LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League
LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League
LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League
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<strong>League</strong> News<br />
VOLUME 30 • NUMBER 3 • SUMMER 2006<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> of Queensland Three times a year<br />
PRIME Minister John Howard visited<br />
the Gold Coast during <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Awareness Week and met with<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> clients Stan<br />
and Barbara Dacey.<br />
Stan spoke to the Prime Minister<br />
about the importance of people with<br />
disabilities having the opportunity and<br />
access to live independently in the<br />
community.<br />
Story, page 8.<br />
Pictured: Stan Dacey (left) with wife Barbara<br />
(centre back) spoke with Prime Minister John<br />
Howard during <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Awareness Week<br />
on the Gold Coast.<br />
Image courtesy of the Gold Coast Sun.<br />
i dream, therefore I am<br />
1
THE State Client Consultative<br />
Committee (CCC) spent the past few<br />
months finalising its Terms of<br />
Reference and preparing for the<br />
Convention.<br />
This year’s 10 th Annual Client<br />
Convention celebrated a decade of<br />
the event and the CCC’s<br />
achievements with the consultation<br />
processes.<br />
A discussion about the strengths and<br />
weaknesses of the CCC and the<br />
Conventions gave us lots of<br />
feedback.<br />
We want to hear from all service<br />
users on this subject so we can look<br />
at ways to improve accessibility and<br />
participation for all <strong>League</strong> clients.<br />
We will use the feedback to prepare<br />
a discussion paper and develop an<br />
annual plan in 2007.<br />
Please read the Convention article on<br />
page 10 for more information.<br />
Other plans for 2007 include finalising<br />
the Roles and Responsibilities<br />
document, reviewing the Charter for<br />
Client Consultation and continuing to<br />
promote financial membership of the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> to clients.<br />
With Regional elections almost<br />
complete, the CCC elections will<br />
soon be finalised and we look forward<br />
to introducing the new Committee to<br />
you early next year.<br />
The CCC would like to congratulate<br />
our colleague, Shane McFarlane, who<br />
was awarded a <strong>League</strong> Medal for<br />
Distinguished Service for his work as<br />
a CCC representative and advocate<br />
for people with cerebral palsy.<br />
Shane is one of only two people to<br />
have been involved with the CCC<br />
since it began in 1993.<br />
The CCC would also like to extend its<br />
appreciation to Peter Shields who<br />
decided to take a rest from CCC<br />
activities after many years of service.<br />
Enjoy the break, Peter. We hope to<br />
see you back soon.<br />
In closing, I would like to thank all those<br />
who have given time to participate in<br />
consultation and feedback forums<br />
throughout the year, and to wish<br />
everyone a great festive season and<br />
a safe, happy 2007.<br />
I look forward to seeing you next year<br />
as we move the CCC forums and<br />
Client Conventions into the future.<br />
Regards,<br />
Terry Donaldson<br />
Chairman, State CCC<br />
Thinking outside<br />
the chair<br />
Innovation,<br />
Creativity and<br />
Collaboration – the<br />
Future of Disability<br />
Services<br />
‘THINKING Outside the Chair,<br />
Innovation, Creativity and<br />
Collaboration – the Future of<br />
Disability Services’ is the theme<br />
for the 2007 National<br />
Conference of CP Australia to be<br />
held 24-25 May at Conrad<br />
Jupiters Casino, the Gold Coast.<br />
The Conference is a biennial<br />
event that brings together<br />
clients, staff and service<br />
providers to share information<br />
experience and ideas, network<br />
and consider national and<br />
international research and<br />
trends.<br />
The conference will focus on<br />
innovative and creative solutions<br />
for research, service delivery<br />
and empowering people with a<br />
disability to participate in the<br />
community, for both service<br />
users and providers.<br />
www.cplqld.org.au/conference<br />
Quality Management<br />
System External Audit<br />
IN October, the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> underwent its annual external<br />
audit, in order to review certification<br />
against ISO 9001, the<br />
Commonwealth Disability<br />
Employment Service (DES)<br />
standards and the Queensland<br />
Disability Sector Quality System<br />
(DSQS).<br />
The audit was conducted over 12<br />
working days, and relied on the<br />
involvement of many clients, their<br />
families, and staff from across the<br />
organisation.<br />
At the exit interview, the auditors noted<br />
that feedback from clients and their<br />
2<br />
families was extremely positive,<br />
which is indicative of our strong<br />
commitment to providing quality<br />
services to people with a disability. The<br />
auditors advised that they would<br />
recommend re-certification against all<br />
standards.<br />
Congratulations to all staff who<br />
worked so hard to ensure ongoing<br />
certification, particularly Penny Atfield,<br />
who coordinated the external audit<br />
process.<br />
Special thanks must go also to those<br />
clients and family members who<br />
participated in the audit process this<br />
year – gaining feedback about the<br />
experiences of our service users is a<br />
vital aspect of the audit.<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> of Qld<br />
ABN 27 009 942 269<br />
PO Box 386 FORTITUDE VALLEY Qld 4006<br />
55 Oxlade Drive NEW FARM Qld 4005<br />
www.cplqld.org.au<br />
Executive Management Team<br />
BRUCE MILLIGAN, Chief Executive Officer<br />
Phone: (07) 3358 8003 Fax: (07) 3254 1291<br />
Email: bmilligan@cplqld.org.au<br />
GEOFF ROWE, Service Development & Policy<br />
Phone: (07) 3358 8014 Fax: (07) 3254 1291<br />
Email: growe@cplqld.org.au<br />
GREG CUFFE, Organisational Services<br />
Phone: (07) 3358 8064 Fax: (07) 3254 7387<br />
Email: gcuffe@cplqld.org.au<br />
STUART PILTON, Human Resources<br />
Phone: (07) 3358 8078 Fax: (07) 3358 8103<br />
Email: spilton@cplqld.org.au<br />
MARGARET SCOTT, Marketing & Fundraising<br />
Phone: (07) 3358 8090 Fax: (07) 3358 2495<br />
Email: mscott@cplqld.org.au
Churchill Fellow<br />
IT wasn’t just that Ruby Reid shared<br />
her birth date with Winston Churchill<br />
that earned her the opportunity to<br />
travel the world on a Churchill<br />
Fellowship this year, it was her work<br />
and dedication to studying arts and<br />
services for people with a disability.<br />
As Manager of the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong>’s Cascade Services in<br />
Redcliffe for almost 10 years, Ms Reid<br />
already has a great knowledge of<br />
disability service and practice and will<br />
work to incorporate techniques from<br />
abroad to expand her knowledge and<br />
further benefit Australian’s with a<br />
disability.<br />
She will visit with sister organisations<br />
to the <strong>League</strong> in the United States and<br />
the United Kingdom to complete her<br />
nominated project – Community<br />
Cultural Development and<br />
Community Arts Projects for People<br />
with a Disability.<br />
The project proposes an<br />
examination and comparison of<br />
models, examining the genesis of<br />
each project and the outcomes for<br />
people with disabilities, their<br />
involvement with non-disabled<br />
peers and their opportunities to<br />
develop valued roles in their<br />
communities.<br />
Upon returning to Australia, Ruby<br />
will share knowledge gained from<br />
her travels in her book, ‘Not Just<br />
a Pretty Place’, which focuses on<br />
professional practices and<br />
frameworks for working with<br />
people with a disability.<br />
The book will also include a<br />
seminar and training materials for<br />
use by the <strong>League</strong> and other<br />
disability-focussed organisations.<br />
Below: Ruby Reid (left) celebrated her<br />
Churchill Fellowship at the official<br />
presentation at Government House, with her<br />
daughter Emer Hyland-Reid.<br />
Parents and Guardians<br />
THE final meeting of the Parents and<br />
Guardians Association for 2006 was<br />
held on 25 November.<br />
Meetings throughout the year were<br />
well attended by loyal parents and we<br />
were delighted to have a number of<br />
adult clients attending.<br />
We welcome adult clients and will<br />
include any items for discussion on<br />
the agenda that may be of concern or<br />
interest to the meeting.<br />
We made a decision to try a new<br />
venue for the annual parents’<br />
luncheon, originally organised by Mrs<br />
Madge Sartor some 30 years ago.<br />
Following Mrs Sartor’s resignation<br />
from the role, Mrs Netta Foy continued<br />
to arrange the annual luncheons,<br />
which traditionally have been held at<br />
a city venue.<br />
With the decline in our numbers and<br />
the difficulties in accessing a city<br />
location, we decided to trial a picnic<br />
in the park at New Farm on<br />
Wednesday 10 October 2007, at<br />
11:00am.<br />
Further details will be available nearer<br />
the time.<br />
We have tried for many years to<br />
encourage parents of younger<br />
children to attend our meetings and<br />
be part of the Parents and Guardians<br />
Association and will develop a strategy<br />
to again try to attract this group in<br />
2007.<br />
At each meeting the Board Report<br />
and accompanying Services Activity<br />
Report are always available.<br />
The Service Activity Report contains<br />
details of children’s services and adult<br />
services from all sections of the<br />
<strong>League</strong>’s activities.<br />
This is one way of becoming<br />
