LFT 30th Anniversary Chairperson Speech
Our Patron, Mrs Noeline McIlroy, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me
great pleasure to welcome you all to the 30th Anniversary celebration
of the Laura Fergusson Trust.
It’s only appropriate on this special occasion that we take a brief look back over the last 30 years of the Trust’s history.
The original Laura Fergusson Trust Board was set up under the patronage
of Laura Fergusson (known as Lady Ballantrae – wife of Sir Bernard
Fergusson, Governor General of New Zealand, who was elevated to a life
peerage in 1972 as Baron Ballantrae). The first Laura Fergusson Home
was set up in Auckland followed by a home in Wellington.
A
preliminary meeting of a group of interested persons, encouraged by the
Christchurch Co-ordinating Council for the Handicapped and the
Christchurch Rotary Club was held on 20th November 1973, to discuss the
establishment of a branch of the National Laura Fergusson Trust, in
Christchurch.
The first meeting of the Christchurch Trustees followed on 15 January 1974.
By
28 March, when the first Annual General Meeting was held, $15,610 had
been raised and negotiations had begun for a suitable area of land. By
the end of the year a sound organisation had been established and a
large number of enthusiastic people were ready to launch into a major
find-raising campaign in 1975.
By 1979, the building of a Home
for 24 residents had been completed on this 2 ½ acre block at Ilam Road
and the Trust and complex was officially opened by Lady Ballantrae, on
3rd March 1979.
The land was made available by the North
Canterbury Hospital Board at a peppercorn rent of 10c per year;
wouldn’t it be nice to pay this sort of rental today?
Donations
and grants from individuals and organisations raised by an Appeal,
organised by the Trustees, Management Committee and Women’s Auxiliary,
plus a Government subsidy of $287,000 helped to raise the $500,000
required to build and furnish the Home.
In 1984, a recreation
room was added to the existing building, funded mostly by a Telethon
which contributed $22,000. In 1988 a cottage was built for the Matron,
and her former flat was converted into four rooms for additional
residents, bringing the total number of residents to 28.
In
1991, a personal care service was introduced to allow residents
requiring extra help, to be able to remain in the Home. In the same
year, the Management Committee was replaced by a residents’ support
group. These people gave their services voluntarily to extend the
activities of the residents in the various fields of arts and crafts,
dressmaking, grooming, exercise, budgeting etc.
Because of the
waiting list and many requests for accommodation, six more rooms and 3
more bathrooms were built. When this new wing was ready for occupation
in July 1992, the Trust Home was catering for 35 residents.
The
cost of running the Home was entirely the responsibility of the Trust
Board, no subsidy was paid by the Government for this purpose. The
balance of the operating expenses was met by grants and donations from
various organisations and individuals, but the greatest source of funds
came from the Women’s’ Auxiliary. The Women’s Auxiliary had been
established in 1974 from the initiative of Mrs Alexia Pickering, wife
of the then Mayor, who was herself confined to a wheelchair. It was
largely due to the sterling efforts of its members that the building
was opened debt free in 1979 and their endless and inspiring programme
of fund-raising continued until 1997.
In April 1996, the Trust
received a grant of $200,000, representing a share of the proceeds from
the sale of a property bequeathed to the National Laura Fergusson
Trust, placing the Trust in a very sound financial position.
After
the disbanding of the Women’s’ Auxiliary in 1997, the balance of funds
held was handed over to the Trust Board which used them to establish a
fund for the benefit of the residents.
The Noeline McIlroy, QSO,
Laura Fergusson Residents Trust was formally registered as a charity in
2004, with special consideration given to cultural, musical and art
activities of the residents. This Trust still exists today and any
donations made are kept quite separate from the operating fund of the
main Trust. Recent changes to tax law now mean that a 33c tax rebate is
available for every $1 donated up to a maximum of the taxable income of
the person making the donation. We would encourage anyone with any
surplus funds to consider making a donation to this Trust. Donation
forms are available from the office.
When the lease on the Ilam
Road property came up for renewal in 1997, the Ngai Tahu Trust,
declined their first right of purchase of this Crown Land, the Laura
Fergusson Trust officially purchased the property for $300,000. What an
inspired decision this was, being able to purchase 2 ½ acres in this
area for this price 12 years ago. These days you are paying this price
for an 800 – 1200 square metre section.
In 1998, a respite care room was introduced and occupied continuously.
In 1999, the cottage, formerly the Matron’s residence, was made available for residents preparing to return to the community.
The
21st Birthday of the Laura Fergusson Trust in Christchurch was
celebrated in 2000, with a commemorative tree being planting by the
Patron, Mrs Noeline McIlroy. A time capsule containing work by the
residents was buried at the base of the tree. An embroidered wall
hanging, visually capturing the history of the Home, was dedicated.
This was planned and executed by the residents, with assistance from
Mrs McIlroy and members of the Canterbury Embroiderers’ Guild,.
Over
recent years the Home has developed and expanded its services in line
with ACC and Ministry of Health contract requirements, achieving
certification under the new regulations in 2004.
In 2004, six
transitional studio units were built, providing residents with an
opportunity to increase their level of independence. A carer support
unit was established in 2005 followed the next year by a new training
kitchen, officially opened by Mr George Fergusson, the British High
Commissioner and son of Lady Ballantrae.
Other building
developments have seen increased office space, to cater for the
increased staff numbers and upgrading of the dining room and kitchen.
Residents are also able to use the superb facilities in the
Christchurch City Council, Jellie Park Pool complex next door to the
Home.
While the Laura Fergusson Trust provides a long term
home for some residents, the current emphasis is on actively seeking to
achieve maximum independence and improve quality of life through
rehabilitation with a view to enabling residents to return to the
community where possible. The Home now caters for 35 permanent
residents with 3 carer support beds.
The evolution of the Trust
over the last 30 years would not have been possible without the help
and dedication of all the volunteers. Their contribution is greatly
valued.
In addition to the volunteers, we have a superb team of
staff, ably lead by our CEO, Mrs Sonia Pratt, who was appointed to this
role in May 2002.
The Trust has grown considerably over the last
7 years under Sonia’s leadership and has faced many challenges during
this time, all of which have been handled in a professional manner by
Sonia and her team.
I would also like to acknowledge my former
and current Trustees who have all given their time so willingly in
guiding the Trust to the position of respect it has in the community
today.
In conclusion, this is a fantastic facility that provides
such a valuable and highly respected service for the rehabilitation of
people with disabilities in our community.
Thank you to all of
you for your continued support of the Laura Fergusson Trust, we can
assure you that everything will be done to ensure that the next 30
years are as rewarding and fulfilling as the last 30 have been.
May I wish you all the very best for the future. Thank you.
Paul Duggan
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