Dear Friend

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year– it is hard to believe that another busy year is drawing to a close. Our holiday programs are available during the vacation period– see the notice on P2.

This newsletter includes some important information, especially the calendar for 2015. Note especially the change in the pattern of the training days when we are closed to clients. This is necessary because of a possible building project that may disrupt access.

It is exciting to know that we can now offer flexible respite services. This follows a change in ADHC policy re licensing. We will be actively promoting this service for 2015.

Joy Barrett – General Manager

Out and About @ Minimbah Nov-Dec 2014

CONTENTS Christmas Dates Holiday Activities Michael Cooper Flexible Respite All the World’s a Stage Fun at Freshwater All About Food Minimbah Calendar 2015 Denistone East Marsfield Upgrade Board Members 2014-15

CHRISTMAS DATES Weekday Programs Friday 19 December Client Christmas Party and last day Wednesday 14 January Client’s Return

Saturday Care Saturday 6 December Client Christmas Party and last day Saturday 17 January Saturday Care resumes

The office will be closed from Tuesday 23 December to Thursday 8 January. Emergency calls during this time to 0412 030 983.

FULL CALENDAR FOR 2015 INSIDE.

Group Activities at Minimbah

We are pleased to offer the following to clients who usually participate in the Gold, Platinum, Rainbow or Silver programs: Tuesday 6 January Movies at Minimbah 1pm to 4pm Fee: $25 Thursday 8 January Cook and Eat 10am to 1pm Fee: $25 Bookings are essential– please ring Joy to book your place.

Direct Care in your Home

Also, we can arrange staff to provide care and recreational activities in your home. This will be charged at $40 per hour. Contact Joy to arrange flexible

Michael Cooper

Michael, Minimbah client since January 2013, passed away on 20 October. Michael had recently turned 20. He was a bit of a character and loved to laugh.

We send our love and condolences to his mum, Pamela (Minimbah staff member) and sister, Yvette. You will remember Peppe who passed away several months ago– he was Michael’s step-father.

MINIMBAH CAN NOW OFFER FLEXIBLE RESPITE TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE A FLEXIBLE RESPITE PACKAGE. ARE YOU INTERESTED? TALK TO JOY NOW TO PLAN FOR 2015.

Public Performance Opportunity for the Minimbah Players

FUN AT FRESH WATER BEACH

ALL ABOUT FOOD– THE NEW GROUP IN ACTION

Each Tuesday a group of clients led by Calista Rajadurai and Ruth Gerbi explore the world of food– they plan menus, visit markets and shopping centres, buy produce, cook, serve meals for themselves and others and clear up. Sometimes this cycle is spread over 3 or 4 weeks. The pictures here include Martin, Sherrie, Lynda and Joanna. In October we launched an All About Sport group on Fridays– more about this in the next newsletter.

Left: Leanne, Helen and Diana at the Botanical Gardens Right: Jacqui and Ruth at Newport Beach

DENISTONE EAST The Minister for Local Government has approved Ryde City Council’s decision to offer us a license to occupy the former site of the Denistone East Bowling Club.

We are reaching the capacity of our current premises in Marsfield. Minimbah is growing rapidly, with school leavers and older people joining us each year. Late in 2012 Ryde Council invited community organisations serving the local area to express interest in a council owned property in Denistone East, formerly occupied by the Denistone East Bowling Club. Minimbah responded and, following a lengthy process, the Minister for Local Government approved the Council’s decision to offer Minimbah a ten year license, with provisions for renewal, to occupy the property. There are further matters to discuss before the license is signed, particularly in relation to removal of asbestos.

When a satisfactory license is in place, we will redevelop the property: We will fit out the building to a standard of accessibility similar to that

achieved at Marsfield, including special purpose bathrooms, accessible kitchen areas, activity spaces for on-site activities and additional offices.

The upper bowling green will be utilised for vehicle access and parking The lower bowling green will be developed as an accessible garden space.

Given the time frames required to complete the negotiations, for Council to remediate asbestos, for architectural design, DA approvals and construction, it is unlikely that we will occupy the premises before 2016.

Minimbah is committed to maintaining amenity for the local neighbourhood by: Renovating the existing building to a good standard Maintaining the current ratio of building to open space Providing off-street parking, significantly reducing street congestion Creating attractive outdoor spaces Enhancing visual amenity in all areas Making indoor and outdoor facilities available for community use

Acquisition of new premises within a few minutes drive from our existing property will enable the level of expansion and continued quality of services set out in our current strategic plan.

ClubGRANTS is offering up to $500,000 to councils and community organisations wishing to develop sport and recreational facilities for disadvantaged people. Given the prospect of additional space at Denistone, this potentially provides the opportunity to upgrade our Marsfield premises: Converting the Gold room into a sports facility, with sprung floors, exercise

mats, basketball hoop, pool table, air hockey table and so on Updating the Silver kitchen, with changed access, to support the facility New glass sliding doors, providing more accessible access for clients to thte

entire premises Replacement of the porticos with much higher structures suitable to the taller

buses now commonly in use Widening of the driveway, for easier access and to allow a passing lane in the

drop off area Alterations to the carport, for safer vehicle movements Additional parking spaces.

The facility would be used by Minimbah clients throughout the week and by Saturday Care clients every second Saturday. It would also be available to Macquarie Community College and other community groups in the evenings and to disabled children for birthday parties on the weekends.

900 organisations submitted expressions of interest and 67 were then invited to prepare full applications. Minimbah was included on this short list. Minimbah has requested a grant of $400,000 (80% of the total cost of the project). The results of the application will be known in March. If successful, construction would take place from April to August. Plans are already in development to provide for safe vehicle and pedestrian access to the building during this time.

MARSFIELD UPGRADE We recently had the opportunity to apply to ClubGRANTS for funds to upgrade the Marsfield premises. The outcome will be known in March 2015.

Please support Minimbah’s

Christmas Appeal

All donations of A$2 and above are tax

deductible.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY GIFT OF:

□$20 □$50 □$100 □ $250

□Other ………………………………………………

I will make my gift by:

□ Cash □ Cheque / Money Order

□ Direct Debit □ Credit Card

Cheque or Money Order payable to :

Minimbah Challenge

Direct debit to:

BSB 032 088 Account 63 0897

Credit card:

Details on form below.

DETAILS: Name :……………………………………………………..

Address: ………………………………………………….

Post Code: …………… Phone:……………………..

Email:……………………………………………………..

FOR CREDIT CARD PAYMENT:

□ Mastercard □ Visa

Name on Card………………………………….…

Card Number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Expiry Date _ _ / _ _

Signature …………………………………………..……..

BOARD MEMBERS 2014-2015

Minimbah’s annual general meeting was held on 25 September 2014. Thank you to everyone who attended. The board is elected by membership at the AGM and is responsible for the strategic direction and governance of Minimbah. The elected board members for 2014-2015 are:

David Peachey President Chloris Latham Vice President Michael Welch Treasurer David Williams Susan Bailey Sarah McCarthy Sarah McCarthy is new to the board. She is the sister and principal carer of a Minimbah client.

Minimbah 10 Vincentia Street, Marsfield 2122

Post: PO Box 1653, North Ryde 2113 Phone: 9887 2299 | Fax: 9878 4564

www.minimbah.org.au ABN: 11 850 625 970 CFN: 21669