THE FLAGSTONE community out in force on Saturday morning for the free Smashing the Barriers event, aimed at making sport accessible to disadvantaged children.
Held at Flagstone State School, Smashing The Barriers was organised by Flagstone Phoenix junior rugby league club to provide children a morning of fun and activities.
About 15 children tried out a number of activities including an obstacle course and ball collect-a-thon, all with the help of players from the Souths Logan Magpies development squad who gave up their Saturday morning to put a smile on some little faces.
Flagstone Phoenix president John Lilley helped organise Smashing The Barriers and said the event was all about the kids.
"Everyone gets nervous around special needs and disadvantaged people, but this event removes that feeling, it brings everyone onto the same level," he said.
"It's just the feel-good factor, seeing these kids doing something they normally don't do."
Mr Lilley said Smashing The Barriers, now in its second year, was such a popular concept that representatives from Toowoomba rugby league were attending in order to implement the model back home.
"I'm a great believer that sport and rugby league can smash the barriers we sometimes encounter in life, so hopefully it will grow even more," he said.
One of the participants on the day was Roy Catteral, who has been using a wheelchair for most of his life.
"Days like this remind people with disadvantages that they can still do what they want to do," he said.
"People tell you you can't do this or that, but I never let that stop me and days like this are a confidence-booster for people like me."
Smashing The Barriers was supported by a number of community organisations and sporting clubs, including main partner Bendigo Bank, Souths Logan Magpies and Logan Brothers.
