Sisters Britney and Emily Gardner-Hudson are ready to bowl them over at the upcoming National Disability Championships
Strike sisters aiming for gold
A pair of sporty sisters are ready to roll, and bowl, over the competition at the National Disability Championships in Perth on 4 June. Emily and Britney Gardner-Hudson will represent the City of Logan as part of the Queensland team in disability tenpin bowling. The Crestmead sisters are new additions to the slate of top-tier bowlers at Logan Central’s Logan City Tenpin, which seems to be a breeding ground for national and state youth champions. According to Britney, 19, who has been diagnosed with conditions including cerebral palsy and spina bifida, the lanes at Logan City Tenpin are refreshingly ‘friendly, welcoming and inclusive’. ‘Sometimes I feel left out because of my disability – I need to be prompted every day by my mum or carer on what to do next because I lose focus on tasks,’ Britney says. ‘Living with a disability is all I know, but bowling makes me feel included and not discriminated against. We are all equal, no matter our ability.’ Britney is training weekly in preparation for the championships, where she’ll defend her 2024 title of
Restricted Masters Champion. She is most looking forward to representing Queensland and travelling with her sister for the first time. Emily, 21, shares the same sentiment and says making the state team is a ‘dream come true’. ‘I could not be any prouder of myself for working hard towards something I never knew I could actually achieve,’ Emily says. ‘My diagnoses have come with their challenges because I sometimes get overwhelmed and can’t do everyday tasks, but bowling has definitely helped me.’ After being diagnosed with multiple intellectual disabilities such as bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Emily wears noise-cancelling headphones and uses sensory toys to stay focused on the lanes. Although she has previously struggled with accepting her disability in the past, she has learned to embrace life with the help of her ‘bowling family’ and friends. ‘I love the friendly staff and all the friends I have made at Logan City Tenpin. It’s a warm and happy place to be,’ she says. ‘I love the laughter you get from doing your sport with friends alongside you. I have learned it’s OK to feel different, it’s OK to have a disability, and life can still go on.’
OUR LOGAN | 13
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