TWO days a week, and sometimes three, Tooleybuc hosts more than 15 people from Echuca Discoveries as the disability support service rolls into town, giving participants experience and life skills to help them transition into independence.
Some of the activities the group undertakes are learning farming skills such as riding horses, sheep shearing, handling animals and carrying out farm maintenance, as well as gaining work experience at venues around town such as the Country Club Hotel and Tooleybuc Sporting Club.
Echuca Discoveries was one of the first disability support services in Swan Hill and is described as a multi-faceted organisation that offers an extensive range of day services and programs as well as accommodation to promote independence and life choices for participants.
Joanne O’Bree heads up the Swan Hill branch and said that the relationship had been good for the Tooleybuc community as well as good for Echuca Discoveries.
“The community has embraced us here,” Ms O’Bree said.
“They already know everybody’s names.
“We have our Christmas party out here at the club.
“We do a lot in Tooleybuc as well as Swan Hill and the various townships in the area.
“It really has a positive effect on clients as they gain more confidence, feeling more confident when serving people and talking to community members.
“There is also a huge development in their skills.
“It is a really great environment for people to have a go at things and achieve.”
Echuca Discoveries also has a catering group which Ms O’Bree said had been a huge success, sometimes stepping in to provide for Tooleybuc Sporting Club when it was short of a chef.
“When we started the catering business we thought it would be a few small things and then the Tooleybuc Piangil District Action Group asked us to cater for the Shitbox Rally, which was 250 meals,” Ms O’Bree said.
“They achieved that very well.”
Profits from the catering business are managed by a not-for-profit organisation called the Discovery Support Group which is run by volunteers including parents of people who participate in the program.
Monies generated are put back into the Tooleybuc community or used to benefit various groups, such as by taking teams to the Tri State games to offer an opportunity for people with a significant/profound disability to participate in sporting activities.
Last November two teams, Swan Hill and Swan Hill Districts, attended, with one participant from Tooleybuc.
Ms O’Bree said the confidence and skill level of the clients had increased hugely from being involved.
“When the Tooleybuc Sporting Club will call and request our catering team to come in when a chef is away really demonstrates how well they are regarded,” Ms O’Bree said.
“You can imagine the confidence level in the guys and then it makes them have to achieve a higher level and a higher standard.”
Tooleybuc Op Shop is also providing some great opportunities for the group as it acts as caretaker for the shop one day a week on behalf of the committee, providing participants with valuable retail experience such as skills in customer service and money handling.
There are plans to take over the retail outlet from the current committee, with negotiations under way with Murray River Council and the committee.
At this month’s Tooleybuc Food and Fibre Market the group will be providing an animal presentation as well as a stall selling products made by members, such as pottery, woodwork and some snack treats.
