“It’s important that we have good safety equipment,” Mr Hill said.
If Sailability’s fleet of six small yachts is on the water, so is the motor boat that allows volunteers to “keep an eye” out, provide towing, coordination and rescues.
Ten years since Shepparton Sailability’s inception, the support vessel integral to making sailing accessible to a remarkably diverse community has done countless laps of the lake and is in need of a new outboard motor before the summer season.
That’s where Shepparton Lions Club president Richard Lilley comes in, who is also a Sailability volunteer.
He asked Mr Hill what Sailability needed in terms of equipment, and immediately understood the need for a new motor.
“If the motor is not working on the boat, the sailing is shut down - we have to have a reliable motor,” Mr Lilley said.
Shepparton Lions Club is a long-term supporter of the sailing school, having paid for sailing boats and a pontoon in the past, and Mr Lilley once again found the funds to keep wind in the sails of the popular community initiative.
He said funds for the new Yamaha motor, worth over $3000, were contributed in equal parts by Shepparton Lions Club and its national counterpart, the Australian Lions Foundation.
Shepparton dealership Solar City Marine and Caravans dealer principal Leigh McCully was very supportive of Sailability’s service to the community, and said he was honoured to help Mr Hill acquire the much-needed motor.
Sailability welcomes people with disabilities, people from different cultural backgrounds, retirees and toddlers.
“There’s virtually no groups left out in the community . . . if someone’s got a need for sailing, we can accommodate them,” Mr Lilley said.
Mr Hill said demand for the sailing service was higher than his crew of volunteers could provide for, and he was always looking for more hands on deck.
Shepparton Sailability volunteers don’t need to be seasoned sailors, according to Derek Edge, who has been contributing his time and skills since day one.
Mr Edge said there was work to be done - and fun to be had - by people of all genders and abilities, onshore and on the water.
For enquiries or to become a Shepparton Sailability volunteer visit shepsailing.wixsite.com/shepsailability or call Roy Hill on 0438 570 549.
