PHOTO: CWA members Helen Nalder, Amanda Colwell, Tracie Bromhead, Marion Murray, Maree Crawford (guest speaker), Felicity Keady, Charmaine Ryan, Elise Ward, Chandra Raja, Raquel Pickering, Kerry Edmonds, Ange Thompson, Lenore Green, Jane Sawyer and Sharon Single at the Coonamble CWA Rooms following Maree’s presentation.
“I DID it because it is good to let people know of the journey. Every single person has a journey but for people who are special it’s a different journey – and it’s hard.”
On Wednesday evening 2 August, Coonamble mum Maree Crawford turned up at the monthly meeting of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) Evening Branch to tell her story of parenting her daughter Jessica.
Jessica, now almost 24, is one of seven children for Maree and her husband Luke and from a very young age it was clear that her journey would be different.
Armed with a diagnosis delivered in the harshest of terms, Maree and Luke spent the next two decades fighting to secure resources to help her carve out a future, including a mainstream education, participation in sport and other opportunities, and access to the vital therapy services she needed.
Almost 20 branch members were in the CWA rooms to hear Maree share Jessica’s story.
“I think the people were a bit surprised at how much you have to fight to get the services and get funding,” Maree told the Coonamble Times.
“When one door shuts, you try and get another one to open.”
She also spoke about prejudice and, during her presentation, read a letter from a medical specialist in Sydney which used derogatory terms about Jess and basically told the Crawfords that Jess would never learn to read or write – a diagnosis that Jess and her parents proved wrong.
“It was proof of the kind of prejudice you come up against,” Maree said.
“You come up against it a lot – in professional circles, in sport, in the community – you come across it all the time.”
“So it’s good to articulate and we’re trying to get the message out there, we’re trying to get inclusiveness,” she said.
“So I talked about Jess, and resilience and keeping going.”
Veteran CWA member Marion Murray says she invited Maree to speak after chatting to her in a shop one day.
“We got talking and she said she was going home to work out some NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) things for Jess and how much things cost,” Mrs Murray said.
“Our branch is putting feelers out to find out how we can help in the community and I thought it would be interesting for us to hear Maree’s story.”
“She didn’t hesitate when I asked her. I think she saw it as an opportunity,” she said
Although her story was very personal and she was nervous to speak to the group, Maree had some clear messages that she hopes they will share with the wider community.
“If you share a couple of stories then people open up, they realise they’re not alone,” she said. “Every single person with a disability is on a tough journey.
“It’s a support to talk about it and share experiences. My message for other parents is to keep fighting, save all your paperwork and put it together and take it to them when you go in to fight for your child.”
“Jess is a beautiful girl and we love her so much,” said Maree. “We’re very proud of what she’s achieved.”
Jess graduated from high school in Bathurst where, among many things she learned to speak and love Japanese, and came home to Coonamble.
She now works full-time at Castlereagh Industries as well as a few hours each week at the Coonamble Bowling Club Bistro, and is also working towards her drivers licence.
“Also, I think the community doesn’t realise how good Castlereagh Industries is,” said Maree. “Last year two of the St Vincent de Paul services shut and when I heard that I thought ‘I hope that doesn’t happen to us’.”
“I’m hoping the CWA women will have a greater appreciation of Castlereagh Industries and if something happens they can help.”
“We have to keep an eye on our people and make sure they’re safe and going okay.”
Coincidentally the state CWA Awareness Week theme for 2023 is ‘Embracing Neurodiversity’.