Touchstone Winter 2013 - Cerebral Palsy League
Touchstone Winter 2013 - Cerebral Palsy League Touchstone Winter 2013 - Cerebral Palsy League
Regional Insight“If we can modify a highlytechnical sport like archery,then surely the same thing canbe done for other sportingequipment so people withdisabilities can get involved.”- John Hans, CPL Support Workerand President of the PeaceInternational Archery Club,RockhamptonDavid Malone taking aimShooting for the topdegree of disabilities,” he said.“David tried archery through theCommunity Access program butphysically there’s no way he coulduse a bow and arrow, so I justasked David if he’d like to give thecrossbow a go.The story of David Malone isinspirational – not just because hehas accomplished something noother Australian with a disabilityhas done, but because of thefriendship and support thathelped him to achieve it.Fifty-six year old David hascerebral palsy and uses a walkingframe and wheelchair for mobilityand has limited movement in hisupper body. Incredibly, Davidlearnt to shoot a high-poweredtarget crossbow 12 months ago –and discovered he was good at it.David’s first competition was theCerebral Palsy League archerytournament in 2012, where hescored 289 out of a possible 300– quite some achievement – butthe story doesn’t stop there.The next chapter is even moreincredible: David has now attaineda Category M crossbow weapon’slicence – the qualification thatwill enable him to compete in allabilities club, State and Nationalshooting tournaments.Obtaining the licence took severalmonths of hard work reviewingthe exam questions and otherlicensing requirements, but moreimportantly, David needed to passthe live firing tests – which he didwith flying colours.As part of the licensingrequirements, David also joinedthe Peace International ArcheryClub in Rockhampton.David’s journey to becomingqualified was a long one anda great example of the way inwhich the Cerebral Palsy Leaguesupports its clients to achievetheir life goals.He may never have lived out hisdream without the mentoring andsupport of Rockhampton CerebralPalsy League Day Service andCommunity Access worker JohnHans, OAM, who is President ofDavid’s new archery club.John worked tirelessly and closelywith David to achieve this dream– so much so that it feels like apersonal achievement for himalso.“David has surely proved thatpeople with disability canachieve anything they want,given the right support andencouragement,” John said.“I don’t believe that anybody elsehas been tested [for a CategoryM licence] prior to David with his“He took to it like a duck to water,so we modified the bow to allowDavid to shoot and from day onehe surprised everyone, especiallyme, by shooting very high scores.”David and John took the final stepin their journey together whenthey attended the RockhamptonPolice Station on Friday 10 Mayto sign the final page on David’slicence application, which neededto be witnessed by a QueenslandPolice Officer.John is an active advocate andmentor for people with disabilitiesgetting into archery – and allother sports.In his quest to make the sportaccessible to more people withdisabilities, he has written acoaching manual and a disabilitypolicy for the club, which hasgone to Archery Australia for aroll-out.“I’d like to see people withdisability get into a lot moresports than they are currentlyable to.“You have to look at theirdisability and then think outsidethe coaching box about howyou’re going to get them to holdand shoot the bow,” he said.14 Touchstone Winter 2013
P&G UpdateThe Parents & GuardiansAssociation has taken greatinterest in the changes that areoccurring at both a State andFederal level regarding the futureof disability support funding.At a State level, the new “YourLife Your Choice” initiative is theQueensland version of an NDIStrial, whilst at the Federal levelthe NDIS has gained momentumwith the announcement of anincrease in the Medicare Levyto partly fund the initiative. TheQueensland State Governmentformally signing up to the NDIS isa very exciting step forward. Bothinitiatives will have an impact onpeople with disability in that theywill be able to use their fundingmore flexibly.The P&G have been proactive inensuring that CPL provides clearand accurate information to allits constituents and the widercommunity. It is for this reasonthat the P&G have thrown theirsupport behind the idea of havinga Family Convention late in 2013.The aim is to provide accurateinformation about the NDIS, YourLife Your Choice and CPL’s HostProvider service My Life, so thatpeople understand what this allmeans. Most importantly, it willhighlight what the opportunitiesare for each person when peoplecan use their funding more flexiblyto live the life they choose.The P&G will continue to workon developing the convention toensure that people receive clearinformation and for the CerebralPalsy League to continue to beseen as an organisation that is aleader in the disability sector andthe source of information on allmatters relating to the flexible useof funding.The next meeting will be heldon Friday 31 May 10am-12pm atthe New Farm office, 55 OxladeDrive New Farm. Please contactEvan Munroe on 07 3358 8057 oremunroe@cplqld.org.au if you areinterested in attending.Sincerely,Joan WilliamsP&G PresidentDiary Note7 JuneFusion of Music16 JuneCity 2 South6 JulyGold Coast Marathon28 JulyPicnic in the Park28 July – 3 AugustCerebral Palsy Awareness WeekIpswich Community Art Gallery2 AugustWheel of Giving11 AugustSydney City 2 Surf8-14 SeptemberDisability Action WeekFor further informationon events visit www.cpl.org.auState CCCThe State CCC has been busyplanning the Regional ClientConsultative Committeeelections that have beenunderway during March – May2013.The State CCC has agreed toupdate its ‘Terms of