Spring is a great time to have a break in country Victoria as the weather warms up and the wildflowers appear. In early October, Gellibrand’s Customer Wellbeing Manager Margaret Given and Disability Support Worker Jason Rewita took to the highway with five Melbourne clients – Michaela, Martin, Susan, Trish, and Chantelle – for a holiday at our new rural Haddon house near Ballarat.
With golden wattle all around, the visitors, who have rarely had the chance in their lives to have a holiday, were struck by Haddon’s beauty. Susan spent lots of peaceful time enjoying the outdoor fire pit, while endlessly studying the kangaroos that graze on the property at dawn and dusk. Chantelle loved the kangaroos too, but the rabbits and abundant birdlife also fascinated her.
And Trish loved it so much she extended her stay from five days to seven, while Chantelle booked in an extra five days at the property. All five clients also said how much they liked the house itself, the light-filled rooms and open spaces.
Haddon only became available for holiday visits in September 2023 after we finished working with an architect on a makeover. Those works included making sure the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and laundry were all made wheelchair accessible.
“The holiday gave us a great chance to really test run the house and make sure it was appropriate for people with high physical support needs,” Margaret said, while Jason added that “getting to share moments with clients and help make memories was priceless”.
Clients went on relaxing bush walks and visited a nearby wildlife park, where they got to pat dingoes and feed wallabies. And, of course, they enjoyed nights out for dinner.
“People in Ballarat were so accommodating – moving tables and things like that. They just went out of their way to help us,” Margaret said, adding the help even extended to one restaurant guest paying for their meals.
“She offered to pay for our desserts, but ended up paying for all our meals. I found out later she had a disabled child and wanted to do something to give back.”
A free dinner, fire-lit nights under the stars, time in nature – all part of a spring Haddon adventure that the clients agreed about: they wanted to stay as long as they could – and they can’t wait to get back again.
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