) 499 4444 or a member of the Lions Club of Island Bay  (04) 383 5011.  The Variety Liberty Swing keys allow access to all the special swings throughout New Zealand and Australia.

For additional information please contact Margaret Davis, on wk (04) 462-4924 or (04) 383-5011 or email: davisnz@globe.net.nz

For further information on the Variety Liberty Swing visit: www.variety.org.nz

Media are welcome to attend the opening.