MADDIE Fogarty found an outlet and a community in the Ballarat arts scene.<\/p>\n
Studying speech and drama, she\u2019s a writer, a storyteller and a performer, but she may not have had the opportunity to find these passions, had she stayed in northern Victoria.<\/p>\n
Encouraged by her aunty to enter the ABC Heywire writing competition, open to youths from 16 to 22, Maddie got to \u2018tell it like it is,\u2019 and was announced one of 37 national winners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ad was calling for youth to share their stories from regional Australia,\u201d she said. \u201cI was born in Kerang. I have cerebral palsy in all four limbs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only things to do in a small country town is play sport. You\u2019re either part of the football club, the netball club or you\u2019re not in with the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t going to be a good place for me to grow up, and it was going to be a detriment on my mental health because I couldn\u2019t fit in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moving to Geelong, Maddie then settled in Ballarat at the age of 10 and opportunities opened up for for her get creative. But the presence of sport and activity was still huge, and her difference of ability would surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t do some small things like tie up my shoelaces, but then on the other end, some people also get surprised when I say I can\u2019t swim or ride a bicycle, because they don\u2019t understand the use of the limbs and balance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Maddie has used ABC Heywire as a vehicle to share her story because she thinks sometimes people forget disabled people exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s hard to be aware all the time, but even in the supermarket when people push, or they\u2019re not aware, it affects my balance and ability to walk safely,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping I can increase people\u2019s awareness of disabled people in their surroundings, but also tell them how important it is for disabled people to be included in things and in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that sport is a good thing, and it\u2019s nice to offer people with disabilities a role in sport, if they\u2019re willing. Disabled people can be an asset in sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said she has been lucky the arts gave her a community and chances to delve into exciting projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe arts is a great place for expression. In Kerang, the only opportunity I would have had to be involved in the community was sport. It\u2019s a really deep-rooted tradition, but it doesn\u2019t work for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking to 2020, 17-year-old Maddie is heading into year 12, and as a result of her ABC Heywire win, to the ACT.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m having my story recorded for the radio and going to a youth summit in Canberra in February.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be focussing on leadership and talking about issues in regional Australia, including the acceptance of LGBTQI+ people, drought, adequate health care facilities…<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause there\u2019s 37 of us going, we all have something different to offer and will work to come up with solutions that might solve these problems,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MADDIE Fogarty found an outlet and a community in the Ballarat arts scene. Studying speech and drama, she\u2019s a writer, a storyteller and a performer, but she may not have had the opportunity to find these passions, had she stayed in northern Victoria. Encouraged by her aunty to enter the ABC Heywire writing competition, open […]<\/p>\n