The Blind Chefs

Mark’s loss of vision following a brain tumour meant he wasn’t sure he’d ever work again. However, since contacting Ian Edwards at The Blind Chef bistro he is as inspired - and inspiring - as ever!

“The main thing that’s inspiring me to follow down this path is that I’m just really loving it and want to learn more. I want to learn about all the different sorts of foods and get a lot more cooking experience. The reason I want to go down this path is so I can gain a whole lot more experience and become a better chef and hopefully find a career in it.” But it hasn’t been an easy journey to this point. Mark has lived at home with his Dad ever since his brain tumour was diagnosed seven years ago.

“If it wasn't for a car accident I wouldn’t have been here 12 to 18 months later because that’s how they discovered the tumour. I was a delivery person for a computer store and on my way to my second job for Steggles chicken when my life changed. They couldn't put a time limit on how long the tumour had been there because it was one of the slow growing ones. I had blurred spots in my vision and just got worse as time went on, and when I completely lost it, it changed my life. It wasn’t for the better. It sent me down the path that nobody likes going down.

Since Christmas 2014 I’ve had seven lots of brain procedures to remove some of the tumours that they found, but some of it they can’t do anything about. It is a struggle some days, but the people I’ve got in my life make it so much easier. Actually starting work again really helps and gives me a clear train of thought. So while I do have the loss of vision, today the chronic nerve pain and constant headaches are the main things that really get to me. What keeps me going is doing things with my support workers. It gives me something to look forward to, because I’ll be out and about not sitting around home doing nothing. Now I’m out gaining more independence in the community.

“Here at the bistro I’m just doing one day a week at the moment. When I feel ready to do two days a week I’ll speak to Ian and we’ll try and organize something. Because he knows that I absolutely love my surfing he said he’ll never interfere with that in any way. I started with Ian back in early December. He seems like a top bloke, easy to talk to and easy to get along with. For as long as I’ve been doing it he’s been a great mentor and I’m already learning so much. With my vision up close is better and a whole lot easier.

But the further and further it gets away that’s when things start getting blurry and hard to make stuff out. So I do ask for help to find those certain things or get shown the right places to put stuff away in the kitchen.

I’m learning the proper way to slice and dice all the meal preparations up and just all the basic and general kitchen duties really. All the safe methods and safe ways of how to use all the cutlery so you don’t cut any fingers off. When Ian thinks I’m ready to do more then he’ll start to teach me how to do the cooking side of things in the kitchen.

It just feels good to experience a work environment. The new people you meet and friendships that you build.

On miserable days when the surf’s crap I’ve started doing cooking lessons at home with my support workers. Not only for my own benefit but also to help dad. Now he doesn’t have to worry about finding something for tea and cooking it up when he gets home from work. Hopefully I’ll end up teaching my carers how to do it one day!

Mark builds strong relationships with his support workers, like Daniel.

At home one of my favourite meals to cook up for me and dad is a spinach and ricotta quiche. I get four, sometimes five days of support a week. Headstart means a whole lot, they’ve helped me so much. If it wasn't for them God knows where I’d be. I’ve been with Headstart since the end of 2015. Over that time I’ve built such a great rappore with my support workers and they’ve become my extended family and little brothers and sisters that I never had.

My support workers have helped me get back into the bodyboarding which I love and that helps with the mental health side of things so much. It’s like I’m in a completely different place while I’m out there with my carers having fun and catching waves and seeing dolphins. That’s when I’m loving life and I just live one day at a time.

When not in the kitchen Mark loves his bodyboarding - and so do Headstart’s support workers who join him!

My life has definitely changed for the better because I’m getting back into the things I love again. I’m doing things that I never thought I would do again before anything happened.“

Ian Edwards started “The Blind Chef” bistro after losing his sight through a detached retina.

“I was unable to continue with what I was doing due to not being able to see”, says Ian.” So we started The Blind Chef project in 2017 to give hope to other people having the same problem. Also to get myself back in the kitchen, and at the same time hopefully help people with cooking life skills and possibly a future in hospitality.” Ian has plenty of experience as a chef having cooked in Newcastle and Sydney since 1985. “I don’t know anything else other than this. I think I still have a lot to offer, so I thought trying to impart a few skills to other people would be helpful.” “Mark contacted me and spoke of his passion for cooking. So he came on board a few months ago and works here every Friday with us to learn a few things each time and see how we likes it.

Mark puts 100% into what he does, and he's going very well indeed.

Being legally blind is challenging, of course, but it's what you get used to. The way you’ve been trained helps and once you make a mistake you don't generally make it again. Mark has got a future in the kitchen. He loves it and he's very meticulous in what he does. Whether he stays in hospitality, or whether he's just going to use it for life skills to make himself more independent at home. It'll be a good win for him either way.”

