CONNECTING PROBLEMS WITH SOLUTIONS
The Rotary Club of Springwood Inc. has unveiled their Wheelchair Accessible Carousel at Buttenshaw Park, Springwood.
In July of 2017 then President Norm Kitto was searching for a “project” for his year when an article appeared in RDU outlining the Deniliquin’s Liberty Swing project.
Norm made an initial approach to Variety the Childrens Charity as to whether the supply of the Carousel fell within their scope of support. After receiving a positive response an application to RAWCS for a RACG (which a previous article had covered the generous support of Dick Smith) was made and the local Council was approached for consent to install the Carousel.
Following granting of the $7500 Community Grant and Councils consent the installation process – utilising one of Variety’s preferred installers – was commenced. Total cost of the project was $32500 with Variety funding the Carousel ($17400) and The Rotary Club of Springwood Inc funding the installation ($15100) – RACG $7500 & Club $7600
The Carousel is designed to allow both able bodied and wheelchair bound patrons’ simultaneous usage allowing all to enjoy the fun of the ride together. With Buttenshaw Park on the Great Western Highway just west of Springwood being a popular rest stop for travellers from the West heading to Sydney we hope it will help break the boredom of the journey and provide some fun especially for those confined to wheelchairs.
The provisioning of this Wheelchair Accessible Carousel was a first for Variety the Childrens Charity, the installer and is the only piece of accessible play equipment in the Blue Mountains.