History of Cootharinga Society of North Queensland

History of Cootharinga Society orNorth Queensland FRONTCOVERPHOTOGRAPHS . From toD to bottoll't Nursing/StaffQuartersand Matrons/SistersQuarters.OpenedMay l96l by Colonel Sir Henry Abel-Smith,Governor of Queensland. Original Front Office and Children'sPlayground.Late 60's CootharingaNursing Home - Christntctslate 50's CootharingctNursingHome Entrancefrom WarbLtrtonStreet.Early 60's Medical BuilclingonclTherapv1960's Nursing/StaffQuortersanclMatrons/SistersQuarters.OpenedMay 1961 b1,Colonel Sir Henm Abel-Smith,Governor of Queenslancl. ACKNO\YLEDGEMENTThe Societywishes to express cleepestthcurksto those ytl'roctssistecpl rofes.sionallr-or personally towards the completiott of this work.PctrticuIarthankstoDrJustittHardingforhisdetlicationtotl1etaskoJ'u''orkingtlrralvntCeri(i ab:;orbing recanl oJ the Societ';'s lti:;tort'. \" This publicationis copyright.ExceptasprovidedundertheCopyrightAct 1968(Comnionwealthn),o partof thispublicationmay be reproducedby any processe, lectronicor otherwises, toredin a retrievasl ystemor transmitted withoutthe priorpermissionof thecopyrightowner.Enquiresshouldbe addressetdo thepublishers. Exceptwhereotherwiseacknowledgedth, eoriginalownershipof photographussedin this publicationis unknown.However,all photographs tusedhavebeendonatedto theCootharingSa ocietyof NorthQueensland andlorm partof theSociety'sarchives.\" Publishedby CootharingSa ocietyof NorthQueensland, P O B o x 7 8 9 ,T o w n s v i l l eQ L D .4 81 0 . Printedby EstoX-PressPrintingCompany, P O B o x 7 4 1 ,T o w n s v i l l eQ L D . 4 8 1 0 . Copyright O CootharingaSocietyof North Queensland2002.

CHAPTER ONE BEGINNINGS1951-52In 1951Australia,and North Queenslandw, ere very different Two weekslater a secondmeetingwas held. In additionto theplacesT. elevisionwould not arrivein the countryfor anotherfive committee,Mr J. C. \"Charlie\"Butler was presentA. prominentyears,andin thenorthfor anotheitwelveF. or theaverageperson, TownsvillebusinessmanB,utler washimselfafflictedwith poliocomputers were still the stuff of science fiction. A large at a young age.He walkedwith a severelimp, andrequiredtheproportionof the populationhad no telephoneT. he roadsin the support of a brace on one of his legs. Motivated by purenorth were, to say the least,primitive, with many impassable philanthropy,he had, with the sanctionof the Mayor and theduringthe wet seasonA. nd poliomyelitis,sincealmostforgotten, Councilof the City of Townsville,beguninvestigationisnto thewasstill a major publichealththreat. needs of the polio children. Miss Franklin's committee, apparentlyunawareof Mr Butler's previous work, were moreOtherwiseknown by its diminutivepolio, or in the vernacular, thanhappyto havehe,andthoseassociatewd ith him,form ajointinfantile paralysisbecauseof its tendencyto afflict the very committeein orderto pool availableresourcesandknowledge.young, poliomyelitis had been a scourgeon humanity formillennia.Egyptiansteledatingfrom the time of the Pharaohs The Society's activities were twofold in this early period:depictpeoplewith witheredlegswalking with the aid of a crutch. providing for the needsof the children, and planning for theSimilar imagesoccur in mediaevalart. Literature is repletewith construction of the rehabilitation facility. This first task wasdescriptionsof its debilitatingeffects.TheAustralianauthorAlan obviously the most immediate.Fortunately,as the SocietyMarshall's book, ^ICan Jwnp Puddles, vividly and touchingly became better known in the district, so the applicationsfordescribeshis battle with the disease,as well as the primitive membershipincreaseda, ndtherewas rarely a shortageof willingtreatmentsemployed in the rehabilitation of its victims. There hands.A variety of activities were undertaken.For example,awas no cure,andno vaccine. - piano--wa-psursha$9dta-elabl-e!-os3l a!la!-q-(a*p-9fo-fm,-lq!hf ,e- children,anda musicteacherengagedto give instructionat 3/-dPolio pandemicsoccurredfrom time to time during the twentieth per hour. Inflatable \"water-wings\" were donatedto enablethecentury,the last from 1942to 1953.It was in responseto this children to go swimming, and the Townsville Rotary Cluboutbreakthata groupofconcemedcitizensin Townsvilledecided volunteeredto transportthemto andfrom thebeachA. pplicationsto take positive actionto amelioratethe sufferingof the afflicted were madefor fund-raisingraffles, and publicity wasgenerouslychildrenin the region. offeredby radio4TO.A meetingwas held on 11 May 1951 in the officesof Mr J. On 22 October1951anelectionof officerswasheld.TheMayorHolliday in the Townsville Central BusinessDistrict. It was of Townsville,Mr J. S.Gill, wasmadePatronof theSocietyM, r.convenedby Miss Helen Franklin,a copywriterwith the local Butler succeedeMd iss Franklinas PresidentM, iss Franklinandradiostation,4TO.MissFranklinhadtakenit uponherselfto visit Messrs Dale and HaylesbecameVice-Presidentst,he Treasurerthechildrenin thepolio wardof theTownsvilleGeneraHl ospital. wasMr F. S. Sutton,andtheSecretaryMr D. \"Dom\" Martinez.ItStrictlyquarantinedfrom the outsideworld, thesechildrenwere was decided that the most important administrative matterseparatedfrom their families for long periods, and denied the requiring attentionwas to settlethe constitution.Accordingly, acomfortsof homelife. It washer purpose,Miss Franklinsaid,to sub-committeeconsistingof the President,the Treasurerandonetry to provideat leastsomesmallitem;a toy or bookfor instance; other memberwas appointedto deal with the matter.which might lessenthe hardshipof long-termconfinementT. othis endshebegansolicitingoffersof goodsfrom thecommunity By January 1952 the organisationailssueshad been largelyfor distributionto the children.Suchwas the responsethatMiss attendedto. Four major committeeswere created:the FinanceFranklinsoonfoundherselfinundatedby donationsandoffersof Committee, the Transport Committee, the Welfare andhelp. It was her concernthat somesort of properlyconstituted PurchasingCommittee,and the Publicity Committee.Mr Butleradministrationbe establishedto coordinatethe operationwhich, reportedthattheconstitutionandruleshadbeenfinaliseda, ndtheto usea contemporaryeuphemism\",was growinglike Topsy\". relevant documentsforfrarded to the Crown Law Office in Brisbane.It remainedonly for the Society to be registeredas aDr T. U. \"Dicky\" Ley,a surgeonat theTGH, saidthatheexpected private company,but an unforeseenimpedimentoccurred.In as many as forty childrenwould be permanentlycrippledas a August it became.known that the QueenslandSociety for result of the latestpolio outbreak.The facilitiesat the hospital Crippled Childrenbasedin Brisbanehad objectedon the grounds were simply not up to the task of providing rehabilitationI.t that the namesof thet:w;o orsanisationswere similar.andlikelv to shouldthereforebe the purposeof the proposedassociationto causeconfusion.For a time it seemedthat the NQSCCwould erect an institution that would cater for this urgent need.After haveto be re-namedasthe North AustraliaSocietyfor Crippled considerablediscussioni,t was resolvedby the meetingto form Children, but at the eleventh hour, the QueenslandSociety the \"North QueenslandCrippled Children's Society\". A withdrewits objectionsa, ndregistrationundertheoriginalname provisionalcommitteewas appointedc, hairedby Miss Franklin, occurredon 3 Septembe1r 952.Full attentioncouldnowbe given to conduct initial investigationsinto the feasibilitv of the to the enormoustaskof buildinethe Societv'shome. undertaking. I

