© ParaQuad NSW: The Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of NSW This work may be reproduced in whole or part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those named requires the permission of ParaQuad NSW: The Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of NSW. Requests concerning reproduction rights should be addressed to: The Publications Officer ParaQuad NSW 6 Holker Street Newington NSW 2127 For additional copies of this book please phone ParaQuad NSW on 02 8741 5600. www.paraquad.org.au ISBN 978-0-646-56887-4 This book has been prepared by ParaQuad NSW. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, no guarantee is given, nor responsibility taken by ParaQuad NSW for errors or omissions, and ParaQuad NSW does not accept responsibility in respect of any information or advice given in relation to or as a consequence of the information provided in this booklet. ParaQuad NSW wishes to thank the following people for their assistance in preparing this book: Bruce Bennedick, Branko Boskoski, Max Bosotti, Cherry Cameron, Alex Carbonetti, Mary Cleary, Maureen Cook, Rob Coombe, Lucien Dumont, Bob Duncan, Karen Filocamo, Julie Forbes, Mitchell Forbes, Evan Fraser, Martin Gardiner, Dr John Grant AO OBE, Enid Grant, Anders Halvorsen, Phyllis Harding, Akiko Harris, John Harris, Julita Harris, Wendy Harris, Tonina Harvey AM, Peter Hebbes AM, Paul Hoppenbrouwer, Janice Huntington, Cam Iaquinto, Mary Inkston, Fred Kaad OBE, Gaynor Kaad, Neville Knight, Denise Lawler, Dr Graham Locke, Melanie Lloyd, Sueanne Martin, Michelle Meader, Grant Nickel, Leanne O’Reilly, Wendy Potter, David Quach, Jacob Ray, Grant Roulstone, Dr Sue Rutkowski AM, Jeff Simmonds, Daria Skipper, Greg Smith, John Spencer, Wendy Spencer, Riccardo Tanhoffer, Anne-Maree Thomas, John Trefry, John Walsh AM, Dr Edward Watts (PhD), and Kylie Wicks. Cover images: L-R: (top row) The Sheltered Workshop at South Hurstville, Wendy Harris trialling ramps, Dr John Grant AO OBE, BrightSky shopfront at Newington, (second row) Wymo car top wheelchair hoist/carrier, Jack Ferguson, Homebush headquarters, Jeff Simmonds, Ferguson Lodge, (third row) Fred Kaad OBE, Newington headquarters, Ashley Coops with Peter Hebbes, Roger Davis and Olivia Newton-John, Assistive technology. Written by Linda Baraciolli, Word Fusion Designed by pdq Design 2 The ParaQuad NSW Story 4 From the Founder 6 From the Chairman 7 From the Chief Executive Officer 8 Overview 10 The Early Years 1961-1980 11 Environment 12 The Paraplegic Association of NSW 15 Governance and Management 22 Communication and Information 24 Fundraising 34 Lobbying 35 Welfare Department 41 Employment Opportunities 44 Wheelchair Sports 52 Ferguson Lodge 63 Newcastle Northern Region Branch 64 Expansion and Diversification 1980-2000 65 Environment 68 Governance and Management 74 Communication and Information 77 Fundraising 82 Lobbying 84 Welfare Department 86 Community Services Division 92 ParaQuad Industries 93 ParaQuad Engineering 97 Personal Equipment and Continence Supplies (PECS) 98 Ferguson Lodge 103 Berala Transitional Accommodation Facility 106 Newcastle Northern Region Branch 112 The New Millennium 2000-2011 113 Environment 116 Governance and Management 124 Communication and Information 127 Fundraising 130 Lobbying 131 Primary Health Care Services 133 Training 137 Employment Opportunities 139 Commercial Operations: BrightSky and MFS 142 Ferguson Lodge 147 Berala Transitional Accommodation 149 Newcastle Northern Region Branch 152 Future Works 154 Appendices Celebrating 50 Years 3 Major international conflicts are often associated with dramatic changes to many facets of society. World War II was no exception. It resulted in progress in many areas. The practice of medicine was one area where there were significant advances in the understanding of both medical and surgical problems and this resulted in a rapid progress in many areas of treatment. Sir Ludwig Guttmann, who established the Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire in England, was responsible for a major step forward in the care of people with spinal injuries. The Centre was created Dr John M F Grant AO OBE, Founder to cope with the casualties expected from the landing in (Courtesy Grant family album) Normandy during World War II. Guttmann was a neurosurgeon and he changed the philosophy around the care of these severely injured people from one of hopelessness in those cases where life expectancy was but a few years to one of hope for a positive future. He based his treatment on an understanding of the alterations of function of the spinal cord that result from injury. I was significantly influenced by Guttmann’s writings when I was involved in the establishment of a Neurosurgical Unit at the Royal North Shore Hospital. Guttmann had written extensively on the medical history of World War II where he outlined his concepts in detail. Once the Unit was established it