At the opening of Illawarra Interchange’s new Wallis Centre … CEO Jake Pearson, Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes, clients Kristy and Ebony, chairperson Susan Wallis and Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown. Photos: Jen White.
Illawarra Interchange chairperson Susan Wallis had vowed not to cry at the opening of the group’s new Wollongong headquarters, but when its official name was unveiled, the floodgates opened.
The Wallis Centre, named in honour of Susan’s family and her beloved daughter Gracie, was officially opened this month, more than five years after it was proposed.
Gracie, who was born with a hypoxic brain injury and cerebral palsy, died in 2018.
The Wallis family – Susan, husband Mark and daughter Sophie – continued its long-time advocacy work for people with disability in honour of “Amazing Gracie”, as she was affectionately known, and in 2019 established the Gracie Wallis Scholarship, an initiative that honours young women with a disability and helps them achieve their dreams.
Since then, the scholarship has been presented annually at the International Women’s Day Illawarra luncheon. Interchange manages the funding raised for the scholarship.
After the plaque was unveiled by Interchange CEO Jake Pearson and two of the centre’s regular attendees, Kristy and Ebony, Mr Pearson told the large crowd that he knew Susan would’ve said no to the name suggestion, “so I went ahead and did it anyway”.
“I contacted the board, I spoke to life members and spoke to some previous board members and it was unanimous. It’s an absolute pleasure to officially name this building, The Wallis Centre,” he announced to loud applause.
Interchange Illawarra, established more than 40 years ago, is a not-for-profit support organisation for people with disabilities and their carers. It currently supports about 230 clients.
The organisation provides social support group activities for adults, daily living assistance, individual support, short term accommodation and runs the BestLife Support Program, an innovative program which has a different focus each day ranging from physical and creative activities to life skills and leisure.
An open day for people to learn more about the BestLife program will be held at the new centre on Monday 14 April from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.
Interchange also recognises the vital support provided by carers and offers a parents/carers health and wellbeing program.
It helps them to participate in their community, foster relationships that strengthen informal networks and provides opportunities to attend free social events with other Interchange Illawarra parents and carers.
Founder and former long-term CEO Glenda Pearce told the audience that the aim of Interchange, from the very beginning, was to establish a culture and ensure a future for people with disabilities so they could live ordinary lives.
“They didn’t have to be segregated or separated from society, they had the opportunity of doing everything that everyone else did,” she said.
“It was a very new and innovative concept, a community-based organisation.
“Interchange still maintains the core business of respite support to people, to carers of people with disabilities that complements the caring role, not complicates it.
“Because if we provide support to carers, we know that the person with a disability is going to have greater opportunities for inclusion and participation.
“What stands out for me is that we’ve probably punched above our weight and we continue to. It’s OK to be better, not necessarily bigger. You embrace the concept of being a small giant, and that’s really important.
“It can make a huge difference to people with disabilities, their lives and their families, and it’s important to do that because sometimes you only get one shot at it.”
Susan said Jake had first prepared a strategy to purchase a CBD property and develop a purpose-built space more than seven years ago, “so it’s been a very long time coming”.
“We hope you are as pleased to see your dream come to reality as we are – congratulations and thank you,” she said.
“I know I speak on behalf of all of the directors past and present, and everyone who’s here today, when I say that you have brought this project to life, it’s exceeded our expectations and we could not be more proud or more grateful for your leadership and project management.”
Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes first met Susan, her family and Gracie in 2013.
“We were campaigning for the NDIS and they were absolute, fierce advocates for the NDIS and were instrumental in making sure that we got the NDIS up,” she said.
“That’s how I became friends with Susan and my involvement with Interchange started then.
“I know this organisation is like a family and they put trust and care, respect and inclusivity at the centre of every single thing they do.”
Interchange Illawarra is at 114 Church Street, Wollongong. Phone 4227 1079 or click here for more information.
