BY DI SNEDDON
It is hard to describe the impact of Witmore to the people who call this Singleton building their second home.
It is a safe space for people with disabilities to work, learn and enjoy their lives and a place where staff know they are making a genuine difference to every individual.
Witmore Limited’s journey began over 60 years ago, at a time when opportunities for individuals with disabilities were extremely limited.
Founded in 1958 by Klaus and Sonia Witt and Ray and Melva Moore, Witmore, a blend of their two names, was initially a place of education.
In 1958, public schools were not open to children with disabilities. It was a time when inclusion was a distant dream. Driven by love and determination, these two pioneering families sought to change this.
They united their efforts and established the first school in the region for children with disabilities, ensuring their children would have the right to an education.
Once their children graduated, the families took the next step by opening a supported workshop, providing meaningful employment and a sense of purpose for individuals with disabilities within the community. This legacy of empowerment and inclusion continues to shape Witmore today.
That first classroom began in what was once a family home in Singleton’s Castlereagh Street.
The workshop was later established in Bishopgate Street which has now been renovated to a prestige, modern family home.
During their time at Bishopgate Street, those behind the running of Witmore realised they needed more space. They were also grateful to the neighbours who endured the noise associated with their operations within a residential area but it was time to move.
In 2008 land was secured at Maison Dieu Industrial Estate and the move was made to a more purpose built site.
These days there are offices, spaces for social interactions, a commercial kitchen, a sensory quiet area and workshops where the enterprise keeps clients meaningfully employed with so much to do there is room for more people to get behind the tools.
Witmore supports all people with a disability and will tailor support plans to each individual to deliver best outcomes.
But back to the building.
It is forever evolving to meet the needs of the clients and the employment opportunities.
There are two large workshops at the rear of the property catering for manual labour. Making and painting pickets for the mining industry needs plenty of hands on deck. It is important work but plenty of smiles and jokes shared between those on the tools. There are so many other programs including the Witbusters who do all types of household chores including cleaning wheelie bins.
Then there is the recently established commercial kitchen. Clients have the opportunity to develop their hospitality qualifications and learn many skills required to gain employment in an industry much in demand of skilled workers.
The kitchen renovation, provided with financial support from Glencore, has allowed the expansion of Witmore’s catering arm. Inclusive Eats is a café that supplies food to its sister, Riverside Kiosk, and also does corporate and general catering, just like any café.
Inside that space is a group of enthusiastic and qualified staff with a newfound sense of purpose.
Rachel Baigent is the CEO and not a day goes by that she doesn’t look at her staff and clients and feel a sense of achievement.
Rachel is a visionary and she can see an exciting future for the organisation. Last year she took the brave step for Witmore to sign up to cater for Singleton Show. Yes it was a challenge but the crew she loves and supports achieved what most community organisations were too afraid to do. The result was a tremendous sense of pride for all.
Rachel is grateful Witmore has a permanent home and cannot emphasize enough how important the home is.
“For some of our clients this is the only place they come away from home, they come here for friendship, fun, to socialise, to work, it really is their second home,” Rachel said.
The future is bright and there are plenty of job openings for people with a disability.
While the site is well supported by the community and businesses, Rachel is always looking to the future and for now, she needs more storage space for workshop materials.
“I would really like to develop the back of the site so we can have a secure, undercover area to store some materials that are currently in the carpark but it’s a $50,000 to $60,000 project so just another project we are working on,” she said.
Witmore has a history built on determination by two sets of parents who wanted the very best for their children and delivered.
The Witmore name is embedded in Singleton’s history and if Klaus and Sonia, Ray and Melva, could look down and see what has been achieved, we are sure their hearts would burst with pride.
