Spotlight on a SAF Donor - Brendyn Appleby

How did you first hear about SAF?
I first heard about SAF back in 2022 when I was developing our High Performance Thinking workshops. Giving back is core to our work, and we were actively seeking an organisation to support that aligned with our vision and values. SAF was a natural fit - their commitment to empowering athletes (and families) with disabilities through sport resonated deeply with our mission.  Whilst it directly assists the athlete, the impact is much wider than the individual they support.

What athletes or stories of Honour Roll Members have you followed?
I watch several athletes through my association with sport at the WA Institute of Sport in basketball, cycling, swimming and triathlon.  But since you mentioned Col Pearse at a HPT workshop several years ago, I have also kept an eye on him.  

Tell us a little about your passion for sport and inclusion?
Sport and exercise are powerful vehicles for enhancing an individual's physical, social, and mental health, regardless of their physical ability.  What I like most is how sport serves as a universal language - one that reaches beyond barriers and creates genuine connections between people of all abilities.

I've witnessed firsthand how sport becomes a great equaliser, where determination, skill, and heart matter. When athletes with and without disabilities train together, compete alongside each other, or simply share the same sporting spaces, something remarkable happens.  People become more aware, friendships form, and everyone involved becomes enriched by the experience.

This inclusion goes beyond the athletes with disabilities - it elevates everyone.  It teaches us about resilience, adaptability, and the incredible diversity of human potential.  Sport has this unique ability to reveal our shared needs while celebrating our individual strengths, creating communities where everyone can thrive and contribute to something greater than themselves.

You have been involved in High Performance sport for a long time, what needs to improve for athletes with disability at the top end?
While progress is being made, there's still significant work to be done.  I had the privilege of attending the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where both able-bodied and disabled competitions were integrated into the same schedule.  It was truly transformative - seeing athletes with and without disabilities celebrated equally, sharing the same venues and receiving the same recognition.

If we could achieve greater alignment within and between sports at this level, it would create more opportunities and visibility for athletes with disabilities.  The reality is that all high-performance athletes share the same fundamental story of perseverance, dedication, and resilience.  These are the qualities we should be promoting to motivate and inspire everyone to reach their potential, regardless of ability.

And, then at grass root and community level what needs to improve for people with disability to access sport?
The challenges are often logistical rather than philosophical.  Many sports facilities and programs were simply not designed with accessibility and multi-purpose use in mind. While awareness and inclusion are growing, we need consistent advocacy and support which is exactly what SAF provides.

The key is creating environments where adaptive sport isn't seen as separate or secondary, but as an integral part of the sporting landscape.  This means better facility design, more inclusive coaching education, and ongoing community support to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and benefits that sport can offer.

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