96831 Novita June HU - Novita Children's Services

vol 28 / no.5
june newsletter 2005

chief executive
As we head into the middle of another busy year, it seems an appropriate time to pause and reflect on some of
the more positive and productive experiences that all too often are overlooked in the hustle and bustle of
everyday activity at Novita Children’s Services. Indeed, as I write, I am reminded of the successful outcomes
which have taken place already this year, not only for clients, but also for Novita staff, as we work together
towards providing an excellent standard of services to our clients.
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As you may know, the organisation is in the final year of
the current 2001-2005 Strategic Plan. In preparing the
2006-2009 plan, the Board is keen to embark on a
comprehensive planning process, which will involve a
greater degree of consultation with a wider range of
people who have a stake in the services offered by Novita.
Novita exists to serve clients, their families and carers. It is
therefore critical that the views of a wide cross-section of
people are taken into consideration in determining the
way forward.
A number of focus groups have been planned so as to
enable service users to comment on ‘strategic directions’
being developed by the Board and members of the
organisation’s Executive.
I am also pleased to inform you that following a recent
audit, Novita was again successful in achieving “5 tick”
quality certification for the next three years.
Certification ensures that Novita’s organisational
processes and procedures conform to appropriate
Australian Standards and other industry benchmarks, and
we will continue in our endeavour to deliver the best
possible outcomes for our clients.
On another note of success, I am delighted to
congratulate NovitaTech Rehabilitation Engineer, David
Hobbs, who was awarded the prestigious title of
Australia’s Young Professional Engineer of the Year. The
award was presented by Engineers Australia at their
annual awards night in Canberra in November last year.
David is a fine example of the high calibre staff we are
privileged to employ at Novita and a wonderful reminder
that engineering isn’t all about building bridges or
skyscrapers – it can be about making real changes in the
lives of children with disability.
In a similar vein, NovitaTech was awarded the 2004
Innovation Excellence Award in the South Australian
division of the Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence
Awards. The award was in recognition of one of its
products – the Vocabulary Organiser – a software tool
designed to help therapists, carers, teachers and family
members communicate more effectively with children
who are unable to speak. In a nutshell, this is at the very
core of what Novita aims to do - make life easier for
people with disabilities so that they can enjoy the quality
of life we all too often take for granted.
And while on the topic of achievement, I would also like
to congratulate the nine Novita clients who were
nominated for the Lions Children of Courage Awards and
were recognized recently at the Awards night at
Government House.
On a more sombre note, we were shocked by the
sudden loss of colleague and friend, Robyn Chaplin, in
February of this year. Robyn was a longstanding and
highly valued member of the marketing and public
relations team. Following her retirement after 23 years
with the organisation, she maintained an active role
working part time with the Sports Challenge Foundation.
Robyn’s warmth, sincerity and outstanding commitment
will indeed be missed.
Looking ahead, there is still a great deal of work to be
done for the remainder of the 2005. The Down Every
Street Appeal was successfully launched in the Rundle
Mall on Thursday, 5 May. This appeal is vital to raising
funds which help us to continue providing services to our
1000-plus children and young clients.
And finally, I would like to formally recognise the wonderful
bequest which Novita received from the Marjory Edwards
Estate. As you may already be aware, Novita was one of
12 organisations to benefit from Mrs Edwards’ generosity
– she was a true philanthropic South Australian visionary
– a wonderful advocate of local charities and a dedicated
supporter of the needs of children, the homeless, and the
disadvantaged. Novita is privileged to have had an
ongoing association with Mrs Edwards and as a recipient
of her remarkable generosity.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you
all for your continued support. It is only with the ongoing
generosity of our sponsors, auxiliaries, volunteers and
individuals such as Marjory Edwards that Novita is able
to provide opportunities for children living with disability.
Glenn Rappensberg
Chief Executive
About our Cover
Novita client, Kiri Schroeter, 13, practises playing
the drums thanks to some help from Novita’s
therapy team which designed and fitted him with
some special orthotics for his hands.

Amy’s
Sporting Success
Novita client,
Amy Schroeter
will compete in
the World Cerebal
Palsy Games.
Novita client, Amy Schroeter (sister to Kiri from our
front cover) will head to Connecticut in July to
compete in the World Cerebral Palsy Games.