CHAPTER TWOBRICKSAND MORTAR L953.57 Dr Ley said that sonte y-earsa7o he hod subnrittedctreport giving details of the nrunbers of children etc., br'ttsince thctttinte tlrcre had been clunges, not ortlv-irt the nmnber of childrert requiring ittstitutional cctre,but irt the attitudes of parents to tlrcir chilclrert lit,ing itt ntr institutiort. [There are at Ieast] 30-40 chiltlren needing institutional treatnxent,attd the nmrbers in recert nontlx.\ have increased considerably.Accommodation at the Hospital is alntost contpletely crowtled out, and the Hospital is having to improvise beds. ... He considercdafair estintatiottoffigures t't,ill be nothing lessthan 40-50 u:ho u'ill need to litte irtan irtstitutiort sonrcwhere in North Queensland. If a chiltl has polio irt ttn isolated arca, it nxustconle to tllis centrefor treatnrcnt.Thisfigure also includes spastics,becatLsethev are much better nixecL up Offtciat Opening 1957. Mr Charlie Butler, President of the Society' w,ithother children. The stimulus of rtornml chiltlren is inrportcutraddressing the.guests. l|Ir Vince Gair, Premier of Queensland, to Mr to tlrc treatntettot f spaslics. Butler's left, seated. With regard to tlxe econontic aspect, the itlstitLttionneed not beThe first months of the new year were devoted to fundraising elaborate.In Engkutd they are Arnu huts,bttt in Australia Dr Leyactivities. A \"Queen Competition\", a local beauty pageant,washeld to coincide with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In felt Homesfor Crippled Children had beenover capitalised. Theaddition, regional sub-committeesof the Society were formed.in actual cctpital expenditureneeclnot be great. Plain sintple huts'most of the major centres in North Queensland. Radio 4TOcontinuedits active support by giving a full day's airtime free for flat coLtntry, good roculs, big tuheelecl beds artd stt'irtrrttirtga public appeal for donations.Then, on 25 May, the first formal facilities eue the nnin essentictls.Witlt regard to the ancillary- servicesthe teacherwoultl beprot'ided by tlrc Govenutert but the Plnsiotherapist w,olid llove to be providetl bv the lrcnte.discussionsrelating to the construction of the home were held. Dr Ley stated he is t,era concerneclabout the conclitiortsttncLerDr Ley reported at length on the progress to that time. The which the chiklrcn ere notN lit'irry. There is still cr lot of poliominutes of the meeting are illuminating, both for the ilh,rstrationof the complexity of the task, and the well-meaning paternalism nbottt curl tu'treportedcases are conting in Jbr treclment unclerof the Society's philosophy in those days. their ov'tt t,olitiort.He feels that the Socien should go ahead vrith plans for tlrc Honte inrntecliatelvas if one is not providecl itt tlteCrowrl at OJficiaI Opening, May 1957. (See Castle Hill in the backgrourtd).

Mr VinceGair,Premierof Queenslando,fftciallyopeningCootharingaNursingHome.May 1957.near future tlrc Hospital nxay be conlpelled to send sonxeof the the relative nrerits of tltese, and any other sites tlxat may becomechildren to Brisbane for trcatntent wlrcre accontntodation is available.available. A special nxeetitlgwas convenedon 2I July 1953to hear the SiteDr Ley said that in England tlrc Homes are built in large gromds Conmdttee's recommendattons.It tunred out that Three Mile Creek had been resen,ed for a school. The Quarantine Stationin which tlrcre is a large playing field, not for tlte ttse of the was available, btn deenrcdunsuitable.Anotlter possible area nearchildren but for outside bodies. While this is t'Lotessential it Kissing Point on the Strand was Commonwealth land andprovides an interestfor the children and can be ltired out to the unavailable. The conmittee, instead, rcconunended a site of threevarious sporting bodies. If the growtds are large parents and acres adjoining the orphanage on Warburton St in North Ward.relatives can visit and take their child out itrto the groundsfor Mr Br,ftIer enumerated tl'Leadvantages. It was close to tlte hospitalpicttics etc. and yet still be with itt the disciplinarl control of the and other essential sentices. The Sports Resente was only twoHonre - this does enable parents to spend the day with their child.In stunnting up Dr Ley said that the essentials for a Horne for blocks away. Flat country would allow for easy mobility forCrippled Children in Towttsville would be: ready access to crippled children. Little structural work was required. Finally, the Iand was possessedof a'magnificent view with well-establishedswinmring baths; stfficient groLmdsto allow a rcasonableamoutlt trees and bird lfe. The Site Contmittee's recomntendations wereof movement about the grounds - about 3 to 4 acres; good roadsand flat ground. duly adopted, and Messrs Butler.and Martinel empowered to take all necessaryaction ott behalf of the Sociery b obtain a special.T*ao sitesfor the honte were discussed: one at Three Mile Creek, Iease on the land. and the other at tlrc Okl Quarantine Statiort at Pallarenda. Initial thirtking was to have five tuards, v,ith the sexes segregated. The A report w,as furnisl'ted to the Lands Administration Board stffing profiIe wotid include a Matron, six trained .nurses, a justifying the needfor 3t/zacr€s to establish aforty-bedfacility. It nmle orderly, and sixmaids.Annual running costswere reckoned containedfour principal argunxents.First, the land nust be levelat {15,000, and would tn large part be covered by a state to allow easy wheel chair access.It was noted tlmt in England,government subsidy of 8/- per child, per day. The Prcsident buildings **ere erected along the lines of arnv hLtts,tvitlt longestinxatedtlxat establishnlentcosts would amount to something in rantps and wide verandahs. Second, tlrc growtds ntust bethe order of f.(0,000. A conunittee was appointed to investigate spaciotts -*ith sntooth surfaced patlxways and dontestic roads so 1

MrCharIieButler,PresidentoftheSocietyandfIrVinceGair,PrenierofQueensIantlinspectiltgtheNursingHonteatoffcialopeling Olficial party on OpettingDuy,22 ilIttt, 1957.

tlnt long-terntresidentcould spendmost of their tinte outdoors. The lastmeetingof the Societyfor the yearon 20 December1954Tltird, a swintntingpool *^asesqentiaLb,uoyancybeinga greataid wasof particularsatisfactionto thoseinvolved.Forthefirst timein the developnlentof wastedmi.tsclesF. ourth, the lawnsnxustbe it was possibleto envisagewhat the home would look like. Mrlarge enoughfor recreation and physical therapy. Tlrc report VanAescht,thecommissioneadrchitectp, resentefdor inspectioncouclu.ded: the sketch plans of the buildings. These were received withFor all these reasons,it is quite obvious that single stotl general approval.Less satisfying, however, was his report thatbttildings surroLmdedby contntodiousgrqunds, yvitlt nunterous building costshadblown out to f,36,000,undoubtedlydueto thebitumenpatlxs,a niniature tecrecttiongrottnd, and a swirnning high rate of inflation thenprevailing. Fortunately,the successofpool, are essentialfor the rehabilitation of these crippled the fund-raising was enough to keep the Society's head wellcltildren,particularly as tlteir residencein the instittttionwill be abovewater.so long. Throughout 1955preparationscontinued apace.In JanuarytheNotwithstandingearly favourableindicationsfrom the Lands Secretary,Mrs Joan Innes Reid, reported that the Society hadDepartmenti,t wasnot until 18April 1955thatthe all clearwas beenofferedfull membershipof theAustralianAdvisory Councilgivenfor the Societyto go aheadwith developmenot f the site. for thePhysicallyDisabled(AACD). This organisationhadworld wide affiliations with similarbodies.andwasa fund of enormousIn the meantime,the Societyhad, after considerabledifficulties knowledgeand practicalexperience.Membershipwas acceptedwith recruitment,managedto securethe servicesof a full-time and it was resolvedto sendMr Butler as a delesateto its annualfinancialorganiserto coordinatefundraisingactivities.Mr Lou conference.Sumnercofllmencedwork in November 1953.and o-ver-thenex-ttwenty-fourmonths,travelledto all the majorregionalcentresin Finally on 23 January1956, the Presidentannouncedto theNorth Queenslandsoliciting donations.Pledgeswere received regular monthly meetingthat the contractorhad begun movingfrom sugarcanefarmers,employeesof businessecsonsentedto equipmenton to the site.Initial progresswasslow,partly duetoweeklypayrolldeductionsof 3d or 6d, churchespassedtheplate the wet seasonS. till, progresswas being madeand it was nowat Sundayservicesa, ndcollectionboxeswereplacedin hotels.As time to considerwhat equipmentwould be neededto outfit thea resultof these,andmanyotheractivities,theOrganisereported home.Orthopaedibceds,high chairs,diningroomtablesw, alkingin November1955thathehadraisedsomef 12,000thatyear,and machines,exercisebikes, treatmentcouchesand plaster shearsexpectedanotherf8,000 in 1956. were among the multitude of paraphernaliaordered.And, in a Coothainga Nursing Home prior to opening in May, 1957.

