LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League

League News
VOLUME 30 • NUMBER 3 • SUMMER 2006
Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland Three times a year
PRIME Minister John Howard visited
the Gold Coast during Cerebral Palsy
Awareness Week and met with
Cerebral Palsy League clients Stan
and Barbara Dacey.
Stan spoke to the Prime Minister
about the importance of people with
disabilities having the opportunity and
access to live independently in the
community.
Story, page 8.
Pictured: Stan Dacey (left) with wife Barbara
(centre back) spoke with Prime Minister John
Howard during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week
on the Gold Coast.
Image courtesy of the Gold Coast Sun.
i dream, therefore I am
1

THE State Client Consultative
Committee (CCC) spent the past few
months finalising its Terms of
Reference and preparing for the
Convention.
This year’s 10 th Annual Client
Convention celebrated a decade of
the event and the CCC’s
achievements with the consultation
processes.
A discussion about the strengths and
weaknesses of the CCC and the
Conventions gave us lots of
feedback.
We want to hear from all service
users on this subject so we can look
at ways to improve accessibility and
participation for all League clients.
We will use the feedback to prepare
a discussion paper and develop an
annual plan in 2007.
Please read the Convention article on
page 10 for more information.
Other plans for 2007 include finalising
the Roles and Responsibilities
document, reviewing the Charter for
Client Consultation and continuing to
promote financial membership of the
Cerebral Palsy League to clients.
With Regional elections almost
complete, the CCC elections will
soon be finalised and we look forward
to introducing the new Committee to
you early next year.
The CCC would like to congratulate
our colleague, Shane McFarlane, who
was awarded a League Medal for
Distinguished Service for his work as
a CCC representative and advocate
for people with cerebral palsy.
Shane is one of only two people to
have been involved with the CCC
since it began in 1993.
The CCC would also like to extend its
appreciation to Peter Shields who
decided to take a rest from CCC
activities after many years of service.
Enjoy the break, Peter. We hope to
see you back soon.
In closing, I would like to thank all those
who have given time to participate in
consultation and feedback forums
throughout the year, and to wish
everyone a great festive season and
a safe, happy 2007.
I look forward to seeing you next year
as we move the CCC forums and
Client Conventions into the future.
Regards,
Terry Donaldson
Chairman, State CCC
Thinking outside
the chair
Innovation,
Creativity and
Collaboration – the
Future of Disability
Services
‘THINKING Outside the Chair,
Innovation, Creativity and
Collaboration – the Future of
Disability Services’ is the theme
for the 2007 National
Conference of CP Australia to be
held 24-25 May at Conrad
Jupiters Casino, the Gold Coast.
The Conference is a biennial
event that brings together
clients, staff and service
providers to share information
experience and ideas, network
and consider national and
international research and
trends.
The conference will focus on
innovative and creative solutions
for research, service delivery
and empowering people with a
disability to participate in the
community, for both service
users and providers.
www.cplqld.org.au/conference
Quality Management
System External Audit
IN October, the Cerebral Palsy
League underwent its annual external
audit, in order to review certification
against ISO 9001, the
Commonwealth Disability
Employment Service (DES)
standards and the Queensland
Disability Sector Quality System
(DSQS).
The audit was conducted over 12
working days, and relied on the
involvement of many clients, their
families, and staff from across the
organisation.
At the exit interview, the auditors noted
that feedback from clients and their
2
families was extremely positive,
which is indicative of our strong
commitment to providing quality
services to people with a disability. The
auditors advised that they would
recommend re-certification against all
standards.
Congratulations to all staff who
worked so hard to ensure ongoing
certification, particularly Penny Atfield,
who coordinated the external audit
process.
Special thanks must go also to those
clients and family members who
participated in the audit process this
year – gaining feedback about the
experiences of our service users is a
vital aspect of the audit.
Cerebral Palsy League of Qld
ABN 27 009 942 269
PO Box 386 FORTITUDE VALLEY Qld 4006
55 Oxlade Drive NEW FARM Qld 4005
www.cplqld.org.au
Executive Management Team
BRUCE MILLIGAN, Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (07) 3358 8003 Fax: (07) 3254 1291
Email: bmilligan@cplqld.org.au
GEOFF ROWE, Service Development & Policy
Phone: (07) 3358 8014 Fax: (07) 3254 1291
Email: growe@cplqld.org.au
GREG CUFFE, Organisational Services
Phone: (07) 3358 8064 Fax: (07) 3254 7387
Email: gcuffe@cplqld.org.au
STUART PILTON, Human Resources
Phone: (07) 3358 8078 Fax: (07) 3358 8103
Email: spilton@cplqld.org.au
MARGARET SCOTT, Marketing & Fundraising
Phone: (07) 3358 8090 Fax: (07) 3358 2495
Email: mscott@cplqld.org.au

Churchill Fellow
IT wasn’t just that Ruby Reid shared
her birth date with Winston Churchill
that earned her the opportunity to
travel the world on a Churchill
Fellowship this year, it was her work
and dedication to studying arts and
services for people with a disability.
As Manager of the Cerebral Palsy
League’s Cascade Services in
Redcliffe for almost 10 years, Ms Reid
already has a great knowledge of
disability service and practice and will
work to incorporate techniques from
abroad to expand her knowledge and
further benefit Australian’s with a
disability.
She will visit with sister organisations
to the League in the United States and
the United Kingdom to complete her
nominated project – Community
Cultural Development and
Community Arts Projects for People
with a Disability.
The project proposes an
examination and comparison of
models, examining the genesis of
each project and the outcomes for
people with disabilities, their
involvement with non-disabled
peers and their opportunities to
develop valued roles in their
communities.
Upon returning to Australia, Ruby
will share knowledge gained from
her travels in her book, ‘Not Just
a Pretty Place’, which focuses on
professional practices and
frameworks for working with
people with a disability.
The book will also include a
seminar and training materials for
use by the League and other
disability-focussed organisations.
Below: Ruby Reid (left) celebrated her
Churchill Fellowship at the official
presentation at Government House, with her
daughter Emer Hyland-Reid.
Parents and Guardians
THE final meeting of the Parents and
Guardians Association for 2006 was
held on 25 November.
Meetings throughout the year were
well attended by loyal parents and we
were delighted to have a number of
adult clients attending.
We welcome adult clients and will
include any items for discussion on
the agenda that may be of concern or
interest to the meeting.
We made a decision to try a new
venue for the annual parents’
luncheon, originally organised by Mrs
Madge Sartor some 30 years ago.
Following Mrs Sartor’s resignation
from the role, Mrs Netta Foy continued
to arrange the annual luncheons,
which traditionally have been held at
a city venue.
With the decline in our numbers and
the difficulties in accessing a city
location, we decided to trial a picnic
in the park at New Farm on
Wednesday 10 October 2007, at
11:00am.
Further details will be available nearer
the time.
We have tried for many years to
encourage parents of younger
children to attend our meetings and
be part of the Parents and Guardians
Association and will develop a strategy
to again try to attract this group in
2007.
At each meeting the Board Report
and accompanying Services Activity
Report are always available.
The Service Activity Report contains
details of children’s services and adult
services from all sections of the
League’s activities.
This is one way of becoming
knowledgeable about the work the
Cerebral Palsy League does and the
many facets of its services.
I would like to acknowledge and thank
Carol Barton for the excellent support
she has given to us throughout this
year and for many years.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas
and look forward to seeing you in 2007.
Joan Williams
President
Parents and Guardians Association
3

