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 Our guest speaker Lyn Quigley was introduced by Chris Nash. He said Lyn was a passionate worker for The Northcotte Society and Abbeyfield House project as well as other charities. She operates a farm at Gregadoo with her husband Brian and is with us to talk about a very important subject: How to care long term for young intellectually disabled people.
Lyn began by asking for a show of hands to guage the level of knowledge her audience had of Abbeyfield House. Only a few put up their hands. Before launching into a very interesting and detailed talk, Lyn thanked her long term friends Marge Nash, Maria Egan and Lyndall Watts, fellow volunteers with the Northcotte Society, for their wonderful support.
Abbeyfield House, Lyn told us, developed in the UK in 1955 and arose from the need of a couple to find long term accommodation for their intellectually impaired son. The couple purchased a house and filled it with ten people. From this small beginning there are now 9,000 residents living in 850 houses in the USA, UK, Japan and Australia (27).
Fifteen years ago, the Wagga Community saw the need and the 1st House was built in the suburb of Wiradjuri for ten people. Lyn's mother became a resident and Lyn was a committee member for some ten years. She saw her mother blossom in this environment.
At the same time Lyn and her Husband Brian were troubled by their fear of what would become of their two intellectually disabled sons when she and Brian could no longer care for them. They discussed the idea of using the Abbeyfield House model for young intellectually disabled people who were unable to function on their own. Thus idea was born of Lyn's latest project: a new Abbeyfield House for young people in Wagga.
The plan is to have a home containing 10 individual bed sitters plus some common areas including a community room, laundry, kitchen etc. Eac resident will furnish their own bed sit. Residents will pay 70% of their pension and 100% of their rent subsidy. For this they will be fully supported with food and services e.g heating electricity etc. Residents will be encouraged to be part of the management of the house and will have input at a monthly management meeting.
There will be a live in housekeeper who will have their own accommodation unity and who will be responsible for cooking and day to day running of the household. A Management Committee of volunteers will oversee the whole operation. This committee will interview residents, hire the housekeeper, liaise with families etc.
Lyn is delighted that her and Brian's original idea is coming to fruition. The committee comprising persons from professions including accountancy, law, education and construction, has purchased  a block on the corner of Paul and Stanley St which is in close proximity to transport, shopping and health facilities. Chris Nash has assisted in completing a feasibility study for the construction and a time line for completion. The committee has received a government grant of 1.5 million with the assistance of Mr. Daryl Maguire MLA and now seeks assistance from the community of a further $110,000 to furnish and complete the project.
How can Wollundry help? The committee want to raise $110,000 from the community for furniture, landscaping and Curtains and blinds. Lyn said the committee would be eternally grateful if Wollundry could help by donating some of the funds. The money would be managed locally and spent locally specifically on this project. Plans are to open the house in 2017.
Lyn answered a number of questions which revealed that the demand is great, residents will pay rent only and the House is to be set up as part of the Benevolent Societies structure so that donations will be tax deductible.
Dick Smith thanked Lyn for her excellent talk and revealed that his mother is a resident of the current Abbeyfield House which has provided great assistance to her. He felt sure that the same assistance would be given to the young intellectually disabled residents of the new Abbeyfield House. Members supported Dick's vote of thanks with applause.
If you are interested in finding our more or wish to support this project please contact:
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