The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia (DSAA) Central Coast branch has been making the beach and surf accessible for people with disability for nearly 20 years, supported by a passionate network of volunteers. Its free events offer safe beach access, connection and confidence-building experiences for surfers and carers alike.
A recent Coca-Cola Recycling Drive grant of $2,500 is helping the group meet rising demand and continue providing these opportunities to the community. Supporters of the community group nominated the cause to receive the grant, which recognises groups that bring communities together and encourages collective recycling action.
Central Coast DSAA's Rae Fuechter said the strong local community backing played a key role in securing the grant. The funding allows the organisation to continue running events for free, which is crucial as families face extra costs such as modified cars and carers needing to be paid.
The organisation has also long been committed to minimising its environmental footprint. 'We recycle everything we can - boxes, plastics - and we hand out calico bags to help reduce waste,' Ms Fuechter said. Container Deposit Schemes help community groups like the DSAA fundraise sustainably by rallying supporters to donate eligible bottles and cans.
DSAA has been running for almost 40 years, with 19 branches across Australia and one in New Zealand. The Central Coast branch started with about 10 surfers and 30 volunteers, and now regularly supports about 60 surfers and up to 200 volunteers at each event. 'It's not just the surfing. We connect people with similar disabilities so carers can talk to each other and share support,' Ms Fuechter said.
DSAA were also part of the early movement for beach wheelchairs on the Central Coast and helped test newer models. They have witnessed personal transformations, including a bilateral amputee who learned to surf and a young autistic man who now volunteers in the water. 'Even small donations mean a lot. Funding like this gives us breathing room so we're not constantly fundraising,' Ms Fuechter said.