National trial results
THE Queensland Health Minister
launched the Australian Cerebral Palsy
Register Conference, which presented
the analysed results of a national trial
classification of cerebral palsy system
in Brisbane during October at the Royal
Children’s Hospital.
The Queensland Cerebral Palsy Register
participated in the trials, which
represented a potential international
breakthrough in recording and analysing
clinical symptoms of people with
cerebral palsy.
The next step in implementing the
classification system will be testing its
effectiveness with university students and
other clinicians across the country to
use.
Following the results of this trial, further
changes may be made before the
system can be promoted for use
throughout Australia and offered
internationally.
Manager of the Queensland Cerebral
Palsy Register, Michael deLacy, said
Witness: Minister for Health Hon Stephen
Robertson witnessed the application of
the 1200th participant in the Queensland
Cerebral Palsy Register: James FitzGerald,
2, pictured with his mum Leone at the
Australian Cerebral Palsy Register
Conference.
Results of a national trial classification
system of cerebral palsy were announced
at the conference, which was held in
October, in Brisbane.
more consistent and transferable data
within registers, achieved by a universal
classification system, will fast track
research into causes and preventions
of cerebral palsy.
“With a greater resource of information
to use for research, identifying potential
causes will speed up exponentially and
this will lead us to preventions,” Mr
deLacy said.
Parents of eighteen-month old
Brisbane resident, James FitzGerald,
signed James onto the Queensland
Cerebral Palsy Register, which now
includes some 1,200 Queenslanders
with cerebral palsy, during the
conference.
James was recently diagnosed with
cerebral palsy, which affects the
mobility in his legs and means he is
not yet walking, crawling or sitting up
unassisted.
It is not possible to confirm the cause
of James’ disability.
James’ parents said they supported the
Register to contribute to better
research into cerebral palsy that will
lead to better treatment and possible
prevention.
For information on the Queensland
Cerebral Palsy Register:
www.qcpr.org.au
Film and Fanfare
TEN young actors found new
talents when producing
Inside-Outside, a DVD
documentary exploring the
experience of discrimination
for young people with
disabilities, through Screech
Theatre Company, a troupe of
young actors with mixed
abilities.
The actors reached another
milestone in their remarkable
journey which has spanned
more than three years when
Brisbane film-maker, Luke
Mansour, joined Screech to
help the troupe plan, film and
produce the documentary.
Facilitator Chris Pye of
Interaction Drama and
Cerebral Palsy League
occupational therapist, Margo
Wratten said they saw the
project as a way for children
who attended Screech to learn
and grow from their traditional
experiences of performing on
stage.
“Each year Screech facilitates
a series of skills development
workshops through which
young actors develop a
performance to showcase
their hard work and talent as a
final project,” Ms Wratten said.
Both Chris and Margo also
worked to secure funding to
enable Screech to continue
each year and set the
groundwork for another year of
operation in 2007.
Continuing in their stead will be
Alex McCullum as Creative
Director and Faye Carver as
Screech Coordinator.
The Inside-Outside DVD is
available for purchase from
the League for $10.
Further information:
Caitlin Neville
Phone: 07 3347 7200
4

Council saves art
program for children
with disability
ALMOST 30 local youths can
continue attending a special art
program thanks to their local
Councillor, Faith Hopkins of the
Marchant Ward in Brisbane.
‘Saturday Morning Art Club’ - an
initiative of the Cerebral Palsy
League held at Visible Ink in Zillmere,
allows young people with cerebral
palsy and related disabilities to attend
art groups on weekends with other
local community members.
Due to lack of funding, the art
program was to be cancelled before
League staff and local residents
appealed for funding from Council,
which granted almost $10,000 from
the Marchant Livability Committee for
Community Parks & Development
Fund.
Councillor Hopkins said people with
disabilities could be equally as
talented and creative as those
without a disability and praised the
League for its inclusive initiatives.
“Encouraging interaction,
communication and creativity
through programs like the Saturday
Morning Art Club can only strengthen
our community,” Cr Hopkins said.
League In-Home and Community
Support Coordinator, Kerry Ring said
the program provided young people
of all ability valuable skills through
interaction with each other, as well
as creativity.
“The group has become accepting,
wise and inclusive and many informal
friendships and supports are
growing,” Kerry said.
“They also get the opportunity to do
something on Saturdays, be creative
and learn skills for later years through
hosting exhibitions and selling their
artwork.”
Saturday Morning Art Club activities
include canvas painting, lantern
making, masks, clay work, photo
frames and chimes.
The program also encourages
exhibitions, where kids learn about
hanging their art, placing information
cards, hosting and selling.
Further information:
Cerebral Palsy League
Phone: 07 3621 3800
Artistic license: Harrison Hedges 12 (front) and Dale Gonelli 13 (back) participate in the
Saturday Morning Art Club activities which include canvas painting, lantern making, masks, clay
work, photo frames and chimes. They also learn how to hang their art, place information cards,
host exhibitions and sell their art work.
Take Off!
07 3220 3211
The Cerebral Palsy League benefits from your business
5