Clientsof Cootharinga,hospitasl taffand membersof the Society.ChristmasParty 1956at TowttsvilleGeneral Hospital, prtor tu clientsmovingto CootharingaNursingHonte'ratherquaint1950stouch,thebathroomfittingsfor theboyswere theintellectuallyhandicappewd ith thephysicallydisabledon theblue,andfor the girls,Pink. groundsthat the former would impedethe developmenot f the latter.Finally, Miss Tuxen offered a statisticalbreakdownof theThefourthAnnualGeneraMl eetingol theSocietywasheldon 23 casesdealtwith by theVSCC:397opolios,137ospasticsa,ndtheApril, all officersbeingelectedunopposedT' wo itemsof special remaindersurgicalTB, congenitaldeformities'amputeesandsignificancewereraised.In recognitionof the generosityof the arthritics.Her addresswaswell received,andproveda valuablestategovernmentin providing a f20,000 subsidytowardsthe guideto the Societyin planningfor the openingof thehome.constructionof thehome,it wasdecidedto invitethePremierM, r As the completionof Cootharingaapproacheds,taffrecruitmentVince Gair, to conductthe openingceremonyof the home in1957.-TheSeconditem wasthe nameof the home,which aftera hu wpEo4 .rrn i^nr r c a r n p s t T h e n c s i t i o n o f M a t r o n w a . s F i r s t , S i s t e r G r a c epubliccompetitionwasdecidedas \"Cootharinga\". Howlett being appointedin Februaty 1957.Demonstratingthe professionalismgainedfrom yearsof experienceM, atronHowlettThe Societywas honouredin July 1956with a visit from Miss immediatelymadea numberof well-reasonerdecommendations'Joan Tuxen, Director of the Victorian Society for Crippled Sheadvisedthatonly half theavailablecapacitybefilled initiallyChildren(VSCC),Secretaryto the AACPD, andmemberof the to avoidcongestionwhile early \"teethingproblernsw\" ereironedCommonwealthRehabilitationAdvisory Council(CRAC)' Miss out. In lieu of separatestaffquarterst,emporaryaccommodationTuxen'scredentialws ereimpressive1: 5yearsexperiencedealing couldbe providedfor the basicstaff at one endof the building'with crippled children, including three years in the United with the childrenhousedat the other.Lastly,the staff shouldKingdom, fifteen months in the USA, and three months in consistof Matron,a DeputyMatron, Cook, Domestic,Orderly,Europe.She was also Australia'sRepresentativeat the 1955 two Nursingaids,and a Yardman'ThesewereadoptedwithotttHagueConferenceof the InternationaSl ocietyfor theWelfareof hesitation.Cripples. The fulfilment of morethansix yearshardwork occurredon 22Miss Tuxen addressecal speciallyconvenedmeetingon 6 July' June1957with theofficial openingof theCootharingaHomeforShesaidthatin therehabilitationof thechildren,emphasis hould CrippledChildrenby thePremierof Queenslandth, eHonourablebe placedon ability,ratherthan disability.Eachchild shouldbe VinceGair,MLA. It wasa galaoccasions, everahl undredinvitedencouragetdo achievehis or her maximumpotential,andonly in guests, supportersand memberspresent. PresidentButlercasesof severedisability should institutionssuch as sheltered reportectlhat: \"After the ceremdnyt,he Home was inspectedbyworkshopsbe consideredas an option. Attendanceat regular the Official Partyandguestswho wereloud in theirpraiseof theschooiswas desirables, o the disabledchild can learnto \"takea excellenceof the design, and the attractivenessof thefew bumps\", while the abie bodied child would gain an environmenftor thechildren\".At last,Cootharingawasopenforappreciatioonf theother'ssituationS. headvisedagainsmt ixing business. 6

CHAPTER THREEBUTLER'SWAY T957.68Sir Henry Abel-Smith, Goventor of Queensland officitlly opening tLe Matrons anil Nurses Quarters at Cootharinga, May 1961' It hasbeengenerallyacceptedthatJ. C. \"Charlie\"Butlerwasthe first Presidenot f the NQSCC.As we haveseen,thiswasnot the case,andthathonourbelongsto HelenFranklin.Neverthelessit, cannotbe deniedthat Butler was far and awaythe driving force behindthe Society,and its most dominatingpersonalityover a periodof seventeeynears.He was,in a very realsenset,heFather of the NQSCC, and, in the first decadeof Cootharinga's existencet,herewerefew decisionsindeednot stampedwith his personalimprimatur.This is not to detractfrom the contributions made by others. Treasurer Sutton, SecretaryReid, Vice- PresidentsMartinezand Dale, the principal medicalofficer Dr Ley, and of course, Matron Grace Howlett, all exercised considerableinfluenceon the way the NQSCCdid businessB. ut it was J. C. Butler who.stoodheadand shouldersaboveall of them, and it was he who fundamentallyshapedthe Society's philosophyin its formativeyears. Lady Abel-Smith, wift of Goventor of Queensland accepting bouquet In the eighteen months to December 1958, a number offrorn client at opening of Matrons and Nurses Quarters, 1961. Matron arrangementsweresetin placethat would governthe day-to-day administrationof the Societyand the home.The medicalpanel Grace Howlett and Mr Charlie Butler featured here. chairedby Dr Ley set down five basic principlesgoveming admissionsF. irst,only childrenup to agefifteenwouldbecatered for. Secondt,hosein the acutestageof their illnesswould not be admitted.Third, Cootharingawas declaredto be a haven for convalescenceand rehabilitation. Fourth, mentally retarded childrenwereunacceptabloewing to lack of facilitiesandtrained staff able to deal with them. Fifth. no child shouidremain at 7

Mr Charlie Butler receivirtg awaril at Rotary' Townsville. Mid 60's.Cootharingaif they were consideredcapableof reasonable was graduallybroughtundercontrol.The conquesot f polio didmobility and able to mix with other children. Additionally, two not, however,renderthe work of the NQSCC any lessrelevant'permanenct ommitteeswere establishedt:he HouseCommittee, As we shall see,the numberof casesadmittedto Cootharingachaired by Matron, to oversee\"housekeeping\"and staffing would increasewith eachyear, and at times put considerablemattersa, nd the FinanceCommitteeheadedby TreasureSr utton stresson thefacility'sability to cope.to do like wisewith the moneY. 1959 ended with a senseof quiet satisfactionon the part of theThe House Committee made an important and far-reaching Presidentand his officers. He reported that, after the inevitablerecommendationat its regularmeetingin November1957,Dr teething difficulties (including an infestation of toads in theL€y slrongly ulged that 'the Society give consideraticnto the qr.*7i6vr-rinv1ool!)- \"rnattershave now settleddown verv weli andestablishmenotf a splinrmaking and surgicalboot workshop. we are proceeding very quietly\". Cootharinga's originallyThereweretwo rationalesunderpinningthis: it wasexpensiveto envisaged capacity of forty residents had already been exceededorder thesefrom the south,and much betterresuitswould be by three. Staff had increased to include the Matron and threeachievedif the child could be fitted \"on the spot\". The Sisters,eight Nr.rrseso, ne Medical Orderly, two Physiotherapists,recommendationwas takenup by the Society,and, in ensuing six Domestics, one Gardener and a palt-time Physiotherapist,Theyears,Cootharingabecamethe most significantplovider in the school was operating satisfactorily, with four childrenNorth of these,andsimilaraids. successfullysitting their scholarshipexams.A significant boost to the Society's public profile was accordedby a highly pubiicisedMeanwhile,adrnissionsto the homecontinuedat a steadypace. visit to the home by the \"well known stageand radio personality\"At the end of 1957 there were twenty-oneresidentsT. welve Winifrecl Attwell. All in all, everyone concernedcor-rldlook backmonthslaterthis had increasedto thirty-six,drawnfrom asfar a with pride on nine years of good works, and expectationswerefield as Mackay,the NorthernTenitory and the Tones Strait. high for the new decade.. Included were post-polios,spastics,amputees,and those The 1960swere tttmultttous,of that therecan be no doubt. War in sufferingfrom spinalinjuries,tuberculosiss, pinabifidaa' rthritis Vietnan-r,conscription, the hippie culture of peaceand free love' the contraceptive pill and feminisni, all sei'ved to turn andrickets.The profile of the residentsof Cootharingaat this time is conventional ideas relating to people and the societiesin whichnoteworthy,especiallythat first categorylisted;post-polios.In they lived on their heads. Nevertheless,Cootharinga continLled1 9 5 2t h eA m e r i c a ne p i d e m i o l o g i sJt o n a sS a l kf o r m r : l a t e dt h e f i r s t about its business,guided by the same cautiotrs,conservativepolio vaccineA. fter wide-scaletestingdistributioncommencedin paternalism, the embodiment of which was the President, J. C.the mid-fifties, and in conjunction with a different, orally Butler.adniinisteredvaccinecreatedby virologist Albert Sabin,polio I

