GALLERY: Disability service providers come together to celebrate special day

Yesterday (December 3) was 2025 International Day for People with Disability (IPDwD), and Interchange Australia, along with support from Mittagong RSL Club, held a fun day of events for their customers and support workers at the David Wood Fields and Murraural 4K Playspace in East Bowral.

By Antony Dubber

Interchange Australia band 'Higher than High' with Musical Director Tim Dickson (on guitar wearing hat) perform as part of International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD). (Photo: Antony Dubber)

GALLERY with all photos taken by Antony Dubber.

Yesterday (December 3) was 2025 International Day for People with Disability (IPDwD), and Interchange Australia, along with support from Mittagong RSL Club, held a fun day of events for their customers and support workers at the David Wood Fields and Murraural 4K Playspace in East Bowral.

This year’s theme for International Day for People with Disability was ‘Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress.’

Customers from other disability service providers including Challenge Southern Highlands, Citrus Cottage and Scope also came along and enjoyed such activities as face painting, a colour run, games, a BBQ lunch and musical entertainment from both the River Road Academy led by Patrick Nellestein, and Interchange band ‘Higher Than High’, led by Interchange Musical Coordinator, Tim Dickson.

“We would like to give a generous thank you to Mittagong RSL Club for their generous donation in making this day possible, and for everyone who attended, and I hope they had a fabulous day,” Interchange Marketing Coordinator, Kelly Taylor told The Southern Wire.

The Mittagong brigade of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) also came along with their information tent, mascot ‘Smokey the Koala’, and a fire appliance for everyone to climb up into and have a look at.

Mittagong RFS Captain Willy Hall even put on the lights and sirens for everyone to enjoy.

Other events for IPDwD were held across the regions and around Australia.

In the Southern Tablelands, an event was held by the Goulburn Disability Forum on December 2 at Veolia Arena, and in the Camden area, an event was also held by the Disability Trust at the Julia Reserve Community Centre on Peter Brock Drive at Oran Park.

And in the Wollondilly, there was a special screening of a documentary at the Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre in Picton of ‘The Blind Sea’ - an inspirational documentary following Australian Paralympian and four-time World Champion blind surfer Matt Formston, as he takes on the monster waves of Nazaré, Portugal.

For more information about International Day for People with Disability, visit their website at www.idpwd.com.au, or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/idpwd.