Wheelchairs for Kids Australia

23/08/2026

7️⃣0️⃣ Join us in congratulating our Founding Partner, Scarborough Rotary Club as they recently celebrated their 70th Anniversary.

Hosted by the City of Stirling, it was a beautiful evening where Rotarians retired and current, special guests and family joined together to reflect on an amazing history of community service to Western Australia.

It would be hard to capture in a few short words the contribution this Club has made. Well over $3 million dollars has been local and international projects designed to make our society a better place.

Of course there are two signature projects. The Clocktower and flag pole erected at Scarborough Beach Foreshore to mark the 150th Anniversary of WA in 1979 and Wheelchairs For Kids Australia, established in 1998.

To fund their work, Scarborough Rotarians have risen early since 1987 to host the iconic Karrinyup SwapMart. You cannot understate the power of work these committed Rotarians have undertaken for more than 40 years.

We would like to pay special tribute to Scarborough Rotarians Gordon Hudson and Gordon Cornish who began the “wheelchairs project”.

Along with Br Olly, Gordon Hudson would go on to become the "face and voice"’ of Wheelchairs For Kids for 20 years. Delivering countless presentations to Rotary Clubs, schools and community groups.

Alongside Gordon were dedicated Rotarians including Don Brooks, Neil Darch, Peter Whyte, Mike McAuliffe and many, many others who have given their time, skills and stewardship to ensure Wheelchairs For Kids continued to grow.

Scarborough Rotarians have served in Management Committee and Board roles including incumbent Wheelchairs For Kids Australia Chair Jim Joseph, who has served for six years through a period of great change and growth.

Scarborough Rotary has donated more than $500,000 to Wheelchairs For Kids Australia and this commitment has inspired more than 150 Rotary Clubs from across Australia to support the project, taking Rotary's combined financial contribution to more than $1.3 million.

We pay tribute to all the Scarborough Rotarians whose vision, leadership and hard work created such an enduring legacy in Perth’s northern corridor and beyond.

🥳Happy 70th Anniversary from all at Wheelchairs For Kids Australia.

Rotary International

22/08/2026

If you missed Graham Edwards speaking to 6PR Perth Mornings host Chrissy Morrissy on Tuesday to mark Vietnam Veterans Day, click below and take a listen.

For Graham, 18 August is a day that carries deep personal meaning.

He was a young Australian soldier serving with the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in South Vietnam when, on 12 May 1970, he stepped on an anti-personnel land mine. The explosion changed his life in an instant and resulted in the loss of both his legs.

What followed is a story not only of survival, but of a determination to make the most of the life he had been given. Now 80, Graham has penned his memoir, Stone The Bloody Crows.

With his true generosity of spirit, Graham is donating 100% of the proceeds from book sales to Wheelchairs For Kids Australia. He has a deep connection to our mission having been associated with us 2007 and visiting Vietnam several years ago to see our wheelchairs being distributed.

https://youtu.be/433zuC9wq0w

Vietnam veteran, former State and Federal MP and long-time veterans...

21/08/2026

Happy Friday as we bid farewell to another container of 350 wheelchairs bound for BethanyKids.KE Kenya. ☺️

That brings our tally for 2026 to 3,891 wheelchairs dispatched year to date and that means over 70,300 wheelchairs have now left our factory since 1998 👏🙌

Once again it was a big team effort on thankfully a cool, but dry morning.

Special thanks to our volunteer school teacher packers from the following schools:
St. Anthony’s School, Wanneroo.
St. Luke’s Catholic Primary School, Woodvale.
St Lawerence Catholic Primary School, Balcatta.
Whitford Catholic Primary School, Craigie.
Liwara Catholic School, Greenwood.
St. Elizabeth Catholic Primary School, Hocking.
Irene McCormack Catholic College, Butler.
Catholic Education Office, Leederville.
Our Lady of Grace, North Beach.

Along with some students from Mercedes College and Curtin Uni.

What a great year we are having and are well on track to achieve another record-breaking year in wheelchair distribution.

20/08/2026

A few shoutouts to some wonderful supporters over the last week.

Starting last Friday with a visit from Rotary Club of Happy Valley Hong Kong, a sister Club to Scarborough Rotary. Visitors from the Club came in to visit the factory last week after meeting our CEO and Board Chair in Taipei in June. They came with a cheque for $1000 which was greatly appreciated 🙏😊

During the week our local Duratech team came nice and early to help unload a container of materials. This makes such a difference as many of our volunteers are no longer lifting heavy boxes. As usual our long time volunteer Keith finished off the job with a good sweep and tidy of the container. Our thanks to all. 🙏

On Wednesday has a lively bus full of visitors from the Cockburn Seniors Social Club. Following morning tea, they broke into three groups for a factory tour. Over $500 was donated during morning and we know they had a lovely time. In fact it was hard to get them all back on the bus!

And to everyone who has dropped in toys and blankets and made donations - A BIG THANK YOU to all. We could not keep going without you 👏🫶

18/08/2026

Marking Vietnam Veterans Day with Patron Graham Edwards AM

Vietnam veteran, former State and Federal MP and long-time veterans’ advocate Graham Edwards AM has marked Vietnam Veterans’ Day by sharing his own remarkable story of war, survival and a life of service in his new memoir, Stone The Bloody Crows.

For Graham Edwards, 18 August is a day that carries deep personal meaning.

He was a young Australian soldier serving with the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in South Vietnam when, on 12 May 1970, he stepped on an anti-personnel land mine. The explosion changed his life in an instant and resulted in the loss of both his legs. In fact the photo you can see below is Graham in Vietnam just a few days before that fateful day.

