When Manly mum Hazel Whiddon decided her intellectually disabled son deserved a better life, little did she know her actions would change the course and quality of life for thousands of local children and beyond.
This is the amazing story of disability service provider, Sunnyfield.
It was the early 1950s and there were no specialised services or support for children with disabilities and most ended up being institutionalised with little hope or prospects.
Hazel put an ad in the Manly Daily and found several other local mothers of children with disability who shared her passion – they met at her home and over the following months set about planning the future.
Hazel, her husband Fred and 18 other mums and dads became the founding members of the the Manly Sunnyfield Association which had its inaugural meeting in 1952 and set about creating a supportive community for people with disability and building a future for their children. Schools and homes were built, money was raised.
Fast forward 72 years and Sunnyfield, with headquarters in Allambie Heights, has become a leading provider of disability services, including accommodation, life skills, employment, support coordination and even vacation care.
With 1,500 staff across more than 20 locations in New South Wales and the ACT, Sunnyfield delivers more than 2,000 services every day to children, teens, adults and families.
Families were where it all began and where the heart of Sunnyfield lives. The not-for-profit organisation is still run by members – the parents and carers of the people Sunnyfield assists to live, work and play.
And family connections to the original founders remain – Hazel Whiddon’s granddaughter Melissa Hammel is on the Board of Directors, and her great-grandson Tom Perrett is an Associate of the Board’s Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
“We’re extremely proud of where Sunnyfield started and what it is now,” says Melissa, whose father Bryan – founder Hazel’s son – was a Sunnyfield stalwart for most of his life.
“Family legacy is extremely important, so we don’t forget where it all began and what it has become”
“Family legacy is extremely important, so we don’t forget where it all began and what it has become,” Tom says. “And I hope my kids will become part of it as well in the future.”
One of the major changes in the delivery of disability services in Australia has of course been the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which rolled out fully in 2020. More than 600,000 Australians now benefit from the scheme, with significantly positive impacts on quality of life.
“The introduction of the NDIS has given complete control and choice about how people with disability are supported and because Sunnyfield has always been guided by the needs of people with disability, it has been an incredibly important initiative,” says Barry Kenyon, GM for Fundraising and Marketing.
It has also been very positive for Sunnyfield – recently recognised as The Most Trusted NDIS Service Provider Brand in Australia for 2024 in the Community Care category of The Enablement Awards, which celebrate exceptional achievements, innovation and leadership within the disability care sector in Australasia.
Sunnyfield was selected based on rigorous criteria, including performance, merit, innovation and courage.
“The award is a testament to an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care and support to people living with a disability. We are honoured to be recognised as a trusted service provider,” says Andrew Hyland, CEO of Sunnyfield.
“72 years delivering high-quality services to people with disability is a testament to the contribution of Sunnyfield to the disability support service sector, and we are grateful for the support we’ve received from the community. We will continue to strive for the highest standards and deliver the best service.”
“It’s vitally important for families to know their loved ones are in the care of someone they can trust. Sunnyfield has been operating for 72 years and this award is an important way we can let the community know that their loved ones are in trusted and experienced hands,” Andrew Hyland concluded.
To contact Sunnyfield:
Website: https://www.sunnyfield.org.au/contact/
General inquiries:
Phone: 1300 588 688
Email: enquiries@sunnyfield.com.au
Article sponsored by Sunnyfield in support of local news, but it’s a beautiful local history story in its own right.