Having broken the Australian Under 18 Javelin record
and collected a haul of medals in the National Junior
Games for the Disabled, held in Sydney last April, Amy
will compete in the Javelin, the 1500 and 800 metre
track events.
Amy, 17, suffers from hemiplegia, which causes spasticity
and weakness to the left side of her body.
For the past 15 years she has received support from
Novita Children’s Services occupational, speech and
physical therapists.
An avid athlete, Amy first developed an interest in athletics
when she joined Little Athletics at the age of four.
Since that time she has been an active competitor and
has gone on to compete at the last three National Junior
Games for the Disabled.
At the Sydney games, Amy broke the Australian Under 18
Javelin Record, and she also received gold medals in the
1500, 800 and 400 metre track events as well as a silver
medal in the 50m breaststroke.
Amy’s mother Robyn says breaking the record was a
huge achievement for Amy.
“The day she broke the record, she was really nervous. It
took 10-15 minutes to have it made official. Afterwards, she
was so pumped she didn’t want to take her uniform off.”
Robyn says that while Amy is both proud and nervous to
be South Australia’s only competitor in Connecticut, the
experience will help boost her self-esteem.
Novita’s David Hobbs Wins
National Engineering Award
Australia’s Young
Professional Engineer of
the Year. Senior
Rehabilitation Engineer
David Hobbs.
Novita Children’s Services Senior
Rehabilitation Engineer David Hobbs is
Australia’s Young Professional Engineer of
the Year.
David is employed by NovitaTech, the
Rehabilitation Engineering division of
Novita. David is known for his innovative
and forward thinking approach,
(see adjoining story on the Movement-to-
Music therapy system), and together with
other members of the Novita rehabilitation
engineering team, is working to bring a
host of life enhancing improvements to
children with disabilities, including using existing equipment to
enable children with limited use of their hands to play Xbox
games and to send SMS messages.
David has also developed rehabilitation engineering lecture
material and teaching resources for a specialist centre in London,
and has worked in Toronto and co-lectures at Flinders University.
“My main motivation is to help people,” David says.
“If I can use my skills to help others then I feel I have
accomplished something positive. I love my job at Novita and
working with others who enjoy their work just as much makes it
a fun and dynamic place.”
Movement to Music - Playing
Music with Your Body!
At Novita, our
talented staff
dedicate themselves
to the task of
improving the quality
of life for clients.
Sometimes it’s about
making the smallest
tasks possible, other
times, it’s about
developing unique
devices designed to
bring joy or make
Novita client Jasmine interacts with MTM.
possible the
activities most other children take for granted.
The Movement to Music program is one such example.
The “Movement-to-Music” (MTM) therapy system is an innovative
software program that allows simple movements to be translated
into music. It provides an interface for children with a disability to
be able to play music without having to hold or manipulate an
instrument.
The child simply positions themselves in view of a webcam and
moves to interact with pre-defined coloured shapes they can see
on the screen. The system generates musical notes and sounds
such as birds chirping from both very small movements, such as
finger movements, to very large ones, such as waving your arms
around. As the name suggests, the more you move your body,
the more sounds you make!
Senior Rehabilitation Engineer, David Hobbs, says working on the
MTM therapy system was a highlight of the Churchill Fellowship
research he undertook last year, both for its ingenuity and
novelty. As David says: “It is one of the best examples of
technology being used in the field of Assistive Technology today.”
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Playing
a Round
Davilak Dragons
were the victorious
winners of the
inaugaural
Robyn Chaplin
Memorial Trophy.
The Sports Challenge Foundation welcomed 136 players
to the grounds of Kooyonga Golf Course for the inaugural
Robyn Chaplin Memorial Golf Day.
At 12.30pm players ‘teed’ off from an ambrose start,
making their way over the beautifully kept greens of the
course. A highlight of the afternoon was the conveniently
located refreshment stop at the Vili’s Pie van, parked at
the 9th hole, where golfers were offered samples from the
Vili’s product range.
Following the game, players enjoyed a timely dinner in the
clubrooms. The victorious team, Davilak Dragons, was
presented with the inaugural Robyn Chaplin Memorial
Trophy and then guest speaker Warren Tredrea
entertained the golfers.
Vale Robyn Chaplin OAM
1936 - 2005
We were all greatly saddened
by the sudden passing of our
colleague and friend Robyn
Chaplin in February this year.
