Greyhound racing comes together for Baylee

Young Baylee Robertson has faced challenges far beyond her years while living with partial Trisomy 11q, level-four cerebral palsy, spinal curvature and hip dysplasia.

At just five years of age, Baylee is non-verbal and has complex care needs, with her journey including the use of a feeding tube and a powered wheelchair.

Despite everything she has faced, Baylee’s courage and personality have touched those around her, inspiring Tasmania’s greyhound racing community to come together in her support.

That support will be on full display on Thursday, 24 September, when the Hobart Greyhound Racing Club conducts a charity night to raise funds towards a wheelchair-accessible van for Baylee and her family.

“Baylee is the happiest, most caring and chilled-out little girl I’ve ever met,” Baylee’s mum, Melissa Tyrrell, said.

Although Baylee is still learning to weight-bear on her legs, Melissa said her daughter has developed her own special way of interacting with those closest to her.

“She has her own ways of communicating with us,” Melissa said.

“She lets us know what she likes, what she doesn’t like and, most importantly, when she is happy.

“Her smile, her little noises and the way she responds to the people she loves tell us so much.”

Music is one thing guaranteed to bring Baylee’s personality to life.

“When there is music and musical instruments, you will see Baylee at her best,” Melissa said.

A wheelchair-accessible van would let Baylee travel safely while staying in her wheelchair, reducing the need for repeated physical transfers and making everyday outings easier for the family.

More importantly, it would help give Baylee greater freedom to experience the simple joys of childhood.

“We want Baylee to have experiences, not just appointments,” Melissa said.

“We want to take her places because she’s a five-year-old who wants to have fun, not because she has a hospital appointment.

“We would love to just be able to say, ‘Let’s go.’”

The charity night will coincide with the GOTBAT Cup finals and feature a silent auction supported by local businesses, sponsors and members of the greyhound community.

Items will include a Carlton guernsey signed by AFL great Chris Judd, race-day passes and several valuable local business packages, with full details available on the event poster.

“It honestly means more than we can say,” Melissa said.

“Having an organisation that didn’t even know us choose to step forward and say, ‘How can we help?’ was incredibly humbling.”