Sydney school students treated to special presentation by Australian Paralympian
Perseverance and resilience were celebrated in Sydney last week as Australian Paralympian Sue-Ellen Lovett presented her inspiring story to a range of lucky students at the ‘No Step Back, Moving Together in Unity Farm Day Excursion’ on Thursday, 23rd & Friday, 24th November.
A collaboration between the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) and Paralympics Australia, the ‘No Step Back, Moving Together in Unity Farm Day Excursion’ aimed to encourage students to embrace a forward momentum mindset and bring attention to our unstoppable Australian Paralympic athletes and resilient agricultural community.
Lovett , a vision impaired equestrian competitor and Paralympian in 1996 and 2000, delivered an inspiring presentation about the importance of self-belief and determination in overcoming adversity.
“I think it is important to goal set, to believe in yourself and not believe the chatter happening on the outside”, Lovett told the students.
“Set goals that are achievable and one step at a time you achieve that goal, tick that box and move onto the next. Anything is achievable if you want it”.
Lovett, who is blind due to a hereditary condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, has a long association with the RAS, having ridden her Australian Stockhorse, ‘Yarrahapinni Hectic’, in the Main Arena at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Sharing her experiences of her family farm, Lovett’s special session on riding and farming vision impaired was one of five interactive sessions covering various agricultural industries. Students also rotated between dairy milking, a cotton demonstration, horticulture & bush tucker, and the farmyard nursery.
RAS Head of Education, Duncan Kendall, said it was a great honour for the RAS to partner with Paralympics Australia to deliver such an important message to the students.
“The ability to meet adversity head-on and keep moving forward against all odds is one of life’s most valuable skills and I think the students really learnt some important lessons today”, Kendall said.
The ‘No Step Back, Moving Together in Unity’ theme is inspired by the Australian Coat of Arms, featuring the kangaroo and the emu. Both native Australian animals have difficulty moving backwards and have come to symbolise a nation constantly moving forward.
The program is jointly funded by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and the Australian Government’s Landcare Program, recognising the need for students to have access to agricultural learning in a hands-on, contextual environment.