was soon very obvious that there was a need to extend the type of medical and surgical services that we were providing. We needed to establish an area for treatment of spinal injuries that not only covered the initial care but also initiated rehabilitation in hospital. As a result, the Convalescent Ward of the hospital was converted into a Spinal Injuries Unit, staffed by nurses who were prepared to follow the dictates of the necessary care these patients required. It soon became obvious that work of the nursing services and the paramedical services were to result in an alteration in the previous attitude to spinal injury casualties. While the hospital area could cope with the medical and surgical needs of these patients, the total rehabilitation of a person with a spinal injury required a mechanism that could introduce and make use of the scientific advances in other areas. Without such advances people with spinal injuries could not have overcome the physical disabilities preventing them from returning to society as active members and re-establishing their association with nature itself. In addition, the members of the Spinal Injuries Unit saw the need to develop a support system for people after their discharge from hospital and thereby prevent the occurrence of the well-known complications associated with loss of spinal cord function. Those who were involved in this venture were well aware of the fact that we were facing both sociological and economical challenges that needed to be overcome. It was for these reasons that members of the Unit decided to establish the Paraplegic Association of NSW. 4 The ParaQuad NSW Story The raison d’etre of the Association was to encourage the NSW Government to develop and to extend the Spinal Injuries Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital and to work towards the provision of accommodation facilities for those who were unable to return to their own home. The Spinal Injuries Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital had already established a friendly and close relationship with Government. We had frequent discussions and visits by the Minister for Health and we were able to establish a close relationship with the NSW Health Commission. Hence, from the very outset, the Association received recognition from many levels of Government. The Unit recognised the value of sport and its importance in our daily lives. The Annual North Shore Spinal Games began as a part of the rehabilitation program and introduced the general public to sport for the disabled. The Association when initially established was involved in promotion of sport for people with a disability both at a state and national level, and developed close links with organisations in other states. In 1971 the Association’s name changed to Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of NSW. The Board of the Association is made up of dedicated people who have a wide range of expertise. They can, I believe, justifiably claim to have held to the design and purposes of those who founded it. There is now no question that the Association forms an integral part of our society. Dr John M F Grant AO OBE Consultant Neurosurgeon and Founder of ParaQuad NSW Celebrating 50 Years 5 Fifty years, what a great achievement! When I think back to the humble beginnings of ParaQuad NSW, I think we have done remarkably well to be in the position we are in today, as the leading spinal injury organisation in NSW. For the past eight years I have had the privilege of serving on the Board of ParaQuad NSW, and in November 2004 had the honour of being chosen as the first woman in a wheelchair to be appointed Chairman of the Board. During this time I have seen many changes throughout the Association and am aware of many other changes prior to my time on the Board. This book is a record of some of the events in the Association’s history, and captures Wendy Potter, Chairman the essence of its past and the great work it has done in supporting people with spinal cord injury. In recent years the Board and I have focused on improving the governance processes of the Board; proper planning for the future of the organisation; and overseeing the Ferguson Lodge redevelopment project, which the Board and I believe will be the benchmark for accommodation services in NSW. Five years ago, the Board appointed our current CEO Max Bosotti who has been instrumental in leading ParaQuad NSW in today’s competitive environment into what is now an even more highly respected and professional organisation. ParaQuad’s brand name, and now our commercial arm, BrightSky Australia, has become more widely known and respected not only in the disability sector but also within the corporate sector. In remembering our humble beginnings, credit must go to those who went before us, the ones who had the foresight all those years ago that an organisation such as ParaQuad NSW was needed in the community.