Wheelchairs for Kids Inc. JULY - DECEMBER 2018 VOLUME 15 ISSUE 90 43,077 wheelchairs donated in 20 years of production. 2018 - A Year of Milestones Achieved. 20 Years of Wheelchair Production - See Page 3 Over 200 Workshop Volunteers - See Page 5 Over 40,000 Wheelchairs Donated - See Page 7 Over 70 Countries Involved - See Page 7 Since 1998 a Project of the Rotary Club of Scarborough, Western Australia, assisted by The Christian Brothers. We listen, we care, we give to disabled children and their families around the world. A Word from the CEO Another great year has come to an end with wheelchairs produced approaching 4,000. Not just a standard wheelchair! — I like this description fromNina Murray an Australian volunteer occupational therapist in her report on teaching wheelchair fitting in Nepal. “The Wheelchairs for Kids wheelchair is a high quality unit suitable for complex seating for children with severe disabilities”. Shouldn’t we be proud. We’ve had a welcome increase in local fund raising this year, as in addition to the usual functions as morning teas, quiz night, garden party, coin cans etc., volunteers have been active. Steve Pratt has instituted Bunnings sausage sizzles, John Jeffery organised the Perth tin shaking collection and Gerry McCarthy organised exhibitions at shows and shopping centers. Roz Davies’ honey sales have been a hit and Vic Hersey’s lovingly built pedal car plane raffle has taken off. All great promotion initiatives. Cathy Cutler has been overwhelmed with counting, recording and banking coins. With friends in the right places, volunteer Jenny Price obtained a $5,000 donation from Fortescue Community Support. This in order to make our rough terrain wheelchairs available to children in Australian remote areas. Also with much form filling and perseverance Don Kidson and Liz Noordhoek have made a first — a grant from the Federal Government. This for $51,000 to finance 220 wheelchairs to send to Timor – Leste. Thank you once again Lotterywest for donating finance for the purchase of a much needed new (and quiet) aluminium saw. This should make Thursday morning work bearable. Be sure to visit Alan Bennet’s street at Samson Court, Duncraig and see the amazing Christmas light display. Last year’s collections built 90 wheelchairs. Wishing you all a well earned rest and enjoyable Christmas holiday and looking forward to an even greater year ahead. Remember, the best fund raisers are YOU talking about us. Bye for now. Gordon 2 20 Years of Wheelchair Production In August we celebrated 20 years since The Rotary Club of Scarborough took up the challenge from Queensland Rotarian Des LaRance OAM to produce wheelchairs for disadvantaged children overseas. The first model, which included recycled bicycle parts and plastic seats, heralded a volunteer project that has grown in size and complexity in an attempt to better the lives of disabled children and their families all over the globe - families that are unable to afford a wheelchair in the absence of any welfare scheme. Making over 43,000 wheelchairs has been possible because of the constant supply of two basic necessities - working time and finance. The working time is abundantly supplied by a growing list of volunteers giving their time to work in the workshops. A waiting list of over twenty to join the project exists and does not seem to get shorter. The finance is donated from a wide range of sources, from generous individuals, to businesses small and large, to community groups secular and religious, to clubs sporting and otherwise, to bequests, to schools ranging from pre-primary to tertiary and to Political Parties of many persuasions. Wheelchairs for Kids Inc. takes on a responsibility of converting into long-lasting and adaptable wheelchairs all the above outpouring of generosity towards the less fortunate people of our world. THE WORKSHOPS REOPEN ON TUESDAY JANUARY 29, 2019 MU ICAL BINGO NIGHT PRESENTED BY JON LENNON ENTERTAINMENT DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF Wheelchairs for Kids Inc. SATURDAY THE 60S, 70S AND 80S. APRIL 6, 2019 SORRENTO BOWLING CLUB, CNR WARWICK RD & MARMION AVE, DUNCRAIG ARRIVE 7PM FOR 7.30PM START $20 per head Tables of 6 - 8 GREAT PRIZES & RAFFLES *COME DRESSED AS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST - PRIZE FOR THE BEST DRESSED. *LOTS OF FUN *BRING YOUR OWN NIBBLES BUT NO DRINKS-VENUE LICENSED. *LIGHT SUPPER PROVIDED. BOOK AN EVENING TO LOOK FORWARD TO BY CONTACTING MARIE ON 9246 0138 OR EMAIL [email protected] 3 Over the last 20 years we have certainly grown to be well known in the disability section. It is really rewarding for all of us to be able to help poor disabled children to have a more dignified life by getting off the ground. Our wheelchairs have come a long way forward since we first started and all of us can be justly proud of the wheelchair we make following the