Jaye Barnesby-Buie (14) had anxiety and autism and did not speak until she was six. Therapy and appropriate schooling means its hard to pick it now, and she recently recieved a Variety Scholarship over $3000 to cover costs associated with her twice-weekly rides.
Camera IconJaye Barnesby-Buie (14) had anxiety and autism and did not speak until she was six. Therapy and appropriate schooling means its hard to pick it now, and she recently recieved a Variety Scholarship over $3000 to cover costs associated with her twice-weekly rides. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Horses turn Bicton teen into a quiet achiever ahead of Special Olympics

Jaime ShurmerMelville Gazette

Jaye Barnesby-Buie (14) started riding when she was three, showing natural affinity to horses on her aunty’s property.

The Bicton resident will compete in equestrian and swimming in the Special Olympics in June and be part of an eight-member squad to go to the Special Olympics in Queensland in July.

Jaye and brother Marc – a keen golfer with cognitive delays due to autism – were given Variety Scholarships worth $3750 and $3500 |respectively to help the family manage the costs of engaging them in sport. “While they might struggle at school, through sport they are achieving,” mum Jeanette Barnesby said.

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Marc’s scholarship will allow him to attend the Royal Fremantle Golf Club with a golf professional for a year.

Jaye’s scholarship will help cover competition fees, horse transportation, hire and equipment for them both.

Variety will help 34 talented young people reach their dream by presenting scholarships at the Health Ledger Theatre on Friday, April 21.

Lachlan Glover, of Winthrop, was also a scholarship recipient for the music category as a dedicated saxophone and trumpet player and the youngest member of the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra.

He is studying at the James Morrison Academy and the scholarship will help cover equipment and |tuition costs as he works toward his ultimate goal of studying at Julliard in New York.

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