By REBECCA BILLS
EASTER came early at Melba Support Services with a special hamper presentation last Monday.
Disability Services and Reform Minister Mary Wooldridge alongside Member for Evelyn Christine Fyffe were both presented with an Easter hamper from Melba’s Able Bake House during a discussion on Melba’s success in creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Melba’s CEO Glenn Foard said the importance of the Able Bake House is that sort of employment for their clients.
“Each week for more than two years, people with significant disabilities have been working at the Able Bake House baking, packaging, selling and delivering products for the local community,” he said.
“The products speak for themselves and demonstrate how people with significant disabilities can contribute productively to their community.”
Able Bake House worker Andrew O’Brien alongside former ‘Morrisons on the Park Café’ worker Malcolm Craig with the support of Melba personal outcome support staff, spoke to Ms Wooldridge and Mrs Fyffe about what it means to be able to work in the community.
Mr Craig said despite the closure of Morrison on the Park Café he is determined to find more work in the community.
Mrs Fyffe said Melba’s mission ‘Individuals with disability leading everyday lives’ shows the importance of supporting people with disabilities to achieve their personal goals.
“Melba reduce barriers for their clients and help them to live and work within their communities,” she said.
“It can make a huge difference to someone’s life to be recognised and accepted as a valued and contributing member of their community.”
Mrs Fyffe said the dedicated staff and volunteers at Melba display their philosophy that all people are created equal and have a fundamental right to be respected and valued for who they are.
“I have been a supporter of Melba for many years and have always admired their work,” she said.
“They do an incredible amount of good work with limited resources and always have the best interests of their clients at heart.
“They see the person and their abilities rather than their disabilities.”
Anyone interested in purchasing an Able Bake House hamper can visit www.melbasupport.com.au/the_able_bakehouse or call Kerry Kift on 0413 719 474.
