By REBECCA BILLS
YARRA Ranges Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy was launched by world renowned wheelchair skater Christiaan Bailey last Thursday at the Mount Evelyn Station House.
Direct from the USA, Bailey spoke of active living and his 2006 skateboard accident that left him paralysed from the waist down.
Yarra Ranges mayor Fiona McAllister said the strategy provided an approach to ensure services and projects were delivered with a focus on active ageing, healthy eating, place-based community planning, gender equality and social, disability and cultural inclusiveness.
“This is a journey we have been on for a long time, and it’s always great to see a refreshed commitment to it,” she said.
“I’m very passionate about inclusion and health and wellbeing and all of the things the strategy talks about, so I think it is a really timely refresher and reminder on how we can all contribute.”
Bailey is one of only two professional wheelchair-skaters in the world and is also a professional big wave surfer.
Bailey said with the right outlook on life anything was possible.
For full story, see page 18.
