Over the past 90+ years
1932
The organisation was founded as the Newcastle & District Crippled Children’s Association, when the Newcastle Rotary Club identified 95 children with a disability residing in the district. Those children were assisted with surgical appliances and medical aids and our charity began.
1934
The Association was registered as a not-for-profit organisation with the purpose of providing equipment and resources to children with physical disabilities in the Newcastle, Hunter and Central Coast regions.
1980
The “Weeroona” Holiday Home was opened on the shores of Belmont Bay and operated as a respite and holiday home for many children in the Hunter before it was sold in 1999.
1994
The organisation becomes known as “Weeroona Association”. “Weeroona” means “place of rest”.
2013
The NSW pilot program for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS) was rolled out in the Newcastle area. For many people it was the first time they were able to receive the disability support and funds they needed.
The role of our organisation had changed and the equipment and aids we had previously funded were now being funded through a participant’s own NDIS plan.
2019
Thanks to the very talented artist, Kerri Blades, who bought to life our dream of our mascot, WandA. Kerri generously created and gifted the artwork to us. It is hoped that WandA will become recognisable as the face of our organisation and raise community awareness of who Wheeling & Able is and what we do.
TODAY
Wheeling & Able considers all applications on merit and may be able to assist your child where the NDIS has, or can, not.
Our assistance is limited to children under the age of 18 with a physical disability and living in, or accessing medical services within, the Hunter New England region.