The Blind Chef bistro is at The Boolaroo Bowling Club and The Cardiff Bowling Club, Wednesdays to Sundays for lunch and dinner. Visit www.theblindchef.com.au for more info. Ian often has employment opportunities for staff and trainees, especially people with low vision. Get in touch to find out more.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera to watch a video of blind chef’s Mark and Ian cooking up a storm!

Loving and learning

Christine’s love for and devotion to her husband is evident in the way she talks about him – “I love him despite the Parkinsons” – as well as her actions.

“My husband Doug has Parkinson’s disease and he has his own supports with Baptist Care who help with his personal hygiene and showering. He’ll be doing social outings when his package builds up. We were married in 1997 and had three kids, Samuel (21), Hannah (19) and Sarah (17). Sam still lives with them and is studying to be a screenplay writer. When finished he may eventually move to America. If he does I’ll miss him. My brain injury happened to me when I was a baby, so I don’t remember anything. I have a slight intellectual disability but I’m still able to get around and do things. I don't drive a car so I catch trains and buses. So physically I’m allright, it’s more mental. I was still able to work years ago, when I was single. I used to go to work as a cleaner in a nursing home in Wyoming. I have a mild case of epilepsy, and so I’m on medication for it. It was in 2019 that I got taken to the hospital for epilepsy. As far as my goals go, I want to work again and become an office assistant in an aged care facility.

I love to study and so I’m working hard towards that. I don’t have internet at home so I go to APM (disability services and support organisation in Toronto). It’s just a stop or two on the train. Besides computers I've recently been studying a course called customer engagement. I’m nearly finished it, just two weeks to go! I‘ve been with Headstart quite a long time. My regular support worker Kath and I go regularly to our favourite café in Cooranbong which is quite close to Morriset. I also had Beth support me a couple of weeks ago while Kath was sick. Things we do are changing and making the bed each week, doing the washing and other things at home. I get help setting routines. One of the big things we’ve done has been getting the house and the yard sorted out. I also really like a support worker for the company and conversation, that’s very important to me.”

Two of the footbridges that cross the beautiful Dora Creek at Cooranbong

It takes two to tango...

CSW Kath shares some of her own experience in Christine’s purposeful journey.

“Christine is a very capable woman. She’s very independent, probably because her injury happened as a baby. So she really hasn’t known any different. Christine likes having a chat. She misses female contact because she’s got a son and husband at home. Her mum used to live with them until she passed away some years ago. When I met Christine she seemed a bit overwhelmed with the housework. So it was a fairly rapid journey to get the house organised, get the overgrown yard sorted out and fixing the clothesline. Even more importantly, supporting Christine to know that she needed to get help for her husband Doug. She was only just coping and he had no diagnosis or supports. Christine is a very resourceful woman and does an amazing job keeping up with the housework, the inbetween stuff. Doug’s had personal care supports for a couple of years now and that’s really helped. Christine enjoys going to her 7th Day Adventist Church. Several friends there have kept in touch throughout 2020 and ‘the lockdown’, with her Pastor visiting on occasion, during times when it was not possible for Christine and Doug to go to church. When the Coronavirus lockdown first began, Christine was studying for a Cert III in Business and Administration at Gosford TAFE 4 days a week. After lockdown, this was no longer possible. Towards the end of last year, Christine’s employment agency suggested changing courses – since it was unknown when Gosford TAFE would reopen for students. Ever the adaptive problem solver, Christine agreed and is now studying for a Cert III in Customer Engagement online – with the help and support of her job provider... but Covid hadn’t finished messing with Christine’s learning plans. As of January, when new coronavirus cases emerged again, Christine was no longer able to attend the APM offices in Wyong to use their computers. So Christine booked herself into her local library to use their computers. However the library then became unavailable so Christine now goes to the local Multi-Purpose Centre to use their computers and wifi. It’s clear that Christine is a very resilient and determined student!”

Beating the blues

While Deb is supported by Headstart she also supports her sister as a fulltime carer. Some days Deb just needs a break and that can take the form of a djembe drum.

“I’ve done drumming on and off over the years with Headstart. We use djembe with an African style of drumming. I really like the sound! We play along and follow the instructor and sometimes we can add our own bits too. It’s very relaxing. Over the years I have done other rec activities and my main one has been the photography group. That hasn't started up yet after COVID but I did enjoy it. I’ve done some exhibitions with Headstart.

