- My brother's O.T. was telling me about this place, the council, and that just, one of
her friends had started up this, um... disability network of, I think her name was Angela Armstrong-Wright
or something. She goes, "Alex go along, yeah? You'd like it there. Y'know? They look after
people, they fight for people's... y'know, they help people with disabilities." So I
went along and, um, I liked it, I enjoyed it. There was a lot of carers there and a
lot of people that... that cared, y'know? Different than what I... yeah? And I found
out that um, I started going every every Tuesday of every month I started going, become a team,
a part of the team that was there, y'know? It was really good, I met Ivan. I met a lot
of people there that I, that I admire, y'know what I mean? And they cared, yeah? Just insane,
y'know, they cared. And that was, yeah, that was probably 9 - 10 years ago.
What brought my attention to WDN, um...
was the fact that I needed to let people know what had happened to me, and my whole intention
was to come there, um, sort out the problem and then just leave, but it didn't quite work out
that way because I found out that WDN is actually, um, for people with disabilities. Not only
did I find out on my first visit the, um, service providers that were around the table,
but the people with the disabilities, the different types of disabilities that were
there, and it kind of... I, I went "Wow" y'know? And I thought, "No, I'm staying put. I'm not
going anywhere." and I got involved as time progressed and I started going to working
groups and being part of... um... it's just, it's absolutely amazing, when you sit around
that table I honestly believe it's like sitting at the United Nations, where you have, um...
all the different nations. You have not, around the WDN you not only have people... different
service providers the Council, the Councilors, the Mayor... that's WDN. That's how powerful it has become.
And it's a great honor and privilege to be a member of that committee.
We were looking for a spot for Tamara, and
after spending a couple hours down at there like a member we came to council and... we
spoke to John Fry at the time. Some way or another we started up WDN, to find out the availability was for respite needs within the City of Whittlesea
- With WDN we started up about 10 years, 11
years ago, and I was one of the first ones that became involved in WDN at the time, and
I've been with them ever since. And you get information we also help through WDN, get
the new TRAC center set up how we'd like it. Um... found out there are other options
for Tamara to use.
- In mostwise it's a lobby group, but you
also have other groups that come off the WDN. Um, I belong to the Carers Week in the International
Day of People with Disabilities.
- Well it all started when, as I say, my wife had Parkinson's and I heard of, uh... a few
things, uh... about WDN, and also the Carers Week - the luncheon. I came to a luncheon, the first
one I ever came 'bout four or five years ago and found that, uh, they were looking for
people to... that were interested in coming along and taking part in it, and I just went
along to see what I thought of it, and what information I could find out about it, and
I haven't stopped since.
- Well it's a voice for people who are disabled,
y'know? It's not only carers and residents go there, but the organizations that go there,
but everybody that goes at WDN care for people that are disabled. To me it's an excellent
group, y'know, who else would you want fighting for you, y'know? And the Council itself help
us, help people disabled. I know this council does a lot for disability where a lot of other
Councils don't, and that's because of WDN, 'cause it's partly run by people who work for
the Council, that that are in their field for disability, y'know? For me it's a
win-win situation.
- Ah y'get... sometimes you get information for what you want - for what you can find
out. There's more... there's things you find out that you don't know is available around
the area and--
Uh, help. Friendship. Friendly advice. And,
uh, people that understand what I go through at times, and what all carers go through.
With the WDN group it's been very very helpful, and they've really come to the fore in showing
that they do really care.