Community
5 February, 2025
Goldie’s Way
THE dedicated efforts to make the Port Campbell’s iconic beach accessible to all continued over the weekend when seven-year-old local Goldie Elsum unveiled a new project named in her honour.
This past weekend marked a celebration at the Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) as the Port Campbell Inclusive Beaches Project unveiled their new access matting, a beach wheelchair, accessible parking and a portable hoist.
The access matting was dedicated to seven-year-old Port Campbell’s Goldie Elsum, who lives with a rare neurodevelopmental condition causing epilepsy and seizures.
Emblazoned ‘Goldie’s Way,’ the beach access matting allows users of mobility devices a safe and smooth surface to reach the shore without getting caught in the soft sand.
Goldie’s mother Charlene Elsum, said the unveiling was a significant milestone for inclusion and accessibility which ensured everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the “true Australia right” of spending a day on the beach.
“It was a bit overwhelming to have so many people, so much excitement and so much support around us,” she said.
“It’s so great to see people who want to change for the better without necessarily being involved in disability.
“These are people going out of their way without it necessarily being them who will benefit – it’s such a huge thing to see people who are so generous with their time and efforts for accessibility, for families like ours.”
The drive for inclusivity had given the Elsum family their first opportunity to enjoy a day at the beach together just last year, which served as a catalyst for what would eventually becoming the naming of ‘Goldie’s Way.’
“We went to the first accessibly beach day just over a year ago,” Mrs Elsum said.
“We didn’t know what to expect but went along to see what happened, and we met a lot of lovely people while having a great day making memories without having to worry about carrying her, or getting her in and out of the water.
“We went to a few more days and I guess Goldie touched them all – she’s such a bright, bubbly, fun little girl and I think they saw everyone deserves to have that fun on the beach.”
Mrs Elsum said she was grateful to all involved as it had not only created inclusivity for those living with a disability, but also for their families to create treasured memories together.
“Goldie and her brother (four-year-old Rocky) both hadn’t been to the beach before last year,” she said.
“It was just in the too hard basket but when he first went to the beach he was terrified of the waves, and thought he was going to see whales and pirates, because he had no other concept of the beach.
“He absolutely loves it now.
“We’ve been quite a few days at the beach since the first day, and now that we’ve got the matting I think we’ll be spending a few more days there.”
Project lead of the Inclusive Beaches Project Brendan Hyland said it was very easy for him to be a part of the founding the program.
“You see young parents with prams and strollers, elderly people with walkers, a portion of the community at Port Campbell is unable to access the beaches,” he said.
“It’s not just the disabled – I’m hoping that we pull down the barriers for everyone to have the God-given right to access the same beach and areas as every able-bodied person.
“It’s not a discrimination thing, people simply haven’t looked at the beach through the eyes of inclusion.
“We need to make change.”
Mr Hyland said he was grateful for all the equipment and structures implemented at Port Campbell which have made the beach more accessible.
The cause has been backed by donations from the former Port Campbell Recreation Reserve Committee, Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, Variety Club and Bega Cheese, in addition to existing beach wheelchairs and equipment provided by Parks Victoria and Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club.
“Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority have given their time and expertise to this project since taking over the management of the foreshore,” Mr Hyland said.
“Through grants and donations, we’ve been able to get the equipment people need.
“We have wide car parking spaces, a walker, beach wheelchair, mobile hoist – we need all this equipment to make beaches accessible.”
Mr Hyland said the wider community had rallied behind the efforts to increase accessibility, and hopes such projects can become nationwide to ensure everyone can enjoy a day at the beach – no matter their circumstances.
“I’d love to see all beaches have open parking spaces, all beaches have the equipment, the matting, the accessible bathrooms and changing rooms, so all these people can go to the beach with confidence, with little to no assistance, with little barriers and hurdles,” he said.
Mr Hyland thanked all involved for their support.
“It’s not just myself but the committee and community are hoping for this as well,” he said.
“The Port Campbell SLSC have been very supportive in their partnership with us.”
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