Last Friday afternoon the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College was fortunate to have wheelchair basketballer and Paralympian Jannik Blair and his Canadian girlfriend Julie visit and talk to the year 8, VCAL and year 12 Physical Education students.

Blair, who grew up at Kalkee, has returned home for a few days before he heads back to Perth to prepare for the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games in September.

Since school Blair was offered a scholarship to study in Missouri, then spent the last few years studying in Alabama in USA.

He returned to Melbourne for an exhibition game at Hisense arena on Tuesday night, so DMSC was very fortunate that he was able to fit in a visit during his short time at home. His father, Peter Blair, was aware that DMSC is interested in wheelchair basketball and are trying to be inclusive and facilitate the awareness of playing sport on an "equal playing field', so he organised his son to visit.

Photo above: a group of DMSC students, and teacher Mrs Sue Kuhnell, with Jannik Blair during his visit to DMSC last Friday. Photo contributed.

Blair spoke about his accident at 12 years of age, explaining that he is a paraplegic from the chest down. He also explained how he was introduced to wheelchair basketball while in rehabilitation and how his family and friends in Horsham would play wheelchair basketball with him on a social basis.

He recognised the wheelchairs that DMSC now have as the ones he used for these social games.

Blair has represented Victoria in the Under 14 and Under 18 teams and Australia at the London Paralympics.

It was announced yesterday that Blair will again represent Australia at the Rio games.

After the talk, the students had a modified game of wheelchair basketball and Blair allowed the students to use his $7,000 wheelchair. After everyone had a go, Blair, Julie and the senior students had a demonstration game. The session finished with the opportunity for the students and staff to speak to and have photos taken with the guests.

Blair expressed that the team love to hear support and you can follow the Australian team, known as the "Rollers', and Jannik Blair on Facebook.

Below: Will Barber and Kynan Clarke are undertaking wheelchair basketball and disability in sport as a VCAL project. Photo contributed.