OCTOBER 2019

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PARAVIEWParaQuad Association of Tasmania Inc.

From The Chairman’s DeskDear Members and Supporters,

Well our 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been run and the Committee of Management for 2019-20 has been elected. Whilst the deck chairs have been shuffled to some extent, the members of the committee have been returned for another year. Your 2019/20 Committee of Management members are:

Chairman: Len YeatsVice Chairman: David CarpenterTreasurer: Jim BusbyCommittee Members: Jan Dunsby Jodi Hansson Tim Marks Roger Massie

At the Annual General Meeting the Treasurer reported a significant improvement in the Association’s financial position for 2018/19. It was also reported that Glenn Moore Units recorded their highest occupancy since opening, a testament to the hard work of the staff involved and an improved marketing strategy. The Committee of Management adopted a new strategic plan in February 2019 and are now in the process of operationalising the plan with a commitment to the future growth and sustainability of the Association.

The next 12 months will present many opportunities and challenges for the Association and I have great confidence in Carmel Clark, as our ParaQuad Association Manager, in leading the operations of our dedicated, competent and enthusiastic staff at ParaQuad Tasmania.

Finally I would like to briefly introduce myself to you as Chairman. Having originally emigrated from the UK over 40 years ago as a Specialist Secondary Physical Education teacher, I have spent my life working in the Health and Wellbeing area in Tasmania as a teacher, sports coach, Sport and Recreation Administrator at local, State and National level, and most recently as the Healthy Communities Development Officer for the Glenorchy City Council.

Len Yeats

Congratulations Joe and Josh! The ParaQuad Association would like to extend their congratulations to ParaQuad staff member Joe Chivers and Josh Christian on their nomination into the 2019 VIctorian Wheelchair Aussie Rules League team of the year. The team of 18 players were hand picked by six judges from AFL Victoria, Disability Sport and Recreation and Robert Rose Foundation. Josh currently play for the Collingwood VWAFL team and Joe is currently part of the Hawthorn team for which he recieved top honours for in the 2019 season.

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The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is here to ensure people with disability in the NDIS have a strong voice about their rights to be safe, to exercise choice and control, and have their human rights upheld.A series of resources have been developed to empower people with disability to ‘speak up’ if they need to about the quality and safety of their NDIS funded supports and services.The resources feature people with disability, their family and carers and we will be sharing their stories on the NDIS commission’s social media pages in the coming months. If you’re not on Facebook, please visit the ‘If you need to speak up, speak to us’ webpage (https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/resources/speakup) to meet each individual as we introduce them.

New Wheelie Good Guide Website Launch

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

ParaQuad Tasmania is excited to announce that the new Wheelie Good Guide website is now live. At ParaQuad Tasmania, we know how important it is for wheelchair users to be able to get out in to the community and enjoy our beautiful state. Over the last year, staff member Richard Jones has been working behind the scenes travelling throughout the state to review accommodation, parks and venues in cooperation with owners, departments and stakeholders. Whilst the website is still a work in progress, the first week since the launch has been extremely successful with an enquiry coming from as far away as Korea!

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How to create an accessible garden It’s the perfect time of year to get outdoors and gardening is a popular hobby that anyone can enjoy. Using the following methods, people living with physical disability are able to easier care for their garden. Accessible gardens, such as raised beds, offer the chance for wheelchair users to enjoy the many pleasures of tending to their plants.

Raised Beds Raised beds make gardening possible for wheelchair users or people who are unable to kneel. Beds can be constructed at a wheelchair friendly height that allows the gardener to reach in to the garden while seated. If a gardener has limited physical ability or unable to kneel or lean over easily at a standing position, bench seating can be constructed around the planting bed.

Location, location, location! Ideally, locate the raised garden bed in an area that’s easily accessible and conducive for plants to grow. Pathways should be a minimum of 4 feet in width to ensure enough space for wheelchairs, walking frames and wheelbarrows. It is important that the path is level, firm and free of any loose gravel or obstacles.

Determine dimensions Raised garden beds are generally 1 metre wide but in this circumstance determine the widtch according to the gardener’s reach. For example, if the person can reach half a metre into the bed from one side, then make the bed no wider than 1 metre. The height of the bed should be around 60 centimetres for someone seated in a wheelchair, and 75 centimetres for an individual who will stand while gardening but has difficulty bending and reaching. The length of the raised bed is usually 3 to 6 metres. Make seating edges 20 to 45 centimetres wide.

