Wheelchairs for Kids VOLUME 12 ISSUE 77
2015 APRIL - JUNE
We listen, we care, we give to disabled children & their families around the world.
Since 1998 a Project of the Rotary Club of Scarborough, Western Australia, assisted by The Christian Brothers.
MAJOR SPONSORS
THE DRILLTHE DRILL QUARTERLY UPDATE
THE CHRISTIAN
BROTHERS
Mrs Ann Talbot tirelessly crochets joyous rugs for the children she
dreams of who will one day receive a wheelchair.
Pictured recently on her 95th birthday, she has averaged about three rugs each week since her son, Keith, started as a volunteer at the Work-shops seven years ago.
Wheelchairs for Kids extends grateful thanks to both Mrs Talbot and Keith for their wonderful support which goes way beyond their volunteer work.
8000 children in Angola are amputees
from landmines. 37 million land mines
still lie buried in 19 African countries.
10 million are in Angola.
John Hughan
At a Gala Dinner to conclude National Volunteer Week Wheelchairs for Kids Volunteer
Workshop Manager, Christian Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett was honoured with
the 2015 West Australian Newspaper People’s Choice Volunteer Award.
In his acceptance speech Olly acknowledged the primary role played by The Rotary
Club of Scarborough, along with the great support of The Christian Brothers, the WFK
Volunteers and all the sponsors far and wide without which this Project could not
achieve that which it has been able to.
Congratulations and well done, Olly.
Rotary Club of Scarborough
Western Australia
Inc
WORKSHOPS: +61 8 9409 3633 E-MAIL : wchairs @ bigpond.net.au WEB SITE: www.wheelchairsforkids.org
CONTACT INFORMATION :
POSTAL ADDRESS: PO BOX 1175, WANGARA DC, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 6947 LOCATION : UNITS 1,2,5 & 6 45 DELLAMARTA ROAD, WANGARA. W.A. 6065
VOLUNTEER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: ROTARIAN GORDON HUDSON 0412 111 419
VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP MANAGER: HON. ROTARIAN BR. OLLY PICKETT 0411 633 020
VOLUNTEER CHAIRMAN, MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: ROTARIAN DAVE TAGGART 9447 0940
VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP COORDINATOR AND EDITOR: BOB SHERIDAN : 0412 987 229
TO PLACE AN ARTICLE IN “THE DRILL” CONTACT BOB AT [email protected]
2.
VOLUNTEER CATHY CUTLER
Gordon
A Word from the CEO I’ve heard some disastrous fund raising reports from other charities due to the
economic downturn. Fortunately and due to the dedication of many, we are holding our own and
look as though we will be at least on a level with last year. In fact, our workshop ( or should we
start calling it a factory ? ) is at present turning out 340 wheelchairs per month.
One fund raiser, the collection cans on shop counters , was one of the ideas of Neil McKellar and I admit that
due to the work and control needed, including the State legal requirements, I was a bit sceptical. However it has
flourished to be a great fund raiser. A group of volunteers has expanded the project to 63 collection points with
total collected over $20,000.
Unfortunately, Neil’s heath has declined and he is now house bound. Thank you Neil for your initial persistence .
Movies Volunteer Coordinator - Patsy Runge
Rotarian Neil Darch, with wife Tish’s help, has, since our involvement with McDonald’s
Community Cinemas (Movies by Burswood) along with other project commitments,
carried out the mammoth task of organising the volunteer roster for Wheelchairs for Kids.
This year, Tish has been elected as the State Chairperson for the Ladies Inner Wheel Clubs
and needs Neil’s support in travelling over our state, Neil has reluctantly had to resign
from the movies job. Thank you Neil and Tish for years of dedication.
Fortunately a workshop volunteer, Patsy Runge, has volunteered to fill the breech and will be looking for
continued support. Remember, each cinema season brings in about $120,000. and each volunteer attendance is
worth about $600.
Patsy’s contact details are phone 9302 5927 and email: [email protected]
An Innovative Fund Raiser - Help needed
We are seeking ideas from art lovers/fund raisers.
The WA Public Transport Authority has commissioned a
series of 12 paintings of scenes around Perth, by a
renowned artist Lyn Merrington. These for display at
Cockburn Central train station. Due to the possibility of
damage to the originals, the paintings have been
photographed and enlarged for the final display and the
originals are to be donated to various charities. We have
been allocated the 50 x 40cm painting shown of
Fremantle. The complete set is on display for another
week at the Success Library including our painting with a
Wheelchairs for Kids presentation.