Robyn joined Novita Children’s
Services (formerly The Crippled
Children’s Association) as
Auxiliaries Coordinator in 1980.
Thank you to sponsors Southcorp, West End,
Coca Cola – Amatil, Golden North, Kooyonga Golf Club
and our many volunteers who made the day a
great success.
The EFM team
was pretty in pink.
Robyn was involved in the
establishment of many
fundraising committees for
Novita, including the Sports
Challenge Foundation, the
Hidden Legends Committee
and the Rainbow Committee.
Vale Robyn Chaplin OAM.
As Auxiliaries Coordinator, and then from 1997 as
Manager Donor Development, Robyn worked to establish
a network of auxiliaries across South Australia raising
funds for Novita. Before joining Novita, Robyn was an
auxiliary member herself. Her enthusiasm and ability to
motivate groups of volunteers to support the Association
has resulted in a support network that is the envy of other
charities in the State.
A rose amongst
thorns! Mandy
Bluett (second
from left) added
a feminine touch
to a male
dominated day.
Novita’s first ever
team entered into the
Sports Challenge Golf
Day featured
Robyn Chaplin’s son,
John, as well as
(L to R) Barry Seeger,
Novita’s Chief
Executive
Glenn Rappensberg
and
Richard LeQuesne.
Robyn was also awarded an OAM in 1997 for services to
the community and the sport of Fencing. She had a long
history of involvement with the Olympic movement,
representing Australia as a fencer and as a member of
the Olympic Council.
Robyn retired after 23 years with Novita but continued to
work part time with the Sports Challenge Foundation
(SCF). The Foundation, headed by Russell Ebert and his
team, has raised over $1 million dollars for the
Association in the past 12 years. Robyn’s support of the
work of this dedicated group has seen their events grow
in stature every year. In 2003, the SCF’s Football Dinner
and Match raised over $100,000.
Robyn’s contribution to Novita and its clients was
outstanding. Her commitment to providing opportunities
for children living with a disability, her passion for her work
and our clients, her honesty, wisdom and enthusiasm are
all qualities that will be sorely missed by everyone at
Novita and all who knew her.
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Sports Challenge
Football Dinner
and Match
SCF Chairman,
Russell Ebert with
Mandy Madgen and
Deeon Otto from the
Pickard Foundation.
April saw Russell Ebert and the Sports Challenge
Foundation gear up again for their annual Football Dinner
and Celebrity Football Match played at the Crows v Port
Power Showdown at AAMI Stadium.
At the dinner, interviewers KG Cunningham and Graham
Cornes chatted with former Australian Test Cricketer and
Redbacks coach, Wayne Phillips, and former Hawthorn
and Crows star, Darren Jarman about their careers – past
and present.
AFL identity and former Hawthorn star Dermott Brereton
also made a surprise guest appearance and regaled the
audience with some entertaining football anecdotes.
Entertainer, Marty Coffey was ably assisted by Russell
Ebert and thrilled us with his exploits including juggling
flaming torches and chain saws.
On Sunday, sponsors and a number of former football
“legends” (some looking less than fit!) took to the field.
The two celebrity teams played an abbreviated 30 minute
game as part of the pre-match entertainment with the
Crows team coming out the eventual winner – a good
omen for the main game.
Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved in the event,
particularly our major sponsors AMP, Geoff Ellis Insurance
Brokers, West End, Coca Cola - Amatil and our
volunteers on the night.
The Crows - Back row (L to R) Sam Leaker (goal umpire), Darren Jarman,Andrew Jarman,
Graham Cornes, Andrew Murray, Kym Koster, Sammy Klementou (goal Umpire). Front row (L to R)
Nicholas King, Graham Bean, Rick Kinnear (central umpire), Deeon Otto, Harry Marker.
The Power - Back row (L to R) Sam Leaker (goal umpire), Basil Mondello, Erin Phillips, Sam Ackland,
Robert Costanzo, Sammy Klementou (goal umpire). Front row (L to R) Justin Klementou,
Rocky Siciliano, Russell Ebert, Rick Kinnear (central umpire), Tim Haysman, Cameron Mondello.
Graham Cornes and Dermott Brereton made a lively team.
Paralympian Katrina Webb (centre) models the magnificent neckpiece donated to
the auction by Scott and Katherine Anthony from Pure Envy Jewellers.
Marty Coffey produced some fiery entertainment.
