Greg Toy is ready to take on the best at next month’s Australian Para Nationals event

That’s not to say that it will be; it’s just how the Tatura native approaches everything in life.

Toy, a Hill Top Bowling Club stalwart, lives with muscular dystrophy — a disease that causes progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles.

Despite his everyday challenges as a person living with a disability, Toy is determined to live life to its fullest and he does so with a level of positivity that is infectious.

So when he arrives in Perth to take on the best in Australia on October 6 you can bet your house on him battling it out with the biggest grin plastered over his face.

“I do not let it beat me. Yes, I have a disability, it does not define me,” Toy said.

“I am as stubborn as anything and I won’t ask for help, I struggle to ask for help, but I will when I’ve tried and can’t do it.

“You only get one shot here. You only get one shot at life, enjoy it and do it as hard as you can and enjoy it while you do. And I do, you’re mad if you don’t.

“It’s the only way to live.”

Toy knows all to well about making the most of your chances.

He claimed gold at the State Disabilities Championships earlier this year which was a repeat of his state triumph in 2019.

An appearance for Victoria at the Nationals tournament that year should have come for Toy, yet it never did.

The state squad had already been selected.

Although Toy confessed it was “awkward” and “disappointing” that he missed out on representing Victoria ― he was more determined than ever to earn a Big V selection.

The pandemic hampered those hopes, but Toy returned to the state champs once again only to be defeated in the semi-final.

Another chance went begging.

However, Toy would not be left waiting three years for another crack at securing his dream and in May he claimed the Para B5/B6 Singles title.

This year was the first time the disabilities titles have had separate sections for B5/B6 and B7/B8, with Toy’s previous title coming when they were part of the same group.

His triumph made selectors sit up and take notice.

“You don’t just get selected for turning up. You’ve got to bust ya gut,” Toy said.

Toy recalled the moment he found out he was off to Perth, with a phone call from state selectors coming during a hospital visit.

“It was very exciting, but I couldn’t tell anybody,” Toy said.

“I was in the hospital (I need a knee reconstruction) when I found out and they had me booked in for September 25, but I asked if they could put it back a bit.

“I said ‘do you mind if you push it back?’ and she asked ‘why, don’t you want it now?’ and I said ‘yes, I do, but I’ve just made the state squad to go to Perth’ ... so we’ve pushed it back to October 16.”

A fortnight before he enters hospital, Toy will begin his campaign at the Nationals on October 6.

He is selected to represent Victoria in the singles and pairs.

He will team up in the pairs with a familiar Goulburn Valley Playing Area name.

“I’m so stoked that I’ve got there, I’m over the moon. It’s so exciting to finally crack it, it’s awesome” Toy said of his selection.

“I’m paired up with Josh Thornton who used to play in our area ... it’s going to be full-on, but I can’t wait.”

With less than four weeks until he jets off to WA, the positive and upbeat bowler provided words of wisdom to anyone else chasing their dreams.

“Go for it, don’t be shy in having a crack, no matter what it is. Get in and have a crack and have fun.”