Financial windfall adds to celebrations

The legacy of international humanitarian the late Lady Sue Ryder has been celebrated at the home named in her honour in Mount Gambier.

The event hosted by the Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Home Foundation was timed to coincide with what would have been her 100th birthday and included a $10,000 cheque presentation by the Lakes Rotary Club towards future projects by the local charity.

The Ryder residence and adjoining Cheshire residence named in honour of Sue’s husband and fellow humanitarian, the late Lord Leonard Cheshire, provide homes for life for a total of 10 people with disabilities.

The homes are leased to and managed by estara, formerly known as ParaQuadSA and HomeCare+.

The Lakes Rotary donation was made in memory of the late Dr Jerry Leech AM, who was a longtime club member and the Foundation’s former Treasurer and Vice President.

“To honour his memory, and in appreciation of the many faithful and committed years Jerry gave to Rotary and in fact to the whole community, Lakes Rotary Club has much pleasure in presenting this donation,” said club representative Colleen James.

Foundation President Matthew Dixon told the gathering the charity proposes to build another two homes to accommodate a total of six additional people with disabilities.

The charity was invited to submit a full application for grant funding in Round One of the federal government’s Growing Regions Program but chose to wait until Round Two expected to be announced this year.

Mount Gambier’s 100th Morning Tea was attended by about 40 people including family members of residents living in the Ryder home, as well as long-time supporters of Ryder-Cheshire at the local, national and international level.

The Foundation’s Patron and Governor of South Australia, Frances Adamson, sent a message saying she was proud to support the local charity.

“A more eloquent and humanitarian statement of purpose than that you are ‘…dedicated to the relief of suffering without discrimination’ would be hard to conceive,” she said.

The Hon Elizabeth Cheshire, the UK-based daughter of Sue and Leonard, also sent a message stating she was delighted to hear that her mother’s centenary was being celebrated in Mount Gambier.

“My mother held Australia very dear to her heart and looked forward eagerly to her visits to meet you all and thank you personally for the wonderful work you do,” Dr Cheshire said.

Events to commemorate Sue Ryder are being held in several parts of the world.