AS the Australian Paralympic Team heading for London was launched at Parliament House this week, Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott said the thoughts and best wishes of the mid-north coast community were with Port Macquarie's Mr Wheelchair Rugby, Ryley Batt, and Games debutant Janel Manns of Kendall.
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"The 2012 Paralympic Team is our largest away-team yet at 304 athletes and officials, and with just 62 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of the largest Paralympics in history, Ryley and Janel have the Mid-North behind them," Mr Oakeshott said.
"Both Ryley and Janel have overcome physical challenges that most of us can never fully appreciate and, importantly, it is their abilities, not their disabilities, which define them.
"Their family, many friends and fans wish them well in these final days of training," Mr Oakeshott said.
The Opening Ceremony is on August 29.
Ryley's quest for gold starts with qualifying from September 5 through to the gold-medal final, one of the last of the Games, on September 9.
Janel's quest starts on September 1. The gold-medal match in the singles will be held on September 7 and the gold-medal match in the women's doubles will be held on September 8.
