The Foundation provides needy Australians and their carers with FREE medical transport and financial support neccessary to maintain and enhance their quality of life. Sir Roden & Lady Cutler Foundation had its genesis in 1999, when the Kings Cross Rotary Club created the 'Home and Away' project after identifying a need in the local community to help stranded and at-risk youth who found themselves, for a range of reasons, unable to get safely home at night. The Home and Away project expanded into daylight hours when it became apparent that the elderly could also greatly benefit from outside assistance to travel to and from medical appointments. By the end of 2000, Rotary members had completed over 1500 trips, escorting the infirm and seriously ill to their vital medical appointments. In one case, a local doctor, who was also a Rotarian, arranged a lift home for one of his elderly patients following an appointment. A previous street assault had left her afraid to go home alone. This type of personal commitment and compassion is typical ofso many of our volunteers who make the charity what it is today. In 2001, the demand from doctors, hospitals and aged care facilities for our services had climbed so high that it became necessary to establish a formal structure around the programme by appointing a Patron and Board. It was renamed Club St Christopher, after the patron saint of travelers, and the reinvigorated organisation took its first steps to carry on its vital work. Lady Cutler became involved as an advisor to Club St Christopher in 2002 and generously allowed the name of her late husband to be used as a tribute. In 2009 The charity changed its name to the Sir Roden & Lady Cutler Foundation to reflect the involvment of Lady Cutler with the charity. Sir Roden Cutler was a Victoria Cross recipient and the 32nd Governor of NSW – the longest serving in the State's history. It now takes over 10,000 bookings for medically related transport. The Charity is self funded but receives great assistance from its major benefactor Mr Basil Sellers as well as its Governors & Lueitenant Governors. Their generous support enables & ensures that the Foundation can continue its unique Pick Me Up service which helps so many people less fortunate than ourselves enhance their quality of life.
