12 year old Club member, Rafferty Stevens, made history recently when a letter he wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was read out by the PM in Parliament and officially recorded in Hansard.
Raf is one of our adaptive sport Wheelchair Tennis players. He was inspired by the Paralympics in Paris this year, even getting up in the early hours of the morning to watch our Aussie athletes take on the world in his two favourite sports – Wheelchair Tennis and Basketball. Raf himself harbors the aspiration to be a Paralympian at the Brisbane Games in 2032.
Having read an article about the Federal Govt. increasing funding for the AIS and Olympic/Paralympic Sport, Raf’s mum Elisa encouraged Raf to write a letter thanking the PM. They then hatched a plot to give the letter to Mr Albanese at the Welcome Home Ceremony for our Australian Paralympians at the Qantas Hangar on Wednesday, September 11.
The pair went out to the airport to greet the athletes and Rafferty made his way to the side of the stage on which the PM was speaking, handing his letter to one of the PM’s security guards. Raf and Elisa couldn’t believe it when, later that day, the PM actually read out Raf’s letter in Parliament (see: https://www.facebook.com/61557090489412/videos/498158826189296).
Raf was initially speechless when shown footage of the PM reading his letter. He was shocked, but also just so proud.
After reading out Raf’s letter, Mr Albanese then addressed Parliament saying: “To the Paralympians who arrived home today, that is the sort of inspiration you’ve created. Your conduct and your performances in Paris have changed lives. You’ve changed the life of this young man, and it’s a great thing.”
Of course, the PM is a keen tennis player himself, playing Badge for Marrickville. Here’s a recent photo of him playing with juniors at Epping Tennis Club.
Raf is committed to keeping the promise he made to the PM in his letter… to try hard at school and reach his goal.
He was a little embarrassed when the footage of Mr Albanese reading his letter was shown to attendees at the recent Collaroy Tennis Club AGM and he received a rousing round of applause from his fellow members. President Vito and Club Captain Wil then presented Raf with a certificate marking his nomination as a Finalist in this year’s Tennis NSW Awards, in the category ‘Young Athlete with Disability’. The Club also gave Raf $100 as a small acknowledgement of his many achievements, which Elisa said will go towards the purchase of a much-needed new tennis racquet.
Of note, Raf’s fellow Collaroy ‘Wheelie’, Isla Gillespie, is also a finalist in the same category at the Awards, and the Club itself is a Finalist as ‘Most Outstanding Club – NSW Metro’ and ‘Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative’. Evolve Tennis Academy is also a Finalist in the latter category. Winners will be announced at a presentation dinner on Thursday, Oct. 17.
Rafferty… the Back Story
We felt this was an opportunity to provide more of an insight into one of our wheelchair players – someone who is representing the Club so well, wherever he plays. Raf didn’t always need a wheelchair, but at age 4 was diagnosed with right-sided Perthes Disease (a disease of the hip). Between 4 and 7 as his right hip partially healed, Rafferty began to transition out of a wheelchair to walking and he started doing the things he had always loved, like playing AFL and participating in Nippers.
But at 8 years of age, Raf began to experience serious pain and restriction in his left hip and was soon diagnosed with late onset, severe Bilateral Perthes. Surgical intervention was swift, complex and ongoing for three years. Rafferty spent a significant amount of that time in hospital undergoing surgery, followed by forced bed rest. Once again, he had to rely on a wheelchair for mobility… and he has had to ever since.
Rafferty showed a keen interest and skill in sports from a young age. It was clear that adaptive sport was the way forward to keep him active and part of a community of people where he felt understood and accepted. His love of Wheelchair Tennis and Basketball started as soon as he picked up a tennis racquet and bounced a basketball. He just really enjoys being active.
Mum Elisa says: “The adaptive sports space is quite unique. Up and coming juniors like Raf, get to play alongside elite players. They see each other play, cheer each other on and meet up. The opportunity for Rafferty to connect with his idols is literally within arms-reach… and the spirit of mentorship is so strong. It’s really special. We are truly grateful for the amazing role models that Rafferty has in his life, due to sport.”
Elisa says that Evolve coach, Paula Gibson Roy, must be credited with fostering Raf’s love of tennis. “She has been there for Rafferty through thick and thin - operations, Covid, health limitations, etc.”, says Elisa. “We will be forever grateful for the impact that Paula has had on Rafferty’s wellbeing and ongoing accomplishments in tennis.”
Those accomplishments are amazing for someone Raf’s age. Consider this:
Raf has a career-best ITF World Junior Wheelchair Tennis Ranking of 34. (He’s currently 41 and on his way back up.)
He’s a winner of the 2024 Junior Doubles at the Melbourne Open
Winner of the 2024 Melbourne Tournament - Personal Best & Most Improved
First person to represent Broken Bay as a wheelchair athlete in a standing tennis competition.
