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Seniors play vital role in keeping wheels turning at charitable project
Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett, or Olly as he is better known, is this year’s recipient of the Senior Australian of the Year award – living proof that age is no hurdle to contributing to society.
The co-founder of the Perth-based Wheelchairs For Kids, the 83-year-old has been at the wheel of this volunteer-run organisation that provides adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries since its establishment in 1996 by the Scarborough Rotary Club.
Over this period the organisation has built and fitted more than 60,000 custom-made, low-cost wheelchairs for children in 80 countries. The wheelchairs, which meet World Health Organisation’s standards and cost about $275 to build, come with an adjustable design that allows children to use the same wheelchair from age four to 16.
It is important that each child is individually and correctly fitted to their wheelchair. In some instances, training is provided in partnership with the humanitarian agencies that assist in distributing the wheelchairs worldwide. Without these all-terrain wheelchairs, these children would have limited mobility, would miss educational opportunities and have little hope of a normal life.
Wheelchairs For Kids is the largest volunteer-led charity in Western Australia. What sets it apart is how it taps the skills and time of retirees to keep this organisation ticking over.
Every week more than 250 regular volunteers – the average age is 74 – gather daily at its purpose-built factory in the northern Perth suburb of Wangara to manufacture and build the wheelchairs, with the final product delivered to disabled children around the world.
Another 300 volunteers assist by sewing covers for supports on the wheelchairs as well as knitting and crocheting rugs and small toys, all of which are sent with each wheelchair.
Some volunteers have been with the organisation since its founding, with Pickett saying after receiving his award that these volunteers “really love it”.
“We’ve got that many volunteers with men and women on the assembly line, as well as all the wonderful ladies who croquet the rugs or sew the covers for the wheelchairs’ backs and seats.
“Today, we’ve got more than 30 people on the waiting list for the workshop. It seems people who start never want to leave because it’s such a happy place to be. Which is great because we simply couldn’t do what we do without them.”
A retired Catholic school teacher, Pickett was nominated by former students at St Patrick’s College in Geraldton after sharing the organisation’s story at a school reunion.
“I am still trying to come down to earth,” Pickett said. “There are a lot of amazing people doing amazing things and I was very surprised to win this award.”
He said helping disadvantaged children was enough reward.
“Without the wheelchairs, children in poorer countries are often left on the ground. So, these wheelchairs have helped thousands of children go to school, play with their friends and lead a more fulfilling life. I have seen the smiles on the faces of so many kids and that makes it all worthwhile.”
The advocacy organisation for seniors, COTA Australia chief executive officer Patricia Sparrow, says the contribution Pickett has made to Australia cannot be underestimated. “He is proof that age is no barrier to what we can accomplish with his work helping children across the world being nothing short of remarkable.”
