Western Australians honoured for assisting people with disabilities

4/9/01 Bike-riding prison officers from Albany, a retired Uniting Church Minister with Alzheimer's disease who teaches a 10-year-old with learning difficulties and a woman who has devoted 40 years to teaching children who are deaf were among a total of 40 outstanding Western Australians honoured at Parliament House today.

4/9/01
Bike-riding prison officers from Albany, a retired Uniting Church Minister with Alzheimer's disease who teaches a 10-year-old with learning difficulties and a woman who has devoted 40 years to teaching children who are deaf were among a total of 40 outstanding Western Australians honoured at Parliament House today.
The 40 individuals and organisations were presented with the Disability Services Commission's 'Making a Difference' awards by Disability Services Minister Sheila McHale for the tremendous voluntary contribution they have made towards improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families.
Ms McHale said the awards acknowledged those who had made a substantial contribution to the community through their selfless dedication in helping Western Australians with disabilities.
"Today we are surrounded by people who, if they see something that needs doing, get the job done; if they see someone who needs assistance, they go to help," she said.

"All those honoured here today get their real reward in the knowledge that they have made life brighter, more rewarding and more fulfilling for fellow Western Australians and have helped to create a more welcoming and inclusive community.
"Today's recipients represent the very best our community has to offer and have proved that one person can make a difference to the lives of others."
Among the many recipients were:

  • the Porridge Bikers, a group of Albany prison officers who ride annually from Albany to Hopetoun to raise funds for children with disabilities and for the local hospital's children's ward;
  • the Reverend Frank Drysdale, of Cannington, inventor of the card game Numero. He devotes time each week to help 10-year-old Jessica Gould with her maths. Jessica has learning difficulties with her maths;
  • Marie Donovan, involved in teaching children who are deaf for more than 40 years;
  • Kathy Duddington, of Narrogin, who lobbies for access improvements then 'road-tests' the improvements in her local area;
  • Fred Poole, of Carine, who began volunteering 10 years ago at the age of 70, for a small agency, Vemvane;
  • Alister Shields, of Coogee, who has spent more than 30 years advocating on behalf of people with disabilities;
  • Olga Green, of Burekup, who has devoted more than 20 years to supporting the Riding for the Disabled Association;
  • the Midland Brick Company, which has an on-going commitment to the Hills Community Support Group including employing people with disabilities and providing two houses for training people with disabilities to go into the workforce;
  • Enid White, of Albany, who has actively supported Guide Dogs through a quarter of century of fundraising; and
  • Janice Hunt, of Bicton, who, after years of voluntary work with children with disabilities, helped to establish an advocacy group that empowers people with disabilities to make a difference themselves.
The full list of recipients is: Steve Smith of Kalamunda; Olga Green of Burekup; Helen Farina of Armadale; Janice Hunt of Bicton; Frederick Poole of Carine;Debbie Vincent of Kalgoorlie; Victor Jackson of Koondoola; Marie Donovan of Willagee; the Reverend Frank Drysdale of Cannington; Susan Cudlipp of High Wycombe; Margaret Marshall of Claremont; Maureen Faithfull of Karrinyup; Kathy Duddington of Narrogin; Jeff Wheate of Katanning; Bhagwati Prasad of Bellevue; Jim Douglas of Wannanup; David Lewis of Albany; Enid White of Albany; Doreen Ramirez of Eaton; Peter Howes of Marmion; John Green of Armadale; Alister Shields of Coogee; Marlene Robins of Osborne Park; Greg Brotherson of Ardross; Ann Clapp of Bunbury; Margaret Epton of Albany; Joan Foley of Port Hedland; SNAGS - Special Needs and Group Support of Tom Price; Seaview Lodge of Carine; the Porridge Bikers of Albany; the Gosnells District Stroke Club; Better Hearing Australia's Hearing Rehabilitation Tutors; Pilbara Homecare Management Committee (Karratha); the Rotary Club of Albany East; Katanning Thrift Shop Volunteer Team; Albany Thrift Shop Volunteer Team; the Paul Terry Foundation of Sydney; the Midland Brick Company Pty Ltd; Department of Housing and Works staff of Geraldton; and Computer Loan Service, Technical Aids for People with Disabilities WA.
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Priscilla Fouracres 9213 6900
Jenny Basset 9426 9328