Yarrawonga’s Lovell family, Tyler, Olivia, Rose and Archie are urging the local community to wear bright, fun, odd and colourful socks on Thursday, March 21 to kick start conversations about diversity and inclusion for World Down Syndrome Day.
Wearing eye-catching socks is a day-to-day occurrence for many people but this Thursday the local community is urged to wear their best conversation starters for a worthwhile cause.
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March 21 is a day where you can wear bright, fun, odd and colourful socks to kick start conversations about diversity and inclusion on World Down Syndrome Day.
One local family with a very close connection to the cause and taking part in the Lots of Socks campaign is the Lovells, dad Tyler, mum Olivia, Rose and Archie.
“On May 4, 2023, our beautiful son Archie was born with Down Syndrome, which came as a huge surprise to us,” Olivia said.
“Our journey has been met with many challenges and will continue to do so, but we have found peace and joy in our little boy and very much want to celebrate everything that he currently and will bring to this world.
“In our day-to-day life, nothing much has changed, he is just a little boy trying to achieve all the magical milestones that a baby would.”
His mum says Archie is not typically developing and things take a bit longer, but there is nothing he can't do with the support of allied health professionals, engaging in weekly physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Until he is five years old, Archie will attend Geelong Neuro Centre where, for two weeks at a time, he does intensive therapy for four hours, five days a week.
“We’ve committed to that until he's five because there's lots of evidence to show that if you do early intervention up until five, the better outcomes they have later in life," Olivia said.
“The beauty of having a child with Down Syndrome, is that a family’ village is enormous and they feel an abundance of love and support.
“We have grown as individuals and are now on a learning journey of our own surrounding disability, diversity and inclusion.
“When we had our first daughter, Rose, I think we took for granted all the small milestones along the way... Archie has given us a reason to celebrate the small wins and this extends beyond his personal milestones.
“It's opened our eyes to the beauty in this world and celebrating small wins in all walks of life is important, particularly those experiencing hardship, challenges or the journey of disability."
Locks of Socks is not only a campaign to celebrate those with Down Syndrome, but to celebrate and acknowledge the differences in any child or person.
It's an opportunity to open discussions for differences that exist everywhere and normalise diversity and the importance of inclusion.
The Lovells are grateful for the support of their community and hope that many people will embrace this day so that their son grows up knowing he is accepted and loved like everybody else.
Archie Lovell has given his family a reason to celebrate the small wins, extending beyond his personal milestones as pictured at the Geelong Neuro Centre.
“There has not been a single bit of hesitation in any local shop or organisation so far; it has just been totally embraced,” Olivia said.
“It's incredible how far it's gone, already we've stepped so far forward.
“I have no doubt that this will be something that continues on every year. A day that goes in people's diaries and calendars and just gets bigger and better.”
Whilst Archie is only young, the hope for the Lovell family is that education continues to evolve so that children are raised with an awareness of diversity.
This will mean a lot for Rose to be surrounded by a community where her brother is included in all aspects of living and she'll always have the support of the Yarrawonga Mulwala community.
So make sure to wear your brightest, most odd and wonderful socks on Friday, March 21 and start the conversation that advocate for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people of people living with Down Syndrome and their families.
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