6
Demand for disability
services on the
Sunshine Coast
AFTER identifying a greater need for
disability services in the Sunshine
Coast region, the Cerebral Palsy
League officially opened its
Maroochydoore centre to provide
therapy, support and
accommodation services.
Minister for Communities, Disability
Services and Seniors, Hon Warren
Pitt opened the League’s new
location after its extensive search for
a more physically accessible
location closer to clients and
facilities.
CEO of the League, Bruce Milligan,
said the Sunshine Coast was one
of the fastest growing regions within
the State, which prompted the need
to relocate and expand its services
to include those to adults, as well as
children.
“Demand for services has grown
over the past ten years, contributing
to a need for increased resources,
particularly in the area of child and
family support services,” Mr Milligan
said.
The League currently provides more
than $850,000 worth of services to
children and adults with a disability
in the Sunshine Coast region.
“A block grant allowed the League
to provide 12 people with a disability
24 hour supported accommodation
through its League Adult
Accommodation Service on the
Sunshine Coast,” Mr Milligan said.
“Respite support through our In-
Home and Community Support
Service and operational services are
also funded by Disability Services
Queensland.”
Mr Milligan said service user
consultation supported a further
increase in services.
It could be expected that the new
location in Maroochydore would
position the League for positive
future growth.
“The League will work with other
service providers in the Sunshine
Coast region to provide people with
disability services, therapy support
and equipment services, as well as
facilitate their inclusion within
communities,” Mr Milligan said.

Engaging Incentive
IN collaboration with the
Queensland University of
Technology (QUT), the
Cerebral Palsy League’s
Equipment Technology
Services received $30,000 in
support from the University’s
Engagement Incentive Fund to
develop a mechanism which
will increase the production and
availability of customised
wheelchairs.
The project may have particular
impact in rural and remote
areas where access to mobility
equipment is currently limited.
The Engagement Incentive, a
key initiative of QUT’s
Engagement Strategy,
distributed $150,000 to promote
and support collaborative
activities to achieve mutually
beneficial outcomes for QUT
and its partners.
CPLQ Library
Information & Resource Coordinator - Ph: 07 3358 8036
You can request items via the Cerebral Palsy League website:
www.cplqld.org.au/information
Siblings Australia
www.siblingsaustralia.org.au
Teen Sibs Forum
www.support4sibs.org
Your Shout Website - a website for adolescents with a brother or
sister with a disability or chronic illness
www.yourshout.org.au
Association for Children with a Disability provides information,
support and advocacy for families and siblings of children with a
disability
www.acd.org.au/siblings/siblinks
Accessibility - Siblings Links has information for brothers and
sisters of children with a disability including fact sheets and online
forums
www.accessibility.com.au/kids/siblings
Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, Hon Warren Pitt opened the League’s new location in Maroochydore on the Sunshine
Coast after an extensive search for a more physically accessible location closer to clients and facilities. Demand for services contributed to a need
for increased resources, particularly in the area of child and family support services.
Pictured: (Left to right) Lionel Aitken and Rita Montebello, parents of Rachael Montebello (centre) with Hon Warren Pitt MP at the launch of the
Cerebral Palsy League’s Maroochydore centre. (Story, page 6)
7

Cerebral Palsy
Awareness Week
PRIME Minister John Howard visited
the Gold Coast during Cerebral Palsy
Awareness Week and met with
Cerebral Palsy League clients Stan
and Barbara Dacey at the All Saints
Anglican School.
Stan and Barbara spoke to the Prime
Minister about people with disability
living independently in the community
and not in aged care facilities,
especially when they were of a young
age.
For 10 years the couple, who both have
cerebral palsy, have lived
independently at home with the help
of carers.
Stan said there was ‘no way’ people
with disabilities, particularly young
people, should be in a nursing home.
“We’re very grateful to the League for
all the support they give us. Without
them we would be in a nursing home,”
Stan said.
While advocating for people with
disabilities living independently, the
League battled interest rate rises and
escalating petrol prices that threatened
vital services for people with a
disability.
CEO of the League, Mr Bruce Milligan
said he was encouraged by the good
will shown to people with a disability
and the League as an organisation
which provides vital disability related
support.
“We had tremendous support for
fundraising campaigns even though
the interest rate rise threatened to
undermine this success and forced us
into a very difficult corner if we want to
continue current service levels,” Mr
Milligan said.
Various people and community groups
assisted the League to raise funds
through a variety of initiatives during
the week, including Brisbane councillor,
Faith Hopkins, who donated the
proceeds of two community concerts
held at Kedron Wavell.
The League’s Gold Cost Adult
Services launched its Dinner Club for
adults with cerebral palsy to enjoy a
night out with friends while those
working at the Adept Packaging
services were treated to a barbeque
lunch at the Great Aussie Shed Party
in Rocklea.
Local Member for Yeerongpilly,
Simon Finn MP officially launched the
party and acknowledged funding
from the Gambling Community
Benefit Fund to erect garden sheds
on the property for Adept’s garden
maintenance service.
Other Cerebral Palsy Awareness
Week activities included the annual
Art for Art’s Sake exhibition which
raised almost $30,000, and golf days
in various locations along the east
coast, including Wide Bay and
Rockhampton.
Wide Bay residents were also treated
to old time tunes performed by the
Queensland Pops Orchestra’s Glen
Miller Tribute Band at a charity
concert to benefit children’s services
provided by the League in the region.
The Queensland Cerebral Palsy
Register celebrated its first birthday
by welcoming its 1000 th participant,
while the League’s Child & Family
Support Services division launched
its new Technology for Life Program
to provide families access to the latest
technology options for children with
cerebral palsy.
Adept at cooking: Robert Bloodsworth (above) from Good Times Gourmet Catering was
cooking with gas for more than 60 people, who attended Adept Packaging’s ‘Great Aussie
Shed Party’ in Rocklea during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week.
The Cerebral Palsy League’s Cascade Soul band, Raging Lives, also provided food for thought
as they performed to League staff, clients and guests, including Member for Yeerongpilly,
Simon Finn MP, who officially unveiled the Adept Garden Service shed, which was constructed
with funding from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
8