knowledgeable about the work the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> does and the<br />
many facets of its services.<br />
I would like to acknowledge and thank<br />
Carol Barton for the excellent support<br />
she has given to us throughout this<br />
year and for many years.<br />
I wish you all a very happy Christmas<br />
and look forward to seeing you in 2007.<br />
Joan Williams<br />
President<br />
Parents and Guardians Association<br />
3
National trial results<br />
THE Queensland Health Minister<br />
launched the Australian <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Register Conference, which presented<br />
the analysed results of a national trial<br />
classification of cerebral palsy system<br />
in Brisbane during October at the Royal<br />
Children’s Hospital.<br />
The Queensland <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Register<br />
participated in the trials, which<br />
represented a potential international<br />
breakthrough in recording and analysing<br />
clinical symptoms of people with<br />
cerebral palsy.<br />
The next step in implementing the<br />
classification system will be testing its<br />
effectiveness with university students and<br />
other clinicians across the country to<br />
use.<br />
Following the results of this trial, further<br />
changes may be made before the<br />
system can be promoted for use<br />
throughout Australia and offered<br />
internationally.<br />
Manager of the Queensland <strong>Cerebral</strong><br />
<strong>Palsy</strong> Register, Michael deLacy, said<br />
Witness: Minister for Health Hon Stephen<br />
Robertson witnessed the application of<br />
the 1200th participant in the Queensland<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Register: James FitzGerald,<br />
2, pictured with his mum Leone at the<br />
Australian <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Register<br />
Conference.<br />
Results of a national trial classification<br />
system of cerebral palsy were announced<br />
at the conference, which was held in<br />
October, in Brisbane.<br />
more consistent and transferable data<br />
within registers, achieved by a universal<br />
classification system, will fast track<br />
research into causes and preventions<br />
of cerebral palsy.<br />
“With a greater resource of information<br />
to use for research, identifying potential<br />
causes will speed up exponentially and<br />
this will lead us to preventions,” Mr<br />
deLacy said.<br />
Parents of eighteen-month old<br />
Brisbane resident, James FitzGerald,<br />
signed James onto the Queensland<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Register, which now<br />
includes some 1,200 Queenslanders<br />
with cerebral palsy, during the<br />
conference.<br />
James was recently diagnosed with<br />
cerebral palsy, which affects the<br />
mobility in his legs and means he is<br />
not yet walking, crawling or sitting up<br />
unassisted.<br />
It is not possible to confirm the cause<br />
of James’ disability.<br />
James’ parents said they supported the<br />
Register to contribute to better<br />
research into cerebral palsy that will<br />
lead to better treatment and possible<br />
prevention.<br />
For information on the Queensland<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Register:<br />
www.qcpr.org.au<br />
Film and Fanfare<br />
TEN young actors found new<br />
talents when producing<br />
Inside-Outside, a DVD<br />
documentary exploring the<br />
experience of discrimination<br />
for young people with<br />
disabilities, through Screech<br />
Theatre Company, a troupe of<br />
young actors with mixed<br />
abilities.<br />
The actors reached another<br />
milestone in their remarkable<br />
journey which has spanned<br />
more than three years when<br />
Brisbane film-maker, Luke<br />
Mansour, joined Screech to<br />
help the troupe plan, film and<br />
produce the documentary.<br />
Facilitator Chris Pye of<br />
Interaction Drama and<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong><br />
occupational therapist, Margo<br />
Wratten said they saw the<br />
project as a way for children<br />
who attended Screech to learn<br />
and grow from their traditional<br />
experiences of performing on<br />
stage.<br />
“Each year Screech facilitates<br />
a series of skills development<br />
workshops through which<br />
young actors develop a<br />
performance to showcase<br />
their hard work and talent as a<br />
final project,” Ms Wratten said.<br />
Both Chris and Margo also<br />
worked to secure funding to<br />
enable Screech to continue<br />
each year and set the<br />
groundwork for another year of<br />
operation in 2007.<br />
Continuing in their stead will be<br />
Alex McCullum as Creative<br />
Director and Faye Carver as<br />
Screech Coordinator.<br />
The Inside-Outside DVD is<br />
available for purchase from<br />
the <strong>League</strong> for $10.<br />
Further information:<br />
Caitlin Neville<br />
Phone: 07 3347 7200<br />
4
Council saves art<br />
program for children<br />
with disability<br />
ALMOST 30 local youths can<br />
continue attending a special art<br />
program thanks to their local<br />
Councillor, Faith Hopkins of the<br />
Marchant Ward in Brisbane.<br />
‘Saturday Morning Art Club’ - an<br />
initiative of the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> held at Visible Ink in Zillmere,<br />
allows young people with cerebral<br />
palsy and related disabilities to attend<br />
art groups on weekends with other<br />
local community members.<br />
Due to lack of funding, the art<br />
program was to be cancelled before<br />
<strong>League</strong> staff and local residents<br />
appealed for funding from Council,<br />
which granted almost $10,000 from<br />
the Marchant Livability Committee for<br />
Community Parks & Development<br />
Fund.<br />
Councillor Hopkins said people with<br />
disabilities could be equally as<br />
talented and creative as those<br />
without a disability and praised the<br />
<strong>League</strong> for its inclusive initiatives.<br />
“Encouraging interaction,<br />
communication and creativity<br />
through programs like the Saturday<br />
Morning Art Club can only strengthen<br />
our community,” Cr Hopkins said.<br />
<strong>League</strong> In-Home and Community<br />
Support Coordinator, Kerry Ring said<br />
the program provided young people<br />
of all ability valuable skills through<br />
interaction with each other, as well<br />
as creativity.<br />
“The group has become accepting,<br />
wise and inclusive and many informal<br />
friendships and supports are<br />
growing,” Kerry said.<br />
“They also get the opportunity to do<br />
something on Saturdays, be creative<br />
and learn skills for later years through<br />
hosting exhibitions and selling their<br />
artwork.”<br />
Saturday Morning Art Club activities<br />
include canvas painting, lantern<br />
making, masks, clay work, photo<br />
frames and chimes.<br />
The program also encourages<br />
exhibitions, where kids learn about<br />
hanging their art, placing information<br />
cards, hosting and selling.<br />
Further information:<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong><br />
Phone: 07 3621 3800<br />
Artistic license: Harrison Hedges 12 (front) and Dale Gonelli 13 (back) participate in the<br />
Saturday Morning Art Club activities which include canvas painting, lantern making, masks, clay<br />
work, photo frames and chimes. They also learn how to hang their art, place information cards,<br />
host exhibitions and sell their art work.<br />
Take Off!<br />
07 3220 3211<br />
The <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> benefits from your business<br />
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Demand for disability<br />
services on the<br />
Sunshine Coast<br />
AFTER identifying a greater need for<br />
disability services in the Sunshine<br />
Coast region, the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> officially opened its<br />
Maroochydoore centre to provide<br />
therapy, support and<br />
accommodation services.<br />
Minister for Communities, Disability<br />
Services and Seniors, Hon Warren<br />
Pitt opened the <strong>League</strong>’s new<br />
location after its extensive search for<br />
a more physically accessible<br />
location closer to clients and<br />
facilities.<br />
CEO of the <strong>League</strong>, Bruce Milligan,<br />
said the Sunshine Coast was one<br />
of the fastest growing regions within<br />
the State, which prompted the need<br />
to relocate and expand its services<br />
to include those to adults, as well as<br />
children.<br />
“Demand for services has grown<br />
over the past ten years, contributing<br />
to a need for increased resources,<br />
particularly in the area of child and<br />
family support services,” Mr Milligan<br />
said.<br />
The <strong>League</strong> currently provides more<br />
than $850,000 worth of services to<br />
children and adults with a disability<br />
in the Sunshine Coast region.<br />
“A block grant allowed the <strong>League</strong><br />
to provide 12 people with a disability<br />
24 hour supported accommodation<br />
through its <strong>League</strong> Adult<br />
Accommodation Service on the<br />
Sunshine Coast,” Mr Milligan said.<br />
“Respite support through our In-<br />
Home and Community Support<br />
Service and operational services are<br />
also funded by Disability Services<br />
Queensland.”<br />
Mr Milligan said service user<br />
consultation supported a further<br />
increase in services.<br />
It could be expected that the new<br />
location in Maroochydore would<br />
position the <strong>League</strong> for positive<br />
future growth.<br />
“The <strong>League</strong> will work with other<br />
service providers in the Sunshine<br />
Coast region to provide people with<br />
disability services, therapy support<br />
and equipment services, as well as<br />
facilitate their inclusion within<br />
communities,” Mr Milligan said.
