INTRODUCING MARK LEES

Mark Lees joins TAD as the Director of Fundraising and Communications.

Educated as a priest, a career in the movies, Mark Lees has had anything but an orthodox entry to fundraising. Perhaps this disparate background though has built a unique set of skills to work in the field of restructuring Marketing and Fundraising departments for charities for the past 15 years.

Following 19 years of working  within the Motion Picture exhibition industry, in Orange, Gosford, Noosa and finally Sydney as project manager at Greater Union Theatres, developing multiple cinema complexes,  Mark took on a complete career change.  At the request of one of his seminary classmates,  Mark joined Catholic Mission to create a new Marketing and Fundraising Department. 

Nine years later this was followed by three years restructuring the Marketing and Fundraising Department at CareFlight helicopter rescue.

In 2006 he was asked by the Board of the Bible Society NSW to rebuild the Fundraising team at the Society and to create a new Marketing Department.

Mark’s teams have won numerous State and National Awards for their fundraising and marketing campaigns. In 2008 he was named Australasian Fundraiser of the Year by Philanthropy and Fundraising Magazine. He is a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia NSW Executive and a regular presenter at their national and international conferences.

Mark is married to Julia with two sons and three gorgeous grandchildren.

FREEDOM WHEELS FEATURED IN LIONS AUSTRALIA DVD

Lions Australia run a Mobility Foundation to provide funding support for mobility devices for children with disabilities. Lions have been supporting the HART Walker for years now but thanks to some local support from Blacktown Lion Steve Coleman, they were also keen to include Freedom Wheels too. A short DVD was made to celebrate this partnership, which was recently launched at their Annual Lions Conference held in Sydney this year. Over 15,000 Lions from all over the world attended the Conference and had a chance to learn more about the Freedom Wheels Modified Bike Service.

CAREX 2010

Come & see us at Sydney CAREX 2010
August 11 & 12 - Rosehill Racecourse - FREE ADMISSION

TADNSW will be at this year's CAREX at Rosehill Racecourse, August 11 & 12. CAREX is "Australia's Premier Health & Aged Care Expo". TADNSW is just one of hundreds of exhibitors showcasing their services covering the following sectors: Acute Care, Home & Community Care, Residential Aged Care, Disability Services and Retirement Living.

The two day Expo is designed for CEOs, DONs, managers, health/other professionals and all interested staff. CAREX represents a unique opportunity for information, education, networking, review & investing. With its mix of product and service based exhibitors, free & fee-paying workshops/seminars and other activities, CAREX is an event not to be missed. http://www.totalagedservices.com.au/sydney.asp

Freedom Wheels Featured in NSW BikePlan

Cycling is increasingly being seen as a greener, healthier and more active mode of transport and recreation for people everywhere. The NSW State Government is keen to encourage more people to ride their bikes and to help achieve this have released the NSW BikePlan.

The NSW BikePlan outlines how the NSW Government will work in partnership with local councils, communities and businesses to grow bike-riding over ten years.

TAD was fortunate to be selected to showcase the Freedom Wheels Modified Bike Service in the NSW BikePlan. To read our case study, download the extracted PDF page.

To find out more about the NSW BikePlan visit http://nsw.gov.au/bikeplan (We are on page 56!)

Gilly Aims For Another 25 Sixes in 2010 IPL UPDATE

Adam Gilchrist managed to hit a massive 16 sixes during the 2010 IPL season, but despite it falling short of the target, Amway will honor their initial agreement to fund 50 bike conversions. An official presentation will be made to TAD in late May.

Australian cricketing legend and Nutriway Ambassador, Adam Gilchrist, has set himself a new challenge when he returns to the field in Mumbai on March the 12th for the IPL (Indian Premier League) season opener between his Deccan Chargers and the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The skillful and affable batsman/wicketkeeper, who captains last year’s titleholders, plans on hitting 25 sixes during this highly competitive series that concludes in late April.

For every time Gilly hits a six, a “gift of wheels” will be donated to a child living with a disability.
Amway’s donation of AUD $20,000 will fund 50 bike conversions. The Freedom Wheels initiative is a partnership between Amway and Technical Aid to the Disabled (TAD).  Read the full story [PDF].

TADNSW Artwork Competition

To celebrate 35 Years of Service, TADNSW is putting together a commemorative calendar for 2011 - and we want your help.

The theme is: ‘Practical Solutions, optimising abilities’.

Each month will highlight a different artwork and client story. We are calling out to clients of all ages and their families to show US - creatively - how TADNSW has helped them.

This could be: A photo taken with the help of a Camera mount, a drawing of you on your Freedom Wheels bike or whatever else would like to express. We're not looking for gallery quality work, just interesting and creative expressions from the people that know us best - our clients.

