On The Job Again

"Work, not sympathy"-that is the thought behind the Vanessa Lowndes Abilities (Inc.) organisation set up by the Gisborne West Rotary Club in Childers Road with funds largely provided by the Vanessa Lowndes Trust. The object is to promote employment for physically disabled people; the admirable aim is to retrain them to become useful and productive members of the community. Although difficulties exist in organising sufficient suitable work, the experiment has been strikingly successful since it was started in 1969. Wrought-iron furniture, canework, box-making, silk screen printing, and a number of other useful and marketable products are among the factory's output.

The loss of an arm doesn't deter cheerful Jim Taewa from operating this grinder. He is making frames for "coolie" chairs.

Rod McKay and one of the starling boxes he has been making.

The factory in Childers Road near Grey Street.

Dennis Daly, operating the nailing machine, puts together tomato dump boxes for Watties.

Henry Haenga nails cleats on to the dump boxes.

A presentation was made by the social club of Ellis and Bull recently of a 4" hand grinder for the workshop. From left: Hugh Hamilton (factory manager), Myles Walters (social club president), and Jim Taewa.

Henry Borst prepares hospital sputum mug holders for coating.

Some of the furniture made at the factory.

Sid Huston nails the bottoms to the tomato dump boxes.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 199 : January 27, 1971

On The Job Again