Engaging Incentive<br />
IN collaboration with the<br />
Queensland University of<br />
Technology (QUT), the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>’s<br />
Equipment Technology<br />
Services received $30,000 in<br />
support from the University’s<br />
Engagement Incentive Fund to<br />
develop a mechanism which<br />
will increase the production and<br />
availability of customised<br />
wheelchairs.<br />
The project may have particular<br />
impact in rural and remote<br />
areas where access to mobility<br />
equipment is currently limited.<br />
The Engagement Incentive, a<br />
key initiative of QUT’s<br />
Engagement Strategy,<br />
distributed $150,000 to promote<br />
and support collaborative<br />
activities to achieve mutually<br />
beneficial outcomes for QUT<br />
and its partners.<br />
CPLQ Library<br />
Information & Resource Coordinator - Ph: 07 3358 8036<br />
You can request items via the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> website:<br />
www.cplqld.org.au/information<br />
Siblings Australia<br />
www.siblingsaustralia.org.au<br />
Teen Sibs Forum<br />
www.support4sibs.org<br />
Your Shout Website - a website for adolescents with a brother or<br />
sister with a disability or chronic illness<br />
www.yourshout.org.au<br />
Association for Children with a Disability provides information,<br />
support and advocacy for families and siblings of children with a<br />
disability<br />
www.acd.org.au/siblings/siblinks<br />
Accessibility - Siblings Links has information for brothers and<br />
sisters of children with a disability including fact sheets and online<br />
forums<br />
www.accessibility.com.au/kids/siblings<br />
Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, Hon Warren Pitt opened the <strong>League</strong>’s new location in Maroochydore on the Sunshine<br />
Coast after an extensive search for a more physically accessible location closer to clients and facilities. Demand for services contributed to a need<br />
for increased resources, particularly in the area of child and family support services.<br />
Pictured: (Left to right) Lionel Aitken and Rita Montebello, parents of Rachael Montebello (centre) with Hon Warren Pitt MP at the launch of the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>’s Maroochydore centre. (Story, page 6)<br />
7
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Awareness Week<br />
PRIME Minister John Howard visited<br />
the Gold Coast during <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Awareness Week and met with<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> clients Stan<br />
and Barbara Dacey at the All Saints<br />
Anglican School.<br />
Stan and Barbara spoke to the Prime<br />
Minister about people with disability<br />
living independently in the community<br />
and not in aged care facilities,<br />
especially when they were of a young<br />
age.<br />
For 10 years the couple, who both have<br />
cerebral palsy, have lived<br />
independently at home with the help<br />
of carers.<br />
Stan said there was ‘no way’ people<br />
with disabilities, particularly young<br />
people, should be in a nursing home.<br />
“We’re very grateful to the <strong>League</strong> for<br />
all the support they give us. Without<br />
them we would be in a nursing home,”<br />
Stan said.<br />
While advocating for people with<br />
disabilities living independently, the<br />
<strong>League</strong> battled interest rate rises and<br />
escalating petrol prices that threatened<br />
vital services for people with a<br />
disability.<br />
CEO of the <strong>League</strong>, Mr Bruce Milligan<br />
said he was encouraged by the good<br />
will shown to people with a disability<br />
and the <strong>League</strong> as an organisation<br />
which provides vital disability related<br />
support.<br />
“We had tremendous support for<br />
fundraising campaigns even though<br />
the interest rate rise threatened to<br />
undermine this success and forced us<br />
into a very difficult corner if we want to<br />
continue current service levels,” Mr<br />
Milligan said.<br />
Various people and community groups<br />
assisted the <strong>League</strong> to raise funds<br />
through a variety of initiatives during<br />
the week, including Brisbane councillor,<br />
Faith Hopkins, who donated the<br />
proceeds of two community concerts<br />
held at Kedron Wavell.<br />
The <strong>League</strong>’s Gold Cost Adult<br />
Services launched its Dinner Club for<br />
adults with cerebral palsy to enjoy a<br />
night out with friends while those<br />
working at the Adept Packaging<br />
services were treated to a barbeque<br />
lunch at the Great Aussie Shed Party<br />
in Rocklea.<br />
Local Member for Yeerongpilly,<br />
Simon Finn MP officially launched the<br />
party and acknowledged funding<br />
from the Gambling Community<br />
Benefit Fund to erect garden sheds<br />
on the property for Adept’s garden<br />
maintenance service.<br />
Other <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Awareness<br />
Week activities included the annual<br />
Art for Art’s Sake exhibition which<br />
raised almost $30,000, and golf days<br />
in various locations along the east<br />
coast, including Wide Bay and<br />
Rockhampton.<br />
Wide Bay residents were also treated<br />
to old time tunes performed by the<br />
Queensland Pops Orchestra’s Glen<br />
Miller Tribute Band at a charity<br />
concert to benefit children’s services<br />
provided by the <strong>League</strong> in the region.<br />
The Queensland <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Register celebrated its first birthday<br />
by welcoming its 1000 th participant,<br />
while the <strong>League</strong>’s Child & Family<br />
Support Services division launched<br />
its new Technology for Life Program<br />
to provide families access to the latest<br />
technology options for children with<br />
cerebral palsy.<br />
Adept at cooking: Robert Bloodsworth (above) from Good Times Gourmet Catering was<br />
cooking with gas for more than 60 people, who attended Adept Packaging’s ‘Great Aussie<br />
Shed Party’ in Rocklea during <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Awareness Week.<br />
The <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>’s Cascade Soul band, Raging Lives, also provided food for thought<br />
as they performed to <strong>League</strong> staff, clients and guests, including Member for Yeerongpilly,<br />
Simon Finn MP, who officially unveiled the Adept Garden Service shed, which was constructed<br />
with funding from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.<br />
8
Brisbane artists<br />
opened ‘Window of<br />
Opportunity’ for people<br />
with cerebral palsy<br />