Brisbane artists
opened ‘Window of
Opportunity’ for people
with cerebral palsy
ARTISTS from throughout Brisbane
and South-East Queensland put their
paintbrushes and palettes to a good
cause to open windows of opportunity
during Cerebral Palsy Awareness
Week in August.
Over 30 well-known artists, politicians
and celebrities transformed recycled
window frames into creative – and
some very valuable – artwork.
The “Art for Art’s Sake: Windows of
Opportunity” exhibition and charity
auction hosted by the Cerebral Palsy
League included works by Jim Olsson,
Don Hill, Robert Coleby and Big
Brother Friday Night Live hosts Mike
Goldman and Bree Amer.
League Event Coordinator, Kristi
O’Connor, said the art auction was a
great success and raised some
$30,000 this year.
“The Art for Art’s Sake concept has
captured the imaginations of many
well-known Queensland artists,” Miss
O’Connor said.
“We had everything from paintings to
sculptures and installation pieces on
display, all based on a recycled
window frame.”
The art auction was presented by
Anthony DJ Rigby Insurance and
Investment Services and AMP
Foundation, which matched funds
raised up to $10,000.
Star quality: Artist, Starr (right), produced
the prize artwork for the Art for Art’s Sake
exhibition, to achieve the highest bid. She
is pictured with Cerebral Palsy League
staff member, Rob Needham.
Inset: ‘View to a Bridge’ by Starr.
Image courtesy of Chris McCormack, Quest Community Newspapers
ANTHONY Rigby of Anthony DJ
Rigby Insurance and Investment
Services presented a cheque
from the AMP Foundation to
Cerebral Palsy League CEO,
Bruce Milligan.
Mr Rigby, whose company
sponsored the fundraising
initiative, proposed the foundation
match funds raised up to $10,000
to the Art for Art’s Sake exhibition
and art auction during Cerebral
Palsy Awareness Week in
August.
Pictured: (Left to right) Anthony Rigby
and Cerebral Palsy League CEO, Bruce
Milligan.
9

Making our mark in
many ways. Where to
from here
The 10th Annual Client
Convention of the
Cerebral Palsy League
ALMOST 200 people discussed and
debated disability issues in
Queensland at the 10 th Annual Client
Convention on 26 August.
Hosted by the Cerebral Palsy
League’s State Client Consultative
Committee (CCC), this year’s
convention topic was “Making our
mark in many ways. Where to from
here”
Clients, family members, staff and
League Directors reflected upon client
consultation processes which began
in 1993 to review achievements and
encourage positive change for the
future.
League Patron, Her Excellency, the
Governor of Queensland, Ms Quentin
Bryce AC attended and praised the
CCC and League for their efforts to
support and empower people with a
disability.
She presented small tokens of
appreciation to League client, Byron
Albury and staff member, Yvonne
Donnan, in recognition of their work
on previous conventions.
Her Excellency, who has been
associated with the League for
decades, remembered her mother’s
time as a teacher at a school for
children with cerebral palsy.
Chairperson of the League Board of
Directors, Ms Rowena McNally joined
the CCC including Chairperson Terry
Donaldson, to outline the importance
of client consultation in service
planning and management.
Mr Donaldson reinforced that people
with a disability made their mark in
many ways by filling a range of valued
roles within communities.
“We are family members,
employees, friends, housemates,
advocates, spouses and a whole
range of identities besides service
users. Our disability is only a small
part of who we are,” Mr Donaldson
said.
A retrospective of previous client
conventions remembering past
topics, guest speakers and
10
participants was displayed to
recognise the client consultative
progress.
An artwork designed by clients of
Moorooka day service
commemorating 10 years of
conventions was presented to the
League and accepted by its CEO,
Bruce Milligan and Ms McNally.
Musical and theatrical performances
by ‘Screech Theatre’, a League
operated youth drama group, and
‘Raging Lives’, a band featuring
clients from League day service,
Cascade Services, were also
enjoyed.
Other activities on the day included a
debate and discussion session on the
challenges of ensuring
communication with and participation
of clients across the State in CCC
activities.
In looking to the future, Mr Donaldson
said the CCC is particularly keen to
harness the energy of young people
in its process.
“We will use all feedback to develop
a discussion paper for client
consultation into the future,” Mr
Donaldson said.
The CCC extended its thanks to
everyone who contributed to the
planning and running of the event,
particularly to the volunteers on the
day, Public Relations Coordinator,
Novella Martin, and to Kerry Mullin and
her ‘Welcome Team’, which
comprised six staff who provided
personal care assistance including
support with meals and other tasks
as required.
A DVD of the convention will soon be
available in each of the League’s
Regional Offices and available for
borrowing from the Library.
10th Anniversary: (Left to right) Cerebral
Palsy League Chairperson, Rowena
McNally and League Patron, Her
Excellency, the Governor of Queensland,
Ms Quentin Bryce AC cut the anniversary
cake with State Client Consultative
Committee Chairman Terry Donaldson, to
celebrate the 10 years of conventions at
the 10th Annual Client Convention.
Image courtesy of Sport and Event Photos.

