“Just Give It A Go” Dale Potter Leads By Example In Mackay Fire Special Olympics

By Hannah McNamara

At 34, Dale Potter is one of Mackay’s most talented and dedicated athletes, excelling across multiple sports while exceeding his own limits in the Special Olympics community. What began as a way to make friends, gain confidence, and stay active turned into a new profound passion for Dale, who now leads others to do the same.

Mackay Fire Special Olympics is a welcoming space for athletes of all abilities, offering basketball, table tennis, ten-pin bowling, bocce, and powerlifting in a supportive environment.

Coach Kimberley Doyle, who has lovingly volunteered for over a decade, said “Special Olympics is for anyone with an intellectual disability and/or autism, but we exclude no one.

“We aim to make everyone feel welcome, even if someone has severe anxiety and struggles to participate in mainstream sport…Special Olympics is for them too.”

Coach Doyle said that Dale is heavily involved, not just in the game, but in supporting athletes who require additional assistance too.

After completing the Athlete Leadership Training at the Sunshine Coast in October 2024, Dale now dedicates 2.5 hours of his week to assisting juniors and C-grade players at Special Olympics Mackay Fire basketball training, all while playing in A-grade himself. As one of five athlete leaders on Mackay’s leadership team, he ensures that athletes’ voices are heard.

Dale also holds the bat in table tennis, helping with scoring at training sessions and competition games. In 2024, he represented the club at the 2024 Mackay Disability Expo and even had the privilege of speaking at the Accessible Active Living Seminar.

“We actively engage with athletes to give them the tools to build confidence and feel valued, and we focus on abilities - not the ‘D’ (disability) word,” Coach Doyle added.

“We want to break the stereotype that people with disabilities can’t compete.”

Dale’s passion for sports resulted in a slam-dunk at the North Queensland Games, where he not only competed in table tennis, ten-pin bowling, and basketball but also brought home multiple medals. His efforts have been recognised through the 2024 Queensland Community Achievement Awards, where he accepted the finalist certificate for Sports in the Community on behalf of Special Olympics Mackay Fire.

Before 2021, athletes had to travel to Brisbane to qualify, however, now, Special Olympics Mackay hosts local qualifying events, reducing costs and giving more locals the opportunity to get involved.

Dale’s passion for powerlifting is quite impressive, with daily training that includes up to 200 push-ups in preparation for competitions. In 2024, Dale represented the club at the Mackay Disability Expo and went on to participate in the Queensland State Games, where he won multiple medals, including gold in 3x3 basketball.

After earning top rankings in ten-pin bowling at the Queensland State Championships, Dale was selected for the Queensland Michael Cooke State Team to compete at the TBA Nationals in Perth in June 2025.

Additionally, he proudly represented Australia at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Invitational Games in India, returning with gold medals in both singles and team events, along with a silver in doubles.

As Dale trains for the upcoming games ahead, his focus is on pushing past his own limits, while advising others to “Just give it a go.”

‍

Dale Potter leads by example at Mackay Fire Special Olympics, inspiring athletes of all abilities to push their limits. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

Dale Potter with Tegan O’Keeffe and Kathleen Hanson. Photo supplied

‍