ARTISTS from throughout Brisbane<br />
and South-East Queensland put their<br />
paintbrushes and palettes to a good<br />
cause to open windows of opportunity<br />
during <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Awareness<br />
Week in August.<br />
Over 30 well-known artists, politicians<br />
and celebrities transformed recycled<br />
window frames into creative – and<br />
some very valuable – artwork.<br />
The “Art for Art’s Sake: Windows of<br />
Opportunity” exhibition and charity<br />
auction hosted by the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> included works by Jim Olsson,<br />
Don Hill, Robert Coleby and Big<br />
Brother Friday Night Live hosts Mike<br />
Goldman and Bree Amer.<br />
<strong>League</strong> Event Coordinator, Kristi<br />
O’Connor, said the art auction was a<br />
great success and raised some<br />
$30,000 this year.<br />
“The Art for Art’s Sake concept has<br />
captured the imaginations of many<br />
well-known Queensland artists,” Miss<br />
O’Connor said.<br />
“We had everything from paintings to<br />
sculptures and installation pieces on<br />
display, all based on a recycled<br />
window frame.”<br />
The art auction was presented by<br />
Anthony DJ Rigby Insurance and<br />
Investment Services and AMP<br />
Foundation, which matched funds<br />
raised up to $10,000.<br />
Star quality: Artist, Starr (right), produced<br />
the prize artwork for the Art for Art’s Sake<br />
exhibition, to achieve the highest bid. She<br />
is pictured with <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong><br />
staff member, Rob Needham.<br />
Inset: ‘View to a Bridge’ by Starr.<br />
Image courtesy of Chris McCormack, Quest Community Newspapers<br />
ANTHONY Rigby of Anthony DJ<br />
Rigby Insurance and Investment<br />
Services presented a cheque<br />
from the AMP Foundation to<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> CEO,<br />
Bruce Milligan.<br />
Mr Rigby, whose company<br />
sponsored the fundraising<br />
initiative, proposed the foundation<br />
match funds raised up to $10,000<br />
to the Art for Art’s Sake exhibition<br />
and art auction during <strong>Cerebral</strong><br />
<strong>Palsy</strong> Awareness Week in<br />
August.<br />
Pictured: (Left to right) Anthony Rigby<br />
and <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> CEO, Bruce<br />
Milligan.<br />
9
Making our mark in<br />
many ways. Where to<br />
from here<br />
The 10th Annual Client<br />
Convention of the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong><br />
ALMOST 200 people discussed and<br />
debated disability issues in<br />
Queensland at the 10 th Annual Client<br />
Convention on 26 August.<br />
Hosted by the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong>’s State Client Consultative<br />
Committee (CCC), this year’s<br />
convention topic was “Making our<br />
mark in many ways. Where to from<br />
here”<br />
Clients, family members, staff and<br />
<strong>League</strong> Directors reflected upon client<br />
consultation processes which began<br />
in 1993 to review achievements and<br />
encourage positive change for the<br />
future.<br />
<strong>League</strong> Patron, Her Excellency, the<br />
Governor of Queensland, Ms Quentin<br />
Bryce AC attended and praised the<br />
CCC and <strong>League</strong> for their efforts to<br />
support and empower people with a<br />
disability.<br />
She presented small tokens of<br />
appreciation to <strong>League</strong> client, Byron<br />
Albury and staff member, Yvonne<br />
Donnan, in recognition of their work<br />
on previous conventions.<br />
Her Excellency, who has been<br />
associated with the <strong>League</strong> for<br />
decades, remembered her mother’s<br />
time as a teacher at a school for<br />
children with cerebral palsy.<br />
Chairperson of the <strong>League</strong> Board of<br />
Directors, Ms Rowena McNally joined<br />
the CCC including Chairperson Terry<br />
Donaldson, to outline the importance<br />
of client consultation in service<br />
planning and management.<br />
Mr Donaldson reinforced that people<br />
with a disability made their mark in<br />
many ways by filling a range of valued<br />
roles within communities.<br />
“We are family members,<br />
employees, friends, housemates,<br />
advocates, spouses and a whole<br />
range of identities besides service<br />
users. Our disability is only a small<br />
part of who we are,” Mr Donaldson<br />
said.<br />
A retrospective of previous client<br />
conventions remembering past<br />
topics, guest speakers and<br />
10<br />
participants was displayed to<br />
recognise the client consultative<br />
progress.<br />
An artwork designed by clients of<br />
Moorooka day service<br />
commemorating 10 years of<br />
conventions was presented to the<br />
<strong>League</strong> and accepted by its CEO,<br />
Bruce Milligan and Ms McNally.<br />
Musical and theatrical performances<br />
by ‘Screech Theatre’, a <strong>League</strong><br />
operated youth drama group, and<br />
‘Raging Lives’, a band featuring<br />
clients from <strong>League</strong> day service,<br />
Cascade Services, were also<br />
enjoyed.<br />
Other activities on the day included a<br />
debate and discussion session on the<br />
challenges of ensuring<br />
communication with and participation<br />
of clients across the State in CCC<br />
activities.<br />
In looking to the future, Mr Donaldson<br />
said the CCC is particularly keen to<br />
harness the energy of young people<br />
in its process.<br />
“We will use all feedback to develop<br />
a discussion paper for client<br />
consultation into the future,” Mr<br />
Donaldson said.<br />
The CCC extended its thanks to<br />
everyone who contributed to the<br />
planning and running of the event,<br />
particularly to the volunteers on the<br />
day, Public Relations Coordinator,<br />
Novella Martin, and to Kerry Mullin and<br />
her ‘Welcome Team’, which<br />
comprised six staff who provided<br />
personal care assistance including<br />
support with meals and other tasks<br />
as required.<br />
A DVD of the convention will soon be<br />
available in each of the <strong>League</strong>’s<br />
Regional Offices and available for<br />
borrowing from the Library.<br />
10th Anniversary: (Left to right) <strong>Cerebral</strong><br />
<strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> Chairperson, Rowena<br />
McNally and <strong>League</strong> Patron, Her<br />
Excellency, the Governor of Queensland,<br />
Ms Quentin Bryce AC cut the anniversary<br />
cake with State Client Consultative<br />
Committee Chairman Terry Donaldson, to<br />
celebrate the 10 years of conventions at<br />
the 10th Annual Client Convention.<br />
Image courtesy of Sport and Event Photos.
