THE Australian High Commission last week hosted Clarence ‘CJ’ McCarthy-Grogan, an Indigenous Australian wheelchair basketballer undertaking community outreach across Honiara.
A statement from the Australian High Commission said CJ’s visit was part of Australia’s partnership with Solomon Islands ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games, where Australia is the numbawan training partner.
CJ was in Honiara from 26th June to 30th June 2023.
CJ is the second Aboriginal person to represent Australia in the history of wheelchair basketball.
He recently represented the Men’s National Wheelchair Basketball team- the Rollers- in the International Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Dubai.
He was a student‐athlete who played for the University of Texas in Arlington, where he completed a degree in university studies and disability studies.
He has also worked with the Darwin Basketball Association, Basketball NT and Disability Sports NT.
During his trip to Honiara, CJ visited the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport and met with athletes and para-athletes representing the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation.
He also visited Bishop Epalle Catholic School Honiara, Betikama School, King George VI School, and Don Bosco Technical Institute where he spoke and played basketball with primary, secondary, and tertiary students who learned about in his background and journey as a basketballer.
The visit was also an opportunity for CJ to learn about his own Solomon Islands heritage; his father’s grandmother who was born and raised in Malaita Province.
CJ said, “I was delighted to visit Solomon Islands and work with athletes and students, sharing my story of inclusion. It was my first visit to Solomon Islands, and I hope to be back!”
CJ’s visit coincided at King George VI School with the visit of Australian Deputy Prime the Hon Richard Marles and Solomon Islands Education Minister the Hon Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada, who came to the school to inspect Australia-funded refurbished dormitories.
Australia’s support for the Pacific Games includes refurbishing dormitories and classrooms in seven schools which will be used as accommodation for visiting Pacific Games athletes.
The facilities will then be returned to the schools for use by students and leave a lasting legacy.
Australia’s other Pacific Games initiatives have included:
- the development of Solomon Islands first water sports park for open water events, including sailing, and outrigger and va’ha canoeing
- the provision of elite sporting equipment in Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS)
- volunteers for SINIS and the National Sports Council to develop Solomon Islander athletes
- equipment and training in sports media to Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC)
- funding to the Community Access and Urban Enhancement Project (CAUSE) to support Solomon Islands safe and green games initiative.
CJ’s outreach shows the deep people-to-people ties which underpin the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership, as well as Australia’s advocacy for inclusivity of persons with a disability in Solomon Islands.
