The Australian High Commission recently hosted Clarence ‘CJ’ McCarthy-Grogan, an Indigenous Australian wheelchair basketballer undertaking community outreach across Honiara. CJ’s visit was part of Australia’s partnership with Solomon Islands ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games, where Australia is a training partner.
CJ is the second Aboriginal person to represent Australia in the history of wheelchair basketball. He recently represented the Men’s National Wheelchair Basketball team- the Rollers- in the International Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Dubai.
He was a student‐athlete who played for the University of Texas in Arlington, where he completed a degree in university studies and disability studies. He has also worked with the Darwin Basketball Association, Basketball NT and Disability Sports NT.
During his trip to Honiara, CJ visited the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport and met with athletes and para-athletes representing the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation. He also visited Bishop Epalle Catholic School Honiara, Betikama School, King George VI School, and Don Bosco Technical Institute where he spoke and played basketball with primary, secondary, and tertiary students who learned about his background and journey as a basketballer.
The visit was also an opportunity for CJ to learn about his own Solomon Islands heritage; his father’s grandmother who was born and raised in Malaita Province.
CJ said, “I was delighted to visit Solomon Islands and work with athletes and students, sharing my story of inclusion. It was my first visit to the Solomon Islands, and I hope to be back!”
CJ’s visit coincided at King George VI School with the visit of Australian Deputy Prime the Hon Richard Marles and Solomon Islands Education Minister the Hon Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada, who came to the school to inspect Australia-funded refurbished dormitories.
Source with AHC
