Ballimore Public School

Posted: 28/8/2008

Ballimore Public School is a small country school in central-west NSW. One class there with just seven students has been studying the Olympic Games and will now move on to the Paralympic Games.

I promised their teacher Lee that I would write a specific BLOG for them..

I am still in Perth training but looking forward to leaving on Saturday and spending a day in Sydney with my family before the whole Paralympic team flies out to Beijing on Monday morning.

Make sure you watch us compete in the various sports on ABC 1 and ABC 2. I think the Paralympic Games are much more interesting than the Olympics... but I'm biased.

Thank you so much for focussing on me as an athlete at this Paralympic Games. It's great to know people will be barracking for me.

Good luck with your study and I look forward to hopefully meeting you one day soon.

See ya.

14 Comments Posted

Steph-Sean-Alex | Friday, 29 August 2008 5:22:57 PM

Good luck in Beijing Michael! Safe travels and have a fabulous time!

Class K/1/2 Ballimore Public School | Monday, 1 September 2008 1:00:54 PM

Good luck in Beijing. Did you have a good flight? Have you been to Beijing before?Will you walk on The Great Wall?Perhaps you will visit the Forbidden City or The Temple of Heaven.You're our hero! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi ,Oi, Oi! We will keep in touch - Sally, Joe, Hayley, Larissa, Hailey, Lucy and Owen.

Class K/1/2 Ballimore Public School | Tuesday, 2 September 2008 12:48:34 PM

Thanks for the great posters.Today we wrote an Athlete Profile about you. Where do you keep all your medals? What is your favourite pizza? Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi,Oi Oi!
Saally, Joe, Hayley, Larissa, Hailey, Lucy & Owen.

sally from Ballimore | Wednesday, 3 September 2008 5:13:17 PM

Hi Michael-I will be watching you on TV Good Luck in our cycling

Tess | Wednesday, 10 September 2008 2:47:31 PM

Dear Michael

I think you are amazing to be able to live with one leg for so long you are a hero.
I look forward to see you in the Paralympics.
The Paralympics are much more exciting than the Olympics.

Cassie & Angie | Wednesday, 10 September 2008 2:49:14 PM

Good luck with the Games in Beijing - we think you are fantastic! We look forward to seeing all the results.

Tony French | Wednesday, 10 September 2008 2:52:45 PM

I hope you go well in the Pralympics. I hope Australia wins like we do nearly every time. I hope you win in every cycling event. I look foward to seeing you soon. From Tony.

Ruby | Wednesday, 10 September 2008 2:54:58 PM

Dear Michael
I look foward to seeing you compete on ABC1.It's amazing that you can cycle with one leg you are my hero.
I really wish I could watch you at the stadium.
ROCK ON AUSTRALIA!!!

Maddie & Georgia | Wednesday, 10 September 2008 2:57:25 PM

Hi Michael - we will be watching you on TV. We hope you win in cycling. Go MM! Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi.

Dean Walk | Wednesday, 10 September 2008 2:58:04 PM

HI,MM whats up ,good luck with the paralympics. Me and all of Australia are proud of you and your achievements and goals. We also hope that you have fun and try your best at the games and what ever happens we will always call you an Australian hero good luck from Dean Walk.

Josh | Wednesday, 10 September 2008 2:59:41 PM

Hi Michael - Best wishes in the Games! I hope you have fun completing in the games and wish you all the best.

Georgia | Friday, 12 September 2008 9:55:50 PM

Hi Michael-i hope you are having a good time at the Paraympic Olyimpic Games you are going good.By now right back soon.

Georgia | Wednesday, 17 September 2008 9:14:33 PM

Hi this is Georgia again I'm was just checking if you wrote back yet so you are going good in your cycling best luck for you good by now.

Penni | Thursday, 18 September 2008 11:44:56 AM

Hello to all the children at Ballimore Public School.

I wanted to write and thank you for watching Michael (my husband) compete at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

He arrived home late on Tuesday afternoon and hasn’t done much apart from sleep since. It’s been a busy few months for him and he hasn’t been home since mid-August so he is very happy to be here.

It’s been wonderful for him to have so much support from home, particularly being so far away from family and friends. It was a great experience for him and one he will never forget.

Although he wasn’t that happy with his performance, he did enjoy the road race and plans to continue competing at a local level for the moment. Whether he will go on to compete at a national level or at a Paralympic level is a decision for the future.

In November Michael will take part in the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge – a five-day adventure race. He has already started training. I know they make a TV show out of it so you should be able to watch him race then as well.

He will continue his blog periodically so you can read that and keep up to date.

Thanks again for your support. Hopefully we will both be able to visit the school at some stage to say thanks in person.

Penni