Client Convention
Survey
The CCC wants your
thoughts on its processes
and the Client Convention.
The questions asked at the
Convention were:
• What does the CCC
process do well
• What could the CCC do
better
• What are your ideas for the
CCC
• What does the Client
Convention mean to you
• What could we do
differently at Conventions
• What are your ideas for the
Conventions
We would like to add your
ideas to the answers we
received on the day. You can
respond by:
• Talking - to your Regional
CCC representative or a
staff member
• Sending - ideas in writing
via internal mail through
your local office
• Posting - ideas in writing:
State CCC
PO Box 386
Fortitude Valley, Q 4006
• Email -
stateccc@cplqld.org.au
• Phone -
Wendy Lavelle,
Client Liaison and
Information Officer
Phone: 07 3358 8049
Thank you for your support
and feedback.
Grants
acknowledgements
THE Cerebral Palsy League was
most grateful to receive the
following funds, which will assist it
to achieve its goals for children and
adults with cerebral palsy.
St George Foundation:
Services to children living in north
Queensland ($24,000)
Gambling Community Benefit
Fund:
Photocopier ($6,820)
Standing Hoist and Slings
($11,170)
Computers ($6,820)
Equipment Pool Items ($28,587)
Heat Press and Air Compressor
($6,449)
Moorooka Day Service Garden
Project (Open Garden Scheme,
$3,000)
Townsville City Council:
Equipment Pool ($1,000)
Qld Country Credit Union:
Library Resources ($2,500)
Courier Mail Children’s Home
Fund:
Equipment Pool Chermside and
Sunshine Coast ($58,450)
Volunteer
Extraordinaire!
LIONS Club International
member Kym Hyson goes
above and beyond the call of
duty when it comes to
volunteering her time for the
Cerebral Palsy League.
A full-time Finance Officer at
the Queensland University of
Technology (QUT), Brisbane,
Kym recruited other Lions Club
members to help out with the
Sunday Mail Suncorp Bridge to
Brisbane Fun Run in August
and the Conrad Treasury
Boardroom Blitz in October.
The League sincerely thanks
Kym and her colleagues.
Perpetual Trustees:
Redesign of the Supernova
Wheelchair ($42,000)
Danks Trust:
Technology for Life Project
($10,000)
Regional Arts Development
Fund:
Capalaba Arts Project ($1,965)
Cecilia Kilkeary Foundation:
Music Therapy programs in
Toowoomba, and Percussion
Music Program in Maryborough/
Hervey Bay ($10,612)
Family and Community
Services:
Support for people with disabilities
to attend the CP Australia
Conference 2007 ($11,000)
Brisbane City Council:
Funds to support people with
disabilities to attend the Chill Out
Holiday Program during school
holidays ($500)
Allens Arthur Robinson:
Camp Have a Chat 2007 and a
mini Chat Camp in Townsville 2007
($19,290)
Disability Services
Queensland:
Salary and operating costs for
Child & Family Support Services
North Queensland ($68,000)
11

VALE
Image sourced from Focus and Innovation, A History of Paediatric Education in Queensland’. 1986
League farewells
paediatric pioneer
Dr David Clements Jackson was
considered a pioneer in the paediatric
disciplines for the treatment of
cerebral palsy and is remembered as
a well respected advisor to the
Cerebral Palsy League of
Queensland.
He was born at Kangaroo Point in
Brisbane and educated at the
Kangaroo Point State School, Church
of England Grammar School, and
graduated with medical degrees from
the Melbourne University in 1937.
He was a resident at the Mater
Hospital for one year before travelling
to England to spend two years at the
Birmingham Children’s Hospital,
Edgbaston.
This period ended when he was
commissioned as a Surgeon
Lieutenant in the Royal Naval
Reserve, serving on destroyers and
at a submarine depot.
For meritorious service he was
12
awarded a Distinguished Service
Cross which was presented by the
late King George VI in person.
After demobilisation he returned to
Brisbane and commenced a private
paediatric consulting practice and
joined the clinical staff of the Mater
Children’s Hospital and remained an
active consultant to that hospital until
his retirement from there in 1973.
An important role at this time was
coordinating the teaching and the
timing of teaching of paediatrics
between the Mater Hospital and the
Royal Children’s Hospital.
A lecture theatre was named in his
honour in recognition of this service.
Whilst teaching paediatrics, Dr
Jackson developed a particular
interest in the clinical aspects of
cerebral palsy which led him to be an
advisor and Specialist Paediatric
Consultant to the Cerebral Palsy
League of Queensland, formerly the
Queensland Spastic Welfare League,
for many years.
This role included regularly leading
David Clements
Jackson
7/9/1912 to 11/10/2006
AM DSC MBBS DCH
FRACP FRACGP
Clinician
Teacher
Planner
Innovator
Author
multi-disciplinary teams to
Rockhampton, Hervey Bay and
Toowoomba to attend assessment
and advisory clinics.
For his service to paediatrics her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II created
him a Member of the Order of Australia
in 1983.
Many associated with the League will
remember Dr Jackson’s ability to flip
his monocle into his breast pocket.
Acknowledgments and thanks:
Focus and Innovation, A History of
Paediatric Education in Queensland’,
by John Pearn, published by
University of Queensland, 1986.
Professor John Pearn, AM
Dr Maurice Williams

Great
contributions
Dr David Jackson made
many contributions to the
discipline of cerebral palsy,
including:
Honorary Paediatrician to the
Spastic Centre (Brisbane)
from 1948-1952.
Honorary Consultant
Paediatrician, The Spastic
Centre, Queensland.
Life Governor of The Spastic
Centre from 1962
Member, State Board of
Directors of The Spastic
Centre, Queensland
Member of the Medical and
Educational Committee, The
Spastic Centre
Chairman of the Medical and
Educational Committee of the
Australian Cerebral Palsy
Association 1959-1983
Awarded the Medal for
Distinguished Service to the
Australian Cerebral Palsy
Association in 1983
World Commission on
Cerebral Palsy (now the
International Cerebral Palsy
Society) – first appointed to the
World Commission in 1966;
Chairman of the Seminar on
Cerebral Palsy for South-east
Asia in 1968
Member of the World
Committee on Classification
and Nomenclature in Cerebral
Palsy (meetings in Berlin in
1966 and Edinburgh in 1969)
Chairman of the World
Seminar on Cerebral Palsy in
Singapore in 1975
Personal Record Book
WHAT is the personal record book all
about It is a handy little tool and free
publication with three main purposes:
• To assist you and your solicitors
to establish the best possible
estate plan for you and your family
• To aid your executor in the
administration of your estate
• To provide vital information to your
family in the event of an
emergency or your incapacity
So, if you are interested, we can send
a Personal Record Book out to you
and provide advice on how to fill it out.
It is important that details are kept in
one place, are easily accessible to
your loved ones and that your wishes
are honoured after your life.
It’s a good idea to let the appropriate
people know about your Personal
Record Book.
At the same time, we hope you Will
consider in the course of your
planning, making a bequest in your will
and joining our new League of Friends
donor loyalty club.
If you have remembered the League
in your Will, you are already part of the
League of Friends and can let us
know where to send your invitations
to social events and functions by
calling 07 3358 8093.
For further information, contact:
Donor Relations Manager
Ph: 07 3358 8093
bequests@cplqld.org.au
Be a Factor, Be a Benefactor!
13

