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 bobsheridan@iinet.net.au

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: patsyrunge3@bigpond.com

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