Newsletter January 2023
Message from the new Chair.
Victoria Carter ONZM
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 people 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 LFT 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. I was elected Chair of LFT and Simon Dunlop, Lady Caughey’s grandson, the deputy.
So, a little about me:
I am or have been, a Director and Chair of a number of public, private and government entities. I bring deep experience in business having been part of four fast growing start-ups and lengthy charitable experience in education and the arts.
My history with LFT goes back to being a young PR professional and the company I was PR director for, sponsored a race at the famous Ellerslie Race Days LFT used to run. Over the years, I brought things from the wonderful Christmas fairs. My family have lived in the area for 35 years. As a City Councilor I got ‘pram crossings’ made for wheelchair access, assisted in getting the traffic lights on Great South Road. I loved the community and connection from having LFT nearby.
Seven years ago, my niece Sophia Mathus had a dreadful workplace accident and after the Otara Spinal Unit, unable to go home, she went to live at LFT. I witnessed the wonderful care and support she got that assisted her to live as independently as possible.
When I started Friends of LFT, I heard so many other people’s stories of the incredible difference LFT made to so many and their ability to live better lives at home, the incredible support, physiotherapy, OT, and community from seeing others like you or at different stages of challenge.
The stories of the many who had regular swims in the hydrotherapy pool and the community it was – the intellectually disabled from the Maurice Paykel Centre who visited weekly for exercise, companionship and community.
What vision Laura Fergusson and Mary Caughey had and what incredible fundraising they masterminded for so long, as well as the wonderful work of Lady Joyce Fisher with the vital Joyce Fisher Endowment Fund.
It is the goal of the eight of us elected, to do whatever we can, to create a better version of the wonderful Laura Fergusson Facility. You’ll hear a lot more about this in the coming months.
There’s a lot to do, but every person you elected is champing at the bit to focus on the recreation of Laura Fergusson.
I look forward to being of service,
Victoria
Who is your new Board?
Eight people were elected unopposed to the Board on November 29, 2023. Simon Dunlop, Mike Fisher and Linda Smeele were sitting Board members. New faces are Victoria Carter ONZM, Greg Horton MNZM, Mike Bishop, Sophia Malthus and Philippa Atkinson. More on them below.
We are all committed to effecting change and working on rebuilding and recreating the services Laura Fergusson used to offer.
Simon Dunlop I remember well my grandmother Lady Caughey talking about the importance of the work LFT did. I want to ensure the wishes of the LFT founders are honoured. Lady Caughey, and my mother, Anna Yates instilled in me the importance of LFT Auckland and its objective of providing rehabilitation services and accommodation when in need to disabled people. I am excited to have the chance to make a real difference and continue our family’s longstanding philosophy of giving back and helping the community where we can.
Linda Smeele I have personal experience of spinal cord injury and the enormous impact it has on a person’s life through my son Brad, who is a quadriplegic. Alongside my observed experience of disability, I bring professional experience and skills developed over a career as an award-winning media sales professional. Now retired, my life goal is to become an advocate for the spinal cord injury and wider disabled community.
Michael Fisher Until the early 2000’s my family, (Gus and Renee Fisher) worked tirelessly to assist the physically disabled community improve their level of independence and sense of wellbeing.
The family took its lead from my aunt and major donor Lady Fisher who amongst other things founded the Joyce Fisher Endowment Fund which she made clear was intended “to provide sustainable income to secure the long-term future of the services which Laura Fergusson Trust provides for young people and adults with physical difficulties”.
I treasure my family’s legacy and after everything I’ve seen over the past few years strongly believe that LFT’s original vision is as valid today as ever.
LFT has the financial means and Auckland’s disabled community urgently needs a state-of-the-art transitional rehabilitation facility including a hydrotherapy pool and gym.
Greg Horton MNZM
I am a passionate advocate for all things Motor Neurone Disease and disability related. Having not been involved in the dispute over recent years I bring an independent mind and skill set to LFT. I’ve been involved in a number of significant fundraising projects. More recently I personally raised $750,000 for MND, a disease I live with.
I am a founding partner of law firm Harmos Horton Lusk and specialised over my legal career in mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, advising boards and trusts with strategic advice.
My governance career includes directorships and trusteeships in entities spanning property, farming, funds management and investment.
In 2022 I was awarded an MNZM for services to Governance and Philanthropy.
Mike Bishop
In 1967, when LFT was founded, the best that people living with disability could hope for was to survive. Nowadays, because of the wonderful work being done by organisations such as LFT, those same people can survive and thrive.
I’m an experienced CEO and Director / Trustee with a successful record in business growth, change management, financial growth and sustainability, and stakeholder relations, I’m the current CE of Harbour Sport and Chair of Disability Sport Auckland. I’m also a member of the National Parafed Governance steering group and bring over 30 years of experience in sports administration.
