Variety met the McCoombes family in 2022, when Hallee first received a Variety Heart Scholarship to support her in her sports. Living in regional Queensland, near Bundaberg, the family must travel to enable Hallee to follow her dreams, which along with accommodation and entry fees, quickly starts to add up.
Hallee has become an inspirational athlete over the past two years. At the 2024 Queensland Athletics State Championships, Hallee set two Australian records and brought home gold, two silver, and a bronze. In the Little Athletics State Championships, she earned two gold and three silver medals.
Then, last May, Hallee underwent double knee surgery.
Hallee returned to competition in September 2024 at the Little Athletics Spring Carnival, winning two gold, one silver, and placing 4th in her first competition since surgery.
That Hallee can compete at all is amazing – she has no feeling in her waist or below her knees, only vibrations through her body. She can’t kick when she swims, and when she tires, swims on her back, never giving in.
“People are starting to see that she is capable of doing anything and everything,” Mum Christine told 7 News.
Hallee’s drive often inspires others, including her twin sister Jada, who has also received a Variety Heart Scholarship for sport. Jada loves aquathlon, cross country, swimming, and has an interest in lifesaving.
Jada has ASD type 2 along with tic disorder and OCD. Since receiving her diagnosis, she has been able to compete in sporting events under an autism classification which has helped improve her confidence.
Both twins train hard – but it helps that they enjoy the same sports and can compete together.
With the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics looming large, we are excited to see what the dynamic twins choose to do next. Here at Variety, we are so inspired to see the twins follow their dreams and forge a path in life against all the odds.
Every Child Deserves to Thrive
Change Takes All Of Us
Every child deserves the chance to explore, grow, and dream without limits. Their potential shouldn’t be defined by disability, illness, or financial hardship. We work to remove those barriers and open the doors to new possibilities.
