An outdoor area designated as an after-school playground, early intervention playgroup area and a place for therapy team activities at Granite Belt Support Services has looked forlorn for years but thanks to local sponsorship the ugly duckling has undergone a transformation.
GBSS Service Manager Therese Crisp said the groups and businesses that had provided money for the upgrade had been invited to the centre for refreshments and a look at what their generosity had accomplished.
“We always like to show how donated funds are used so we invited the RSL Sub-Branch, the Commonwealth Bank, Stanthorpe Lions Club and Sutton’s Juice Factory and Cidery, to morning tea,” she said.
“We are always so grateful for any kind of support or funding. And to say thank you, we like to do a ‘show and tell’.”
Therese said the fence between the office building and GBSS’s short-term respite accommodation house had corroded to the extent they considered it was no longer safe and the RSL had donated the money for its replacement. The Commonwealth Bank provided a grant for the ground to be re-levelled and for artificial turf to be laid in the area.
“From the donations from the Lions Club and Sutton’s, our speech therapists were able to develop and produce a communication board and banner for adults and children who are non-verbal to help them communicate their needs, wants and feelings,” she said.
“The area has gone from not being user friendly to looking lovely. Now it’s a fun and safe place to be. We call it The Courtyard. We appreciate when people support things that are needed here, in our own backyard.”
GBSS would appreciate help in another area too. The centre is in need of shade-sails in the remaining courtyard area so that the building can be accessed under cover during rain or very hot weather.
“We have some shade, but there are places where it’s desperately needed, especially at the front section for the cars so that we can more easily and safely drop off or pick up a person in a wheelchair,” she said.
She said previous grant applications had not been successful.
“We’ve applied many times for the sunshade, but it never comes our way.”
