Excitement and smiles filled the waters of the Mackay Harbour last week as the Making Waves Foundation brought the thrill of sailing to the region. As part of its Northern Campaign 2025, the foundation kicked off the first of six ports along Queensland’s coast and Northern NSW, offering free, inclusive sailing programs for youth living with disabilities, many of whom were stepping aboard a boat for the very first time.
Mayor Greg Williamson joined the community to celebrate the campaign, praising the initiative as a unique opportunity for children.
“This is an absolutely outstanding venture that’s making waves every year. It takes the young people in our community who will not normally have an opportunity to do something like this,” he said.
Reflecting on the previous group of school students who attended, he said, “The group I’ve just met absolutely loved it.”
Mary Anne, one of the program coordinators, described the excitement for the children.
“We were hoping for calmer weather so we could get out to see some whales, but we’ve been having a lot of fun just in and out of the harbor, venturing out into the big waves… Everybody has come on and is having an absolutely fantastic time,” she said.
She reflected on the privilege of taking the young participants out.
“It’s really special and humbling to be out here with the kids. It's absolutely fantastic. I love seeing people who don’t normally go sailing, and have the best time.”
Grade 6 students from Glenella State School also shared their experiences.
Max said, “I liked when the water was choppy since it was really fun… just being with people and coming here and making new friends was really good.”
Beau added, “We went sailing out in the water. It was a bit choppy but we went out just a couple of times to see how it was… It's really good because I haven’t been on a boat in a while, and it's really good to experience it.”
Running since 2022, the Winds of Joy program continues to provide Mackay youth with hands-on sailing experiences, fostering confidence, camaraderie, and a love for the water.
The Northern Campaign 2025 will continue at Airlie Beach, Rosslyn Bay, Gladstone, Southport, and Coffs Harbour, bringing free, inclusive sailing experiences to even more young Australians.
The Making Waves Foundation’s Northern Campaign 2025 kicked off in Mackay, giving local youth living with disabilities a thrilling, hands-on sailing experience that fostered confidence, camaraderie, and a love for the water. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
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