Paralympic athletes to feature on the big day

Some of the Bay’s most successful paralympians will be part of Saturday’s Seeka Te Puke Float Parade.

Jim Savage, who is a former Pongakawa School pupil, was diagnosed with polio in his early 20s.

Now in his 80s, he has represented New Zealand at nine Paralympics, bringing home hauls of medals in archery, bowls, athletics and sailing.

He is a mentor for the Parafed Aspiring Youth programme.

Dave Maccalman was injured in a diving accident while on his way to take up a basketball scholarship in the US.

He went on to compete in the decathlon representing New Zealand at two Paralympics and held the world wheelchair javelin record for more than 30 years.

Stacey Roche, originally from Katikati, represented New Zealand in boccia at the Sydney games. She now coaches at Bay Boccia.

Tauranga athlete Amanda Lowry qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics in swimming and also represents the Bay of Plenty in wheelchair rugby.

Along with fellow player Paul Hale and coach Neil Cudby, Amanda recently returned from Thailand where they played in an invitational team in the build-up to the world championships.

Parafed Bay of Plenty’s youth team will also be part of the parade, which starts at 11am outside the library. It will travel east down Jellicoe St to the Oxford St roundabout and return along Jellicoe St, to turn at RD1 and make a second circuit.