Building the bed Raised beds are generally made from rot-resistant timber, brick or stone. You can make one from scratch or purchase a raised bed kit from your local garden centre or hardware store. When building a timber raised bed from scratch, use decking screws for maximum stability. Cement brick and stone together to avoid soil leakage.

Planting your garden and maintainence You can plant just about anything in a raised bed that you would in the ground. Raised beds are ideal for flowers; vegetables and herbs; fruits, such as strawberries; and even dwarf fruit trees.Raised beds tend to drain fast, so they require more frequent watering than in-ground plants. Water when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out. Fertilize monthly from Spring through to Autumn and prune flowers regularly to keep them blooming. Harvest herbs and vegetables as soon as they are ready for consumption or the plants will stop producing.

Tabletop GardenTabletop gardens are essentially a shallow raised bed on legs which allows for easy wheelchair access. The gardener can push the chair underneath the table and work comfortably. Tabletop gardens are generally made of timber or metal, and can be constructed from scratch or bought pre-made.

Building your tabletop gardenThe planting bed of a tabletop garden is usually 20 to 25 centimetres deep, and the table is generally 70 centimetres from the ground. To avoid arm strain, the top of the planter should not be higher than the sitting gardener’s ribcage. For easy reach, the width of the bed should be around 90 centimetres. Drill drainage holes beneath the planting area, and consider placing the tabletop garden on casters, so it can be moved easily.

Planting your tabletop garden and maintainence Fill the tabletop garden with pre-moistened potting soil until it’s filled to within an inch of the top. Since they aren’t very deep, tabletop gardens should only be used to grow shallow-rooted annuals and some vegetables and herbs. Flower choices may include marigold, petunia and pansy; vegetable and herb choices include lettuce, spinach, cucumber, cherry tomato, baby carrot, basil, thyme and rosemary. Water when the top 5 centimetres of soil has dried out, and fertilize monthly. Keep flowers pruned to promote re-flowering, and harvest vegetables regularly to increase production.

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North West Wheel AroundUlverstone Community Supper Central Coast Council is keen to find out what’s happening in Ulverstone and so is holding a free community supper at the Gnomon Pavilion on Wednesday 30 October.Central Coast Mayor Cr Jan Bonde is hosting the casual chat and supper from 7pm until 8:30pm.“The Central Coast Council is committed to building safer, stronger and healthier communities and to do that we need the input of all our residents,” Mayor Bonde said.“The supper at the Gnomon Pavilion is a chance for us to find out what’s happening in the area and to share ideas and information.”RSVP by calling the Council on 6429 8900 or emailing admin@centralcoast.tas.gov.au by Friday 25 October.

Para Classification Day Athletics Tasmania, with the support of Athletics Australia, will again be hosting a Para Classification Day in conjunction with the 2019 Tasmanian All Schools Track & Field competition.When: Saturday 26 October, 2019 Where: Northern Athletics Centre, St Leonard’s, Launceston. How: To nominate for classification, please register through the following link: https://2019paraclassificationnomination.eventdesq.com/ For more information, please head to the AT website: http://www.tasathletics.org.au/…/20…/Para-Classification-Day

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Our Supporters and Partners:

WHAT’S ONThursday 24th October

•Hobart Show Day

Saturday 26th October •K Sport 10 Pin Bowling

Zone Bowling, Main Rd Moonah @ 10am

•K Sport 10 Pin Bowling Devonport 10 Pin Bowling @ 10am

•K Sport 10 Pin BowlingLaunceston Lanes @ 10am

Thursday 31st October •Wheelchair Aussie Rules

YMCA Glenorchy @6:00pm

Thursday 7th November•Wheelchair Aussie Rules

YMCA Glenorchy @ 6:00pm

Saturday 9th November • K Sport Boccia

Moonah Sports Stadium @ 10am

•K Sport Boccia Ulverstone Basketball Stadium @10am

•K Sport Boccia YMCA Launceston @ 10am

Monday 11th November

•Rememberance Day

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