MEET LONNIE FROM LAUNCESTON
October 2020
We are excited to introduce you to our 2021 Junior Nationals and 2022 National Games mascot, Lonnie.
Lonnie is a regular at sporting events, but usually prefer to live the quiet life with her family in the beautiful wild scrubs of Cataract Gorge in Launceston.
Some of you may recognise Cataract Gorge in our Junior National Games logo. What a coincidence that the locals also call Launceston, Launnie! What is in the spelling of a name, if it all sounds the same?!
Lonnie is a well-recognised native marsupial, commonly called a Tasmanian devil. In palawa kani, the language of Tasmanian Aborigines, the name of the Tasmanian devil is purinina. We recognise this name and use it with thanks to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.
Lonnie and her family have had to overcome several serious health challenges to survive and thrive, and their resilience in the face of adversity and difficulty, mirror our athletes ability to rise above any challenge and embrace life to the fullest.
Lonnie and the entire Launceston community will stand tall as ambassadors for Special Olympics athletes, while they train and prepare for our Games.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AUSTRALIA
Combining the transformative power of sport and a holistic approach to athlete well-being enables Special Olympics Australia to support a better life for people with an intellectual disability.
Special Olympics Australia strives to ensure that everyone living with an intellectual disability can participate in sport. Our dedicated network of volunteers creates accessible sports training, coaching and competition opportunities that allow people with an intellectual disability to reach their personal best – in sport and in life.
We provide:
- Weekly grassroots sporting, recreational, social and health activities in local communities around Australia.
- An environment where people with an intellectual disability can develop physical fitness, build self-esteem, demonstrate courage, and make friends.
- Competition pathways ranging from weekly club events, to regional, state, and national games, culminating in the Special Olympics World Games.