Henry Abel Smith. These long awaited buildings relieved congestionin the main complex,wherethe residentpopulation hadblown out to fifty-two, andthe nursingstaff nowhada much neededhavenfrom the stressesof living andworking continually in closeproximity to severelydisabledchildren.In addition,the RecreationBlock enabledthepre-schooal ndkindergartecnlasses to be caredfor during the day away from the restof the student body, a move consideredimportantwithin the educationael thos prevailingat thetime. 1961hadotherhighlightsA. delegationof VIPs visited,included in their number Dame Pattie Menzies, the wife of the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, federal minister SenatorDame AnnabelleRankin,andthePresidentof theAustralianSenate,Sir Allister McMullin. It was also satisfyingto havethe inaugural Open HouseDay at Cootharingaprove a ringing successw, ith handicrafts produced by the children offered for sale to the public. This latter developmentwas hailed as an emphatic endorsementof the vocationaland craft-trainingprogramat the ,.trcmp.,!fepr-4gn! Bqllgr concluded his annual addressto the Society with an impassionedplea for members' \"greatest attentionto fund-raisingfor future expansion,mostimmediately the schoolandphysiotherapyfacilities\". The President's\"call to arms\"was answeredenthusiasticallbyy themembershipB. y theendof 1962,Butlerannouncetdhatin the previous two years,no fewer than fourteenmajor extensionsto the complex had beencompleted. Thesewere: a four room school block; Kindergartenand RecreationalCentre; StaffMr Charlie Butler, President of the Society speaking at the opening of the Quarterswith accommodationfor twenty; Matron's Residence; Nursing Home, 1957. Trained Sisters'Unit; OccupationalTherapyUnit; Bulk Storage Depot; Air-conditioned Speech-TherapyUnit; Library; Infants'ln his annualreportfor 1960,Butlerwrote: Dormitory; Clerical Offices; Playing Fields; Steam LaundryThe religiotrssideof the childrcn'slives is takertcareof, and they Block; and the purchaseof an adjacentbuilding which wasattend Cluuch evetl Sunday.It is a pleasing experienceto see converted for use as a Domestic Science and Commercialtheirfriends calling to takethemto placesofworship, dressedin TrainingBlock, andasa SeniorGirls ResidentiaHl ostel.thetrSundaybest.Thisis a greatachievenxenat,xdspeakswell oftlrc self-sacrificeof thosewho takethe trouble and tinteto help in Further refinement to the constitutional and administrativetltisdirection. structuresalso occurred in 1962. A lvledical and Educational Panelwasestablishedcomprisingthe Medical SuperintendenDt, rHe alsovisitedtheUnitedStateson a fact-findingmission: Ley, two OrthopaedicSpecialists,Matron, the Physiotherapist,I tookgreatcare visitinga nttntberofplaces whereoccupational the SpeechTherapist,the two School Teachersand the Socialwork wasafeature of the Honte,and I ant confidentwe canapply Worker. Their brief waf to provide weekly reviewsto facilitatetlte knowledgeI acqtriredin Antericato the conditionswhichare the coordinationof training,educationand treatment.The Board of Honorary Directors- thb Presidentand sixteenothermembersapparentherc, and to acljustthat knowledgeto nxeetlrcpeculiarconditiortswlticltyoufind in thisarea. - was declaredto be the supremepolicy formulation body. The ConsultantsPanel was revampedto include for the first time aThese two quotessum up his approach:learn from others and PsychiatristE, NT Specialisat nda SkinSpecialistt,hislastnamedapply with local modifications,within a traditionalChristian to provide advice on how to amelioratethe affectsof artificialv a l u es y s t e m . limbs and similar deviceson the epidermis.And a Parents' Committeewas setup to give auxiliary supportin fund-raisingThe next threeyearsweredevotedto the completionof several and the like. This very busy year was capped with thenecessaryextensionsto the Cootharingahome.The highlightof establishmentof a Sheltered Workshop to help those most1961was the official openingof the new Nurses'Quartersand severelydisabledand unableto competein the work force. ItRecreationBlock by the Governorof QueenslandC, olonel Sir went by theoptimisticnomenclature\",CapabilitiesPty Ltd\". 9

A VIp visit to Cootharinga. Dame Pattie Menzies, accompanied by Matron Howlett talkittg to clients at Cootharinga Nursing Home. Mid 60's. AVIpvisit to Cootharinga. HRH PrincessAlexandra, with Matrort Llowlett, talkirtg witlt clients at Cootharinga Nzrsirrg Honte. lvlid 60's . 10

Dr T tl \"Dickie\" Ley, Orthopaeilic Surgeonfor Cootharinga Nursing Home, addressing guests ot opening of extensiorr to Hostel of Nursing Home, 1968. Clients of Cootltaringa Nursing Home and their carers at opening of extensiott to Hostel in 1968.

The Splint-making and Boot-making workshop at Cootharinga Nursing Home. Late 1960's-After thefranticpaceof 1960-62t,he Societyoncemoreentered Treasurerand Vice-Presidenot f the AustralianCouncil for thea quiet phase over the ensuing two years, with all of the Rehabilitationof the DisabledT. hat thisbody,a federationof allimmediateneedswell in hand.The residentpopulationstabilised similarsocietiesandassociationascrossAustralia,shouldchoosein thehigh fifties, andthe day-to-dayadministrationpurredalong as an internationaldelegate the Presidentof the NQSCCin a rvcll--_selablished,rqut-inqI.t 1ryqnsaturalthat.dqrlng lttls 1im9, demonstratedin, a very visibleway,theesteemin which he, andthe Societywould devoteitself to fund-raisinga, ndCootharinga the Societyof which he washead,washeld.washonouredwith two visits in 1964from Miss Australia,Jan 1 9 6 7m a r k e dt h e t e n t ha n n i v e r s a r yo f C o o t h a r i n g a ' so p e n i n g ,a n dTaylor.PresidenBt utlerreportedthather visitshaddonemuchto it was appropriatethat the occasionwasonefor celebrationandraisepublic awarenessof the quest,and was confidentthat this reflection.Among the festivitieswas a birthdayparty for thewouldresultin materialbenefitsto theNQSCC. homeheldby MatronHowlett,at which a three{iercakewascut 1965was noteworthyfor the openingof the surgicalboot and by two of thechildrenin the presenceof the entireSociety,staff splinrmaking facilities, nearly eight years after the initial and residents.More proof of the successof the methods recommendationof the HouseCommitteein November 1957. employedin rehabilitationwas profferedin the form of the Cootharingawas now wholly self-sufficientin this area, receipt of a Girls' Life Brigade EnduranceAward by Coral overcominga long-standingdeficiencyin the deliveryof these O'Neill, a formerlong-timeresidentof CootharingaT.heAnnual servicesto North QueenslandA. nother first occurredwith the Reportnotedthat no fewer than 325 childrenhad beentreated employmentof a Cootharingaalumnusas a full-time laundry over the decade,a figure that must have been well above'worker. Carol O'Neill, formerly afflicted with spasticity, expectationsA. nd PresidentButier embarkedoverseasonce achievednearlyfull rehabilitationduringher time at the home, more,thistime asa delegateto a conferencein WestGermanyI.tand was held up as an exampleof the efficacyof the Society's wasto be his last.methods. On 29 April 1968aneraendedrwitthheretiremenotf J. C. ButlerAroundthis time, the Society'sarchivesbeginto revealthe true as Presidentof the North QueenslandSociety for Crippledextentof J. C. Butler's personadl evotionto the cause.The Children.Among his legionachievementwsere:Presidenot f theAnnualReportfor 1965describeshis visit to the Pan Pacific NQSCC since 1951; Vice-Presidenat nd Treasltrerof theConferenceof Disabied Organisationsi,n his capacity as AustralianCouncilfol the Rehabilitationof the Disabled;twice 17

Scltoolroorn at Coothainga Nursing Home. Mid 1960's,invited by the Presidentof the United Statesto attend the involvementwith the Society.J. C. Butler was unanimouslyPresident'sCommitteeon the Employmentof the Handicapped; elected Patron on the same day he stood down. He woulddelegateon numerousoccasionsto internationacl onferenceosn continuetill his deathto contribute,in the mannerof a \"greythe welfareand rehabilitationof the disabled;and finally, to be eminence\",the benefits of his experienceand expertise.createdanOfficer of the Orderof the British Empire (OBE) in the Cootharingawould not seehis like again.Queen'sBirthdayHonoursList in January1968,in recognitionofhis outstandinganduntiringeffortsto ensurequalityof life for thephysicallyhandicappedH. is retiremendt id not,howevere, ndhisOccupational Therapist with client at Coothainga Nursing Home. Late 60's Miss Australia 1964, Miss Jan Taylor visiting school at Cootharinga Nursing Hotne. Mr Clnrlie Butler and staff in attendance. rl

CHAPTER FOUR INTO THE SEVENTIES1968,77 Mr AIan Dale,2nd President of Society at Miss Australia Quest evett in Mt Isa, 1970.Notwithstanding the radical changesin Society during the 1960s, lived, the embargo causedmassive disruption to the economiesofthe NQSCC made only incremental alterationsto the way it did the targeted nations, of which Australia was one. The flow-onbusiness.The next decade would be ditferent. For twenty-five would be felt acutelyby the NQSCC.yearsafter World War II, the econorniesof westerncountries wereable to provide generally low inflation with near full J. C. Butler's retirementwas acCompaniecbly thatof long-servingernployment. Then in late 1973, the Organi.satior.or f Petroleun.t Treasurer,F. C. \"Fred\" Sr\"rttonM. r Sutton had presided over theExporting Countries (OPEC), a collection of mainly middle- Society'sfinancesfor sixteenyears.During that time assetshadeasternArab States,placed an erlbargo on oil expolts to western grown fiom a few hundred pounds in a Commonwealth Bankcountriesperceivedto be sympatheticto Israel.Although sholt- passbooksavingsaccount,to more than half a million dollars.Mr'

