My name is Amanda, I am 47 years old. I have been selected to represent Australia at the 2025 Para Bowling World Championships in Hong Kong, in the Intellectual Disability category, which will take place from January 17-24.

I started bowling at 15, after my now husband Jason took me bowling on our first date in 1995.

Since then, I have represented my home center, Shepperton, many times. I have also represented Victorian Disabled Tenpin Bowling in their Open State Team since 1996 at the National Championships for persons with a Disability.

In 2022, my state coach, Kylie McLeish, asked myself and Jason if we wanted to go on a crazy adventure, that turned out to be the opportunity to represent Australia. Since then, Kylie has attended all but one of the inclusion events. In 2022, 2023 and 2024 I have been a member of the Inclusion National Training Squad. In 2022, I won both the Inclusion Masters and the Para Bowling World Championships. 2023 saw the first Inclusion ranked events and I was the highest ranked female. 2024 has been an amazing year starting with a back-to-back win of the Inclusion Cup, the only event Kylie hasn’t been in person, as well as being the highest ranked female at the end of the year.

Throughout this adventure, Kylie McLeish has been by my and my husband’s side. She will be attending the World Championships with us, as due to both me and Jason having intellectual disabilities, we need someone who knows us well to travel with us.

Any funds raised will go towards the payment of my flights, excess baggage, entry fees into the tournament and uniform.

I would like to say thank you in advance for your support and would appreciate it if you could please share with your friends.