Hundreds of excited school students have arrived at Sydney Olympic Park for the first day of school workshops at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 presented by Jaguar Land Rover.
The 2018 Outreach Program, beginning with the theme of Education, is a joint initiative of the Department of Education, the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Invictus Games.
More than 6,000 students from 185 schools will take part in a range of adaptive sport activities, science and engineering projects as well as cheering on the competitors.
Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Mark Scott, told the students that “whilst you will see great sport at the Invictus Games, you will also experience great learning.
You will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see competitors from around the world as they demonstrate their Invictus spirit, overcoming adversity and displaying resilience.
“At these Invictus Games you will see not only athletic exploits that demand respect and will inspire you, but you will also see the science and engineering research that goes into enabling these competitors to compete.”
Mr Scott’s sentiments were supported by Invictus Games Ambassador and Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson.
This will probably be one of the most important weeks of your lifetime. You will not realise it now, but today you are learning life messages.
“The competitors will shine on the sports field but to get here they have already conquered mental or physical challenges.
“I ask you to remember that it’s not what happens to you, but how you deal with it,” said Dr Nelson.
Students from Kogarah High School and Figtree High School in Wollongong quickly climbed into sports wheelchairs for a game of basketball and very soon realised the high level of skill needed.
Sarah from Kogarah admitted “I was pretty useless, and it was much harder than I imagined. But it was a very valuable lesson and I now appreciate the skills involved.”
Other students tested out sitting volleyball and again realised the high level of skill and talent needed to move around the court.
Students from Holsworthy High School began with an engineering project, constructing an artificial leg and then adapting it to fit selected students, ready for a sprint race.
Student Jessica McLean felt it was a great experience to understand the challenges of physically impaired athletes and was very grateful for the opportunity to be involved.
“We are a military-related school as we are very close to Holsworthy Barracks and today was a wonderful opportunity to recognise not only the efforts of our serving soldiers but to see them competing for their country. This education project really keeps their legacy alive.”
As part of the education legacy, UNSW Canberra announced a scholarship solely for veterans to assist them, through education to integrate into their new life.
“When we talk about people transitioning from the military to civilian life we often forget that education is an integral part and with this scholarship we are hoping to change that,” said UNSW Canberra Rector Michael Frater.
Australian powerlifting and indoor rowing competitor at Invictus Games 2016, Rachel Kerrigan, told students “sport saved me. I came out of the army with PTSD and anxiety and wasn’t coping at all.
“I was selected to go to the Invictus Games in Orlando. It was the first time I was out of my home environment and it was totally confronting, but I learnt that I could push through.”
Since then, Kerrigan has continued her sporting career and recently won bronze in the Australian Powerlifting titles and is also on the Sydney University Flames Wheelchair Basketball team.
Kerrigan issued a bold challenge to the students, telling them “it doesn’t matter what adversity you face in your life; you, and only you are in control of your own future.”
The exuberance shown by students involved in the Education Project, is proof the ongoing legacy of Invictus Games Sydney 2018 has certainly provided inspiration and understanding of the unconquerable spirit.
AnneMarie White
Invictus Games Sydney 2018