Mr Alan Dale signitrg approval for building of Special Educatiort and Training Centre at Cootharinga, 1969.Alan Dalesucceedetdo thePresidencyw, ith Mr BertFieldtaking But unlike when the Societycelebratedten yearsin 1961,theover the Treasury.The remainderof the committee was immediatelyensuingperiod would be markedby sadnessandunchanged. crisis.Indeed,little elsechangedfor thenextfive years.All of theusualfundraising activities continuedin much the same vein aspreviously,with annualvisits from Miss Australiaand variousdignitaries.In 1969planswereput in placefor the constructionof a separateSpecial EducationUnit that was eventuallycompletedat the end of 1913.The Commonwealthgovernmentpassedthe HandicappedChiidren'sAct in 1970thatprovidedforthe employment of personsunder twenty-oneyears to giveinstructionto residentsin \"the activitiesof daily living which isof a social,remedial,pre-vocationaol r vocationalnature\".And,of course, the twentieth anniversaryof the NQSCC wascelebratedin style.PresidenDt ale wrotein his AnnualReportfor 1971: Plaque unveiled at opening of Grace Howlett Special Education andLooking back to tlte early years beforcCootharingacanteinto Training Centre in 1973.existence, we perlnps nright wonder at tlrc optimism,deterninationand visionof thefomding ntentbersy, tenxusat lso On ChristmasEve 1971,cyclone\"Althea\" struck.It wasoneofbe gratefitlfor thedegrceof their concentfor tltechildrenwhont theworststormsin thehistoryof Townsville,a city thathadlong-theywercdetenninedroassisf.Theirefforts,howeve4troild have sincelearnedto live with thevicissitudesof its tropicalenvirons.beento little purposev;ithouttlrc dedicatedsLtpportof tltosewho Three people were killed, dozensinjured, and the damagetoset about tlrc task of raisingfmtds, and in tunt, tltefLmdraisers infrastructurewas in the tensof millions.The initial assessment\rere suppotted in their efforts b), tlrc North Queensland of the damageto Cootharingawasoptimistic,andVice-Presidentcornrttttnity- a conmumitywhich ntustntunberanlongthe ntost DornMartinezpraisedtheway in which staffandresidentscopedgetrerous itt Ausrtalia. with thecrisis: t5

Thanks to the efforts and example of Matron and the staff on dutvn, In December1972rhefirst federalLabor governmenftor twenty- threeyearswas electedunderthe leadershipof GoughWhitlam.the children rode otrt the big blow practicalllt r'nperturbed, one The newadministrationwasstronglyinterventionisint a rangeof areass, uchaswelfare,previouslyregardedasbeingthe preservefifieen year old boy in residence at the same time regarded the of non-governmenotrganisationlsike theNQSCC.Concernwaswhole affair as a very exciting variation on Christntasroutine. .the !'In truth, the buildings had suffered coirsi'derablygreaterharm expressedat what was describedas the government's\"massivethan originally thought, and the repair blll would eventually intervention\"w, hich was perceivedas a threatto the Society'se x c e e d$ 1 8 , 0 0 0 . freedomof action.The initial reactionwas a determinationto continueto \"go it alone\",andhavenothingto do with newfederalThe next thirteenmonthscost the Societydearly in termsof the financial arrangementsfor the funding of nursing homes andloss of someof its most distinguishedmembers.On I March similar bodies.That was, at least,until the OPECoil embargo1972 Dr T. U. \"Dicky\" Ley, the Honorary Surgeon and a beganto bite.foundationmemberand Life Governor,was tragicallykilled in amotorvehicleaccident.Five monthslateron 20 AugustMatron At the end of 1973,the Treasurerhad expressed eepconcernGraceHowlett succumbedto complicationsarisingfrom what overspiralingoperatingcosts.was supposedlyroutine surgery at the Townsville General Having regatd to the current econonilcsituatiort,in regard toHospital.It is saidthatshewas profoundlyaffectedby Dr Ley's rising costs,it is improbcLblethat incomefront fund raising --iildeath, although whether this contributed to her own untimely rise to meetcosts.It vvouldseentinevitablethat only increaseddemisecan never be known. Then on 28 March 1973, the Goverrunenat ssistancewith running costswiII preventa rapidSociety'sfirst TreasurerF, red Sutton died. If things come in rtmdotvnof existingrese,nes.threesandthirteenmeansbad luck, thenthe NQSCCshouldhave Thatyear'sfinancialstatemensthowedanoperatingdeficiencyofexhaustedits quotaof misfortune,at leastfor the time being. $31,735.A yearlater it was $66,425.In the sameperiodsalary1973 was a year of mixed fortunes.A conferenceof branch andwagescostsblew out from $192,063to $247,986a, ndweredelegatetsook place,andwas addressebdy, amongothers,J. C. forecastto exceed$300,000by the end of 1975. TheseButler who spokeon the subjectof shelteredworkshops.The considerationseffectively forced the Society's hand, and aSpeciaEl ducationandTrainingCentrewasofficiallyopenedand, decisionwas madeat the end of 1974to ioin the new Deficitfittingly, namedin honour of Matron GraceHowlett. And Miss FinancingScheme.JoanTuxenof theVSCC againvisited,andadvisedtheSocietytoestablishcloserlinks with othervoluntaryagenciesp, articularly, TheWhitlamgovernmenpt assedtwo piecesof legislationduringthe relevant federal government departments.This latter 1974 theNursingHomesAssistanceand HandicappedPersonsrecommendationwasof particularsignificance,becausethelong- AssistanceActs.Amongotherthing,thesemeasurepsrovidedforentrenched,practice-st-boe,fwqlf ale--,s-e!!-o,t-ltqI9-ab,q-u!tegqlg-l,ge--q4llg4g!ygglgrous subsidiesto cover both operatingcosts,andshake-up. approvedcapitalexpenditureA.s anexamplet,heCommonwealth Olficial opening of Grace Howlett Special Educatiort and Training Centre tn 1973- 16

Grace Howlett Special Education and Training Centre, 1973,agreedto subsidiseto the extentof eighty per cent, the costof To many of tts these present tirues arc tinte of uncertainty andapproved holiday accommodation,as well as recreational, doubt. Uncertainty because our certainties have been challengedrehabilitationandvocationatlrainingandeducationaflacilities.In and often sconred; and doubt becattse we are no longer quite soaddition,there was provisionfor Activity TherapyCentresfor certain of ow' certainties.thoseineligiblefor shelteredworkshopemploymentT. he Boardimmediatelyresolvedto seekapprovaflor a numberof residentialunits for school age children, to encouragegreater self-sufficiency and provide the stimulus of a \"family groupsituation\".Thanksto the new schemesa, nda lesseningof globaleconomicpressurest,he Society'sfinancialsituationhad stabilisedby theend of 1975, with the Directorsreporting a net surplusof$154,443,in no smallmeasuredueto federaland statesubsidiesof $347.829Y. etthe yeartook a heavytoll in termsof thelossofexperiencedmembersM. rs JoanInnesReid and Mr A. J. Hope,both Board Membersof twenty yearsstanding,resigned,asdidtwo of the leadingfundraisersM, r Bob Ward and his wife pat.The Societyalsolost the servicesof its Medical Superintendent,Dr Kevin King, who hadservedin variouscapacitiessince1962.In 1976the NQSCC celebratedits twenty-fifth anniversaryA. s Miss Peta Hobsort (right) as Miss Secondary School, Townsville 1973.PresidenMt artineznotedin his report:Welook back on tlte daysof our early enthusiasmand seetlrcnt,I suppose,as ilte goldendays,thedoys itt *-hich to havemovedantowttainwas to havefaced a challengeand to havesucceeded.Itt thosedalts11r\"r,wasa greatsatisfactiottin ntovirtgntountains,trtetaphoricallyand evenliterally. Toclayone is not inclinedtot17oreLnoluttaittsb,eca.usoenew,iilbeprey to ctnuntberof tloubtsas to the desirabilirro* .fntovittgo ntoLutain.T7

Miss Australia Quest. Miss Peta Hobsott being crowned as Miss Towttsville, 1975.And so it is that I look back over nventy-five,vearsof tllis Society'shistory and growth, and think wistfulllt of thcttyear of 1951andof the women antl nten witlt vvhom I joinecl in creatittg anorganisatiott to care about the helplessand the clistessed.And Iknow they were a bright compcuty.I know cLlsothat that brightcompany was representative of a nuch larger bocl.ttof wonten andmen who joined together to provide for cltilclren in clistress.Twenty-fiveyears from l95l and vvestill have children who needto be cared about. Also, w'elxaveincreosirtgntunbersof those who were oilce children antl v,lto lnve grotvtt oklei; and ere nowyoung women and nrcn vvho still neeclto be careclabout.In a Jubilee Year there is a looking back. Yetequallv, we shottldlook foru\"ard to the next decade. I have qutte deliberatelynonzinatedthe decade as the period for fonvard planning, beingoware that irLtenns of rcLteof chcmgein contnumi\ attitudes, tutdthe rate of expansion of teclmology, a decade ntcrybe a relativelvlong period.Hopefitly these particular aspects will be of concent to the Miss Australia Quest. Miss Peta Hobson being Crowned as Missyounger generation notv nnturing. The past tvventy-fiveyears of Queenslatd1, 975.our Society'sexistencehas seensteadygro-*th and achievement.The next ten ))ectrswill be ntore contplex, and I would clare to Society's father, the Presidentwrote:guesseven turbulent, insofar as this and other charitable welfareorganisatiortsare concented. Certctirtl.r-other people, o \grecrt ntany-,helped to creoteMr Martinez's words would indeed prove prophetic. Capabilities, cutclsen'ecl on tlrc Mcungernert ContntitteefronrIn September1976 Capabilities Ltd, the company set up by J. C. conception to irtceptiort.But it tt'ctsCharles Butler w'lto I'tacltheButler to administer the sheltered workshop, was formallymerged within the adrninistrative structure of the NQSCC. Six faitlt to nlove nloLurtolns.As of novr, Capabilities corttinues to months later, its founder was dead. In paying tribute to the thriv,e,cutdit htts crlorge part to plcy in the Society'sJfiure. That is ltow Charles Butler ent,isagedit ttoultl be. 1B

