A Rotary Australia Benevolent Society ( RABS ) Project
RAWCS has established the Rotary Australia Benevolent Society ( RABS ) to assist Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts within Australia to respond to needs within their own communities .
The main requirement for RABS projects is that they provide direct relief to people in need . If the clients are disadvantaged , the relief should target that disadvantage , i . e . a place to sleep for the homeless , food and support for those in poverty , counselling and support of those in distress . The relief is for ' people in need '
All Benevolent Society projects must address one of the following criteria that arouse the compassion of your community :
Poverty , Sickness , Suffering , Distress , Misfortune , Disability , Destitution , Helplessness .
RABS has been registered with the ACNC - Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission and has Designated Gift Recipient ( DGR ) status with the Australian Tax Office .
BRING KURT HOME - Kurt Drysdale Trust Fund Appeal
A Rotary Australia Benevolent Society ( RABS ) Project
Featured on Channel Nine ’ s - A Current Affair :
Kurt Drysdale a Cronulla under 20s rugby league player and hooker for Cabramatta , was playing the Wentworthville Magpies on June 7 2015 when he was struck down by a “ freak accident ” and became paralysed .
The appeal is to assist his family to build a new family home to sustain him and enable him to move out of hospital .
Working together Rotary Australia World Community Service ( RAWCS ) and A Current Affair are really very grateful for the wonderful support received .
“ we ' ve raised over $ 692,000 from donations to RABS project “ Bring Kurt home ””
“ The generosity of Australians never ceases to amaze us . We ' ve raised over $ 692,000 from over 5,700 donations to RABS project “ Bring Kurt home ”.” RAWCS spokesperson said .
Thank you so much Channel Nine for this wonderful opportunity .
After watching from the stands as their son ' s life changed forever , the parents of former promising football player Kurt Drysdale have been forced to watch their once vibrant son adjust to life as a quadriplegic .
For the past year , Sonya and Steve Drysdale have been visiting their son at the same hospital room at Sydney ' s Royal North Shore Hospital .
Now , for the indefinite future , Kurt relies on a ventilator , a nurse and an emergency back-up that is with him 24 hours a day .
" I can ' t sniff or smell , the ventilator is always pushing air out of my mouth and my nose ," Kurt told A Current Affair . " The machine ' s doing all the work for me and the machine is always pushing up air past my vocal cord to make me talk , as well as give breath ."
Kurt Drysdale , 21 , has been confined to his room at Royal North Shore Hospital since the accident 12 months ago .
Despite initially being told he would never be able to talk again , Kurt has proved the doctors wrong . Now , he is even able to leave the hospital on day release .
In addition to a special van and a needed home rebuild , the cost of rehabilitation has been high . " My situation , there ' s a lot more costs ," Kurt said .
Among the expensive items is a bike that moves his legs , stimulating them with movement .
" Hopefully when that time comes and I do walk again , my legs and everything is strong and ready to go ," Kurt said .
But when he ' s not able to leave the hospital , some football identities have helped keep Kurt ' s spirits high .
" Brad Fitler , Craig Fitzgibbon , Laurie Daly , the list goes on . They ' ve all been in and seen him quite often ," Mr Drysdale said .
The rugby league community has rallied behind the Drysdale family , pitching in to raise money to help build them build a new home and get Kurt out of the hospital .
You can donate to the ' Bring Kurt Home ' campaign by visiting the RAWCS website www . rawcs . com . au /
4