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Auxilary News
South East Field Days
In conjunction with our Naracoorte Auxiliary, Wangolina
Station Wines conducted a wine sampling at the South East
Field Days, which were held at Lucindale on 18 and 19 March.
A percentage of the wine sales was donated to Novita
Children’s Services and the Auxiliary took the opportunity to
create further awareness of our name change as they
chatted with members of the public.
Wangolina Station is situated in the Mount Benson wine
region which lies between the townships of Kingston and
Robe on the Limestone coast of South Australia.
The cellar door, which opens daily, is located in a truly
delightful setting, amongst gums with spacious green lawns
and a small neat garden. It’s the perfect place to taste the
cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, semillon and sauvignon blanc
produced by the winery.
Liquor Industry Charity Golf Day
(from L to R) Auxiliary Treasurer Daphne Burford, Wangolina Winemaker
Anita Goode and Auxiliary member Maureen Collins.
Variety – The Children’s Charity –
helping children help themselves
Novita was delighted to receive $30,000 from Variety –
The Children’s Charity. This generous donation will be used to
develop the Variety Club Software Library as part of Novita’s
Toy and Resource Centre.
A range of software resources will be purchased to meet the
changing educational needs of Novita clients, including single
switch software, early concepts and fun software including
colour concepts and teddy games, as well as software to
practise using a mouse.
Access to this new and improved Variety Club Software
Library will be available to clients, families and therapists
through the Novita website.
Liquor Industry Chairman Rob Gillies presented Acting
Director of Marketing Wendy Wake-Dyster (pictured above)
with a cheque for $4000, proceeds from the annual Liquor
Industry Charity Golf Day.
With the support of the Grange Golf Club, more than 400
people from the industry get together to support worthy
causes and Novita is most grateful for their support.
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Novita Clinical Manager Terry Lyons and client Lincoln test out the new computer
equipment purchased with the donation from the Variety Club.

Learned Friends
“Spellbound” at
historic Down Bonython Every HallStreet Appeal
The Down Every Street Appeal (DESA) was successfully launched
in the Rundle Mall on Thursday, 5 May.
Appeal Ambassador Katrina Webb officially launched DESA 2005,
while Novita clients Travis and Nathan literally kicked off the launch
playing wheelchair volleyball. This was followed by a very exciting
match of balloon soccer between Novita clients and the sponsors.
Special thanks to the team from Mix 102.3 who attended the
event, the street crew and Tanya Abela, who was MC.
Sincere thanks to the many volunteers and supporters including
Bank SA who helped contribute to the success of this major
fundraising event.
Novita clients challenged sponsors to a game of wheelchair soccer. Novita clients won!
City of Adelaide councillor Richard Hayworth helped launch
DESA together with Kelli Jaensch (left) and Sharon La Pira
from Mix 102.3, our principal media partner.
Getting ready to walk the streets are Novita staff
(Standing L to R) Janet Daundla, Andi Jones and
Rebecca McKinnon and (sitting L to R)
00Kirsten Neild and Michelle Barbuto.
Chief Executive Glenn Rappensberg and
Appeal Ambassador Parlaympian
Katrina Webb rattle the cans with
Travis Ashworth (left) and Nathan Van Roy.
Down Every
Street Appeal
Children of Courage
Each year, the Lions Club of the City of Adelaide conducts
the Lions Children of Courage Awards, aimed at recognising
the achievements of young people living with a disability.
This year there were nine clients nominated by Novita, who
were honoured at the awards ceremony held at
Government House, where they received a special
medallion to commemorate the occasion.
The nominees were:
Darby Munn Emily Musitano Brendon Webb
Jennifer Jarman Darcy Forbes Megan Sadler
Shannon Iuliano Eddie Felkl Jack Miller
While the Deputy Governor reinforced that every nominee
was a winner, there were outright winners in the three
different categories, with Novita clients winning two out of the
three awards.
Eddie Felkl, won the “Outstanding Sporting Achievement”
Award and client Georgia Horgan won the Category B
“Courageous Act or Deed and/or Community Service
Award”. Although Georgia was nominated by the Cranio
Facial Unit, we know that many of her friends at Novita will be
pleased with her achievement.
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Novita Under the Spotlight
at work, school and play
Take a look at a typical day in the life of Novita Children’s Services, where every day,
children go about the business of learning, laughing and living life to the full.
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