AT 64 years old, Swan Hill’s Stephen Casey doesn’t allow either his age or his disability to stop him ensuring each and every day leaves him feeling fulfilled.
Stephen is employed with registered Australian Disability Enterprise Vivid Work Crew in Swan Hill, a group he has been involved with for 12 years.
The chance to engage in meaningful work and be paid for his time allows Stephen to keep busy and earn some extra money with the support of Vivid’s team.
When a local resident starts up their woodfire, they may have Stephen to thank due to his work splitting and packaging kindling two days a week with Vivid Work Crew.
Stephen also keeps busy at work by stamping mail or inserting letters and pamphlets into envelopes, on top of his independent work delivering pamphlets right across Swan Hill.
“It’s nice to wake up and have a job to go to,” Stephen said.
“Most of the people I see when I’m delivering pamphlets say hello to me.”
But it’s not all work and no play with Vivid for Stephen, who recently travelled to Melbourne to cheer on his beloved Collingwood Magpies with support worker Tony Frazzica.
Mr Frazzica joked that the journey with Stephen was the only way “someone could pay me to watch Collingwood”.
For the footy-mad Stephen, however, the opportunity to watch his Magpies in person is always a highlight – whether in the AFL or the Central Murray.
“I quite like watching the football,” he said.
“Being there and barracking for my team is something I really like doing.
“I go to the local football and cheer on Lake Boga as well.
“I used to do the scoreboard at Lake Boga.”
Since suffering a stroke Stephen has been unable to climb the stairs of the Lake Boga scoreboard – something Vivid Swan Hill is hoping to find a solution for.
Stephen also loves music and live shows, attending events with the assistance of Vivid’s flexible support program.
Most recently he attended the Faulty Towers interactive comedy theatre production which included a three-course meal.
He has also enjoyed live shows
Mr Frazzica said without the support of the NDIS, Stephen would likely not have the opportunity to get out to the events he enjoyed.
“Without the NDIS, it’s likely Stephen wouldn’t be able to do these things,” he said.
“His daily routine would look very different to what it currently looks like.
“It also gets Stephen out of the house and movin –m it keeps the body in shape as well.”