I have support from Headstart one or two days a week now. We’ll be doing gardening together today. I mainly just do pot plants and succulents, but not a veggie garden. When I had my car accident I was working at Port Stephens Council doing gardens, mowing lawns, or looking after cemeteries. So I still enjoy gardening. My brain injury was in 2003 and I was in hospital for about 14 weeks. After I came out I went to the Brain Injury Service (BIS) on Darby street as an outpatient for about a year before they put me onto Headstart. Headstart were much smaller then – I think only about 4 people in the office including Sue, Kesley, Adrienne. I had a fractured hip and pelvis, four rib fractures and a punctured lung. Plus a brain injury. It was a post traumatic brain injury and I get muddled with my word finding. I get fatigued really easily and I get headaches constantly. But mainly with my words. I can’t pronounce things properly and I get tongue tied easily so I say the wrong thing. I have to go in regularly and have procedures done like nerve blocks done on my back, for my backache. I still see a physio regularly and a psychologist to work through things too. The psychologist helps me work through things and helps get me motivated. I sometimes go through ruts where I just go to bed when Lyn’s carer comes in. That’s where things like the drumming help me get out and do something. I care for my sister Lynette who also get support from Headstart. Lyn had a grade five brain aneurysm and so my husband and I look after her. She lives with us after we took her in seven years ago. When Lyn has her support I get to go out and do a bit of walking. Lyn’s up all the time though the night, which isn’t easy. I do get help with support, but I am helping my sister 6 days a week. Besides Headstart, other help we get is some personal care for two hours a day for Lyn and I get a cleaner once a week to help.

I would describe my brain injury as being invisible. People look at you and think there’s nothing wrong with you.

It doesn’t bother me so much now as I don’t really go out much. My sons who were 15, 13 and 12 at the time of my accident. It really affected everyone. My husband is a big help doing all the cooking and all the shopping. He does all the financial side of things and the banking. I don’t do any of that anymore. I’m not allowed to drive because my peripheral vision is impaired. So they wouldn’t give my license back to me because of my eyesight, although I did have bad eyesight before my accident. I overeat because my pituitary gland is damaged. My thermostat is out so I get hot all the time. Summer is difficult for me, and so I love winter. Headstart has grown and it would be good if more people were aware of them. I’ve come across people who have had some type of brain injury or a stroke. They were unaware that there’s places like Headstart that they could go. I have a long involvement with Headstart. I’ve been on the committee over the years, I’ve helped with NewsLink and the rec calendar. It’s only recently that my psychologist said it would be good for me to have regular one-on-one support so that’s a new thing, whereas previously I’d just get support for three or four weeks at a time. The idea is to help me to get out of the house or we do gardening together.”

Activities • Car Hire • Hotels • Dining • Shopping • Travel

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Calling all artists

If you’re making any kind of art (like drawing, colouring, photography, poetry, woodwork ceramics, sculpture, singing or dancing...) we'd love to know and share your creativity. Get in touch today! Call us or email: comms@headstartabi.com.au

Karl’s on target

Karl is getting more confident with his release aid and sight using the Feral Frame (at Feral Archery) to shoot. It’s great to see how his form is improving!

Bag this!

Headstart jute (hessian) bags

are available now. Size 35cm H x 40cm W x 20cm D, with double 17 inch handles. Contact us or pop into the office to purchase: $7 each, OR $6 each for 2 or more.

Happy feet for Mark!

If you would like to continue receiving NewsLink, become a member by contacting us on 4965 4420 for a membership application.

Our membership year starts from the 1st July. Your contributions to the newsletter are welcomed, and we will keep you up to date on all the issues, activities and the developments in services.

You could also say that it was “one giant leap for Mark” (or was he simply over the moon?) when his long awaited new shoes arrived and were fitted by his Podiatrist. It’s lovely to see Mark so happy and proud to show them off!

“I had to wait a long time for them because they came from overseas. They are especially made, they had to be widened and now that I’ve got’ em on they’re fantastic! Heaps better yes. I got specially made inner soles moulded to fit my feet and straighten my walk up. So I walk a lot straighter. Much better. I do a bit of walking everyday. They’re really comfortable. It’s great,

I love it!” - Mark F When he’s not out walking Mark loves creating mosaics at home and he has a big table set up for it. Love your work Mark!

Making a Complaint

You have the right to complain under the Community Services (Complaints, review and monitoring) Act 1993. If you have a complaint there are steps to take. At each step, every effort will be made to resolve your complaint before going to the next step. Step 1. Talk with the person concerned

Step 2: Talk with Co-worker/staff member Step 3: Talk with Director

Step 4: Talk with Chairperson

Step 5: Talk with Committee

Step 6: Talk with an outside service At each step you have the right to have someone else present if you wish. This person is called an advocate and may be your friend, family member, staff member, paid advocate or someone else. If you wish Headstart can help you locate an independent advocate.

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

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HAVE YOUR SAY on these, or any other issues by writing to us at: Headstart ABI Services 95 Turnbull Street HAMILTON NSW 2303 or email: comms@headstart-abi.com.au