LeagueNews - Cerebral Palsy League

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.