Client Convention<br />
Survey<br />
The CCC wants your<br />
thoughts on its processes<br />
and the Client Convention.<br />
The questions asked at the<br />
Convention were:<br />
• What does the CCC<br />
process do well<br />
• What could the CCC do<br />
better<br />
• What are your ideas for the<br />
CCC<br />
• What does the Client<br />
Convention mean to you<br />
• What could we do<br />
differently at Conventions<br />
• What are your ideas for the<br />
Conventions<br />
We would like to add your<br />
ideas to the answers we<br />
received on the day. You can<br />
respond by:<br />
• Talking - to your Regional<br />
CCC representative or a<br />
staff member<br />
• Sending - ideas in writing<br />
via internal mail through<br />
your local office<br />
• Posting - ideas in writing:<br />
State CCC<br />
PO Box 386<br />
Fortitude Valley, Q 4006<br />
• Email -<br />
stateccc@cplqld.org.au<br />
• Phone -<br />
Wendy Lavelle,<br />
Client Liaison and<br />
Information Officer<br />
Phone: 07 3358 8049<br />
Thank you for your support<br />
and feedback.<br />
Grants<br />
acknowledgements<br />
THE <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> was<br />
most grateful to receive the<br />
following funds, which will assist it<br />
to achieve its goals for children and<br />
adults with cerebral palsy.<br />
St George Foundation:<br />
Services to children living in north<br />
Queensland ($24,000)<br />
Gambling Community Benefit<br />
Fund:<br />
Photocopier ($6,820)<br />
Standing Hoist and Slings<br />
($11,170)<br />
Computers ($6,820)<br />
Equipment Pool Items ($28,587)<br />
Heat Press and Air Compressor<br />
($6,449)<br />
Moorooka Day Service Garden<br />
Project (Open Garden Scheme,<br />
$3,000)<br />
Townsville City Council:<br />
Equipment Pool ($1,000)<br />
Qld Country Credit Union:<br />
Library Resources ($2,500)<br />
Courier Mail Children’s Home<br />
Fund:<br />
Equipment Pool Chermside and<br />
Sunshine Coast ($58,450)<br />
Volunteer<br />
Extraordinaire!<br />
LIONS Club International<br />
member Kym Hyson goes<br />
above and beyond the call of<br />
duty when it comes to<br />
volunteering her time for the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>.<br />
A full-time Finance Officer at<br />
the Queensland University of<br />
Technology (QUT), Brisbane,<br />
Kym recruited other Lions Club<br />
members to help out with the<br />
Sunday Mail Suncorp Bridge to<br />
Brisbane Fun Run in August<br />
and the Conrad Treasury<br />
Boardroom Blitz in October.<br />
The <strong>League</strong> sincerely thanks<br />
Kym and her colleagues.<br />
Perpetual Trustees:<br />
Redesign of the Supernova<br />
Wheelchair ($42,000)<br />
Danks Trust:<br />
Technology for Life Project<br />
($10,000)<br />
Regional Arts Development<br />
Fund:<br />
Capalaba Arts Project ($1,965)<br />
Cecilia Kilkeary Foundation:<br />
Music Therapy programs in<br />
Toowoomba, and Percussion<br />
Music Program in Maryborough/<br />
Hervey Bay ($10,612)<br />
Family and Community<br />
Services:<br />
Support for people with disabilities<br />
to attend the CP Australia<br />
Conference 2007 ($11,000)<br />
Brisbane City Council:<br />
Funds to support people with<br />
disabilities to attend the Chill Out<br />
Holiday Program during school<br />
holidays ($500)<br />
Allens Arthur Robinson:<br />
Camp Have a Chat 2007 and a<br />
mini Chat Camp in Townsville 2007<br />
($19,290)<br />
Disability Services<br />
Queensland:<br />
Salary and operating costs for<br />
Child & Family Support Services<br />
North Queensland ($68,000)<br />
11
VALE<br />
Image sourced from Focus and Innovation, A History of Paediatric Education in Queensland’. 1986<br />
<strong>League</strong> farewells<br />
paediatric pioneer<br />
Dr David Clements Jackson was<br />
considered a pioneer in the paediatric<br />
disciplines for the treatment of<br />
cerebral palsy and is remembered as<br />
a well respected advisor to the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> of<br />
Queensland.<br />
He was born at Kangaroo Point in<br />
Brisbane and educated at the<br />
Kangaroo Point State School, Church<br />
of England Grammar School, and<br />
graduated with medical degrees from<br />
the Melbourne University in 1937.<br />
He was a resident at the Mater<br />
Hospital for one year before travelling<br />
to England to spend two years at the<br />
Birmingham Children’s Hospital,<br />
Edgbaston.<br />
This period ended when he was<br />
commissioned as a Surgeon<br />
Lieutenant in the Royal Naval<br />
Reserve, serving on destroyers and<br />
at a submarine depot.<br />
For meritorious service he was<br />
12<br />
awarded a Distinguished Service<br />
Cross which was presented by the<br />
late King George VI in person.<br />
After demobilisation he returned to<br />
Brisbane and commenced a private<br />
paediatric consulting practice and<br />
joined the clinical staff of the Mater<br />
Children’s Hospital and remained an<br />
active consultant to that hospital until<br />
his retirement from there in 1973.<br />
An important role at this time was<br />
coordinating the teaching and the<br />
timing of teaching of paediatrics<br />
between the Mater Hospital and the<br />
Royal Children’s Hospital.<br />
A lecture theatre was named in his<br />
honour in recognition of this service.<br />
Whilst teaching paediatrics, Dr<br />
Jackson developed a particular<br />
interest in the clinical aspects of<br />
cerebral palsy which led him to be an<br />
advisor and Specialist Paediatric<br />
Consultant to the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> of Queensland, formerly the<br />
Queensland Spastic Welfare <strong>League</strong>,<br />
for many years.<br />
This role included regularly leading<br />
David Clements<br />
Jackson<br />
7/9/1912 to 11/10/2006<br />
AM DSC MBBS DCH<br />
FRACP FRACGP<br />
Clinician<br />
Teacher<br />
Planner<br />
Innovator<br />
Author<br />
multi-disciplinary teams to<br />
Rockhampton, Hervey Bay and<br />
Toowoomba to attend assessment<br />
and advisory clinics.<br />
For his service to paediatrics her<br />
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II created<br />
him a Member of the Order of Australia<br />
in 1983.<br />
Many associated with the <strong>League</strong> will<br />
remember Dr Jackson’s ability to flip<br />
his monocle into his breast pocket.<br />
Acknowledgments and thanks:<br />
Focus and Innovation, A History of<br />
Paediatric Education in Queensland’,<br />
by John Pearn, published by<br />
University of Queensland, 1986.<br />
Professor John Pearn, AM<br />
Dr Maurice Williams
Great<br />
contributions<br />
Dr David Jackson made<br />
many contributions to the<br />
discipline of cerebral palsy,<br />
including:<br />
Honorary Paediatrician to the<br />
Spastic Centre (Brisbane)<br />
from 1948-1952.<br />
Honorary Consultant<br />
Paediatrician, The Spastic<br />
Centre, Queensland.<br />
Life Governor of The Spastic<br />
Centre from 1962<br />
Member, State Board of<br />
Directors of The Spastic<br />
Centre, Queensland<br />
Member of the Medical and<br />
Educational Committee, The<br />
Spastic Centre<br />
Chairman of the Medical and<br />
Educational Committee of the<br />
Australian <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Association 1959-1983<br />
Awarded the Medal for<br />
Distinguished Service to the<br />
Australian <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Association in 1983<br />
World Commission on<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> (now the<br />
International <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
Society) – first appointed to the<br />
World Commission in 1966;<br />
Chairman of the Seminar on<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> for South-east<br />
Asia in 1968<br />
Member of the World<br />
Committee on Classification<br />
and Nomenclature in <strong>Cerebral</strong><br />
<strong>Palsy</strong> (meetings in Berlin in<br />
1966 and Edinburgh in 1969)<br />
Chairman of the World<br />
Seminar on <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> in<br />
Singapore in 1975<br />
Personal Record Book<br />
WHAT is the personal record book all<br />
about It is a handy little tool and free<br />
publication with three main purposes:<br />
• To assist you and your solicitors<br />
to establish the best possible<br />
estate plan for you and your family<br />
• To aid your executor in the<br />
administration of your estate<br />
• To provide vital information to your<br />
family in the event of an<br />
emergency or your incapacity<br />
So, if you are interested, we can send<br />
