Jill, who has been volunteering for 60 years, helped establish Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA)s Croudace Bay Stuart Centre, the longest-running therapy centre, which caters to more than 350 clients and their families in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle area.
“While the doors officially opened to the Stuart Centre in 1983, this was preceded by 20 years of campaigning, fundraising, community goodwill and support and even support from the Commonwealth Government to help purchase the land,” said Jill.
Celebrating with staff, clients and fellow volunteers at the Centre today, Jill was thrilled to see how much the Centre had grown and how happy and supported the clients were.
“When my son Michael was born in 1961, there was not a lot of information and no support for children and people with cerebral palsy. I was literally advised by a doctor that he had brain damage and to just take him home and love him,” Jill said.
Eventually, when her son was 2 years old, she was referred to the Spastic Centre at Allambie Heights (the now Cerebral Palsy Alliance).
“This was a life-changer, with free therapy and wonderful support, but travelling to Sydney and back once a week from Charlestown with four small children with cerebral palsy and their mums was quite a task.
“So, the campaign to set up support and therapy services in our region was born, first with a small school in Hamilton in 1967, then outgrowing that we moved to St. Francis Xavier’s College and then had to move to less-than-ideal premises at Carrington in 1970.”
Michael unfortunately did not get to enjoy the new Stuart Centre as he had gone to live at Allambie Heights due to his brother Paul falling ill with cancer and requiring treatment in Sydney. Paul passed away 3 weeks after The Stuart Centre opened its doors and Michael passed away in 2004.
“I am immensely proud of all the hard work and dedication so many people, including myself, put into establishing services for people with cerebral palsy in this region. Being here today, seeing all the volunteers and carers with the clients and the wonderful staff, is the best feeling. I could not be prouder,” said Jill.
The Stuart Centre is also home to Australia’s first regional Early Diagnosis Clinic, providing a vital new service to families with children at high risk of cerebral palsy.
Jill was named Hunter Volunteer of the Year in October this year. She will join her family and staff at the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards at the North Sydney Leagues Club on 10 December.
Images left to right: Jill with clients. Jill with her son Stuart and daughter-in-law Helen.
