What’s been going on?

Laura Fergusson’s former well equipped and much loved Gym

Laura Fergusson Auckland has had a turbulent few years. The new Board elected in November and supported by an overwhelming majority of members sincerely hope that we can all pull together for the best interests of the physically disabled and align with the vision of the founders in 1967. Not a lot has changed since Lady Fergusson and Lady Mary Caughey came together to work on a plan to stop young disabled being put into rest homes.

The former Board began a process in 2018 to close the LFT facility, and appointed a consultant, the then Chairman, to explore a sale. Members were told of a ‘transition’ at the 2019 AGM however most had no idea that this meant closure and subsequent sale. Then covid hit in 2020, and very quietly people were moved out into new homes, some into rest homes. It was quite a shock to many, to learn of the closure. It caused disharmony with the other successful branches of Laura Fergusson in Wellington and Canterbury and impacted their fundraising and profiles. Reasons given for closing were a lack of funding and a change of Government policy. Action group, Friends of LFT was set up to question many of the decisions being made.

The property was quietly sold for a lot of money and new corporate structures which would have disenfranchised members were revealed.

Many wondered why if the charity needed money the community that had supported LFT for so long had not been asked for help. A large number of people applied for membership and encouraged others who felt strongly about the closure to do the same. Most of us were rejected.

This and a number of concerns led to court action. In late February last year the LFT Board went to mediation with Friends, and some changes occurred, including Simon Dunlop and Michael Fisher joining the Board.

Simon and Michael have a long and important family connection to LFT, with Simon’s grandmother being a founder and Michael’s parents and aunt, significant donors.

Then at the December AGM a new board of eight were elected unopposed.  Victoria Carter ONZM was elected Chair of LFT and Simon Dunlop, Lady Caughey’s grandson, the deputy.

The other Board members elected were: Greg Horton MNZM, Linda Smeele,Mike Bishop, Sophia Malthus, Michael Fisher, and Philippa Atkinson. You can read more in the Our Board section.