a Personal Record Book out to you<br />
and provide advice on how to fill it out.<br />
It is important that details are kept in<br />
one place, are easily accessible to<br />
your loved ones and that your wishes<br />
are honoured after your life.<br />
It’s a good idea to let the appropriate<br />
people know about your Personal<br />
Record Book.<br />
At the same time, we hope you Will<br />
consider in the course of your<br />
planning, making a bequest in your will<br />
and joining our new <strong>League</strong> of Friends<br />
donor loyalty club.<br />
If you have remembered the <strong>League</strong><br />
in your Will, you are already part of the<br />
<strong>League</strong> of Friends and can let us<br />
know where to send your invitations<br />
to social events and functions by<br />
calling 07 3358 8093.<br />
For further information, contact:<br />
Donor Relations Manager<br />
Ph: 07 3358 8093<br />
bequests@cplqld.org.au<br />
Be a Factor, Be a Benefactor!<br />
13
The Choosability<br />
Fund<br />
New way to access<br />
disability equipment<br />
and support<br />
THE Choosability Fund is<br />
designed to assist people with<br />
disabilities and their families to<br />
pay for equipment, maintenance,<br />
modifications and support and<br />
can also provide a new financial<br />
resource for unfunded people with<br />
disabilities and families.<br />
It operates on a cooperative basis<br />
with members contributing $10<br />
per month into a common pooled<br />
fund.<br />
After a period of membership and<br />
regular contributions, fund<br />
members can borrow, from the<br />
fund on interest-free terms.<br />
By enabling all members to utilise the<br />
pooled contributions to meet a<br />
financial need, the overall benefit to<br />
individuals is much greater than if<br />
members had been acting alone.<br />
After six months, members can<br />
receive $500; after 12 months they<br />
can receive $1000 and after two<br />
years they can receive $2500.<br />
The fund works differently to a grants<br />
program in that it requires members<br />
to pay the financial benefit they have<br />
received back.<br />
This method of generating finance is<br />
known as ‘mutual aid’ and comes<br />
from the ‘friendly societies’ that have<br />
a heritage of more than 100 years in<br />
Queensland.<br />
The Choosability Fund is an initiative<br />
of Foresters ANA Mutual Society<br />
Limited developed with funding<br />
through the Gambling Community<br />
Benefit Fund.<br />
Foresters ANA Mutual Society is<br />
a non-profit company formed<br />
from the merging of two ‘friendly<br />
societies’ in 1999 and aims to<br />
create opportunities for its<br />
members through pooling<br />
resources in the modern<br />
economy.<br />
Foresters ANA Mutual Society<br />
makes no profit from the<br />
Choosability Fund.<br />
The Choosability Fund is now<br />
open and is seeking its first 100<br />
members.<br />
If you are interested in finding out<br />
more, please contact Cassandra<br />
Sheppard at Foresters ANA on<br />
07 3210 6772 or talk to your<br />
support worker.<br />
Further information:<br />
Cassandra Sheppard<br />
Foresters ANA Mutual Society<br />
Phone: 07 3210 6772<br />
Mr CHOOSABILITY<br />
JOHN Rynn has cerebral palsy.<br />
He also has a highly creative<br />
approach to living with his<br />
disability.<br />
Rather than considering himself<br />
to be a victim of cerebral palsy,<br />
Mr Rynn said he was a, “victim<br />
of social attitudes,” and has<br />
spoken to audiences about the<br />
need for a greater ability to<br />
choose the life he wants rather<br />
than having to fit into a system.<br />
Hence, he coined the term,<br />
‘Choosability’.<br />
Mr Rynn presented a keynote<br />
address incorporating the word<br />
‘Choosability’, on behalf of the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> at the<br />
Medical Aid Subsidy Scheme<br />
(MASS) symposium held at the<br />
Royal Brisbane Women’s and<br />
Children’s Hospital.<br />
In addition to presenting, Mr<br />
Rynn has chosen to apply his<br />
talents to poetry, writing, sailing,<br />
and as an advocate for disability<br />
services by pursuing Certificate<br />
IV Community Services,<br />
Disability Work.<br />
14
Recognition of<br />
staff excellence<br />
CEREBRAL <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> staff<br />
members were nominated by their<br />
Manager or Regional Manager for<br />
the quarterly “Recognition of<br />
Excellence Award”.<br />
Liz Wharton, a Household<br />
Coordinator from the Central<br />
Queensland/Wide Bay region, was<br />
selected as the winner.<br />
Regional Manager David Robinson,<br />
who nominated Liz, said, “Liz has<br />
contributed a significant amount of<br />
her life to making a very positive and<br />
lasting contribution to the lives of<br />
people with a disability across the<br />
Wide Bay Burnett region. She has<br />
done this without fanfare and with<br />
no expectation of reward and, as<br />
such, this award is a long overdue<br />
recognition of her work.”<br />
Other staff members nominated for<br />
outstanding service to the<br />
organisation in their region or<br />
department included:<br />
Mary Lang<br />
Access Employment South<br />
Kerry Mullin<br />
LAAS South Region<br />
Victor Sharpe<br />
Moorooka ADS<br />
Colin Wease<br />
Cascade Place<br />
Liz Wharton<br />
Hervey Bay<br />
Vicki Love<br />
Marketing & Fundraising<br />
Moshik Goffer<br />
Child & Family Support Services<br />
Margo Wratten<br />
Child & Family Support Services<br />
Phillipa Bolt<br />
Printabout - City<br />
Elly Emmett<br />
Printabout - Strathpine<br />
Barbie Kerle, Raelene<br />
Crowell, Terri-Ann Dwyer,<br />
Jacinta Weightman<br />
Toowoomba Region<br />
Jan Hartwell<br />
Pathwayz<br />
Natalie Harvey<br />
LAAS Sunshine Coast<br />
15
Major<br />
redevelopment in<br />
Toowoomba<br />
FORTY-five years from the<br />
opening of the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong>’s Toowoomba centre in<br />
November 1961, the <strong>League</strong> is<br />
planning to re-design the Scott<br />
Street site and bring together<br />
children’s and adult services,<br />
along with an administrative hub<br />
under the same roof, through a<br />
major redevelopment building<br />
program.<br />
The well situated administrative<br />
head offices of the <strong>League</strong> in<br />
the Darling Downs South<br />
Queensland region, situated<br />
opposite St Vincent’s Hospital<br />
have not had any major works<br />
since their inception.<br />
With growing children’s<br />
services requirements and an<br />
urgent need to find a more<br />
suitable home for the <strong>League</strong>’s<br />
adult services, a new floor plan<br />
has been designed.<br />
A $1.2m Capital Appeal will be<br />
staged throughout the Darling<br />
Downs region and not unlike<br />
the great community support of<br />
the 50’s, a local fundraising<br />
committee will be formed to<br />
assist the <strong>League</strong> to raise the<br />
necessary funds in financial<br />
donations including naming<br />
rights sponsorship and goods<br />
in-kind donations.<br />
Lord Mayors<br />
announce bridge<br />
walk to benefit<br />
<strong>League</strong><br />
MARKETING and Fundraising<br />
Manager of the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong>, Margaret Scott joined<br />
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell<br />
Newman as ‘Lord Mayor for a Day’<br />
during November to shadow<br />
councillor Newman on his daily<br />
duties.<br />
Amongst these duties was to<br />
announce the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> as the main beneficiary for<br />
the official opening of the Eleanor<br />
Schonell Bridge.<br />
“The naming of the first bridge of<br />
its type in Australia, Brisbane’s<br />
newest river crossing, is a<br />
wonderful tribute to an<br />
extraordinary Brisbane woman<br />
who dedicated her life to teaching<br />
children with cerebral palsy, and<br />
dyslexia,” Cr Newman said.<br />
Ms Scott said she was thrilled the<br />
first official duty of the Eleanor<br />
Schonell Bridge would be to fund<br />
some of the great work started by<br />
its namesake more than 50 years<br />
ago.<br />
“We are so proud that our city is<br />
recognising the pioneering work of<br />
Dr Schonell and the dedication and<br />
commitment of countless<br />
numbers of people who have<br />
followed in her footsteps, as well<br />
as the many thousands of families<br />
who have benefited from her life’s<br />
work,” Ms Scott said.<br />