Miss Queettsland 1975, Miss Peta Hobson at Cootharinga in 1976. Mr Dont Martinez, Mentber of tlrc Society Board and Ms Ena Newman, Organiser with MAQ, featured. Miss Australia 1975, Miss Kerry Doyle at Coothainga Nursing Home. Miss Australia 1974, Miss Randy Baker with a Cootharinga client.tr[iss Australia 1972, Miss Gay Walker at Coothartnga Nursing Home. Mr Alan Catip, President of Miss Australia Fundraisirtg Contnittee acconrpanyittg M iss Walker,4fiss Australia 1977, Miss Francene Maras with clients of Cootharinga. Miss Geraldine Fosdyke, eliertt of Cootharinga and employed by the Societyfor 23 years as a receptiortist, nteets HRH Prince Philip in Townsvillein 1973. 19

CHAPTER FIVETHEORY AND PRACTICE 1978-89Police and Defense Forces at Cootharinga in 1992. Ftutdraisitrg tlonation'When the Societywas foundedin 1951 it was essentiallyan the as yet unproven value of the approach'As the Presidentwrote:organisatiocnomposedof privateindividualswho sawa specific I tltink it Jtir coiltiiierit to reiiiark tliat tlrc teanxstnrclLlt'eis tlpt locommunityneedand attendedto it in the best way they knew sttffer from a tenclenc\ to strctitlscutd stressesA. lso I vt'islrtohow,relativelyfreefrom externalscrutinyT' his beganto change renmrk that tl'teffictiveness of the pructice of early intenentiortin theearly 1970swith hithertounprecedenteidnterventionin the over ct v,-iclerange of tlegreesof disabilin* is b-r-rto nleonsproven'Society'sdomain by the CommonwealthGovernmentA. s the The adoptiort oJ' this techniclue b,v tlrc Special Education Uttit, 1980sbeckoned,the trend continued.Two specific issues v'ith the sttbsecluenrteqtirenrcnt of ntuclt rnoreplrysical splce perconfrontedtheNQSCC.The first wasa new approachto Special student tltnn nornml, ctnd the increasetl nuntbers of chilclrenEducationknown as \"Early Intervention\".The secondwas an enrolleclil the Cootharinga School' has leclto tlrc recluiretnentoJ' increasingglobalisationof the welfare sector,which had its a lctrgersclnol anclone tllat is all on one level.fullestexpressioinn the UnitedNationsd' esignatioonf 1981as Notwithstanding thesereservations,it was decided that from thetheInternationaYl earof the Disabled. commencement of the l98l school year, several children fromIn an attempto copewith casesinvolvingchildrenwith multiple Cootharinga would take up stlrdy at the Mundingburra Specialdisabilities,the Special EducationUnit of the Queensland School. But ever mindful of the individual's well-being' theDepartmentof Education formulated the Early Interventlon Board of Directors insisted on a process of on-going dialogueapproach.A team of specialistsincluding educators,nurses, between themselves and the Special Education Unit foroccupationaal nd physicaltherapistsa, nd medicalpractitioners \"decisions which are in the best interestsof the disabled child\".would caseload childrenfrom as young as threeyears'the aim Complicated, and at times frtlstrating negotiationsensued over abeing to formulateat the earliestpossiblestagea proglam of period of two years. However, by 1983' the Society's principaltreatment,rehabilitation,educationand social integrationthat concerns had been largely addressed, and children fromwould takethe individualfrom infancyto early adulthoodT. he Cootharinga thereafter became a permanent fixture ofconcepwt asmetwith not a littlescepticismatCootharinga. Mundingbuna's studentpopulation.The Society'smajorconcerncsentredon theteamapproacha,nd ZO

RAAF visitingCootharittga.Mid 80's. li

As with Early Intervention,the InternationalYearof the Disabled chaperoningCootharingaresidentsto theTownsvilleShow everyengenderedmixed feelings within the NQSCC.The 28th Annual July. And perhapsmost significantly, the NQSCC's residential facilities continued to extend beyond the boundariesof theReportrelatedthat:TheIntemational Yearof theDisabledhasundoubtedlycreateda Cootharingahome.climate of adventure and expectation,omong many disabledpeople.It is one of thepositivesengenderedby the International The mostimportantexampleof this was a nine-personvilla to beYeara, ndifthe Yearhaschallengedor motlvatetldisabledpeople' built at RasmussenF.irstconceivedin 1982,uponits completionthenthe challengeis passedon to organisationssuchas ours, to it was appropriatelynamed 'Casa Martinez' in honour of thealso meet the problem of intcreasedexpectationsand higher Sociefy'slongestservingPresidenat ndthe drivingforcebehindaspirationsamongour client group. Giving Sreatercommuniry the project.It is worthwhile to reflect on Mr Martinez'swords toaccessb, reakingdown the barriers in'o satisfyingway, mustb,e the 1983AnnualGeneraMl eeting.the immediateconcemof this Society.I believethat new attitudes The type of residenceand its positioning in the suburbsis anand new approaches to old problems can result in new attemptto complywith the \"normalcy\"pltilosophyA. dmittedlythestimulationand interestsand excitementsin the lives of disabled extremistproponentsof \"normalcy\" will look at the Rasmussenyoungpeoplewith whom we are involved. project and cry \"instittttion\",and I sttpposethat the villa will be an institr.tion, but it will be a small scale instittLtion,and toOn thenegativeside,the InternationalYearwas alsothe occasion borrow a phrasefrom the computer advertisementsi,t tvill befor the emergenceof a radical school of thought,the dogmaof \"userfriendly\". The Rasmussenproiect is an honestattempt towhich was highly unwelcome to the Society. In essence,it provide somelifustyleoptions to a numberof youngadults whopropoundeda seriesof ideasthat labelledorganisationssuch as have suffereddisability all of their lives. Wehaveset the villatheNQSCCasbeing inherentlypaternalisticandrepressiveof the down among the larger community,the young people will beinherentrights of the disabledperson.Theseideasgainedsome, living in a pleasanthousemrtch like the other hottsesin thealbeit limited, currency within the governmentalsector in neighbourhooda, dmittedlya larger housethan average,but sizeAustralialeading to a declarationby the Presidentthat \"neither witl be the main obsewable dffirence. We hope that ourextremeradicalismnor extremeconservatism\"shouldplay a role neighboursround-aboLwttiII becuriousaboutwhatwearedoing,in thedeterminationof the Society'spolicies'Thebalancedview and that in duecoursetheywill be neigltbourlyto their disabledprevailed,but thesestingingcriticismssmarted,especiallyasthey neighboursa, ndaccepttheyoungpeoplefor whattheyare - justwereoften madeby overseasgroupsand individuals ignorantof people - whoseSreatestexpectationisfriendship.thesituation\"on the ground\". It is well to reflect that, thirty odd yearssincethe Society'sFor everymacro thereis a micro, or to put it in simpler terms,a inception, the original demographichad changedto the pointlargepicture and a small one.While controversiesboiled on the wherea disabledcouplewerenow residentin onethe Society'sinternationalscene,!!p,,4ey,ldoty qpg_qt199n1!1ne{Q!Cc variousfacilities.A long way from thepolio wardatTGH!continuedin a most satisfactoryfashion. In terms of concreteachievements,the period from 1978 to 1983 offers abundant The historyof the restof the 1980sis a little unclearm, ostlydueexamplesI.n 1978a Work andLeisureCentreopenedits doors.A to the fragmentarynature of the written sourcematerial.Fromday facility, it offered instruction in art, weaving, pottery and what is available, it appearsthat the residentialprogrammacramdto an averageof fifteen personseachday.Three years continued to expand, and regular activities such as the Misslater an identical operationiommenced in Mackay.Fund-raising AustraliaQuest,the annualdoor-knockappeal,and of course,continued apace, with children from mainstream Townsville planningfor thefuturewenton. By 1989,howevert,hereappears schoolsbecoming heavily involved in the annual door-knock a new professionalisma, nd shortly after a new name which appeal.The armedforces drew high praisefrom the Societyand indicatea matureorganisationlooking determinedlyforward to athe community at large for their efforts in transporting and newcentury. 7?.