The Choosability
Fund
New way to access
disability equipment
and support
THE Choosability Fund is
designed to assist people with
disabilities and their families to
pay for equipment, maintenance,
modifications and support and
can also provide a new financial
resource for unfunded people with
disabilities and families.
It operates on a cooperative basis
with members contributing $10
per month into a common pooled
fund.
After a period of membership and
regular contributions, fund
members can borrow, from the
fund on interest-free terms.
By enabling all members to utilise the
pooled contributions to meet a
financial need, the overall benefit to
individuals is much greater than if
members had been acting alone.
After six months, members can
receive $500; after 12 months they
can receive $1000 and after two
years they can receive $2500.
The fund works differently to a grants
program in that it requires members
to pay the financial benefit they have
received back.
This method of generating finance is
known as ‘mutual aid’ and comes
from the ‘friendly societies’ that have
a heritage of more than 100 years in
Queensland.
The Choosability Fund is an initiative
of Foresters ANA Mutual Society
Limited developed with funding
through the Gambling Community
Benefit Fund.
Foresters ANA Mutual Society is
a non-profit company formed
from the merging of two ‘friendly
societies’ in 1999 and aims to
create opportunities for its
members through pooling
resources in the modern
economy.
Foresters ANA Mutual Society
makes no profit from the
Choosability Fund.
The Choosability Fund is now
open and is seeking its first 100
members.
If you are interested in finding out
more, please contact Cassandra
Sheppard at Foresters ANA on
07 3210 6772 or talk to your
support worker.
Further information:
Cassandra Sheppard
Foresters ANA Mutual Society
Phone: 07 3210 6772
Mr CHOOSABILITY
JOHN Rynn has cerebral palsy.
He also has a highly creative
approach to living with his
disability.
Rather than considering himself
to be a victim of cerebral palsy,
Mr Rynn said he was a, “victim
of social attitudes,” and has
spoken to audiences about the
need for a greater ability to
choose the life he wants rather
than having to fit into a system.
Hence, he coined the term,
‘Choosability’.
Mr Rynn presented a keynote
address incorporating the word
‘Choosability’, on behalf of the
Cerebral Palsy League at the
Medical Aid Subsidy Scheme
(MASS) symposium held at the
Royal Brisbane Women’s and
Children’s Hospital.
In addition to presenting, Mr
Rynn has chosen to apply his
talents to poetry, writing, sailing,
and as an advocate for disability
services by pursuing Certificate
IV Community Services,
Disability Work.
14

Recognition of
staff excellence
CEREBRAL Palsy League staff
members were nominated by their
Manager or Regional Manager for
the quarterly “Recognition of
Excellence Award”.
Liz Wharton, a Household
Coordinator from the Central
Queensland/Wide Bay region, was
selected as the winner.
Regional Manager David Robinson,
who nominated Liz, said, “Liz has
contributed a significant amount of
her life to making a very positive and
lasting contribution to the lives of
people with a disability across the
Wide Bay Burnett region. She has
done this without fanfare and with
no expectation of reward and, as
such, this award is a long overdue
recognition of her work.”
Other staff members nominated for
outstanding service to the
organisation in their region or
department included:
Mary Lang
Access Employment South
Kerry Mullin
LAAS South Region
Victor Sharpe
Moorooka ADS
Colin Wease
Cascade Place
Liz Wharton
Hervey Bay
Vicki Love
Marketing & Fundraising
Moshik Goffer
Child & Family Support Services
Margo Wratten
Child & Family Support Services
Phillipa Bolt
Printabout - City
Elly Emmett
Printabout - Strathpine
Barbie Kerle, Raelene
Crowell, Terri-Ann Dwyer,
Jacinta Weightman
Toowoomba Region
Jan Hartwell
Pathwayz
Natalie Harvey
LAAS Sunshine Coast
15

Major
redevelopment in
Toowoomba
FORTY-five years from the
opening of the Cerebral Palsy
League’s Toowoomba centre in
November 1961, the League is
planning to re-design the Scott
Street site and bring together
children’s and adult services,
along with an administrative hub
under the same roof, through a
major redevelopment building
program.
The well situated administrative
head offices of the League in
the Darling Downs South
Queensland region, situated
opposite St Vincent’s Hospital
have not had any major works
since their inception.
With growing children’s
services requirements and an
urgent need to find a more
suitable home for the League’s
adult services, a new floor plan
has been designed.
A $1.2m Capital Appeal will be
staged throughout the Darling
Downs region and not unlike
the great community support of
the 50’s, a local fundraising
committee will be formed to
assist the League to raise the
necessary funds in financial
donations including naming
rights sponsorship and goods
in-kind donations.
Lord Mayors
announce bridge
walk to benefit
League
MARKETING and Fundraising
Manager of the Cerebral Palsy
League, Margaret Scott joined
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell
Newman as ‘Lord Mayor for a Day’
during November to shadow
councillor Newman on his daily
duties.
Amongst these duties was to
announce the Cerebral Palsy
League as the main beneficiary for
the official opening of the Eleanor
Schonell Bridge.
“The naming of the first bridge of
its type in Australia, Brisbane’s
newest river crossing, is a
wonderful tribute to an
extraordinary Brisbane woman
who dedicated her life to teaching
children with cerebral palsy, and
dyslexia,” Cr Newman said.
Ms Scott said she was thrilled the
first official duty of the Eleanor
Schonell Bridge would be to fund
some of the great work started by
its namesake more than 50 years
ago.
“We are so proud that our city is
recognising the pioneering work of
Dr Schonell and the dedication and
commitment of countless
numbers of people who have
followed in her footsteps, as well
as the many thousands of families
who have benefited from her life’s
work,” Ms Scott said.
“It’s just so fitting that the League
will be able to use the public
opening of the Eleanor Schonell
Bridge to help us continue building
on her life’s work.”
Ms Scott won the Lord Mayor for a
Day experience at auction through
the League’s Conrad Treasury
Boardroom Blitz event.
A family fun day to celebrate the
official opening and naming of
Australia’s first pedestrian, cycle
and bus bridge linking Dutton Park
to The University of Queensland’s
(UQ) St Lucia campus will be held
on Sunday 17 December.
Pictured: Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell
Newman and Cerebral Palsy League client,
Nathan Ford, 8, celebrated the announcement
of the League as the major beneficiary of
fundraising efforts at the official opening of
the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, which will take
place on 17 December 2006.
If you’d like to be
involved in this
exciting new
redevelopment appeal
and assist the League
to realise its goal in
the Toowoomba
region, contact:
Donor Relations
Manager
Phone: 07 3358 8093
16