Pasting the link below in your browser will give full details.
http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Projects/
CockburnCentralpublicart/tabid/963/Default.aspx
Cheerio for now
3. Riding for Wheelchairs.
At 5.30am on May 22 Seb Evans and five other students from Scotch College set out to complete their bike ride
of 100km for wheelchairs. When his five co-riders returned to school for their lessons, Seb was joined by five
adult riders in completing the journey to the Workshops in Wangara, arriving at 10.15am.
Pictured above right are riders ( L to R ) Karl Paganin, Dad Greg Evans, Seb, Mark Pendlebury, Brad Goodlet and
Jake Newell.
To complete the event, Seb presented Granddad CEO Gordon Hudson, pictured right, with a cheque indicating
$3784 - in fact he has been instrumental in raising $3939 ( 26 wheelchairs ) so far with his eye on $4500 -
( 30 wheelchairs ).
Wheelchairs for Kids is extremely grateful to Seb and his riders for their wonderful support.
BUMP OUT
VOLUNTEERS
NO PAIN NO GAIN THANK YOU ONE AND ALL.
At the end of the summer outdoor season, in March and April, the screening venues for Community Cinemas
at Bassendean, Curtin University and Burswood are dismantled.
Community Cinemas are one of the major sponsors of Wheelchairs for Kids Inc. and to be successful the
organisers rely on a large group of volunteers from their own organisation and from the charities that are
supported by the venture.
Representing Wheelchairs for Kids, along with a large list of volunteers who assisted at the evening shows, the
volunteers below were involved this year in the dismantling ( bump down ) of the three venues and without
their generous gift of time and energy the share of the benefits would be significantly reduced.
GLYN ASHLEY ANDY BORLAND JOHN CATALANO MARIE COCKS
RON COLEMAN DENIS COLLEY BARRY DARCH JAN DARCH
SIMON DAVIES BEN DEAN VESNA DEAN BEPPIE DE KUYER
BERNARD DURKIN BARBARA GILARSKI JAN GILARSKI ANDREW GOVEY
JOHN HOSGOOD GORDON HUDSON BOB IZETT BEVAN JOYCE
DON KIDSON CHRIS LAMB CARL LANGE DAVID LAWS
BARRY MCKENNA JOE MCKENNA JOHN MOORE BOB MORRIS
MARK MURPHY ROBERT MURPHY BOB PARRY DIANNE PASSMORE
JOHN PASSMORE BRIAN PHILLIPS BRO. OLLY PICKETT STEVE PRATT
BRIAN RICHARDS CHRISTINE SMITH MIKE SMITH WARREN SMITH
4.
5.
V OLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THE WHEELCHAIRS
In 1998 when the Project was in its infancy Volunteer Bill Burns took
up the challenge. Retiring early this year Bill has certainly earned enormous
gratitude and respect from all at Wheelchairs for Kids. He has seen the ups
and downs which are part and parcel of getting a fledgling venture going
and into its teenage years.
Bill has given his time and patience ( always with a great sense of humour )
to many of the various stages of production and undertook the stocktake
for a period of time - not for the faint hearted in those days.
Wheelchairs for Kids salutes you, Bill, as one of the true legends that got
this show on the road and helped keep it there. THANK YOU.
Oh, by the way, Bill...if you change your mind, you know where we are!!
1. Hans Nilsson removing some rough
edges.
2. Pat Jones checking the postural support
straps for correct fitting.
3. Roy Wilkie drilling holes for the press
studs to fix the cushions in place.
4. Tony Lesley knows his job so well he can
do it with his eyes closed.
1
4
3 2
AN “ORIGINAL” RETIRES
6.
If you would like to help us you can do so in any of the following ways: 1. A cheque made out to “Wheelchairs for Kids” and posted to: Wheelchairs for Kids, PO Box 1175, Wangara DC, WA 6947. 2. By credit card - ring (08) 9409 3633. 3. Visit our website (See page 1) and click on “How to Help”. 4. By electronic transfer. BSB 016494 Account 499067668
$150 creates a wheelchair & changes a life for the better.
Pictures tell our story. For most of the 17 years that
Wheelchairs for Kids has been in operation
THE BOKAY GROUP have generously helped us to
tell our story by printing, free of charge, many large
pictures of the “Kids” for whom “Wheelchairs for Kids” exists.
Some of the pictures that owners BOB AND KAY MEADE have enlarged for us are shown below.
