COOINDA Family Support Group, which provides services to almost 600 families of disabled children throughout the region, finally has a home.
Cooinda has taken possession of the Stanley Street property in Wodonga that will become its headquarters and an asset for the future after a fundraising campaign secured the deposit on a loan for the $275,000 bungalow.
While committee of management president Lizzie Pogson now has the keys to the front door of the house, it will be at least two months before the property is ready for staff and clients to move in.
The Border Mail today joins with Cooinda in launching its Caring for Cooinda campaign, aimed at raising $150,000 in cash and donations towards the renovation and extension of the organisation’s premises that will be completed in several stages.
Cooinda was formed in 1976 by families who found they shared a common bond; they all had children with disabilities, and all had experienced financial, physical or emotional stress related to the care of their family member with a disability.
In the 34 years since, Cooinda has grown into an organisation aimed at helping families to support themselves, via the provision of information, advocacy, home visits, meetings, newsletters, social functions, seminars and workshops, and sibling and parent support groups.
A former preschool director, who is in her third year on the Cooinda committee, Mrs Pogson said Cooinda also provided support to those who helped the families of disabled children, including teachers and doctors, through means such as workshops and guest speakers.
Mrs Pogson said the relocation of Cooinda’s headquarters had been on the agenda for some time but plans were accelerated last year when their rented premises in Lawrence Street, Wodonga were offered for sale.
“We are so excited to be in our new house, a facility that will be here for the next 10 to 20 years as new families come along,” she said.
“We have had three people using one desk, one computer and a telephone; and two off-site storage facilities because we can’t fit everything in the one place.
“We had been seeking an environment where our staff can work and where families can come to spend time comfortably.”
Cooinda chose its new property after working with the Wodonga council managers, Patience Harrington and Darren Rudd.
Plans have now been completed for the renovation and extension of the Stanley Street home, including the widening of the main hallway to cater to wheelchairs; the enclosing a veranda to provide a reception area; provision of storage space in an on-site shipping container; secure car parking and external deck.
The initial stages will include building the new reception area, widening the hallway, the upgrading of bathrooms to provide for disabled access and the provision of secure fencing and storage.
“The next question was ‘where do we get the money from?’. As a not-for-profit organisation we don’t have the money lying around,” Mrs Pogson said.
In securing the house and money for its renovations, Mrs Pogson said Cooinda’s fundraising efforts have been focused on writing submission after submission to government agencies, local councils, service clubs and businesses.
When a request to Albury Council for a one-off grant of $25,000 for the new building and ongoing funding of $10,000 a year for business management was knocked back last month, Mrs Pogson said public support for the organisation surged.
The organisation now hoped that support would translate to donations of cash, in-kind and building materials towards the renovation project.
“Our ultimate goal is a better facility. All of these bids for a new property and donations have been happening while Cooinda does what it does day-to-day,” she said.
“Without Cooinda our families would be stranded. It is often the first stop in a crisis; where people go first or last, whether it’s for weekly support, because families can’t get to medical services in Melbourne or advocacy at schools.
“There are also all of the social events which provide outlets for people who have no other outlet.”
Find out more about Cooinda at www.cooinda.org.au
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