I live with cerebral palsy.
Sophia Malthus
I am a Bachelor of Laws student. I had a life changing workplace accident at 19, which resulted in me becoming a tetraplegic. I spent 9 months at Laura Fergusson learning how to live again. My time at Laura Fergusson contributed to the confidence I have built in being an ambassador and advocate for many in the disabled community, particularly within the young disabled community.
Philippa Atkinson.
I knew Lady Caughey and how much LFT mattered to her. I supported many LFT fundraising initiatives.
I have a media strategy planning and buying background. A recent, incredibly satisfying and successful non-for-profit job has been working on St David’s, the Soldiers’ Memorial Church, in Grafton Auckland.
Victoria Carter ONZM
My mother is Valerie Davies and my father, Pat Booth. They taught me to be part of the ‘giraffe club’ where you stick your neck out. I’m a successful businesswoman, awarded an ONZM in 2016 for services to business, the community and the arts. I founded Friends of Laura Fergusson in 2020, we grew to over 250 ‘friends,’ people who wanted to recreate LFT to be the vital place for the physically disabled that it had been. I’ve visited LFT in Wellington, Canterbury, the Braintree Collective and seen what Melbourne does well.
We look forward to being of service to the community.
Minutes of the 2023 AGM
Here is a link to the minutes of the AGM which were approved by the Board at its January meeting.
As agreed at the mediation, at the AGM a presentation was made by Simon Dunlop, founder Lady Mary Caughey’s grandson, on what sort of facility might be created in the future. This has the support and backing of the new Board.
It is our intention for Laura Fergusson Auckland once again be a respected and admired rehabilitation provider to the physically disabled community in Auckland.
Andrew Hall, National Programme Manager NZ Spinal Trust, former CEO and Chair says: “The Auckland region is significantly under resourced with respect to quality rehabilitation services.”
We intend to work with other like-minded individuals and organisations to build a broader wellness hub serving the many communities that are impacted by life changing events.
What is our plan?
Our focus will be to find a central Auckland site with good transport links to provide:
1. Transitional accommodation
1. Leading edge rehabilitation gym and support services
2. State of the art Hydrotherapy pool
3. Community with café, gardens, meeting spaces
4. Support services and offices including counselling, OT, speech therapy, vocational rehabilitation, employment support, advocacy, education.
Why will our vision work?
We will keep a prudent reserve of funds aside which will support LFT Auckland going forward.
We will strengthen the JFEF so it becomes a larger ongoing funding source for LFT activities.
We will look to outsource some key areas and partner with leaders in their field.
We will stay focused on our core purpose.
We will embed ourselves into the wider community, so LFT once again becomes a very well-known health provider to the disabled community. We will relaunch a new and vibrant fundraising arm. We will look to find donors and sponsors to help fund the new facility.
We will stage our rollout of services and offerings, so we live within our means, financially and managerially.
For 52 years and until 2020 Laura Fergusson Auckland provided renowned care, community, service and rehab. It will take time, and with your support we intend to make this happen again.
Annual General Meeting Resolutions
Appointment of RSM Hayes Audit as scrutineers for resolutions or voting cast at the meeting. PASSED
Confirmation of the minutes of the last AGM held on 16 November 2022. NOT PASSED 71/16
At this point the Chairman, Simon Barclay, adjourned the meeting. When he returned, he advised that the Board felt they did not have the support of members, so they were stepping down immediately. He also noted that there were now only eight people standing for the eight vacancies so there was no need for an election.
The meeting stopped.
The new directors (detailed below) met briefly, and Victoria Carter was appointed Chair and Simon Dunlop, Deputy.
Victoria Carter took the Chair.
The Chair put the motion to the room that since the outgoing Chair had closed the meeting, it was prudent with everyone present for the AGM, to waive the notice requirement for the AGM. PASSED The meeting continued.
Approval of the Society’s financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2023 PASSED
Appointment of RSM Hayes Audit as auditors for the next financial year. PASSED
Re-registration of the Trust under the Incorporated Society Act 2022, requiring a review of operational process and the Constitution which will then be presented to members in 2024. PASSED
Email received from a Past Chairman of the Board and Life Member - Libby Fletcher
“What a great day for the LFT yesterday, I want to congratulate you and the new board. Your incredible hard work as certainly paid off.
What an extraordinary meeting it was and you certainly should be congratulated on the way you picked up after the previous Chair called the meeting closed. That was tough. I was so pleased that I was there, and to witness the great support you received.
I thought Simon’s presentation was excellent and I very much look forward to following the progress.
I am delighted that the organisation is now in safe hands I am very confident that there is now a great future for the LFT.
With very best wishes to you and your family for Christmas and the New Year, you deserve a good break.”