Successfully challenged the incorrect application of rules for 'Run & Roll' tennis. Raf’s challenge resulted in NSW School Sports and the Catholic Education Sports Office changing their competition rules to reflect those of Tennis Australia and the ITF for wheelchair tennis athletes.
First Northern Beaches person to be selected for the BNSW State Performance Program for Wheelchair Basketball, 2024.
First Northern Beaches junior to enter the State Waratah League Wheelchair Basketball League, at 10 years of age!
Winner of the Illawarra 2023 SLAM Wheelchair Basketball Junior MVP Award
Invitation to Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Paralympics Australia and the National Institute Network, Paralympics Talent Search Event in November
(Oh, and he’s had a letter read in Parliament by the PM!)
Elisa says that Raf has always been a happy kid. As she puts it: “In an instant, he went from a kid who was allowed to walk, run and jump, to having to use a wheelchair. As a family, we all just ‘got on with it’, kept a positive attitude and just shifted the goal posts.”
Rafferty has a big brother, Sebastian, who is two and a half years older. “Sebastian is a wonderful big brother”, says Elisa. “He shows unwavering support to Raf, while treating him like any big brother would, physical disability or not.”
Elisa goes on to say: “Through all the adversity that Rafferty has had to face, he has shown the most amazing amount of resilience. Despite being in constant pain, he rarely complains and just gets on with things, the best he can, always focusing on the positive. We are so proud of him.”
Raf just really enjoys playing sport with his friends. Sport is everything to him. “If you ask him, sport is a ‘place’ and ‘community’ where he doesn’t have to explain anything”, says Elisa. “He gets to be himself, make friends and just hang out with them, having fun. When Raf has had surgeries, been on forced bed rest or isolated due to Covid, it’s sport he’s missed the most. “
Away from sport, Rafferty loves birds. He wants to study Biology, specialising in Ornithology. His hope is to win a scholarship that allows him to study, while still playing wheelchair basketball and tennis.
Raf’s on the record as saying he wants to represent Australia in Basketball in Brisbane 2032, but of course at Collaroy, we know him as a tennis player. When asked if he thought tennis will always be a part of his life, Raf answered:
““Yes! I love tennis. It’s the only sport where my friends and family don’t have to get into a wheelchair to play with me. They get one bounce and I get two. It’s the best Para-Sport for everyone.”
We asked Raf what he likes about playing at Collaroy specifically, and if there’s anything the Club could do to improve things for he and his fellow ‘Wheelies’. His answer was heart-warming:
“I like everything about playing at Collaroy – the easy access to the court, ramps, the court surface, Paula, the location… and the fact that people always say ‘hi’ to me. I can’t think of any improvements I’d like to see. Everything is awesome. I feel really welcomed. I can’t wait to play in the Club Championships again… but maybe there’s one thing I’d like changed… can I please play against adults? And could we play ‘Run and Roll’ as part of the competition?” (Over to Wil and the Competition Committee on these suggestions.)
Raf’s mum Elisa works at Sargood on Collaroy - a world-first, purpose-built facility providing short-term respite packages for people living with spinal cord injury. She had always been a big advocate of inclusive education and practices, a quality heightened by living with Raf. A primary school teacher for 23 years, Elisa actively completed training and sought opportunities to build and promote teaching programs that championed all students and the wider community.
“As a specialist sports teacher for my last 6 years of teaching, I introduced Para-sports such as seated volleyball, goal ball, boccia and wheelchair basketball into my program, supported by Invictus & Paralympic athletes”, said Elisa. “The Wheelchair Tennis offered at Collaroy was the only local wheelchair sport on the Northern Beaches and it was through the Club and Evolve that I met the team and guests from Sargood, who play regularly on Court 4.
“I learnt more about Sargood on Collaroy and the Sargood Foundation and realised that when the time came for me to seek a career change, Sargood would complement my ongoing need to work in an environment that enriched the lives of people. The opportunity arose and the rest is history! Somehow, everything seemed ‘meant to be’.”
We at Collaroy feel honoured to have this amazing family as part of our Club. The last word on Raf goes to his mum who says: “We are so proud of both of our boys. We are always moved by Rafferty’s ability to make sense of and respond to, what he encounters each day. In some ways, he’s a typical 12-year-old boy, but in others he’s mature beyond his years.
“I will never forget Rafferty arriving to compete in his first tennis tournament, traditionally held for able-bodied players. He was the first wheelchair competitor in the tournament’s history. There were eyes on him everywhere… people stopping and turning as he rolled onto court. I was beside myself with worry, but Rafferty didn’t bat an eyelid. He owned the situation. That floored and inspired me. I would never have had that level of self-confidence and belief at his age.”
As a club, we couldn’t be more proud of you Raf. You’re a wonderful ambassador for Collaroy – certainly the first member to ever have had a letter read by the PM in Parliament! We look forward to continuing to be part of your journey and that of your family. And whatever sport you’re playing, we’ll be cheering as loud as anyone, come Brisbane 2032!
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