If you’ve got it, flaunt
it!
OVER 1,000 people donned their best
eighties rock outfits for one of
Australia’s largest corporate rock ‘n’
roll fundraisers during October at the
Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Hosted by ARIA Hall-of-Famer Angry
Anderson and with an eighties, “If
You’ve Got It, Flaunt It”, theme the
talent event saw ten corporate bands
battle it out on stage for the night.
Corporate bands included Conrad
Treasury, Super Cheap Auto,
Queensland Rail, Panther Print,
Australian Recruiting, Powerdirect,
4KQ, Disability Services Queensland,
Roche Mining (MT) and Fetch
Holidays.
In true celebrity style, corporate
rockers arrived at the Entertainment
Centre in Corvettes and Lotus Esprits
and walked the red carpet under the
roving spotlights, before performing
live in front of a 1000-plus audience.
Electric Boogaloo from Powerdirect
took home first place as the Panel
Pick, Platform Two from Queensland
Rail were Tried and True Two with
Conrad Treasury’s Screaming Bets
leaving as the Preferred Third.
Celebrity performers and guests
included Taxiride, Angry’s covers band
Junkyard Dogs with guitarist Bob
Spencer, formerly Skyhooks and The
Angels, ARIA-winning Ty Noonan,
former Rolling Stone Manager Sam
Cutler and Big Brother ‘big cat
handler’ Claire Madden.
Conrad Treasury Boardroom Blitz
also featured an auction including a
range of sporting and musical
memorabilia.
“A collector’s edition guitar signed by
Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Ozbourne’s
guitarist, was auctioned off to raise
money for people with cerebral palsy,”
League Event Coordinator Kristi
O’Connor said.
Not so angry: 80s Aussie Rock Legend, Angry
Anderson hosted Conrad Treasury Boardroom
Blitz 2006, which saw 10 corporate bands battle
to benefit people with cerebral palsy, at the
Brisbane Entertainment Centre in October.
Walk for an Aussie
Kid
THE Australian Lions Children
Mobility Foundation (ALCMF)
hosted the Walk for an Aussie
Kid fundraising event on
Fathers Day at C.A.Sullivan
Park at Acacia Ridge.
Four children in the Cerebral
Palsy League’s Hart Walker
Program attended the event
with their families and
participated in walker races.
The Hart Walker Program’s
Administration Officer,
Rebecca Bates and
physiotherapist, Anne-Maree
Stewart also lent their support.
The event raised some $2000
which will be used to purchase
mobility equipment for children
who require the aids, such as
those with cerebral palsy.
ALCMF currently sponsors over
90 per cent of children’s
mobility equipment for the Hart
Walker Program.
Currently, it is also raising funds
for a Liberty Swing, a
specialised swing designed for
people in wheelchairs, for
C.A.Sullivan Park.
Further information on the
Hart Walker Program:
Administration Officer
Phone: 07 3637 6377
For further information
on Cerebral Palsy
League events and
programs or to register
an event, contact:
Events Coordinator
Phone: 07 3358 8027
fundraising@cplqld.org.au
www.cplqld.org.au
17

Adventure Challenge
on the Kokoda Track
WHEN Rob Needham saw mountain
ranges looming above the single
engine Cessna Caravan flying over
cloud covered trees at 9000ft, he
knew he was in for the Adventure
Challenge of a lifetime.
Three hours behind schedule to reach
the village of Kokoda from Port
Morseby, the pilot of Rob’s flight
received a report that clouds were
touching treetops over their
destination.
Rob was on an Adventure Challenge
for Charity and had spent months
selling mountains of chocolate bars
and preparing himself for what he
expected would be a gruelling nine
day trek on the Kokoda Track carrying
a 20kg pack – a lifelong dream.
He looked at several of the eight
passengers on the flight; among the
locals were four members of Rob’s
group. Their faces said it all.
The pilot looked for a hole in the
clouds while his Global Positioning
System (GPS) signalled their location
over Kokoda.
Courage: Rob Needham saw mountain
ranges looming above the single engine
Cessna Caravan at 9000ft on his flight to
Kokoda in Papua New Guinea and knew
he was in for the Adventure Challenge of
a lifetime.
Green terrain flickered (See beneath reverse thefor details) from their families.
cloud cover below as the pilot banked
hard left and pushed the plane into a
spiralling descent.
More green whizzed past the
windows, the altimeter needle
plunged, the GPS terrain warning horn
was sounding and Rob could feel the
fingernails of the passengers seated
behind him, digging into his shoulders.
The adventure had only just begun but
the cloud cover would continue for
days to come and Rob would soon
feel more than physical pain.
Courage, Sacrifice, Mateship
and Endurance
These words would stay with Rob for
the rest of his life.
Four stone monuments to the sacred
area where many lives were lost,
surrounded him at the Isurava
Memorial. Each depicted the durability
of the Australian soldiers and their
commitment to repelling the Japanese
Army with a single word: Courage,
Sacrifice, Mateship and Endurance.
Prior to leaving Australia, Rob had read
books about the Kokoda and the lives
of young men lost in a country so far
The monuments impacted his
emotions and tears formed in his
eyes as he circled the stones and
realised the extreme conditions and
circumstances the soldiers faced
and contended with.
The words stayed with him as his
legs ached along the trek, when he
slipped in the mud or on the endless
amount of tree roots covering the
track, and when he suffered
gastroenteritis for almost two days.
He wanted to sleep: How on earth did
those guys do it in some of the
fiercest fighting campaigns during
the war
Rob still wondered how the soldiers
did it, and questioned each day,
especially when he was really
hurting, how he would have coped if
he was one of them.
After nine days of walking up and
down ridges, mountains, crossing
creeks and rivers, eating ration
packs, enduring the rain and heat,
feeling and hearing mosquitoes
trying to find flesh, experiencing
illness, listening to guides sing in
beautiful harmony and passing other
groups and saying g’day, the Kokoda
Track had changed Rob’s life.
As he crossed it from his list of goals
he knew his Adventure Challenge
was everything and more than he
expected it to be and couldn’t wait to
start on the next.
Adventure Challenge for Charity
allows travellers to choose a
destination, fundraise the cost of the
fare and itinerary activities, and
nominate an Australian charity as a
beneficiary of the proceeds.
Proceeds from Rob’s Adventure
Challenge for Charity to the Kokoda
Track benefit the Cerebral Palsy
League.
Further information:
Adventure Challenge
1800 819 086
adventurechallenge.com.au
Kokoda Explore TrailA one Taste of 25 of exotic BorneoEgyptInca destinations Trail
Great Wall of or ChinaAfrican choose your own SafariChoose adventure.... Your Own
18

