The overwhelming story of 2008-09 in the world at large has been
the global financial crisis, and this
has also preoccupied the Board and
management of Technical Aid to the
Disabled NSW. However the staff and
volunteers have continued to deliver
services to our clients at similar levels
to previous years, as you will see in the
pages of this report.
A charitable organisation like TADNSW
will always be vulnerable in financially
stringent times, but I am pleased to
report that we have coped very well
with some serious challenges to our
funding in 2008-09.
The main reason for my confidence in
the viability of TADNSW is the Technical Aid to the Disabled Foundation (TAD Foundation). This was set up 20
years ago by TADNSW’s then Board,
who had the foresight to realise that
the organisation may face financial
challenges in the future.
Chaired by Grant Cockburn since
2001, the Foundation purchased and
equipped our present Northmead
premises in 2007, and has been able to
underwrite our budget in 2008-09 such
that we have finished the year with a
modest surplus.
Many other foundations and trusts that have supported TADNSW for
long periods in the past have recently
found themselves without any cash
to distribute, and have significantly
reduced or completely withdrawn their
gifts.
In particular, the R. A. Gale Foundation,
which has been the main sponsor of
the Computer Support Service for 15
years, can no longer support us at that
level. The Board has decided to retain
the service name “TAD/Gale Computer
Support Service” until another sponsor
emerges, as recognition of the
Foundation’s contribution over such a
long period.
The long-running need for
rearrangement of our federal funding
progressed during the year, particularly
through the personal efforts of Bill
Shorten MHR, Parliamentary Secretary
for Disability. I met with Mr Shorten in
Canberra and he left me in no doubt
about his regard for TADNSW.
As part of the process, we set up an
internet petition to support the case
for continuation of this funding. The
comments given on the petition were
very moving and inspiring, for even the
most ardent TADNSW supporters such
as myself. Some of the comments are
reproduced at right.
Also supporting us this year was
Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist.
Adam made an arrangement with
Amway of Australia, the sponsor of
our FREEDOM WHEELS® Modified Bike
Service, that they would pay a premium
to TADNSW each time he hit a six in the
Indian Premier League. Luckily for our
clients, Adam’s team won the league
and he hit more sixes than he had
dared to anticipate.
Although our volunteers donate their
labour, TADNSW’s clients pay for the
material cost of their projects, and this
can be a significant sum for a bike with
many modifications. Some parents
are understandably hesitating in the
present economic times and we have
begun to apply the funds resulting from
Adam’s success to ease those costs.
In summary, while these are tough times, TADNSW is well prepared to face
them. After many years of thanking
key supporters for their efforts, it now
seems appropriate to particularly
recognise the work of TADNSW’s Boards
and managers in the 1980s.
They set up the financial structures which will enable us to weather this
storm without a reduction in service
to our clients. We now need to follow
their lead and make similar provision
for future times of need.
The overwhelming story of 2008-09 in the world at large has been
the global financial crisis, and this
has also preoccupied the Board and
management of Technical Aid to the
Disabled NSW. However the staff and
volunteers have continued to deliver
services to our clients at similar levels
to previous years, as you will see in the
pages of this report. 