History of EBL (Cont'd)
thereafter reducing to a base of 50% continue with their invaluable work, In 1991/92 EBL’s funding was again
within a further 2 years. with IDSC offering a more hands-on stretched to breaking point, in large
management oversight by way of a part due to the new Interim Disability
full-time paid manager to run EBL. Services Award which introduced
EBL was operating with only part-
time paid administrative and book-
keeping staff. There was a huge In early 1989, through the auspices of
reliance on its Board and other the S.A. Housing Trust, a property at
people volunteering their time to help Ventura Street, Parafield Gardens
run the organisation. was purchased for $100,000 for use
At the Annual General Meeting in
as a 4-bed respite centre.
new pay rates for workers in this
sector. This had a huge impact on
EBL’s bottom line, and extra funding
was provided by IDSC and the then
DCS&H.
In the late 1980’s EBL also introduced
1983, an amendment to EBL’s It needed a fire sprinkler system, new Constitution was made to reflect that water mains to the premises, fencing, its aim would now be “to provide and paving. And local residents were temporary and permanent care to initially a bit worried about the handicapped children...”, reflecting impact a respite centre for children the level of demand in the northern with intellectual disability would have In the early 1990’s, the Yarnbrook
region. on the neighbourhood, but in April Terrace, Davoren Park property was
1989 the Ventura Street house acquired from the Housing Trust,
commenced accepting clients aged allowing for more respite and other
between 7 and 16 years. services to clients (including adult
Whilst EBL was by now receiving
some permanent funding, it was not
sufficient to meet all of its costs, and
a Day Options program. But the
organisation was still delivering
services to clients from primarily the
northern suburbs.
clients).
by the end of 1986 they had a Later that year a transportable shortfall of $14,000. There was frantic building was added to the site as In 1994 EBL was part of a wide-
fundraising to try and cover the gap. offices for the manager, and a ranging state-wide review of all
But without some last-minute meeting/lunchroom for staff. The services in the disability sector.
additional funding, and the Milford Road premises were vacated. Recommendations resulting from
substantial donation of $6,000 from
the American company, Levi Strauss,
things would have been perilous
indeed.
The concerns of the locals were
obviously resolved, because the
Ventura Street facility still offers
respite today, and the transportable
By 1988, EBL had added a rumpus building is now a sensory room, with
room at the Milford Road property. climbing walls for the clients.
The demand for respite remained
stronger than ever. Records of this
period show that the service was
often fully booked over weekends,
and particularly long weekends.
Around this time, it was discovered
by the State Government and the
local Council that this was not a
licensed service, and the Milford Road
premises were non-compliant with
various fire and health regulations.
They wanted to shut it down. But
there was nowhere else for these
children and their families to go for
support.
So, finally, with the help of a local
councilor, the powers that be agreed
that for the time being, EBL could
6 EBL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
that review were that EBL should
expand its respite places from 8 to 12,
establish separate units for children
and adults, including continuing to
offer a bed for emergency crisis
clients in both units, but cease to
offer a Day Options program.