Mini-Olympics

On Monday 20 June, Lindfield was lucky enough to host six athletes from Special Olympics Australia program. The event was once again organised by Jules Ashworth and a mass of P and F volunteers. The premise for the day is to develop links between Newington and the Special Olympics through the boys undertaking different sporting events. Newington is a school that has a strong focus on developing boys who understand the importance of a society which emphasizes social justice, inclusivity and the importance of embracing diversity.

Ostensibly the goal of the day is to raise funds to help people with intellectual disabilities to be able to participate in sports programs. Sport at every level offers opportunities to make new friends, learn new skills, challenge yourself and do things that you may not have thought possible.

In reality, the Mini-Olympics days give our boys the opportunity to spend time with incredible people who face significant challenges every day and are determined, upbeat and enjoy the challenges that life throws them. They are great role models for our boys and our community.  To watch our musicians and singers partner with the Special Olympians while they danced and jointly performed ‘Mamma Mia’, was wonderful.

The day then progressed through a series of fun activities set up by Mark Caulfield where the boys competed in their houses and the Special Olympians helped run the stations.

The stations finished and the boys returned to the hall. Mark Caulfield dressed up for one last event and proceeded to create masses of excitement as it was revealed that the Newington community raised $14,253 for the Special Olympics. It was a fantastic effort that will provide sporting opportunities for over 150 people with intellectual disabilities for a year. Mention must be made of the Kindergarten boys who raised 1/3 of the total sponsorship. The Kindergarten boys and their families have only been part of the school for a semester but are strong contributors in all aspects of the school community.

The most satisfying part of the day and the reason that service is so powerful is the relationship that formed last year with our Special Olympics athletes continued this year.  Our boys were really excited to see the same athletes Mel, Athena, Stewart and Lachlan. Through shared opportunities like the Mini-Olympics, it is interesting to watch the boys see past difference and embrace the commonality of human experience, or in the case of our athletes they saw the person not the disability.

The power of service is to create more engaged and empathetic people who reach out to all members of the community as they understand that the we are more the same as the people around us than different. I encourage all our boys and families to look for ways to serve the community around them. The positive benefits are immense.

Benjamin Barrington-Higgs – Head of Lindfield Campus