CHAPTER SIXTHE MILLENNIUM BECKONS 1989.PRESENTHort Anna Bliglt, Mitrister for Fatnily Services,at opening of Douglas Street Supported Accommoilatiort Uttit itt 2000. Mr Morris Marrinon, Society's CEO accompanying Ms Bligh.The lastdecadeof the twentiethcenturywas,perhapst,he most matureadults.To continueto have the word \"children\"in theextraordinaryin the Society'shistoty.On theonehand,thepolicy namewas at bestinaccuratea,ndat worstsomewhapt atronising,of decentralisatioanchievedits fullest expressionwhen the last suggestiveof theold paternalismof thefiftiesandsixtiesA. nameclientsmovedoff the old nursinghomesitein the year2000.On changewas thereforehighly desirableto reflect the reality of thethe other,Cootharingabecameernbroiledin a controversyover Society'smission.allegedmaltreatmenot f residentsthat resultedin considerableadversepublicity over a periodof someyears.That the Society After somedebateit wasdecidedto move a motionat the 1991wasultimatelyableto overcomeits difficultiesis a tributeto the Annual GeneralMeetingto substitute\"the PhysicallyDisabled\"essentialdecency and l.rumanitywhich has characterisedits for \"CrippledChildren\".This proved unpopularh, owever,andoperationsover half a century. eventuallythe presentcognomen,\"The CootharingaSocietyof North Queenslandw\" asagreedto at the 1991AGM. Amongthe1989wasyearof changein styleaswell as substanceT.he style reasonsgiven for the choice by the new President.Cathyis reflectedin the format of the annualreport for that year in Grainger,were:which for the first time themajorstaternenwt asmade,not by the (a) it wasa na,nemtlikelyto beaffectedby changesirt contntunityPresident,but by the Chief ExecutiveOfficer. The substance attittLdes(;b) it wctsa nantethatdid not applva labelto our clientcame in the fonn of CootharingaNursing Home officially grottp;and (c) it w'ascInamethat had sonlecoruTectiovtvt iththebecomingCootharingaAccommodationSupportService.This Society.changewasdictatedby financialconcerllsnecessitatinagtransfer Notwithstandingthe clear need which the name changefrom theNursingHomesAct to theDisabilityServicesAct.This, addressedth, ere.was till considerablreesistancferom within thethe CEO argued,would give the Societygreaterflexibility in Society'srankswhich took time to overcome.meetingthe criteriafor Governmenftunding. There were other issuesassociatedwith the adoption ofAroundthe sametime,theissueof theSociety'snamebecamean \"Cootharinga\"m, ost obviouslythe necessityto recordthe newincreasinglyvexedone.Therewere two reasonsfor this. First' name on various legal instrumentssuch as the Articles ofbecauseof changingvaluesin society,the useof \"crippled\"was Association.But rathermore pressingwas the requirementoseento be longer appropriate.Second,a great many of the vigorouslypromote\"Cootharingai\"n the regionto avoidadverseSociety'sclients were not children,nor even adolescentsb,ut affectson fundraising,the lifeblood of the organisationT. his z3

Armed Forces, I0 Force Support Battaliotl with clients of Cootharinga during a promotional outirtg itt Towrtsville, 2000.pointwasexpressedforcibly at theAGM, andthefact thatthere Early in 1990thereoccurreda mostunfortunatedisputewith thewere no major difficultiesin this regardsuggeststhe call was subsidiary,CapabilitiesEmployment Service.Unbeknown toheeded. Cootharinga'sDirectors, the Board of Capabilitieshad Mr Trent Anderson, Seating Technicianat Society'sRehabilitation TechnologySemice.

2. Respecftor individuality, and the right of self-determination, arefundamentalto serviceprovision. 3.Advocacyntustbe dircctedtowardscommunityacceptanceand a positiveimagefor peoplewithphysicaldisabilities. 4. High quality servicesdependupon the adherenceto the above principles of DIGNITY, CHOICE and ADVOCACY with the supportof trained staffand a rangeof comrnunity-basefdacilities andprogress. Flesh to the bonesof thesewords was provided in a numberof positiveways during that year.The IndependenLt iving Program, which gavetraining in personalfinancial managementto clients, provedto be one of the most popular programsin recentyears. CasaMartinez was given a facelift, with completeinterior and exteriorpainting,new drapesandnew wall hangings.In addition, theTownsville SouthRotaryClub built a pergolaandfishpondin the courtyard, which added to the attractivenessof the surroundings.Finally, Lanark StreetSupportedAccommodation Unit wasopenedby theDeputyPremierandMissAustraliaT. his left only eighteenclients still residentat the WarburtonStreet complex. After two years of debate,the Society's revisedArticles of Associationwere adoptedat a SpecialGeneralMeetingin June 1993.The year also witnessedthe developmenot f a Strategic Plan, an increasedcommitment to staff development,and an obligation placed on membersto 'uphold the Objects of the Society'.The fee structurewas changedto allow the Annual GeneralMeeting to set the amountof the feespayable,and for fees to cover the financial rather than the calendaryear.A new programcalled\"In HomeSupport\"wasinitiated,whichprovided'Mrs Margaret Kratzntantr, also employed at Society,s RTs.2000. for assistancien thehomefor familieswith a disabledchild.Thisunilaterally issued an additional thirty-five shares, thereby programwas a boon for the families involved, andgaveessentialreducing the parent company's equity from four out of four respiteto parentscoping with one of the most stressfuldomesticshares,or 100 per cent, to four out of thirty-nine. Upon learning environmentsit is possibleto conceive.of the share issue, Cootharinga irlmediately sought legal advice From very early in its history,the Societyhad maintainedclosethat expressed the opinion that the action was illegal. There linkswith theMissAustraliaQuest.It wasanalmostannuael ventensueda prolonged period of negotiation between the Society and for the reigningMiss Australiato visit the CootharingaHome,Capabilities u,hich, reglettably carne to nothing. Ultimately andmore latterly,the SAUs,whetherfor fundraisingt,o openaCootharinga was forced to issue Supreme Court writs, the new facility, or just to add a Iittle cheerto the lives of theadditional shares were tl'rentransferred to the Society, and the residentsI.n 1994,however,the Societydecidedto terminateitsentire Board of Capabilities lesigned. Later, in 1993,Capabilities links with the Quest (renamedthe Miss AustraliaAwards inwas reconstituted as a separateentity, erltirely independent of 1993).It was a decisionnot taken lightly given the historicalCootharinga. links. However, the opinion on the Board was that a tooin 1992, the Society's Mission Statement appearedfor the first significantproportionof the funds raisedby the Awardsin thetirne. lt read: Northwerenot'goingto serviceclientsin thisregion.Tlte Cootharinga Societv of North QueenslcuttLis conunitted to The secondhalf of 1994 saw further changesin the mannerinenabling, curtl encourctgirtg,people v,ith Jtht,sic.arllisubilities to which the Societyoperatedandwas managed.Decliningrevenuecrrtcitn tlrci r .full pot enti ctl. from fundraisingand lessthan full CPI increasesto GovernmentIrt.fulJillirtg its ntissiou,tlrc Societvrecognisestlrct: funding on one hand,and increasingdemandfor serviceson thel. Its role is Io rrrtcontlitiouclll, acknotvledgethe digt'tin'of people other,resultedin the Societyincurringoperatingdeficitsin the 93u'itlt pln,sical tliscrbilities, cuttl to ctssistthem in ocquiring the and 94 financial years amountingro $1.17 Million, furthersturte ltctsic hmtturt rigltts aflbrcled to otller people irt the $lMillion operatingdeficitwas forecastedfor the 1995financialct t t t t t t t u ti h , . year. The Board recognisedthat such operatingdeficits were unsustainable. t5

