MELBA Support Services in Lilydale has been given a funding kick-start with $1500 donated from the TAB’s Great Chase Greyhound Races and a visit from the winning four-legged friend.
Melba Support Services, which was establised in the early 1970s, has been a part of the TAB’s Great Chase event for the last three years.
The Great Chase event involves greyhounds racing across Victoria’s 13 racetracks throughout November, competing to win money for 150 Victorian organisations working with the intellectually or physically disabled.
Jimmy’s House, one of the seven greyhounds representing the seven Melba Support Houses, won his first heat at the Healesville racing track to earn the Pisces Court house $500.
As a result of his first win, Jimmy’s House was raced in the semi-finals, winning another $1000 for the house.
If Jimmy’s House can scrape another win at the grand finals on Wednesday 28 November, Melba Support Services’ Pisces Court residence will earn an additional $5000.
Melba Support Services are a not-for-profit community-based organisation that looks after people living with disabilities and provides accommodation to support those with high needs.
Jimmy’s House and his trainer Mark FIilomeno visited the house on Thursday 22 November to meet the residents, take photographs and have them pet the star greyhound.
Melba Support Services workers Sibylle Ahlhaus and Olivia Bailey said that the residents enjoy having the greyhound around them.
“The guys we support here are very sensory-based” Ms Bailey said. “They like touching the dog and feeling them.
“Not all animals are really open to that, but greyhounds are.”
Ms Ahlhaus said that the Pisces Court house would like to get a retired greyhound as a pet for the residents.
“Our cat probably wouldn’t be happy, though,” she said.
Ms Ahlhaus said that the money is really helping the residents and the races give them an opportunity to leave the house.
“The races aren’t just about the money, it’s a fun outing,” Ms Ahlhaus said.
“The people in Healesville were all so nice and the clients all got lunch, it was a really fun day out.”
Ms Bailey agreed that the chance to go out and socialise was a positive experience for the residents of the house.
“I think it’s the excitement of the race,” she said. “Even the clients who are visually impaired pick up on the race and look for where the dogs are.
“And the interactions with other people make it very exciting.”
Jimmy’s House will have his last race for the TAB Great Chase series in the grand final on Wednesday 28 November at 1.50pm. The race will be held at The Meadows racetrack in Broadmeadows.
