FOR PRESS 30 March 1979
OPENING OF FERGUSON LODGE
I am honoured to have been asked to share with you today your
justifiable pride in the completion of this fine complex.
The buildings stand as a tribute to the inspiration of the late
Jack Ferguson, and I'm sure that all of us wish that he could be
with us today ~ for it has been the leadership and dedicated service
of people like Mr Ferguson who have revolutionised the care of
the handicapped in Australia.
Both the Commonwealth and State governments have contributed to
this project, but financial help, although important, is not
enough. For without the continuing dedicated work of associations
such as the " Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of New South
Wales", these facilities would be little more than expensive
buildings full of expensive equipment.
It is the person-to person contact, the work of volunteers who
have a genuine feeling for, and a commitment to, others that finally
is the measure of a caring community.
The Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association sets an excellent
example of community service. Spinal injuries have been around
for many years, I'm told that the first reported case was in
ancient Egyptian times.
Regrettably, however, the incidence of spinal injury has increased
markedly in the last few decades, due to war, and more recently
to what might be described as the war of the roads.
That is why it is so good to see that New South Wales now has
its own specialised care centre for paraplegic and quadriplegic
casualties which follows the outstanding success of similar
centres in Perth and Melbourne.
The need for such centres, is incontrovertible. Prior to their
introduction, the only accommodation available for quadriplegic
persons unable to live at home were such places as nursing homes
and geriatric institutions. They were hardly suitable places for
a young physically handicapped adult with normal mental faculties.
The new centres give these young people a new outlook on life.
They provide a higher standard of nursing care and, at the same
time, improve their quality of life. / 2
2-
As I said when I presented the " Handicapped Person of the Year
Award" in October last year to Mrs Elizabeth Kosmala herself
a paraplegic many Australians mistakenly believe that the
handicapped cannot achieve a great deal for themselves or contribute
to our society. As a consequence our society in the past has all
too often exerted a subtle form of discrimination against the
handicapped, based on ignorance and sometimes fear of illness and
disability. The handicapped have been regarded as helpless a view which has
given rise to thoughtlessness, disinterest and sometimes active
opposition to the disabled.
That's why I'm pleased to see emerging an assertiveness among
young people who are handicapped. They want to help themselves.
They want other people to understand that with specific
assistance such as modifications to buildings, they can be very
useful members of society.
They want useful and productive employment, want to participate
in community activities and sport, want to enjoy the freedom of
mobility. The disabled are taking an increasingly prominent role in
managing their own affairs. For example, I am particularly
impressed by the fact that the " Civilian Maimed and Limbless
Association"~ in this state, has six members on its board of
management, including the Chairman and Secretary/ Treasurer who
are disabled.
Mr President, your own association's achievements are evidence
of the change. From a modest beginning 17 years ago the Parapleglic and
Quadriplegic Association has grown to an organisation with a
total membership in New South Wales of 1,000.
The Association has developed a wide range of vital specialised
services. You provide experience and support for the handicapped
and their families, but most importantly you promote and enable
a greater degree of independence than many have believed was
possible. But the rehabilitation of the disabled cannot be achieved solely
by your organisations. You prepare people for the workforce but
all too often employers are reluctant to give the person a chance.
They do not have sufficiently flexible working arrangements to
enable gradual integration of paraplegics and quadriplegics back
into the workforce, and even where an employer is willing, the
buildings or facilities may prevent access of reasonable mobility.
The new " Design Rules for Access by the-Disabled" was published in
1977, however, there is still a long way to go in ensuring equality
of access for the handicapped.
Simple matters such as ramps, doorways and passages of sufficient
width, and special toilet facilities, are still all too rare in
places of employment.
This building serves as a model of what should become the general
rule, not the exception, as present. Employers can help by i
reserving jobs for handicapped people. who in many jobs can contribute
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as much or more than an able-bodied person. We all have a
responsibility to ensure that the creative drive of our handicapped
people is fostered and developed so that the disabled can
integrate into our community life.
All levels of government can and should help in town planning,
in building regulations, in welfare programmes.
All Australians can help the handicapped to improve their
opportunities to use their talents, and play their part in
society.
Let's all keep this happening.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure in unveiling this
plaque to officially open the Ferguson Lodge.
oOo--