guide- lines of the World Health Organization. Thanks to every volunteer over the years who has been part of Wheelchairs for MADAGASCARKENYA Kids. You have all made our workshops what they are today. We look forward to many more years ahead. Wishing you all a very happy and safe Christmas with your families and friends. Olly Br. Olly Pickett - Workshop Manager. VIETNAM In November, Russell Hayes and Peter Klaaysen of WFK SE Division in Melbourne challenged the small school in Hoddles Creek, Victoria, with a fund raising Wheelathon. Urged on by wheel- chair-bound classmate, Angus, the students STH AFRICA met the challenge superbly, raising money for three wheelchairs. THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED. TANZANIA Above: The Wheelathon in progress. Right: Peter, Angus and Russell give their approval to a great day for Hoddles INDONESIA Creek Primary School and Wheelchairs for Kids. For a cost of $200 we give each child an adjustable, all terrain, fully cushioned wheelchair with postural support devices, if needed, for the head, trunk and legs along with an upper body harness and foot restraints. Our gift also includes a detachable tray, carry basket, colourful knee rug and soft toy, spare cushioning and fasteners and a tool kit. We believe that this gift can change the life of the disabled child and the lives of every family member. THE WORKSHOPS REOPEN ON TUESDAY JANUARY 29, 2019 4 OLUNTEERS AT THE WANGARA WORKSHOPS V Tony Maden Myra Watson Trevor Louden Gerry McCarthy Phyllis Heglund Alan Hewitt Denis Maher Over the 20 years of our wheelchair production 415 volunteers have worked at some point in the workshops and of this number there are currently 214 who attend the workshops each week - averaging around 42 volunteers each week day. The average* number of wheelchairs produced each month for 2018 was 300. * This number includes 3 months of production less than 100 due to a hold up in stock supply and annual holidays. In August, members of The Midland Craft Group donated a large number of beautifully made, colourful rugs and soft toys to go with the donated wheelchairs. Along with many other generous groups and individuals, the Midland Craft Group helps to brighten the lives of disadvantaged families all around the world. Wheelchairs for Kids thanks Christine Brackley and her group for their skill and generosity. 5 Htoo Htoo - a strong-minded little girl who wants friends and to be able to go to ZAMBIA school. Kanchana Thornton, Thai born and Australian certified nurse, ( pictured right ) tells us about Htoo Htoo and Wheelchairs for Kids in Burma MONGOLIA ( Myanmar )... “Htoo Htoo was born with only one leg to Arakan parents. She’s like other children who are wanting to have friends and go to school. She is PHILIPPINES full of life and strong-minded. She is determined to think for herself as she feels no different to other children. Her parents organised little crutches for her ( pictured above) so that she could walk to school, but now she can get there faster with the help from Burma Children MOROCCO Medical Fund ( BCMF ) that provided her with a colourful wheelchair ( being assembled above right ) from Wheelchairs for Kids. Since we gave Htoo Htoo her first wheelchair, requests keep coming to BCMF for more wheelchairs into Rakhine State and other States and Divisions in Burma. P. N. GUINEA As a founder of Burma Children Medical Fund I am so honoured to be a partner with such a fantastic organisation like Wheelchairs for Kids which truly helps to transform the lives of so many children and their families.” For many years now, two exceptionally hard- working, talented and generous volunteers, KENYA Robyn Andrew and Carol Evans ( left ) have been processing the very large number of donations coming to Wheelchairs for Kids. Each donation is recorded in detail and then after banking, a receipt and thank you letter is sent to the donor. They handle this enormous job with great calmness and precision and the Project INDIA is extremely grateful to them and appreciates their enormous contribution. THE WORKSHOPS REOPEN ON TUESDAY JANUARY 29, 2019 6 UGANDA Since 1998 43,077 wheelchairs have been made in our workshops in Wangara, Western Australia, and distributed in 79 countries as below. AFGHANISTAN 1 INDONESIA (TOTAL) 1541 PERU 2 ALBANIA 40 BALI 1158 PHILIPPINES 1210 ANGOLA 50 FLORES ISLAND 20 ROMANIA 131 ARMENIA 302 JAVA 112 SAMOA 231 BANGLADESH 670 LOMBOK 215 SIERRA LEONE 329 BELARUS 131 SALATIGA 8 SINGAPORE 1 BALI BHUTAN 8 SUMATRA 28 SOLOMON ISLANDS 289 BOSNIA 100 JORDAN 105 SOMALIA 332 BRAZIL 2 KENYA 1580 SOMALILAND 90 BULGARIA 25 KIRIBATI 122 SOUTH AFRICA 123 SIERRA LEONE BURKINA FASO 164 LAOS 40 SOUTH KOREA 20 BURUNDI 22 LEBANON 673 SRI LANKA 2207 CAMBODIA 900 LIBERIA 181 SUDAN 60 CANADA 1 LIBYA 340 SYRIA 507 CHINA 1745 MADAGASCAR 56 TAIWAN 50 SAMOA COOK ISLANDS 5 MALAWI 1700 TANZANIA 1922 D.R.