One of the world’s best wheelchair rugby players and three-time Paralympian Ryley Batt wowed the audience at a recent fundraising event for mayoral candidate Adam Roberts.
More than 60 people braved the cold and wet night to attend the event held at Port Macquarie Panthers on Monday, July 23.
Mr Roberts shared his broader vision for the area on the night.
“We need to mow the lawns, fix the roads, stop the paper pushing in council, focus on attracting future proof and higher paying jobs, support our small businesses and involve the broader community in decision making,” he said.
“I’d love to promote our area to the world but right now, we’re allowing the place to deteriorate.’ Mr Roberts told the audience.
Roberts kept with the sporting theme of the night by suggesting that there was a fantastic opportunity to start afresh and get the best nine players (councillors) on the paddock.
Players who understood the past but were more focused on the future with a game plan of making Port Macquarie Hastings the best place in the world to live, work and visit again.
Batt, who is a former employee of Roberts, participated in a question and answer session on the night, taking dozens of questions from the audience.
“Ryley blew us away with his inspiring story of overcoming challenges to succeed, not just in life but also in the sporting world.
“It was very humbling to have him support me on the night and I’ll certainly be cheering him on to achieve his dream of winning Gold in London,” Adam Roberts said.
Already a silver medallist from Beijing in 2008, Batt is just days away from flying out to compete in his third Paralympics with the Aussie wheelchair rugby team, the Steelers.
“As a team, we’re going into the Paralympics with a pretty clear mission – to win gold,” Ryley told guests at the function.
Mr Roberts encourages Port Macquarie Hastings residents to get behind Ryley, through sending him a message of support via his official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ryleybattwheelchairrugby .
