A young boy whose Australia Day celebrations were cut short by council rangers has been given a special beach experience when Bondi lifeguards stepped in with a simple act of kindness.
Eight-year-old Walter Soila’a, who has cerebral palsy and is a quadriplegic, loves the water but often faces barriers accessing the beach.
On Australia Day, Walter’s family travelled to Kurnell in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, bringing an inflatable pool so he could safely enjoy the water during a picnic.
But about 30 minutes after arriving, two council rangers told the family the pool had to be deflated. The council said any blow-up pool capable of holding more than 30 centimetres of water is subject to the same fencing laws as in-ground swimming pools.
When the family began emptying the pool to comply with the request, they were told it was also illegal to drain the fresh water into nearby bushland.
After Walter’s story gained national attention, Bondi lifeguard Bruce “Hoppo” Hopkins invited the family to Bondi Beach, offering a tailored experience designed to meet Walter’s needs.
Walter’s mother, Siu, told Sunrise on Wednesday that the water is one of the few activities her son can fully enjoy.
“For Hoppo and his team to allow Walter to get a little bit closer to the water and the sand, it’s a dream come true for Walter,” she said.
Walter’s father, Richard, said he and his wife want to ensure their son can take part in experiences that bring him joy.
“For us as parents, we want to do all we can to cater to him and his additional needs. I don’t think he needs to miss out, but as parents, we want to do as much as we can to help him enjoy his life. The water is probably the best place for him,” Richard said.
Hoppo said his team was quick to act once they heard about what had happened.
“As soon as I heard, we thought, well, let’s get Walter down and we can give him the Bondi experience and get him into the pool, and he’ll enjoy being on the sand and having a little swim,” he said.
Richard said the experience underscored the importance of councils supporting people with disabilities through accessible facilities and services.
“A big shout-out to all the councils that do recognise and advocate for disability and people like Walter. For them to be able to fund and make the facilities and equipment accessible to the beaches,” he said.
“I think the families need to know that there are councils out there that do cater to people that do need extra assistance or have special needs like Walter.”
Sutherland Shire Council has since apologised for the incident, acknowledging that greater discretion and compassion should have been applied.
In a statement, the council said it would work closely with the family to offer support and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion, accessibility and safety across the Sutherland Shire.
Image: Sunrise
