Australian representative wheelchair sportsperson Rick Engles was at the school on Wednesday and Thursday (July 27 and 28) to deliver key messages to the kids.

He works for Wheelchair Sports NSW, sponsored by Department of Transport NSW, visiting schools to speak about road safety, disability sports and awareness, and what it’s like being in a chair.

All students get a chance to play wheelchair basketball themselves.

The program shows kids the importance of safe driving, giving them an insight into drink driving, speeding, fatigue, seat belts and mobile phone use.

Mr Engles was born with spina bifida, but that has not stopped him from representing Australia at the highest level in a range of sports.

He said that during the regional tour, which has seen him visit more than 300 schools so far, the kids enjoy getting in a wheelchair for the first time.

“They get the appreciation of being able to walk away,” he said.

“I’ve been doing this work for nearly 11 years. I really enjoy it and I’m quite passionate about what I do.

“It’s important to give awareness to the kids in primary school, and more so to the high school students as well, who are our main target group.”

Year four teacher Kath U’Brien said the program was fantastic, showing young students that anybody can do anything.

“It takes away the boundaries of having a disability. It opens up the scope of what anybody in the world can do,” she said.

“It’s important to show them that everybody is different, but you can all achieve.”