July 3, 2008
Work is underway on installing a special wheelchair swing for young kids in Anzac Park in Tamworth.
The new Liberty Swing is being installed near the existing children's playground on the Fitzroy St side of the city park.
The Liberty swing is specially adapted to take wheelchairs and gives young people with mobility-related disabilities the chance to experience the joy of swinging through the air.
TRC horticultural manager Eric Budgen says the project is a wonderful example of how a number of different groups are partners in something that will bring so much fun to so many kids. The council is the project manager.
Tamworth Access Group originally hit on the idea five years ago and lobbied council and others to go for it. The children's charity Variety sunk money into buying the swing, the combined Rotary clubs of Tamworth swung behind it to celebrate their centenary year, Joblink Plus added it to their work schedule, and Blue Dog Fences pitched in with some material help.
The $50,000 project is also being supported by the Sir Roden Cutler Charities and other Tamworth community members.
Mr Budgen says concrete was poured for the wheelchair access pathway and the pad to support the swing today, the fencing will be finished next week and after softfall is formed up under the base the swing will be installed and should be ready for action before Spring.
The $50,000 project is also being supported by the Rotary clubs of Tamworth, the Tamworth Access Group and the Sir Roden Cutler Charities, and other community members, who have contributed funds towards it.
A TRC report suggests that there are about 358 young people who live in Tamworth who could benefit from the swing but about 700 people who are aged from toddlers to 14 years old in the TRC area who could also use it.
The TRC community care coordinator Kerry Little says children with mobility problems and those in wheelchairs can all use the swing.