Marayke acknowledged at Swimmer of the Year awards

Marayke walked the black carpet at the Swimmer of the year awards ball in Melbourne in November, where she received a 'services to swimming' award marking her formal retirement from swimming. She was presented with a trophy after a highlights video of her swimming career was played to the audience. 

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In her acceptance speech Marayke said she's looking forward to helping the next generation of Paralympians through Sporting Dreams. Other swimmers to receive the award on the night included Olympians Leisel Jones, Geof 'Skippy' Heugill and Alic Tait (nee Mills).

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Marayke launches hall of fame & gives grants to athletes

Marayke launched the Sporting Dreams Hall of Fame at the annual awards ceremony for her foundation, recognising  outstanding sporting achievement by former and current Sporting Dreams grant recipients. The inaugural inductees were four Paralympians who represented Australia at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The virtual hall of fame can be viewed atwww.sportingdreams.org.

At the London themed event, she also presented grants to eight up and coming athletes with disabilities. The event was attended by London Paralympians, as well as VIP's including the QLD Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie, Councillor Jason O'Pray and representatives from Swimming Australia and the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association. 

Marayke gives back Spina Bifida Association of QLD

In October Marayke was thrilled to give back to a charity which supported  her and her family while she was growing up- the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of QLD.

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Marayke spoke at a fundraising event for the organisation.  She also  visited children with Spina Bifida at their 'Mudjimba Olympics' camp, where campers had the chance to learn skills such as 'back wheel balancing' in their wheelchairs. Marayke spoke about the Paralympics and also life using a wheelchair, hoping to show the children some options for their future.

SBS TV: Marayke on Insight Program​

Marayke Jonkers joined the pannel on the Insight program titled 'Gold' to discuss the funding of sport in Australia. She spoke about how she founded sporting Dreams to fill an unmet need in supporting future Paralympians, and how ultimately she hopes sporting dreams won't need to exist in the future when athletes with disabilities have access to the funds and support required. She believes that the success of our team and public support for Australian Paralympians at the London Games provides an unprecedented opportunity to see big sponsorship deals for Paralympic athletes- and she hopes big business takes notice! Other guests included Olypic swimmers Libby Trickett, Melanie Schlanger and DanieL Kowalski plus runner Steve Solomon and Olympic gymnast and Badminton competitors.

Click HERE to Watch online

SBS TV: Marayke on Insight Program​

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Marayke Jonkers joined the pannel on the Insight program titled 'Gold' to discuss the funding of sport in Australia. She spoke about how she founded sporting Dreams to fill an unmet need in supporting future Paralympians, and how ultimately she hopes sporting dreams won't need to exist in the future when athletes with disabilities have access to the funds and support required. She believes that the success of our team and public support for Australian Paralympians at the London Games provides an unprecedented opportunity to see big sponsorship deals for Paralympic athletes- and she hopes big business takes notice! Other guests included Olypic swimmers Libby Trickett, Melanie Schlanger and DanieL Kowalski plus runner Steve Solomon and Olympic gymnast and Badminton competitors.
Click HERE to Watch online

Marayke thanks Fun run fundraiser

Marayke would like to thank Sunshine Coast local Julia Jones Walker who raised $300 for Sporting Dreams doing her first fun run, after being inspired by hearing Marayke speak.

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Julia co-ownes the local gym at Woombye and gathered sponsorship for the run from gym members and friends. Congratulations Julia! Can you help Sporting Dreams by fundraising for us?

Everything is possible on international women's day

Marayke joined over 300 women at the Hyatt Coolum where she spoke on the topic 'everything is possible,' along with fellow guest speaker Heather Parry who is leading the way for women in the mining industry, and emcees Kim and Fleur from Like Chocolate for Women.

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The event was hosted by the Sunshine Coast Business Women's network and guests donated a combined total of $1000 to Sporting Dreams on the morning.

Young students inspired at National Young Leaders Day

Over 3000 primary school students from around Queensland were inspired by Marayke's presentation at the National Young Leaders Day event in Brisbane. Marayke joined fellow speakers Graham Quirk,  Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Beau Robinson from the QLD Reds and Tiger trainer Giles Clark from Australia Zoo. After the event finished, Marayke enjoyed chatting to some of the students as they lined up for autographs. The students in this photo are from Mt Isa State School, a town Marayke visited as an Australia Day Ambassador in January 2011.



Art raffle raises funds for sporting Dreams

​Sporting Dreams athletes have received a boost to their training for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after round the world sailor and artist Linda Frylink Anderson donated an original artwork to be raffled for Sporting Dreams. The drawing titled Liz's blossoms was part of Linda's first solo exhibition- scribbling barefoot' held at the Rosebed street Gallery In Eudlo, and raise $250. Marayke was honoured to speak at the exhibition opening and congratulate Linda not only on helping athletes dreams come true, but on achieving her own dream to hold a solo exhibition.



A​ustralia Day Ambassador heads to Mt Surprise

There was no mountain but plenty of smiles when Marayke and Mum Marion headed to Mt Suprise, a 6 hour drive from Cairns. Marayke spoke at the community Australia Day ceremony, and assisted with presenting the Australia Day Awards. She was suprised to discover that the mt in the towns name stands for mining town, not mountain. Marayke and marion visited the Terrestrial exhibition in nearby Georgetown where they learnt about the regions rich mineral history, and Marayke even scored a ride in the mayors porche! 

Marayke named Sporting Wheelie of the Year

Marayke received the highest honour for a QLD athlete with a disability when she was named the 2010  the 'Sporting Wheelie of the Year'

The award receognised her achievement of winning a bronze medal at  the world swimming championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.  She follwed this two weeks later by becoming Australia's first female paratriathlon medalist when sh won bronze at the world triathlon championships for the sprint distance event. It capped off an amazing year for Marayke, who said the hightlight was being named the flag bearer for the Australian team at the IPC World Swimming Championships.