Despite the pouring rain, students from the supported learning unit at Hastings Secondary College had a blast taking to the water on jetskis as part of Variety the Children’s Charity visit to town.
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Variety were in town as part of the 2018 Yamaha Jet Trek, a charity ride from Sydney Harbour to Yamba raising funds to aid in the vital work Variety does in the community and CEO Steve Wakerly said this year’s trek has been the best yet.
“The trek is about helping sick, disabled and disadvantaged kids and providing them with equipment, scholarships or experiences they may never possible,” Mr Wakerly said.
“We have been doing the Jet Trek for 20 years, along different coastlines across Australia and it is fantastic that a lot of our riders come back year after year.”
Stopping in Port Macquarie for two nights, the group of over 250 people had the opportunity to spend time with students taking them on a trip of a lifetime.
“While we have been in town, and for our 20th anniversary we launched a pilot program called ‘Sea of Smiles’ where some of our trekkers took students out on the water in the ride of a lifetime,” he said.
“We are really excited because we know water activities can help a starved or overactive sensory system which can be a challenge for a lot for the kids we meet – water can energise, and yet it can also calm.
“Many of people we help may not have the opportunity to ride a jetski and it is great for our trekkers to see where some of the funds they raise go.
“Today I know that our trekkers have had just as much fun – if not more – than the kids they took out despite the rain.”
Hastings Secondary students Georgia Cordell and Tammy Campbell were just two of the students who were able to ride on the jetskis and both said the experience was amazing.
“Before I got on the jetski the first time I was pretty afraid that it was going to tip over, but after a little bit I just had a really amazing time,” Georgia said.
“I went on twice and both drivers were really nice and awesome and asked me questions about myself and I got to ask them some questions about the trek as well.
“My favourite part was when I got to do a 360 in the water and it didn’t even matter than it was raining it was just the best thing ever.”
“I had the chance to go on a jetski on the Hastings River and it was just so amazing,” said Tammy.
“I had never been on a jetski before and I liked that we could go out and have a really great time.”
