On April 9th, our Y Victoria Point Centre hosted a special event: "Magical Ponies" came to visit! As part of our Farm Theme in Kindergym, we offered unlimited pony rides for a gold coin donation. It was a hit, especially among our young students from the swim school and gymnastics program.
Among them was Hazel, a 3.5-year-old girl living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Hazel has been part of our Kindergym program for about two years now, and her journey has been remarkable. However, she often finds group sessions overwhelming and struggles with separation anxiety from her mom.
Our Kindergym leaders, Miss Lou and Miss Laura, have been amazing in supporting Hazel. With their patience and dedication, Hazel has made significant progress. Recently, she transitioned to the Gym Kids program, taking her first steps without her mom by her side.
Hazel's love for unicorns and horses is clear, and when the ponies arrived, she was overjoyed. Climbing onto a pony, Hazel's demeanor changed. She was calm, independent, and fully engaged, which brought smiles to everyone's faces.
The impact of the pony visit went beyond that day. Hazel's newfound confidence carried over to her Gym Kids class, where she excitedly shared her pony experience with her classmates. For Hazel, who finds social interactions challenging, this was a major breakthrough.
Her mom witnessed the significance of this interaction when Hazel ran up to another little girl in her class and said, “I saw the ponies, did you see the ponies?” This simple exchange symbolised a big step forward for Hazel in socialising independently, a milestone her mom had long hoped for.
At Y Queensland, we're committed to making our programs inclusive and meaningful for all our members across centres. Moments like Hazel's journey remind us of the importance of our work. We celebrate the dedication of our coaches and the progress of every member.
As we continue to plan activities, our mission remains unchanged: provide opportunities for all people to grow in body, mind and spirit. With community support and impactful initiatives, we look forward to many more heartwarming moments like Hazel's at Y Queensland.
Check out the amazing programs at Y Victoria Point here.