“It’s just so fitting that the <strong>League</strong><br />
will be able to use the public<br />
opening of the Eleanor Schonell<br />
Bridge to help us continue building<br />
on her life’s work.”<br />
Ms Scott won the Lord Mayor for a<br />
Day experience at auction through<br />
the <strong>League</strong>’s Conrad Treasury<br />
Boardroom Blitz event.<br />
A family fun day to celebrate the<br />
official opening and naming of<br />
Australia’s first pedestrian, cycle<br />
and bus bridge linking Dutton Park<br />
to The University of Queensland’s<br />
(UQ) St Lucia campus will be held<br />
on Sunday 17 December.<br />
Pictured: Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell<br />
Newman and <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> client,<br />
Nathan Ford, 8, celebrated the announcement<br />
of the <strong>League</strong> as the major beneficiary of<br />
fundraising efforts at the official opening of<br />
the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, which will take<br />
place on 17 December 2006.<br />
If you’d like to be<br />
involved in this<br />
exciting new<br />
redevelopment appeal<br />
and assist the <strong>League</strong><br />
to realise its goal in<br />
the Toowoomba<br />
region, contact:<br />
Donor Relations<br />
Manager<br />
Phone: 07 3358 8093<br />
16
If you’ve got it, flaunt<br />
it!<br />
OVER 1,000 people donned their best<br />
eighties rock outfits for one of<br />
Australia’s largest corporate rock ‘n’<br />
roll fundraisers during October at the<br />
Brisbane Entertainment Centre.<br />
Hosted by ARIA Hall-of-Famer Angry<br />
Anderson and with an eighties, “If<br />
You’ve Got It, Flaunt It”, theme the<br />
talent event saw ten corporate bands<br />
battle it out on stage for the night.<br />
Corporate bands included Conrad<br />
Treasury, Super Cheap Auto,<br />
Queensland Rail, Panther Print,<br />
Australian Recruiting, Powerdirect,<br />
4KQ, Disability Services Queensland,<br />
Roche Mining (MT) and Fetch<br />
Holidays.<br />
In true celebrity style, corporate<br />
rockers arrived at the Entertainment<br />
Centre in Corvettes and Lotus Esprits<br />
and walked the red carpet under the<br />
roving spotlights, before performing<br />
live in front of a 1000-plus audience.<br />
Electric Boogaloo from Powerdirect<br />
took home first place as the Panel<br />
Pick, Platform Two from Queensland<br />
Rail were Tried and True Two with<br />
Conrad Treasury’s Screaming Bets<br />
leaving as the Preferred Third.<br />
Celebrity performers and guests<br />
included Taxiride, Angry’s covers band<br />
Junkyard Dogs with guitarist Bob<br />
Spencer, formerly Skyhooks and The<br />
Angels, ARIA-winning Ty Noonan,<br />
former Rolling Stone Manager Sam<br />
Cutler and Big Brother ‘big cat<br />
handler’ Claire Madden.<br />
Conrad Treasury Boardroom Blitz<br />
also featured an auction including a<br />
range of sporting and musical<br />
memorabilia.<br />
“A collector’s edition guitar signed by<br />
Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Ozbourne’s<br />
guitarist, was auctioned off to raise<br />
money for people with cerebral palsy,”<br />
<strong>League</strong> Event Coordinator Kristi<br />
O’Connor said.<br />
Not so angry: 80s Aussie Rock Legend, Angry<br />
Anderson hosted Conrad Treasury Boardroom<br />
Blitz 2006, which saw 10 corporate bands battle<br />
to benefit people with cerebral palsy, at the<br />
Brisbane Entertainment Centre in October.<br />
Walk for an Aussie<br />
Kid<br />
THE Australian Lions Children<br />
Mobility Foundation (ALCMF)<br />
hosted the Walk for an Aussie<br />
Kid fundraising event on<br />
Fathers Day at C.A.Sullivan<br />
Park at Acacia Ridge.<br />
Four children in the <strong>Cerebral</strong><br />
<strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>’s Hart Walker<br />
Program attended the event<br />
with their families and<br />
participated in walker races.<br />
The Hart Walker Program’s<br />
Administration Officer,<br />
Rebecca Bates and<br />
physiotherapist, Anne-Maree<br />
Stewart also lent their support.<br />
The event raised some $2000<br />
which will be used to purchase<br />
mobility equipment for children<br />
who require the aids, such as<br />
those with cerebral palsy.<br />
ALCMF currently sponsors over<br />
90 per cent of children’s<br />
mobility equipment for the Hart<br />
Walker Program.<br />
Currently, it is also raising funds<br />
for a Liberty Swing, a<br />
specialised swing designed for<br />
people in wheelchairs, for<br />
C.A.Sullivan Park.<br />
Further information on the<br />
Hart Walker Program:<br />
Administration Officer<br />
Phone: 07 3637 6377<br />
For further information<br />
on <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> events and<br />
programs or to register<br />
an event, contact:<br />
Events Coordinator<br />
Phone: 07 3358 8027<br />
fundraising@cplqld.org.au<br />
www.cplqld.org.au<br />
17
Adventure Challenge<br />
on the Kokoda Track<br />
WHEN Rob Needham saw mountain<br />
ranges looming above the single<br />
engine Cessna Caravan flying over<br />
cloud covered trees at 9000ft, he<br />
knew he was in for the Adventure<br />
Challenge of a lifetime.<br />
Three hours behind schedule to reach<br />
the village of Kokoda from Port<br />
Morseby, the pilot of Rob’s flight<br />
received a report that clouds were<br />
touching treetops over their<br />
destination.<br />
Rob was on an Adventure Challenge<br />
for Charity and had spent months<br />
selling mountains of chocolate bars<br />
and preparing himself for what he<br />
expected would be a gruelling nine<br />
day trek on the Kokoda Track carrying<br />
a 20kg pack – a lifelong dream.<br />
He looked at several of the eight<br />
passengers on the flight; among the<br />
locals were four members of Rob’s<br />
group. Their faces said it all.<br />
The pilot looked for a hole in the<br />
clouds while his Global Positioning<br />
System (GPS) signalled their location<br />
over Kokoda.<br />
Courage: Rob Needham saw mountain<br />
ranges looming above the single engine<br />
Cessna Caravan at 9000ft on his flight to<br />
Kokoda in Papua New Guinea and knew<br />
he was in for the Adventure Challenge of<br />
a lifetime.<br />
Green terrain flickered (See beneath reverse thefor details) from their families.<br />
cloud cover below as the pilot banked<br />
hard left and pushed the plane into a<br />
spiralling descent.<br />
More green whizzed past the<br />
windows, the altimeter needle<br />
plunged, the GPS terrain warning horn<br />
was sounding and Rob could feel the<br />
fingernails of the passengers seated<br />
behind him, digging into his shoulders.<br />
The adventure had only just begun but<br />
the cloud cover would continue for<br />
days to come and Rob would soon<br />
feel more than physical pain.<br />
Courage, Sacrifice, Mateship<br />
and Endurance<br />
These words would stay with Rob for<br />
the rest of his life.<br />
Four stone monuments to the sacred<br />
area where many lives were lost,<br />
surrounded him at the Isurava<br />
Memorial. Each depicted the durability<br />
of the Australian soldiers and their<br />
commitment to repelling the Japanese<br />
Army with a single word: Courage,<br />
Sacrifice, Mateship and Endurance.<br />
Prior to leaving Australia, Rob had read<br />
books about the Kokoda and the lives<br />
of young men lost in a country so far<br />
The monuments impacted his<br />
emotions and tears formed in his<br />
eyes as he circled the stones and<br />
realised the extreme conditions and<br />
circumstances the soldiers faced<br />
and contended with.<br />
The words stayed with him as his<br />
legs ached along the trek, when he<br />
slipped in the mud or on the endless<br />
amount of tree roots covering the<br />
track, and when he suffered<br />
gastroenteritis for almost two days.<br />
He wanted to sleep: How on earth did<br />
those guys do it in some of the<br />
fiercest fighting campaigns during<br />
the war<br />
Rob still wondered how the soldiers<br />
did it, and questioned each day,<br />
especially when he was really<br />
hurting, how he would have coped if<br />
he was one of them.<br />
After nine days of walking up and<br />
down ridges, mountains, crossing<br />
creeks and rivers, eating ration<br />
packs, enduring the rain and heat,<br />
feeling and hearing mosquitoes<br />
trying to find flesh, experiencing<br />
illness, listening to guides sing in<br />
beautiful harmony and passing other<br />
groups and saying g’day, the Kokoda<br />
Track had changed Rob’s life.<br />
As he crossed it from his list of goals<br />
he knew his Adventure Challenge<br />