No doubt “a picture is worth a thousand words” but to Bob, Kay and Staff at Bokay
we say simply and with heartfelt appreciation “THANK YOU”.
7.
Amelia King and Roslyn Finch are two Australian Volunteers working together in Thailand on assessing
children and fitting our wheelchairs to their needs . Amelia sent this report:
In October, 2014, Roslyn Finch, the physical therapist at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) with the assistance of Aung
Pay, Public Relations Officer at MTC and BCMF delivered a day-long wheelchair training session at Mae Sot
Hospital. The session was translated into Thai and it was attended by physical therapists and occupational
therapists from Mae Sot Hospital, Tha Song Yang Hospital, Tak Special Education Centre, Umpang Hospital,
Meramad Hospital, handicap International, Phop Prah Hospital and the Thai Army Special Forces.
The day was a complete success and with the help of the occupational therapists we managed to asses and
fit six children - who were delighted to be able to take home the wheelchair that day.
Everyone at the training session, especially the children and the families, wanted to say a very big thank you
to Wheelchairs for Kids without whom none of this could have been possible.
Pornnapas Fooman (left) is a 9 year old girl from Bantak District, Tak Province. When she
was born she was a healthy girl. However, 2 years ago she started feeling increasingly
weak. After her parents took her to MSH, she was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a
muscular disorder. Doctors said that her muscles would continue to deteriorate further -
at the moment, she can stand up and take one or two steps forward. In a few months,
doctors predict that she won’t be able to walk at all. As she is already 9 years, it is very
difficult for her parents to have to carry her everywhere they go. Pornnapas is very proud
of her new wheelchair and she said she is really excited to be able to travel by herself. Her
parents added that they are very grateful for the freedom that the wheelchair has given
them and want to say a very big thank you.
Special thanks to Mike Ellis (Managing Director, Allied Pickford-Thailand) for the
500 km free transport of the wheelchairs from Bankok to Mae Sot.
AFGHANISTAN 1
ALBANIA 40
ANGOLA 50
ARMENIA 302
BANGLADESH 171
BELARUS 131
BOSNIA 100
BOUGAINVILLE 6
BRAZIL 2
BULGARIA 25
BURKINA FASO 164
BURUNDI 12
CAMBODIA 730
CANADA 1
CHERNOBYL 60
CHINA 1413
COOK ISLANDS 5
D.R. OF CONGO 806
EAST TIMOR 830
EL SALVADOR 1
ETHIOPIA 69
FIJI 619
ONO-I-LAU 10
SAVU SAVU 40
8. 31,127 wheelchairs GAZA 656
GHANA 162
INDIA 353
IRAN 22
IRAQ 1949
INDONESIA
JAVA 112
BALI 608
FLORES ISLAND 20
LOMBOK 13
SALATIGA 8
JORDAN 105
KENYA 672
KIRIBATI 122
LAOS 20
LEBANON 507
LIBERIA 181
LIBYA 340
MADAGASCAR 36
MALAWI 166
MALAYSIA 6
MALDIVES 4
MAURITANIA 75
MAURITIUS 45
MOLDOVA 40
MONGOLIA 108
MOROCCO 2
MOZAMBIQUE 99
MYANMAR 1260
NAURU 10
NEPAL 17
NIGERIA 438
PAKISTAN 506
PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1697
PERU 2
PHILIPPINES 578
ROMANIA 131
SAMOA 230
SIERRA LEONE 163
SINGAPORE 1
SOLOMON ISLANDS 244
SOMALIA 332
SOMALILAND 60
SOUTH AFRICA 90
SOUTH KOREA 20
SRI LANKA 2204
SUDAN 52
SUMATRA 22
SYRIA 507
TAIWAN 50
TANZANIA 1559
THAILAND 334
TONGA 16
UGANDA 447
UKRAINE 25
USA –CALIFORNIA DEMO 1
Since 1998
VANUATU 167
VIETNAM 6840
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 5
YEMEN 166
ZAMBIA 408
ZIMBABWE 485
have been given to disadvantaged children around the world.
$54,468.63
METAL RECYCLING UPDATE: Aluminium cans are really great and if you
also have any old aluminium door/window frames, roo bars, engine parts, pots and pans etc
they would be even greater!!! We would love your empty aluminium cans.
No need to separate the ringpulls unless you have your own reasons for doing so.
The aluminium in both can and ringpull has the same value for recycling.
Wheelchair Transformers