Shirley Miller, John Weire, Richard Stubbs from Beyond Disability, Cranbourne RSL welfare officer John Richardson, Brenda Gardiner and Sylvia Lloyd at the laptop handover at the Cranbourne RSL. 63857Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Emma Sun
THREE ladies from the Cranbourne RSL each received a laptop computer this month from Beyond Disability to help them connect with the world.
About 30 people from the RSL turned up to the event and enjoyed lunch together.
Cranbourne RSL welfare officer John Richardson said the ladies, who weren’t able to get out of their own homes, were thrilled at the donation, which had assisted them greatly in helping contact family and friends.
“It’s been a great help to the three of them,” he said.
“We also have an ongoing volunteer service that comes out and assists those who would like assistance with setting up computers. It opens up a whole new world to them.”
Certificates and badges were also handed out to the many volunteers who had offered their service.
Shirley Miller, one of the recipients of a new computer who is housebound, said it was a great gesture.
“I haven’t been using it very much; I have trouble with my eyes but they’ve given me the big screen computer, which was brilliant,” she said.
“I am going to go with the other two ladies and do a course for beginners at the community centre to learn how to use it properly.
“I have ventured into a fewof the things and I’ve run into alittle bit of trouble but I amlearning.”
She said the computer would greatly assist her in maintaining contact with her family and the games would keep her entertained when she was at home.
“I have a grandson in Melton and I’ll be able to talk to them and send them emails,” she said.
“I’m so pleased about it and it’s given me a new lease on life.”
Beyond Disability is a localnon-profit team of local volunteerswho assist to bring houseboun mobility disabled back into the community.
For more information about Beyond Disability, visit www.bdi.org.au or call 5977 6547.