was everything and more than he<br />
expected it to be and couldn’t wait to<br />
start on the next.<br />
Adventure Challenge for Charity<br />
allows travellers to choose a<br />
destination, fundraise the cost of the<br />
fare and itinerary activities, and<br />
nominate an Australian charity as a<br />
beneficiary of the proceeds.<br />
Proceeds from Rob’s Adventure<br />
Challenge for Charity to the Kokoda<br />
Track benefit the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong>.<br />
Further information:<br />
Adventure Challenge<br />
1800 819 086<br />
adventurechallenge.com.au<br />
Kokoda Explore TrailA one Taste of 25 of exotic BorneoEgyptInca destinations Trail<br />
Great Wall of or ChinaAfrican choose your own SafariChoose adventure.... Your Own<br />
18
A tribute to Rene<br />
Corrie who passed<br />
away<br />
SOME of us only knew Rene for a<br />
few months, others a few years but<br />
we all felt like we had known her our<br />
whole lives.<br />
She had a colourful personality along<br />
with a colourful vocabulary and a<br />
water pistol to attack anyone who<br />
annoyed her.<br />
Every day we speak of Rene, every<br />
day we miss her terribly - this larger<br />
than life woman with a heart of gold<br />
who took all of the administration and<br />
sales consultant girls at Equipment<br />
Technology Services under her wing,<br />
often she would momentarily forget<br />
our names and refer to all of us as,<br />
“hey kid,” - she was like a mother to<br />
us.<br />
Her biggest dream was to retire in a<br />
couple of years, buy a caravan, pack<br />
up the 4WD and go around Australia<br />
with her husband, Claude.<br />
At the top end of Australia she would<br />
meet up with retired <strong>League</strong><br />
transport friends Carol and Lorraine<br />
and drink a bottle of champagne<br />
watching the sunset. She also had a<br />
very close relationship with some of<br />
the workshop guys and often referred<br />
to them as being like brothers to her.<br />
She dedicated more than 30 years<br />
to the <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>, cared<br />
a great deal for clients and their<br />
families and will be sadly missed by<br />
many.<br />
Rene gave so much of herself to all<br />
of us that there are times when we<br />
say things that remind us so much of<br />
her.<br />
As a person, friend and employee,<br />
Rene is irreplacable.<br />
We are all forever grateful to have<br />
known this wonderful women who will<br />
always hold a special place in our<br />
hearts.<br />
Written by Shelley Paulsen<br />
Equipment Technology Services<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong><br />
THE <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong><br />
<strong>League</strong> farewelled<br />
Sidney Siviter, who<br />
passed away in August.<br />
Mr Sivitar was<br />
President of the<br />
<strong>League</strong> in 1988 and was<br />
made a Life Member of<br />
the <strong>League</strong> in the same<br />
year.<br />
The <strong>League</strong> extends its<br />
sympathies to Mr<br />
Sivitar’s family, and its<br />
appreciation for his<br />
efforts contributed to<br />
the <strong>League</strong> and people<br />
with cerebral palsy.<br />
Help us, help others<br />
MOTHER Nature tends to work in<br />
less obvious ways at times.<br />
Demand on <strong>League</strong> services<br />
continues as more children are<br />
diagnosed with cerebral palsy and<br />
their service requirements continue<br />
into adulthood.<br />
There are four fundamental issues<br />
for people with cerebral palsy, and<br />
the <strong>League</strong>:<br />
• <strong>Cerebral</strong> palsy is one of the most<br />
expensive disabilities to<br />
manage and provide services<br />
for;<br />
• Equipment needs continue to<br />
change and the ensuing costs<br />
are enormous;<br />
• <strong>Cerebral</strong> palsy is a life-long<br />
disability;<br />
• <strong>Cerebral</strong> palsy can occur in any<br />
family and there is no cure.<br />
The <strong>League</strong> needs your financial<br />
assistance to maintain services to<br />
its clients.<br />
In addition, one child is born in<br />
Australia every 18 hours with<br />
cerebral palsy.<br />
The need continues to grow and<br />
without your assistance we will<br />
struggle to meet service demands.<br />
Please, dig deep.<br />
To make a donation or assist in any<br />
other way, please contact the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>:<br />
1800 819 086<br />
www.cplqld.org.au<br />
(See reverse for details)<br />
19
Yes!<br />
I want to help the<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong><br />
Donate at:<br />
www.ourcommunity.com.au/<br />
cerebralpalsyqld<br />
Please accept my donation of:<br />
$125 $75 $300<br />
$ Other _____________________<br />
Please find enclosed my cheque/<br />
money order made payable to:<br />
<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> of<br />
Queensland<br />
Please debit my credit card:<br />
Mastercard<br />
Visa<br />
Amex<br />
Diners<br />
Card number:<br />
_ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _<br />
Cardholder’s name:<br />
_____________________________<br />
Cardholder’s signature:<br />
_____________________________<br />
Expiry date: ____ / ____<br />
Name: ________________________<br />
Company: _____________________<br />
_____________________________<br />
Address: ______________________<br />
_____________________________<br />
_____________________________<br />
Suburb: _______________________<br />
State: _______ Postcode: _________<br />
Phone: ________________________<br />
Email: ________________________<br />
1800 819 086<br />
www.cplqld.org.au<br />
I would like further information on:<br />
Leaving a gift in my Will<br />
Volunteering<br />
Queensland <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Register<br />
Membership of the<br />
<strong>League</strong><br />
I OFTEN get feedback that indicates<br />
people do not understand the<br />
difference between being a “client” of<br />
the <strong>League</strong> and a “member” of the<br />
<strong>League</strong>.<br />
Becoming a financial member of the<br />
<strong>League</strong> is a bit like becoming a<br />
shareholder in a commercial<br />
company, or publicly listed company.<br />
Importantly, it gives you a say in how<br />
the <strong>League</strong> is run. Unlike a public<br />
company the <strong>League</strong> does not sell<br />
shares and does not return profits to<br />
its shareholders.<br />
To become a member of the <strong>League</strong><br />
you simply need to fill out a<br />
Membership Application Form which<br />
is then submitted to the Board of<br />
Directors for approval.<br />
The cost of membership is currently<br />
$15.00 per year.<br />
Members of the <strong>League</strong> have a formal<br />
link to the organisation and are<br />
provided with information through<br />
newsletters and the annual reports.<br />
Members can also attend and speak<br />
at General Meetings such as the<br />
Extraordinary General Meeting held in<br />
March each year and the Annual<br />
General Meeting held in November<br />
each year.<br />
Members can vote on resolutions at<br />
General Meetings, and vote in the<br />
election of Directors to the Board.<br />
It is important for the future of the<br />
<strong>League</strong> that we have a strong and<br />
involved membership.<br />
A strong base of members gives the<br />
<strong>League</strong> a greater presence and ability<br />
to influence in the community, and<br />
with government.<br />
It is disappointing that the <strong>League</strong><br />
currently has only approximately 250<br />
members.<br />
While we support over 2500 clients<br />
and their families across the State,<br />
those numbers are not reflected in our<br />
membership base.<br />
The Board of Directors and I would<br />
like to encourage you to become a<br />
member of the <strong>League</strong> and help to<br />
secure a strong future for the<br />
organisation.<br />
It would be particularly good to see<br />
more parents of children with cerebral<br />
palsy and related disabilities<br />
becoming members, as these<br />
children reflect the need for the<br />
<strong>League</strong>’s services in the future.<br />
To apply for membership contact the<br />
<strong>League</strong> on 07 3358 8011 and ask for<br />
a membership application form to be<br />
sent to you.<br />
Bruce Milligan<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
<br />
<br />
PO Box 386 Fortitude Valley Q 4006<br />
Donations are fully tax deductible<br />
20