(now Disability ServicesQueensland)t,he MedicalAssessment Tribunal and the Attorney General's Department.Not one recommendationwas directedagainstCSNQ. Nor did the report recommendany criminalchergesbe broughtagainsat ny pastor presentDirectoror memberof managemenotf CSNQ.This was despitethe wide-rangingallegationsthat hadbeenmade' It seemsquite ridiculous that the Society shouldbe effectively clearedby thepolice rcportbeforeit wasfficially infurmedof the details of the cotnplaints by the QueenslandHealth Rights Commission.Nevertheless,in recognition of the very real concernsof thepeopleinvolved,Cootharingainstituteda process of reconciliationwhich commencedon l0 Septembe1r 999.In July 2000 issued an apology to those aggrievedthrough a governmentapPointedmediator. It is a tribute to the staff andmanagemenot f Cootharingathat the secondhalf of the 1990swas still a period of considerable achievementn, otwithstandingthe ragingcontroversyI'n 1995the new logo was launched, and the organisationalstructure was reformed to devolve more responsibility on to middle management.The resourcelibrary was expandedto over 800 itemsincludingbooks,videosand audiotapesA. dvocacyin the communityof theneedsandrights of thedisabled,long a priority'Mr PhiI Gordon, Society's RTS FitterlSeating Clittic. 2000 was givenparticularattention,with the StrategicPlancalling on CSNQstaffat all levelsto takeup the challengeT' his resultedinThe departureof the thenincumbentChief ExecutiveOfficer,in a significantimprovementin the quality of contactwith otherMay 94, enabled the Board to seek a replacementwith serviceprovidersin North Queensland.commercial/busineesxsperienceto leadthe Societyinto the new The CEO's report for 1996, among other things expressedmillennium. concernovertheSocietyhavingto drawuponreservebsecauseofln morethanforty yearsof operationt,heSocietyhadrarelybeen the inadequacyof governmentfundinS.By this point, furtherthe object of adversepublicity.That changedin 1995when a operatingdeficitshad beenincurred,the total for the financialnumber of complaintsabottt Cootharingawere made to the years 1993 to 1996 inclusive having risen to $2.73 millon' Additional deficits in 1997 and 1998 took the cumulativeQueenslandHealthRightsCommissionT. he Societyresponded operatingdeficits for this 6 year period to $3.5 millon'by implementinga Code of Ethics along with new and more Consequentlya, n invitation was issuedto past and present politicians to inspect Cootharinga'sfacilities. Hopefully thisstringengt uidelinesrelatingto thehandlingof clients'grievances' resultedin a greaterappreciationof the work of CSNQ fromHowever,the local mediaseizedon the storyandthe resultwas amongthe electedrepresentativeosf the North. Restructuringan extraordinaryamountof bad press,much of which can be continuedwith the numberof ExecutiveOfficersreducedfromdismissedas little more than speculationI.n fact, the Society,while aware that complaintshad been made, had not beeninformedas to the natureof the complaintsT. he Commission, five to three.The library reached1,000items,and the Society receivedtheri ecognitionof theRehabilitationTechnologyServicedespiterepeatedrequestsfrom the Presidentr,efusedto make by beingincludedasoneof only sevenaccrediteRd ehabilitatioadetailsavailable. EngineeringCentresin Australia.In addition,fundraisingwasAstonishinglyi,t wasnotuntil July 1999'fullyfour yearsafterthe particularlyfruitful, with the BabindaBargainCentre,a staurchoriginal complaintswere made,that the Commission'sReport supporterof the Society over many years, being the mainwasfinally releasedI.n the meantimeo, n 3 October1997'police contributorO. n a positivenote,since1998, the fiscaldeficit ofraidedtheSociety'sheadquartersth, eSAUs' andtheofficesof its Cootharingahasbeeninternallyaddressebdy both ma:lage*e*!auditors,and the media frenzy was given fresh impetus' andBoard,andthe Societyhasbrokeneven.Thankfully,the police operatedwith rathermore despatchthan In line with the on-goingdevelopmentand refinementol &*the QHRC, and a report was issuedon 12 August 1998which Society'soperationsf,urther Changeslo the Mennrandutn estlcontaineda numberof recommendations. Articlesof Associatiorwt ere approvedby membersat the 1996The recommendationws ere directedat lhe QueenslandPolice AnnualGeneraMl eeting'Therewassignificantwork carriedoutService.Departmenot f Fanilies.louth and Communit-Cv are in drawing up policies,proceduresand operatingmanualsicr

Babintla Bargain Centre voltutteers on annual visit to Towrtsville and the Society's headquarters.each service.This has continuedto the present,the Society door-knocks,appealsand operationslike the BabindaBargainmoving towardsobtainingQuality AssurancecertificationISO Centre,which has year after year increasedthe levelsof funds9 0 0 1 . 2 0 0b0y t h ee n do f 2 0 0 1 . raised.Seizedof the realitiesof the fundraisingproblem,the Board approvedin July 1999 a new and comprehensiveIt is often said,andtruly, thatanorganisation'gsreatesrtesource Communicationsand FundraisingPlan to examinethe problemis its people.In recognitionof this,a StaffPerceptionSurveywas andn'rakerecommendationTsw. o yearson, the benefitsarenowconductedin January1997with a view to providingmanagement beginningto be felt.with staff's views on the effectivenesosf operationsR. elationswith the QueenslandDepartmentof Families, Youth andCommunity Services were addressed,and while there wasdisappointnentover the failure of some additional fundingapplicationst,he channelsof communicationwere strengthenedrvith the in.rplernentatioonf tlonthly meetir.rgbetweenCSNQ'sExecutive Officef Group and the Department'sCornmunityResourceOfficer.Between1997and 1999,a carnpaigndesignated\"UnmetNeeds\" Society'sfwtdraisittg volwteers proviilittg hrttch at Tekowi Field Days ittgainedstrengthin the Queenslandw, ith Cootharingaa major Mackav. Mav 2001.drivingforcein theNorth.Quitesimply,theunrtletneedreferredto thecontinuingpaucityof governmenftundingandtheresultingunmet needsof peoplewith disabilitiesT. he catlipaignwaseffectivein raising communityawarerlessof the problem,butthere was no escapingthe fact that, with so lnany differentorganisationms akingdemandson fhe public purse.muchof themoneywould haveto beraisedin theold fashionedway: tl.rrough 17

Bhtgo fundraising volunteers in Caints. Miil 90's' To walk aroundthe groundsof the WarburtonStreetsite, one is struckby a senseof sadnestshat muchof thecomplexhasfallen into a stateof disrepair.Little can be done,however,without changesto the law. The land on which the old nursinghome is situatedremainsunderthe original Deedof Grantin Trust,which restrictstheuseto whichthetacility canbeused.TheSocietyhas been in discussionwith the StateGovernment o redressthe situationfor nearly a decadenow. The wheelsgrind slowly indeed. 22 October 2001 will mark the fiftieth anniversaryof the Society's first Annual General Meeting. Five decadesofAnnualfunilraising ventureJor the Society 'Telecom SuperWalk 1990. unremittinghardwork,strugglec, ompassionfa, ilureandsuccess. Alilerman Ann Bunnell cutting ribbon at front entronce to Society's Five decadesof growth,of imagination,andof new ideas.The roadfrom thepolio wardof theTownsvilleGeneraHl ospitalhas headquarters in Townsville. beena long one.But while thereis a need,andwhile thereareWhetheroneis inclinedto describethe year2000 as the last of peoplewith concernfor thosein need,theCootharingaSocietyofthe twentiethor the first of the twenty-first century,therecanbe North Queenslanwd ill endure.no denyingit wasan importantone,symbolicallyandpracticallyfor CootharingaA. s indicatedearlier,the last four residentswere fiu,smovedfrom the old nursinghome site to a new purpose-builthouseat Garbutt.There were now no residentsin the facility, theconstructionof which was amongthe original purposesof theSociety.It is well to bearin mind thatmorethan 1,300childrenhadbeennurtured,educatedandcaredfor at \"the Home\" in theforty-threeprecedingyears.

List ofPresident, Vice-Presi.denTt,reasurerand SecretaryofCootharinga Societyof North Queensland(previouslycalledNorth Queensland Societyfor Crippled Children) siice 7951.Presidents: t95r - 1952Ms H Franklin tg52- tg70Mr J C Butler rg'70- 1973Mr A Dale 1973- lg85Mr D Martinez 1985- 1990Dr S Previtera 1990- 2000Mrs C Grainger 2000- (CurrentPresident)Dr R GibberdVice- Piesidents: 1951- 1970Mr A Dale 1952- t953Ms H Franklin 1952- 1955Mr E R Hayles 1953- 1965MrTULey t9s6- 19'13Mr D Martinez 1965- 1980?Mr P Hammond 1970- r989Mr W Appleton 1973- 1989Mr A Catip 1 9 8 0-? 1 9 8 5Dr S Previtera 1989- 1990Mrs C Grainger 1990- 2000Dr R Gibberd 1990- 1999Dr S Previtera 1993- 1997:199-9(CurrenVt icePresident) Mr R GrantTreasurer: l95l - 1970Mr F Sutton 1970- t916Mr A G Field 1 9 7 6- 1 9 8 0Mr B J Tognola i980- 1989Mr K Bird 1 9 8 9- 1 9 9 1Mr E Hughes l99l - (Currcnt Treasurer)Mr A ParySecretary: l95l - 1954Mr Dom Martinez 1954- 1975Mrs J Innes-Reid 1 9 7 5- 1 9 8 9Mr J Gibson 1 9 8 9- 1 9 9 4Dr P Ryan 1994- t995Mrs H Hahn t995 - 1997Mr J Kerrisk 1997- 2000Mr R Grant 2O00- (CurrentSecretan')MI C Harkness

Someof Society'sSupportedAccommodationUnitsDali Court Winifred StreetDouglas Street Lanark StreetBrinsmead, Cairns Meadow Street,Mackay ,S* @, NM> Cootharinga N o r t hQ u e e n s l a n d Ability First!