Floating wheelchair opens the beach to all at Indented Head

THE Indented Head Yacht Club has welcomed the arrival of a new floating wheelchair able to assist individuals with mobility challenges to better enjoy the beach.

The Mobi-Chair is designed to allow users to move easily from the car park to the sand and into the water, with its large armrests acting as flotation devices.

Funded by the City of Greater Geelong, the chair will be managed by the Indented Head Yacht Club (IHYC) with the support of volunteers from the Salty Bitches swimming group, which also calls the clubhouse home.

IHYC vice-commodore Peter Ellenby said the chair will be available for use to both club members and the general public. Bookings can be made through the club.

“We welcome all ability swimmers to enjoy the waters at Indented Head. If they were to use the chair, we’d ask them to have two supporters to ensure that they’re safe in the water,” Mr Ellenby said.

“The yacht club, and particularly the Salty Bitches, are happy to support those swimmers with introducing them to the chair and ensuring that they have everything they need for a safe swim.”

It comes as the club begins preparations for its annual Wreck2Reef open water swim classic, set to return in February.

A beloved fixture on the Bellarine calendar, next year’s event will include an all-abilities swim, alongside the 600m Salty Bitches social swim, for the first time.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant and Geelong councillor Anthony Aitken joined IHYC members last week to celebrate the launch of the Mobi-Chair, with Ms Marchant also taking the opportunity to see the new-look clubhouse, which has recently undergone a refurbishment.

Last year, the club received at $10,000 Tiny Towns Grant from the Victorian government to complete the works, which included upgrades to the clubhouse’s upper deck, installation of a glass balustrade and new signage.

“It’s helped the clubhouse to present so much better on the beachfront,” Mr Ellenby said. “It shows the pride we have in the club.”