All entries will be considered for inclusion in the calendar. Entrants will be notified if they have been chosen. Gift vouchers will be awarded to the winning entries.

Download the Artwork Competition flyer and entry form.

Right click and select "Save As" to download to your computer.

For more information email communications or phone (02) 9912 3400 and select option 3.

Mao's Last Dancer Charity Screening

On October 7th, despite Winter making a surprise appearance, over 120 people came along to see the film adaptation of Li Cunxin's memoir "Mao's Last Dancer" at Randwick's Ritz Cinema.

The film, which documents Li's lifestory: being picked as a child to represent China as one of Madame Mao's ballet dancers and achieving world-reknown as a talented dancer in the United States, and later his controversial defection from the People's Republic of China. This touching story didn't leave a dry eye in the cinema.

After the film, member of the cast and long time friend of TAD, Penne Hackforth-Jones shared her own experiences of the film and let the audience in on some of the movie's secrets.

The charity screening proved to be a popular fundraiser for TAD and attracted a varied crowd of new faces and longtime supporters.

Thanks must go to Penne Hackforth-Jones for being TAD's special guest on the night, and to the wonderful Randwick Ritz Cinema for hosting the event.

Parramatta Business Awards Finalist

TADNSW has been named a finalist at this year's Parramatta Local Business Awards.

As a charity, we don't often feel like we fit within the local business community. However, we still provide an important service to the community and know that we have many supporters who agree. So this year we egistered TADNSW for the 2009 Parramatta Local Business Awards under the "Specialised Business" category.

We are "specialised" because we help make life easier for children and adults with a disability through a variety of services. Our custom-built equipment, low-cost computer packages, and modified bikes all assist people in the local Parramatta area.

It is the first time we have been nominated for this award and TADNSW is proud to have been named a finalist.

Shutterbugs support TAD

Canon is running a photo competition called 'Creative For A Cause', inviting amateur photographers to submit photos that capture their chosen cause. Have you got a photo that captures the difference TAD has made to someone?

Canon is urging people to get Creative for a Cause by taking a photograph that depicts a cause that they are passionate about and uploading it, along with a 25 word description of what their photo represents and who their selected charity or charitable organisation is, to
www.canon.com.au/creativeforacause in Australia.

The top-three photos from each cause category as selected by popular vote and one editor's pick per category will then be reviewed by a judging panel who will select the top-five finalists. From this, the judges will select the winning image.

Australians have the opportunity to win their nominated charitable organisation AUD$60,000.

TAD Petition receives enormous response from the community

A petition was launched in early May, when the future of the funding for our Communications Service was unsure. With the help of more than 900 signatures from our greatest supporters, we have now entered into promising talks with the Regional office of DADHC (Department of Ageing, Disability, and Home Care). Your support has shown TAD to be a important organisation in communities across the state and beyond.

We would like to thank you for taking the time to fill out the petition. We will endeavour to keep you updated as things progress.

Thank you!

Adam Gilchrist set to score for TAD in IPL

Adam Gilchrist, who is Amway’s ‘Nutriway’ brand Ambassador has started his campaign to hit 25 Sixes in the 2009 IPL season which began earlier this month. Gilchrist's efforts will contribute towards 25 new specifically modified bicycles for 25 children living with disabilities through the TAD Freedom Wheels program.

"As a father of three kids, I know how much fun riding a bike can be for a child. Now, every six I hit means a smile on a child’s face," Gilchrist said, adding "I want to clear the boundary as often as I can."

The FREEDOM WHEELS Modified Bike Service customises standard pushbikes to give a new kind of independence to children with disabilities.

Second TAD Trotting Night A Success!

Just before Easter, TADNSW held their second Trotting Night at Harold Park Paceway. Ninety guests turned out for the evening, with a quite a few familiar faces from the last trotting night in October last year.

Besides having a flutter or two on the harness racing going on throughout the evening, it was the silent and live auctions that had people digging deep.

Thanks to our generous sponsors who donated many of the items on the night to the special appearance by Mr Sold himself, Scott Gibbons who made the auction an enjoyable spectacle.

Read more about the Trotting Night.

TAD says G'Day to visiting Japanese students

A group of 29 students from Fukuoka Rehabilitation College, Japan visited TAD in March to learn about our services. The students were all studying physiotherapy and occupational therapy and were spending almost two weeks in Australia visiting various disability related organisations and facilities.

With the help of a translator, the students heard presentations from TAD's own physiotherapist Weh Yeoh who took them through the process of a typical project from start to finish.

The visit ended with a tour of the facilities including some hands on time with various assistive devices and modified bikes.

This is the second tour TAD has had from Fukuoka College who hopefully will return in 2010.

