Another Rewarding Wellbeing Visit

As has been the practice of Wellbeing Officers of the Northern Sydney Committee, Norm Pounder, Fred Jackson, Ken Vessey accompanied by Bruce Walker, NSW Men of League NSW State Manager, recently visited Royal Rehab Centre, Ryde. It was Bruce’s first visit to this excellent establishment and we were welcomed by Stephen Lowndes, Chief Executive Officer and Martina Fox, Marketing/Community Relations Manager, who gave Bruce an inspection of the Centre’s Spinal and Brain Injury Units.

On this visit we were fortunate to meet :

1) Rob Spiteri ( Brain Injury Unit) – Rob had been undergoing rehab for sometime for injuries, he had suffered in a motor cycle accident; Rob hails from the Central Coast, NSW where he is a well known Harley motor cycle builder and enthusiast; he told us he had followed rugby league for many years and was very keen to tell us he supported South Sydney in the NRL competition (Norm and Bruce being ex Manly Warringah players took this “good” news with some reluctance whilst Fred and I were obviously overjoyed with the news. Fred had played for South Sydney in the past and Ken had supported them from early childhood).
Rob could not thank us enough for our visit and the Men of League Foundation polo shirt and cap we presented to him; we wished him a speedy recovery back to good health .

2) Josh Farr ( Spinal Injury Unit) – Norm Pounder and Ken Vessey had previously met Josh, a 21 year old Men of League Member, whilst he was a patient at the Royal North Shore Hospital Spinal Care Ward after being involved in a single vehicle crash between Blayney and Bathurst on the 17 December 2017. Josh had suffered serious spinal injuries and was airlifted to Sydney for immediate surgery and at that time was recovering from his surgery and undergoing rehab prior to his transfer to the Royal Rehab Centre, Ryde. On that visit we were fortunate to meet Josh’s Mum , Allison and his Dad, Martin. Josh had played in the centres for the Blayney Bears Senior Rugby League Club and his younger brother Lachie plays in the Under 20’s squad at the Newcastle Knights Rugby League Club. He had some weeks ago been moved to the Royal Rehab Centre, Ryde to continue his rehab program, he had settled in well and was right into his exercises plus had ventured out of the Centre with his Family. We were fortunate again to see his Mum, Allison who is by his side on a daily basis and we told Josh and Allison, that we would be back to see them and wished Josh a continued recovery.

3) Stephen Ralph (Spinal Injury Unit) – this was the first time we had met Stephen and he was undergoing rehab for severe spinal injuries he had suffered some months ago, through an accident around a swimming pool. Stephen had a very positive attitude to his injuries and the future. He told us he had lived in Berowra, Sydney and had played rugby league as a young man and these days he was a keen Sea Eagles Rugby League team supporter and watched most of their games. We presented him with a Men of League Foundation polo shirt and cap and wished him success in his rehab; in response Stephen was thankful for paying him a visit and for our gifts.

By Ken Vessey – Northern Sydney Committee Wellbeing Co-Ordinator