Published in PEPTalk September 2016 as Emma Jago – a great Tassie Sportswoman
By Jacque Boxer
At the time of writing this article we’re half way through the Olympic Games in Rio, with the Para Olympics still to come. What an amazing 100 metre race that Usain Bolt ran – a real joy to watch. When you listen to the Olympians being interviewed after their events you get a real appreciation of how much goes into their preparation – in reality they’ve probably been training, competing and leading healthy lives from a young age. For many, the Olympic Games would be the pinnacle of their sporting career and representing their country one of their proudest moments. Yes, this article has a sporting theme!
If you happened to read the article entitled ‘Explore your sporting potential – Time to get into sport’ in the previous edition of PEPTalk, you may have by now had a look at the videos that this article promoted. One of the starring athletes was rower Emma Jago from Ulverstone. We thought that we would take this opportunity to get to know Emma a little better. Once you’ve read this article you’re bound to want to check out the videos, if you haven’t done so already, to see Emma in action!
The article just mentioned thanked Emma and the other featured athletes for showing courage, skill and dedication to their sport. Emma certainly does that. Emma is 17 years old and she has no sight – in her own words she is “fully blind”. Emma had childhood cancer when she was 9 ½ months old and this is what took her sight. When asked by young children why she can’t see, as she often is, Emma replies “I got sick, I got blind” which seems to satisfy their curious minds!
Emma lives at home in Ulverstone with her family, including two very friendly black and white cats and a dog. Emma started rowing when she was 12 years of age and has rowed with the Ulverstone Rowing Club and currently rows with Mersey Rowing Club at Ambleside, near East Devonport.
For those of you who are not rowers, the boat is called a scull and the outfit that Emma wears while rowing (all rowers wear them!) is called a Zooti (it’s always good to expand one’s sporting vocabulary!). Emma can certainly be extremely proud of her rowing achievements. For the past three years Emma has competed in the Australian National Rowing Championships held annually at Penrith in NSW. Emma’s events have been the Women’s 1000 metres LTA single scull (more vocabulary – LTA stands for leg, trunk and arms, which are the body parts that competitors in this event are able to use) and the double scull. All races are over 1000 metres for para rowers. Emma won several silver and bronze medals in these events. Last year Emma won a silver medal when she represented Tasmania at the Intrastate Championship – this was the first time that para rowers have competed in this event which is held at the Australian National Rowing Championships. The Nationals are open to anybody of any age and disability so Emma often competes against much older, bigger and stronger folk! Emma has rowed with and against able bodied rowers in quads as well as singles and doubles. So well done Emma – we’re all extremely proud of you!
You may be interested to know that when rowing a walkie talkie system is used to enable Emma to stay in a straight line down the course. There is an umpire boat that follows the rowers in which someone with a walkie talkie (usually Emma’s coach) gives directions to Emma who also has a walkie talkie. Rose, Emma’s Mum, sews pockets in the back of all Emma’s Zootis, and this is where Emma has her walkie talkie. The only other assistance that Emma needs is to get her scull in the water. Emma has been enjoying watching the Rio Olympics, but unfortunately the rowing is on too late at night for her! Emma is especially looking forward to the Para Olympics and feels that it is a definite possibility that she may compete in a future Para Olympics. We would certainly all be cheering for you if you do!
For Emma, rowing is a sport that she has always liked, but it isn’t the only sport that Emma has been involved in. Emma has also represented Tasmania in cross country and has won medals in athletics, where degree of difficulty and time comes into play according to a competitor’s disability. As a hobby Emma has enjoyed swimming and trampolining. Emma was obviously a great choice of athlete to promote opportunities in sport for Tasmanians with disability, as the videos mentioned earlier aim to do!
As well as sport, Emma goes to Scouts in Smithton and she enjoys participating in all the usual scouting activities. Emma also loves eating chocolate – all that energy has to come from somewhere!
Emma is in Year 11 at Marist Regional College in Burnie. Next year Emma plans to do some subjects there while also undertaking Certificate IV in Computer Programming, after which Emma hopes to work for a computer company on the mainland. Emma makes best use of technology to be able to learn and communicate. Emma currently uses a screen reader programme called Jaws or Voice- Over. Emma currently sends emails using a BrailleNote Apex, but is hoping to upgrade to a Braille Sense – which will be the equivalent of having a Braille laptop. Emails and documents, if sent in a special text, are read out to Emma who then replies using a Braille keyboard. Emma has set all her various speaking devices to speak and read to her in different voices and accents! One of Emma’s greatest frustrations is when she is handed written notes or people assume she is going to be able to read signs and posters on walls etc. Providing information to Emma in an appropriate format makes all the difference to Emma feeling included and thereby being able to fully participate at school and out in the community. Emma currently manages getting around okay without a Guide Dog, but this may be something for the future when she is older and if her circumstances change.
Rose, Emma’s Mum, finds that sport gives Emma the opportunity to be with others who have the same thing in common – a love of sport. That common interest gives everyone something to talk with each other about, whereas it isn’t always easy for people with a disability to make friends. Rose has found that people with a disability all seem to click, regardless of the type of their disability. Emma’s family have never stopped her doing anything she has wanted to do – they have let her try anything she has wanted to have a go at – even running! Rose is encouraging of people with a disability to get involved in sport, or anything they have an interest in. While not everyone may achieve all that Emma has in her rowing, Rose’s advice is to get out there, meet new people and have fun.
Having spent time with Emma and Rose it’s clear that they are both wonderful advocates for themselves and one another, and Emma is certainly a wonderful ambassador for Tasmanians with Disability getting involved in sport.
Thank you, Emma and Rose, for sharing your story with us. We wish Emma continued success in her sport and her studies and we look forward to perhaps cheering you on from the side-lines of a future Para Olympics!