A tribute to Rene
Corrie who passed
away
SOME of us only knew Rene for a
few months, others a few years but
we all felt like we had known her our
whole lives.
She had a colourful personality along
with a colourful vocabulary and a
water pistol to attack anyone who
annoyed her.
Every day we speak of Rene, every
day we miss her terribly - this larger
than life woman with a heart of gold
who took all of the administration and
sales consultant girls at Equipment
Technology Services under her wing,
often she would momentarily forget
our names and refer to all of us as,
“hey kid,” - she was like a mother to
us.
Her biggest dream was to retire in a
couple of years, buy a caravan, pack
up the 4WD and go around Australia
with her husband, Claude.
At the top end of Australia she would
meet up with retired League
transport friends Carol and Lorraine
and drink a bottle of champagne
watching the sunset. She also had a
very close relationship with some of
the workshop guys and often referred
to them as being like brothers to her.
She dedicated more than 30 years
to the Cerebral Palsy League, cared
a great deal for clients and their
families and will be sadly missed by
many.
Rene gave so much of herself to all
of us that there are times when we
say things that remind us so much of
her.
As a person, friend and employee,
Rene is irreplacable.
We are all forever grateful to have
known this wonderful women who will
always hold a special place in our
hearts.
Written by Shelley Paulsen
Equipment Technology Services
Cerebral Palsy League
THE Cerebral Palsy
League farewelled
Sidney Siviter, who
passed away in August.
Mr Sivitar was
President of the
League in 1988 and was
made a Life Member of
the League in the same
year.
The League extends its
sympathies to Mr
Sivitar’s family, and its
appreciation for his
efforts contributed to
the League and people
with cerebral palsy.
Help us, help others
MOTHER Nature tends to work in
less obvious ways at times.
Demand on League services
continues as more children are
diagnosed with cerebral palsy and
their service requirements continue
into adulthood.
There are four fundamental issues
for people with cerebral palsy, and
the League:
• Cerebral palsy is one of the most
expensive disabilities to
manage and provide services
for;
• Equipment needs continue to
change and the ensuing costs
are enormous;
• Cerebral palsy is a life-long
disability;
• Cerebral palsy can occur in any
family and there is no cure.
The League needs your financial
assistance to maintain services to
its clients.
In addition, one child is born in
Australia every 18 hours with
cerebral palsy.
The need continues to grow and
without your assistance we will
struggle to meet service demands.
Please, dig deep.
To make a donation or assist in any
other way, please contact the
Cerebral Palsy League:
1800 819 086
www.cplqld.org.au
(See reverse for details)
19

Yes!
I want to help the
Cerebral Palsy League
Donate at:
www.ourcommunity.com.au/
cerebralpalsyqld
Please accept my donation of:
$125 $75 $300
$ Other _____________________
Please find enclosed my cheque/
money order made payable to:
Cerebral Palsy League of
Queensland
Please debit my credit card:
Mastercard
Visa
Amex
Diners
Card number:
_ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _
Cardholder’s name:
_____________________________
Cardholder’s signature:
_____________________________
Expiry date: ____ / ____
Name: ________________________
Company: _____________________
_____________________________
Address: ______________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Suburb: _______________________
State: _______ Postcode: _________
Phone: ________________________
Email: ________________________
1800 819 086
www.cplqld.org.au
I would like further information on:
Leaving a gift in my Will
Volunteering
Queensland Cerebral Palsy Register
Membership of the
League
I OFTEN get feedback that indicates
people do not understand the
difference between being a “client” of
the League and a “member” of the
League.
Becoming a financial member of the
League is a bit like becoming a
shareholder in a commercial
company, or publicly listed company.
Importantly, it gives you a say in how
the League is run. Unlike a public
company the League does not sell
shares and does not return profits to
its shareholders.
To become a member of the League
you simply need to fill out a
Membership Application Form which
is then submitted to the Board of
Directors for approval.
The cost of membership is currently
$15.00 per year.
Members of the League have a formal
link to the organisation and are
provided with information through
newsletters and the annual reports.
Members can also attend and speak
at General Meetings such as the
Extraordinary General Meeting held in
March each year and the Annual
General Meeting held in November
each year.
Members can vote on resolutions at
General Meetings, and vote in the
election of Directors to the Board.
It is important for the future of the
League that we have a strong and
involved membership.
A strong base of members gives the
League a greater presence and ability
to influence in the community, and
with government.
It is disappointing that the League
currently has only approximately 250
members.
While we support over 2500 clients
and their families across the State,
those numbers are not reflected in our
membership base.
The Board of Directors and I would
like to encourage you to become a
member of the League and help to
secure a strong future for the
organisation.
It would be particularly good to see
more parents of children with cerebral
palsy and related disabilities
becoming members, as these
children reflect the need for the
League’s services in the future.
To apply for membership contact the
League on 07 3358 8011 and ask for
a membership application form to be
sent to you.
Bruce Milligan
Chief Executive Officer
PO Box 386 Fortitude Valley Q 4006
Donations are fully tax deductible
20