Reference’to invite clients who have a‘particular interest’ (e.g. stafftraining, transport needs andthe National Disability InsuranceScheme) to attend State CCCmeetings. If clients wish toattend a State CCC meetingto share ideas and inform CPLabout issues they may haveplease contact the State CCCSecretariat on 3358 8049 orvia stateccc@cplqld.org.au todiscuss the details.State CCC elections opened on31 May and nomination formswere sent to eligible nominees.Elections will occur at New Farmon 14 June 2013.On 8 May 2013 the Queenslandand Federal Governmentssigned an agreement toimplement the National DisabilityInsurance Scheme – renamedDisabilityCare Australia – frommid 2016. The State CCC is veryaware of this historic occasionand is confident that all CerebralPalsy League clients andfamilies will be celebrating thismomentous occasion with us.Sincerely,Terry DonaldsonChair, State CCCIn memoriamIt is with deep sadness thatthe Cerebral Palsy League, theState CCC and the Parentsand Guardians Associationacknowledge the passing ofMr Maurice Williams on 29April 2013.Husband to Joan and father toBruce, William and his familyare well known and greatlyappreciated for their tirelesscontributions to the CerebralPalsy League, its clients andespecially families over the fullhistory of the organisation.Several clients represented theState CCC at the wonderfulfuneral service on 3 May 2013.Our sincere condolences areextended to the Williamsfamily and friends.Touchstone Winter 2013 15
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P&G UpdateThe Parents & GuardiansAssociation has taken greatinterest in the changes that areoccurring at both a State andFederal level regarding the futureof disability support funding.At a State level, the new “YourLife Your Choice” initiative is theQueensland version of an NDIStrial, whilst at the Federal levelthe NDIS has gained momentumwith the announcement of anincrease in the Medicare Levyto partly fund the initiative. TheQueensland State Governmentformally signing up to the NDIS isa very exciting step forward. Bothinitiatives will have an impact onpeople with disability in that theywill be able to use their fundingmore flexibly.The P&G have been proactive inensuring that CPL provides clearand accurate information to allits constituents and the widercommunity. It is for this reasonthat the P&G have thrown theirsupport behind the idea of havinga Family Convention late in <strong>2013</strong>.The aim is to provide accurateinformation about the NDIS, YourLife Your Choice and CPL’s HostProvider service My Life, so thatpeople understand what this allmeans. Most importantly, it willhighlight what the opportunitiesare for each person when peoplecan use their funding more flexiblyto live the life they choose.The P&G will continue to workon developing the convention toensure that people receive clearinformation and for the <strong>Cerebral</strong><strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> to continue to beseen as an organisation that is aleader in the disability sector andthe source of information on allmatters relating to the flexible useof funding.The next meeting will be heldon Friday 31 May 10am-12pm atthe New Farm office, 55 OxladeDrive New Farm. Please contactEvan Munroe on 07 3358 8057 oremunroe@cplqld.org.au if you areinterested in attending.Sincerely,Joan WilliamsP&G PresidentDiary Note7 JuneFusion of Music16 JuneCity 2 South6 JulyGold Coast Marathon28 JulyPicnic in the Park28 July – 3 August<strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> Awareness WeekIpswich Community Art Gallery2 AugustWheel of Giving11 AugustSydney City 2 Surf8-14 SeptemberDisability Action WeekFor further informationon events visit www.cpl.org.auState CCCThe State CCC has been busyplanning the Regional ClientConsultative Committeeelections that have beenunderway during March – May<strong>2013</strong>.The State CCC has agreed toupdate its ‘Terms of Reference’to invite clients who have a‘particular interest’ (e.g. stafftraining, transport needs andthe National Disability InsuranceScheme) to attend State CCCmeetings. If clients wish toattend a State CCC meetingto share ideas and inform CPLabout issues they may haveplease contact the State CCCSecretariat on 3358 8049 orvia stateccc@cplqld.org.au todiscuss the details.State CCC elections opened on31 May and nomination formswere sent to eligible nominees.Elections will occur at New Farmon 14 June <strong>2013</strong>.On 8 May <strong>2013</strong> the Queenslandand Federal Governmentssigned an agreement toimplement the National DisabilityInsurance Scheme – renamedDisabilityCare Australia – frommid 2016. The State CCC is veryaware of this historic occasionand is confident that all <strong>Cerebral</strong><strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong> clients andfamilies will be celebrating thismomentous occasion with us.Sincerely,Terry DonaldsonChair, State CCCIn memoriamIt is with deep sadness thatthe <strong>Cerebral</strong> <strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>, theState CCC and the Parentsand Guardians Associationacknowledge the passing ofMr Maurice Williams on 29April <strong>2013</strong>.Husband to Joan and father toBruce, William and his familyare well known and greatlyappreciated for their tirelesscontributions to the <strong>Cerebral</strong><strong>Palsy</strong> <strong>League</strong>, its clients andespecially families over the fullhistory of the organisation.Several clients represented theState CCC at the wonderfulfuneral service on 3 May <strong>2013</strong>.Our sincere condolences areextended to the Williamsfamily and friends.<strong>Touchstone</strong> <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2013</strong> 15
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