Hutchinson Builders bolster future of Sailability Tasmania with $10,000 donation
by Jane Austin 3 Oct 2019 15:49 BST
Hutchinson Builders representatives gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel site today to present Sailability Tasmania Inc. with cheques totalling $10,000. The generous donation will support their sailing program which assists people of all abilities to get into, or to continue, sailing.
The fundraising effort started with Hutchinson Builders' Senior Project Manager, Mr Pat Donlan, organising an RUOK BBQ event for staff which included a visit from Indian Motorcycle Tasmania (IMT's) Shaun Kelly, who brought three Indian motorcycles to site. The BBQ raised the first $500 of the donation, which was matched by Hutchies. Then IMT made an additional $1,500 contribution," said Donlan.
"We went back out to the respective companies on site that are working on the project and asked them to support what we are doing, which has taken us to the $10,000," said Donlan.
"We have donated money to the Sailability program in northern Queensland to help keep their support boats on the water, so donating to Sailability Tasmania was an obvious choice for us. We know the great work that smaller organisations like Sailability Tasmania do which doesn't often get noticed. It's great for us to come into Hobart and to build a connection with the local community. And our RUOK BBQ also gave our 120-plus staff an opportunity to check in with each other, which is fantastic for their mental health," said Donlan.
And the list of companies that have donated is extensive: Access Hardware, Outstanding Plastering, MJE Electrical, Hobart Glass, Parmic, Degree C, Stanmore Tiles, Cooke & Dowsett Plumbing, Aclad, Crisp Bros, Usher & Sons, KNL Fire, Spectran Group, Powell Motor Group and Cranes Combined.
Sailability Tasmania President, Rod Viney, with Bert Somssich and Julie Pearson, were delighted to receive the generous donation today and spoke of the importance of the funding for Sailability patrons and their support workers.
"Launching the boats can be demanding for our volunteers, so we are looking at purchasing two new trailers and developing a more efficient way using an RSJ frame and electrical winch to store the dinghies keeping the centreboard in, and a caravan mover to pull the trailer into the water," said Viney.
Working in partnership is not new to Sailability Tasmania with support from the Commonwealth Bank, Rotary, TasPorts, At Work Australia, the Derwent Sailing Squadron and others.
Viney is also planning a second project in partnership with the Sandy Bay Sailing Club to start a Sailability Tasmania Saturday learn-to-sail program for people of all-abilities, which will run over six to eight weeks.
Sailability Tasmania Treasurer/Secretary and sailor, Bert Somssich, emphasised the importance of being able to get out on the water to build better mental health.
"Quite a few of our patrons participate in sailing - it's a really big part of their life. They might live alone and need emotional support which they get from the sailing community. They really value this social contact, whether they are helming a boat or are working as part of the crew," said Somssich.
Sailability Tasmania Booking Coordinator and sailor, Julie Pearson, reflected on the importance of the sailing program.
"I sail and find it gives me a great sense of freedom, something that being wheelchair bound cannot do. Having spent all my life on the water in many activities, Sailability Tasmania Inc. enabled my longing to be in touch with the sea again after my injury in 2002. Sailability also has a strong commitment of inclusion on and off the water where we have a number of members with a disability using their expertise on the [Sailability] Committee," said Pearson.