Aspire limits group’s voice

Aspire Support Serv-ices is a merger of Woodstock, Kalparrin and Cooinda, set up to co-ordinate services and funds for people with a disability.

Woodstock and Kal-parrin, which joined Aspire first, have five spots each on the management committee.

Cooinda, which did not agree to join until this week will be represented by only its president Liz Pogson and Belvoir Special School principal Jamie Gay.

Former Woodstock president Tony Tinlin will be president of Aspire with Bruce Gilding vice-president, Noel Sargint treasurer and Cheryle Golley secretary. Fe Coleman, Sheryl Foll-ett, Wolfgang Schwarz, Andrew Cottrill, Kerry May and Jim Symon are on the committee.

Mrs Pogson said Cooinda members had decided that a bigger organisation like Aspire could better lobby for those with a disability.

She said Cooinda discussed a merger about a year ago and again late last year.

Aspire would use property Cooinda had secured in Wodonga after a major fund-raising effort.

Cooinda’s 37 financial members this week voted overwhelmingly join to Aspire.

Mrs Pogson said Cooinda’s intentions had also been made clear via a newsletter to the 600 families that use the organisation’s service.

“We acknowledge change can be challenging and can be frightening,” she said.

“But on the other side of fear is excitement.

“We have to ensure we look after our families and they stay with us.

“The reasoning in the end why we joined was because of the continually changing funding landscape and the viability and sustainability of our organisation.”

Former Woodstock chief executive Nigel Stone has taken on the same role with Aspire.

He said Aspire’s goal was to deliver services to people with a disability that enabled them to live the life they choose to lead.

“Too often people have to tell their story three, four and five times to get the services they need,” he said.

“We would like them to come to us and we can build all the services around them at a one-stop shop in Borella Road.”