TAD wins Award for Bicycle Friendly Business

The Cycling Promotions Fund, who promote the benefits of cycling to people of all ages has given an Honorable Mention to TAD for their FREEDOM WHEELS Modified Bike Program. FREEDOM WHEELS modifies standard pushbikes to enable children and adults with a disability to ride a bike for the first time.

The award acknowledges TAD's efforts to promote a form of recreation often taken for granted, and one that seems inaccessible for someone with a disability. Since the program's redevelopment and launch almost two years ago, we have put over 200 children onto their own modified bike.

FREEDOM WHEELS® is a joint initiative between TAD and Amway’s One by One Foundation, who provide the funding to enable TAD to provide such a unique service.

Read about TAD's other awards.

Lions International Visit TAD at Northmead

Local Lion and TAD supporter, Steve Coleman organised for a US film crew who were in Australia to do some Lions related work to come and visit TAD in March. 

The Blacktown Lions Club helped two brothers, Ben and Jack Galbraith get their FW bikes by fundraising on behalf of the family.

The film crew came and interviewed the family at Northmead and got footage of the boys riding their bikes.

The Australian Lions District Governor Elvio Munzone was impressed by the work we do at TAD. The footage, expected to be cut down to about 20 minutes, will feature as part of a Lions International DVD that will be circulated around the world, particularly in the USA. It focuses on the work done by Australian Lions who support programs that assist with mobility, such as FREEDOM WHEELS.

Adam Gilchrist gets 'Wheels In Motion'

Adam Gilchrist, who is Amway’s ‘Nutriway’ brand Ambassador has formally accepted Nutriway’s challenge to hit 25 Sixes at the 2009 IPL in India which will contribute towards 25 new specifically modified bicycles for 25 children living with disabilities through the TAD Freedom Wheels program.

FREEDOM WHEELS®, a joint initiative between TAD (Technical Aid to the Disabled) and Amway’s One by One Foundation, is giving kids who are living with a disability the chance to ride a bike for the first time.

Read more . . . [PDF 100kb]

Kicking A Goal for Charity

On Sunday, 17 August, the Grays Point Soccer Association hosted a Gala Day for the under 9’s soccer players whilst raising money for a great cause.

Around 300 children from the Sutherland Shire competed in a round of matches played from 8am to 3pm at Grays Point Oval, Angle Road, Grays Point.

Organisers from the Soccer Club generously donated the profits from the BBQ and the canteen to Technical Aid to the Disabled (TADNSW).

Each player also received a full sized soccer ball thanks to the generosity of TADNSW sponsor Cemex.

Read more . . .

Narellan Rotary Keeps on Giving

The Rotary Club of Narellan continued their generous support for a second year, presenting TAD with a cheque for $30,000 at their Annual Charity Ball.

The Rotary Club gives away thousands of dollars each year to a number of deserving charities and TAD remains grateful for their support.

Read more . . .

Team TAD Conquers the 2008 City2Surf

After weeks of training, the four members of TeamTAD braved the chilly Sunday morning on August 10, and joined 70,000 people to compete in the annual City2Surf Fun Run.

The team members, Tara Wilson, Neale Oakes and sisters Emily and Natalie Peterson appealed to family and friends to sponsor their 14km trek from the heart of the city to Bondi Beach.

Read more . . .

Branch Conference 2008

"New Horizons" was the theme for this year’s Annual Branch Conference, held in July at the Rooty Hill Holiday Inn.

The three day conference brought together over 60 innovative minds from across the state. Volunteers represented groups from the Northern Rivers, Port Macquarie, Manning-Great Lakes, Hunter, Central Coast, Central West, Yass, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Albury/Wodonga regions.

Read more . . .

Japanese Students Tour TAD

Northmead charity, TADNSW (Technical Aid to the Disabled) hosted a group of international visitors recently when 22 Japanese college students came for a tour.

The physiotherapy and occupational therapy students from the Fukuoka Rehabilitation College Japan visited TAD as part of a week long Australian visit to tour various health care and rehabilitation organisations.

Read more . . .

TAD Opens Doors

After more than 30 years housed in Ryde, TAD (Technical Aid to the Disabled NSW) has officially opened the doors to their new Northmead home.

TAD invited special guest Senator the Honourable Ursula Stephens Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector to unveil the plaque.

Read more . . .

Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association Biennial Conference

Assistive Technology: Creating Value Through Participation

ARATA’s biennial conference provides a forum for exploring issues in and the value of assistive technology for people with disabilities and the ageing.

Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 September 2008, Adelaide, SA

Read more . . .

TAD on Sunrise

Bike Clinics on National TV

“My First Bike” was the theme for a special report produced by Brady Halls for A Current Affair. The Channel Nine story was broadcast nationally and produced an amazing response from sponsors and members of the public keen to support the work of the TAD Bike Clinics.

The story featured four young boys attending one of the regular TAD Bike Clinics held at Ryde.

Read more . . .