Community collaboration to support people with disabilities in the Nambucca Valley Nambucca Valley Nambucca Valley - popup ad Nambucca Valley News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - March 1, 2024 Nambucca Valley Rotary’s Richard Wagschall and Dave Banks, Macksville Aquatic and Fitness Centre Manager Brad Paterson, Letisha Lennon of Macleay Options, physiotherapist Bec Dalzell, Bernadette Hayes and Graeme Beaton of the Lions Club of Nambucca Heads and Nambucca Valley Council General Manager Bede Spannagle with local man Cody Langham using the new mobile change table. COLLABORATION between Nambucca Valley Rotary, the Nambucca Heads Lions Club, the Nambucca Valley Council and Complete Staff Solutions Coffs Harbour has resulted in the provision of equipment that will make a huge difference to the wellbeing of many residents with disabilities in the region. The Macksville Aquatic and Fitness Centre has taken delivery of a purpose-built mobile change table that enables a new level of freedom and dignity for those with complex disabilities. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au The Director and Principal Physiotherapist at Diverging Pathways, Bec Dalzell, approached Dave Banks of Nambucca Valley Rotary about assistance in acquiring the table, costing over $3,000, to be permanently based at the Aquatic Centre. “At our first meeting this year we (Nambucca Valley Rotary) approached the Nambucca Heads Lions Club about sharing the cost of purchasing this table,” Mr Banks told News Of The Area. “Lions said yes and, with a contribution from Complete Staff Solutions at Coffs Harbour and transport costs being met by Council, we have been able to purchase this wonderful asset for the community.” The mobile change table is on wheels and is able to be hydraulically raised and lowered so that the disabled person can be hoisted out of the pool and onto the table, which can be wheeled into the change room for carers to assist changing the person into dry clothes. Prior to the arrival of this table at the Macksville Aquatic and Fitness Centre users were required to travel home, often over considerable distances, in the discomfort of wet clothing. “This level of collaboration between Lions and Rotary is not unusual when it comes to doing something for the community and we all get on very well with each other,” Graheme Beaton of the Nambucca Heads Lions Club added. Rotary and Lions then approached Nambucca Valley Council for further support. “When Rotary and Lions came to us for support it was a no-brainer for Council as what they were proposing was such a great idea and to see how free and relaxing that time in the pool was for young Cody impressed on us what a privilege it is for Council to be able to play a part in this,” Nambucca Valley Council General Manager Mr Bede Spannagle said. Physiotherapist Bec Dalzell told News Of The Area, “This table has transformed an amazing facility into a fully accessible one making this pool at Macksville the only one in the region that can be accessed by those with complex disabilities. “Up until this point many of my clients and others in the community have not been able to access this facility and this opens up a new world to them by being able to access the pool without safety issues and other challenges.” By Mick BIRTLES Physiotherapist Bec Dalzell and Cody Langham at the Macksville Aquatic and Fitness Centre where the new mobile change table now provides a new level of accessibility to those with complex disabilities.
