Field Of Dreams

Stepping onto the football field to run drills with the coach of Swan Districts is normally an opportunity reserved only for Swans’ players. However, the club was able to make this dream a reality for the Funky Friday group at Steel Blue Oval last month.

Run by City of Swan’s Community Care Lifespan Services, Funky Friday is a social group for people with disability. Every Friday evening, Funky Friday members participate in different activities ranging from attending dances to trying different cuisines at the Hawkers markets and local restaurants. On the 14^th of August 2018, Swan Districts Football Club provided the group with a once in a lifetime Swans’ Experience.

Until recently, the City of Bassendean ran a sister program for their disabled residents that sadly ceased operations due to a lack of funding. Fortunately, the City of Swan Community Services staff and volunteers were able to include the Bassendean group (known as the “Wings”) with the Funky Friday crew for their weekly outing.

Excited to be granted “access all areas” by the club, the attendees were given a tour of the Swans’ premises by Eliza Harrison, Chairperson of DAIS (the Swans’ Disability And Inclusion Subcommittee). Swan Districts’ Community Manager, Sandover Medal winner and former Swans’ league team player, Shane Beros, gave an interesting talk about the clubs’ history and shared a few locker room secrets. 

Colts players made an appearance to sign autographs, take photos, and have a chat with the Funky Friday and Wings’ members. They also helped run a fun handball activity that offered a prize for every participant who successfully handballed a football into the goal. Cheered on by the players who also gave them helpful tips, everyone managed to make the target and took home a signed Swan Districts’ football.

The group then retired to the Past Players room for a drinks and dinner, which true to the theme consisted of the typical match day “footy fare”. Refreshed and thrilled to have been made part of the Swans’ family, the Funky Friday and Wings members immediately began making plans to return for the 2019 football season with the Community Care coordinators as they piled onto their bus to depart Steel Blue Oval.

“It was an incredible night,” said Delara Cox, City of Swan Reablement Support Worker, Community Services. “Everyone really enjoyed the event. The tour was great and players really looked after the group members. It was a lot of fun.”

“The male participants want to do another Swans’ Experience next year with the female players too,” she confided laughingly.

Following the City of Swan Community Services’ Saturday group’s attendance at the Swans’ Count Me In Day home game which they enjoyed immensely, and the success of the Funky Friday/Wings evening, the Swan Districts Football Club have strengthened their relationship with the City of Swan’s Community Care Lifespan Services and further expanded their network of community partnerships. Not only does hosting events such as the Funky Friday outing achieve the organisation’s objective of building community, it also demonstrates the Swans’ commitment to becoming a more inclusive club.

Swan Districts’ is proud to advocate for greater accessibility and inclusion for disabled members of the Swans Community and welcomes all people with disability to attend matches at Steel Blue Oval next year, to become a valued member of the club and an integral part of the Swans’ family.