Disability advocate shares plan for a better South Burnett

Kingaroy's Rhonda Trivett has spoken of her plan to start a South Burnett wheelchair basketball club

Rhonda Trivett with Suncoast Spinners coach Nathan Wilburn. Picture: Contributed

AFTER returning from her debut with the Suncoast Spinners last weekend, Kingaroy's Rhonda Trivett has outlined her plan to start a South Burnett wheelchair basketball club.

"It will give people with a disability a chance to go out and join a club and get more involved in the community," Ms Trivett said.

"I really want this to happen this year. But I need the community's support."

Ms Trivett said she had a wonderful time at her first game and wanted the same experience for South Burnett people like herself.

"We haven't got anything like this in the South Burnett. It's missing," she said.

"We need training and facilities here in the South Burnett. If we had our own services and service providers, we would have a better South Burnett and wouldn't have to travel for these services.

"I've got people interested and I know there is more interest in the South Burnett."

The South Burnett wheelchair-basketball superstar hopes to secure wheelchairs specifically for playing basketball for her new club.

"Hopefully one of the local schools will let us practice at their courts too," she said.

Ms Trivett is really hoping to address the region's lack of opportunities for minority groups.

"It's about time we helped our minorities and met their needs. I'm talking about our disabled, our addicts, our homeless, our elderly, and more," she said.

"There's a lot of people in the South Burnett with needs that aren't being met.

"It's a real problem and it's something I'm passionate about changing."

Ms Trivett said she hoped one day there would be a 24-hour drop in centre, an education centre, a rehabilitation centre (for addicts and mothers in need), emergency accommodation, and a call centre.