What followed is a story not only of survival, but of a determination to make the most of the life he had been given.

Many thanks to the wonderful 6PR Perth Mornings host Chrissy Morrissy who spoke to Graham today about his experience in Vietnam and the amazing work he has done since his return.

Graham paid his great respect all Vietnam Veterans today, particularly as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most significant battles fought by Australians during the war.

They also discussed, Stone The Bloody Crows, Graham memoir which has taken 10 years to write. It shares his early years growing up in Western Australia to his service in Vietnam and the challenges of returning home, rebuilding his life, entering politics and a lifetime of advocacy and community service.

The book has been published independently and is being distributed exclusively by Wheelchairs For Kids Australia, where Graham has served as our Patron since 2023.

100% of the proceeds from book sales is being donated by Graham to WFKA. He has a deep connection to our mission having been associated with us 2007 and visiting Vietnam several years ago to see our wheelchairs being distributed.

Find links to order the book and listen to a very moving discussion between Graham and Chrissy in the links below.

RSL Australia RSL WA

17/08/2026

Graham Edwards AM, Patron of Wheelchairs For Kids Australia joins Afternoons with Jenny Seaton on Curtin Radio from 2:20pm today.

On the eve of the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and Vietnam Veterans’ Day tomorrow, Graham is sharing his own remarkable story of war, survival and a life of service in his new memoir, Stone The Bloody Crows.

Out now and available exclusively from Wheelchairs For Kids Australia. Graham is donating 100% proceeds from book sales to the charity to help gift mobility to children around the world.

🌐Ordering details in the comments ⬇️⬇️

13/08/2026

It's and of course we are blessed with amazing community support and have much to be thankful for 😊🙏

We start at the top with our container packers made up of volunteers and local school teachers who make load-out days enjoyable and fast! This is a 20’ container heading to Rotary Clubs of Mindanao in the Philippines with 165 wheelchairs.

Next the very lovely Kay, who is now 87 years old, completed her 130th rug and wanted to drop it in today. Kay says she has slowed down but still loves to crochet rugs - she's been donating since 2006. 💛

We had a visit today from Dr John Topliss who leads the Catholic Institute with teachers and principals from our northern corridor. Many familiar and some new faces. Our local Catholic schools and colleges have been a huge part of WFKA, supporting Br Olly for almost 30 years.

And our Fundraising Lead Lee-Anne had the pleasure of joining new Lyon House at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento, WA for their Feast Day Mass. Lyon have adopted WFKA as their House Charity. Lee-Anne collected a huge laundry basket full of toys and wool the students had collected. Big thanks to involved. 💛🙏

And of course if we didn't snap a photo of your donation, a huge thanks. Everything is appreciated. 🙏😊

12/08/2026

One of the ways we honour the memory and dedication of our volunteers who pass is by placing a Memorial Plaque on a wheelchair bearing their name. 💙

Volunteer Denis recently placed a plaque on a wheelchair in memory of his wife Pearl who passed away earlier this year. Denis has been volunteering since 2002 with his wife joining him in the factory in 2019.

We all miss Pearl dearly but know her memory lives on within our hearts and through the joy it will bring a child experiencing mobility for the first time in the months ahead.

A Memorial Plaque can be placed on a wheelchair in memory of a beloved family member, friend or colleague.

It’s a beautiful way to honour a life while helping a child experience greater freedom, dignity and independence.

To find out more about arranging a Memorial Plaque, please check the link in the comments below.

09/08/2026

Update: BethanyKids.KE, Kenya

“Words cannot really express the joy I feel in my heart as I see my daughter finally have a wheelchair,” Abriella’s mother says as her daughter gets fitted into her new wheelchair.

Life has had many ups and downs for both mother and daughter. Three months after her birth, Abriella lost neck balance. Worried for her daughter, mum rushed her to the hospital. It was then that the doctors broke the news to her that Abriella had Cerebral Palsy.

To think that her beautiful daughter would now require lifelong care shattered her heart into pieces. She couldn’t help but wonder, why my daughter? Still, she decided to stand by her daughter, taking on the role of both parents to ensure her daughter never lacked.

Being an orphan herself, Abriella’s mother has made it her life’s mission to ensure that her daughter grows up knowing she’s dearly loved and valued. Despite the daily challenges they face, Abriella’s mother has resolved to ensure her beautiful daughter never lacks.

Hustling through various jobs, she pours her heart into everything she does, knowing that her daughter’s future rests on her shoulders. Without a mobility device to assist Abriella, her mother has had to carry her whenever she leaves the house.

Abriella, who is now 5 years old, has finally received her first wheelchair through BethanyKids in partnership with Wheelchair For Kids Australia.

To her mother, this is a new chapter unfolding for her daughter. Having been a full-time caregiver to her daughter, she now hopes that the independence her daughter has gained through this device will allow her to engage in different activities to make a living. “My daughter will finally be able to connect with other children more since I no longer have to lay her on the bed every day,” she adds.

Additionally, Abriella’s experience and school life will be greatly impacted by this newly found mobility. Having joined school this year, her mother believes that the availability of this wheelchair will now enhance her studies and social interactions.

When a wheelchair is given to a child, it becomes more than just that. It becomes an opportunity to pursue more in life. It becomes an open door to a future filled with possibilities and greatness.

We wish Abriella and her mother every success and happiness in life as their new chapter begins 💛🩷💙