A home for profoundly intellectually and physically disabled residents
Help Woodside Sanctuary Build a Sustainable Future
There are currently 84 people, aged from 4 to 69, with severe to profound intellectual disability in full-time residential care at Woodside Sanctuary.
To support them, Friends of Woodside Sanctuary is focussing on raising funds for Woodside Sanctuary’s Solar Installation Campaign.
Reliable and uninterrupted access to electricity is critical to the quality of life and care of residents, especially in relation to medical equipment, therapeutic stimulation, laundry (over 1000 nappies a day), heating, cooking and refrigeration facilities.
Your donations will help to ensure these vulnerable residents continue to have a place to call home, with best practice nursing, mental and physical stimulation and well-being programmes.
Woodside Sanctuary in Johannesburg South Africa, was founded in 1955 by Vernon and Norah Veale after the birth of their first child with Spina bifida, whose short life led to its establishment.
Their daughter, Patricia Veale, launched Friends of Woodside Sanctuary in Sydney, Australia, in December 2023.
She is partnering with Woodside and through a project - registered with Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and endorsed by the Rotary Club of North Sydney Sunrise - helping to raise funds to ensure that Woodside Sanctuary is secure, sustainable, and capable of meeting the growing needs of its residents for generations to come, and continuing its proud legacy of 70 years of care, love and service to profoundly disabled, vulnerable people.
The Rotary Club of North Sydney Sunrise (Australia) is collaborating with Rotary Clubs of Johannesburg New Dawn (South Africa) and Luton Someries (UK) in a project to install solar at Woodside Sanctuary that would make a fundamental difference to their operational costs and ensure 24/7 electricity supply for vital services. We’re all committed to making this happen!!
Donations are tax deductible, collected and distributed through Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS).
CONTACT: Patricia Veale
email: patriciaveale9@gmail.com
The Challenges We Face – a Vital Need for Change
Help Us Secure a Sustainable Future:
Join Woodside Sanctuary’s Solar Project
Woodside Sanctuary has been a place of compassionate care for people living with profound intellectual and physical disabilities for 70 years, providing not only a safe and nurturing environment, but also a vital educational space for future caregivers and students.
Rising costs are threatening its future. One of the biggest financial burdens we face is our exorbitant utility bills—up to ~$120,000 AUD (R1.5 million) per year. These costs are unsustainable and put the future of Woodside at risk.
To ensure that Woodside continues to thrive and fulfill its mission, we are embarking on an ambitious and transformative project: the installation of a solar-powered electricity system. This shift to solar will allow us to reduce our energy expenses, secure our operations, and, most importantly, continue providing high-quality care to our residents.
A Bright Future for Woodside: Solar Power to Sustain Our Legacy
Woodside Sanctuary has always relied on the generosity of our supporters—people like you who understand the importance of what we do. Your donation will play a crucial role in the success of our Solar Project and help us reduce our dependency on external power sources.
Donate Today
Please help us raise the necessary funds for this critical project. Every contribution counts - no matter the size - in helping us provide the care and support that our residents deserve and towards on the future of Woodside Sanctuary.
How can you help?
Please join the movement to ‘buy and install a solar panel’ - or part thereof:
Thank you for being a part of the Woodside family and helping us build a brighter, more sustainable future!
Please click here or scan the QR code
Every donation, big or small, helps make a difference and is gratefully received.
Contribute to the cost of solar panels**
$2000 AUD – 1 solar panel
$1000 AUD – 1/2 solar panel
$500 AUD – 1/4 solar panel
Any custom amount
**Provides solar panel, inverter, controller, and battery
Your donation is tax deductible!!
Your generosity ensures that the Sanctuary remains a place of care, learning, and compassion, continuing its 70-year legacy and making a lasting difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Together, we can ensure that Woodside Sanctuary is secure, sustainable, and capable of meeting the growing needs of its residents.
Will you help us power the future?
Electricity supply 24/7 in outages, and savings of up to $120,000 AUD from reduced electricity bills will have far-reaching positive outcomes, including re-investing in:
Residents’ well-being and quality care: upgrading care programs, improving therapeutic services, and ensuring every resident receives the attention and support they deserve.
Professional Development: further training and development for our caregivers, in skills and knowledge they need to excel in their roles and improve the lives of our loved ones
Expanding Our Reach: welcoming more residents into the Sanctuary, extending our legacy of care and support to even more individuals who need it.
Sustaining Woodside’s Legacy: as a place of specialised care, education, and training, that positively impacts both our residents and the community at large.
Patricia Veale at Woodside Sanctuary, the framed photo of her father, Vernon Veale, above her. He was the inaugural Chairman, rotating with others over the years, all of whom have made significant contributions to Woodside over its 68 years. Vernon retained his devotion and interest in Woodside’s ongoing viability and success right to the day he died on 20 October 2015.
When Woodside needed urgent financial support in 2023, Patricia Veale, daughter of Vernon and Norah, was inspired to launch Friends of Woodside Sanctuary from Sydney, Australia, and registered a project with RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Services): Woodside Sanctuary Project – 40-2023-24 (RAOAF)
Looking back – achievements with your help!
At the one-year milestone since launching the project, we’ve raised ~$85,000 AUD through generosity and initiatives including:
the ‘project launch appeal’ and dinner, which raised funds that were allocated to stimulation and physiotherapy salaries for ongoing specialised care required for residents
a Rotary Foundation District Grant, that together with Rotary Club of North Sydney Sunrise sponsored an off-grid solution to ensure reliable water supply 24/7 during power outages
showcases and raffles – including at the kind invitation of Hireup CEO, who matched raffle donations – funds towards solar
donations from Trusts and Foundations – that funded:
urgent maintenance repairs; and a new section of wall that fixed a security risk, and
learning and development programs – for residents, staff, and students.
We’ve also received generous pro bono support, guidance and advice, helping to shape the journey.
Woodside is enormously grateful. Please see their Annual Report (pages 16-17).
Rotary in Australia endorses this project.
The Rotary Club of North Sydney Sunrise (RCNSS) endorses this project - Woodside Sanctuary Project – 40-2023-24 (RAOAF) – registered with RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service), that provides tax-deductibility for donations in Australia and transparent financial governance, including monitoring reporting of use of the funds.
There has been a Rotarian on the Woodside Sanctuary committee since the very beginning, so the association with Rotary holds special relevance to Patricia and Woodside Sanctuary. Patricia is a member of the Rotary Club of North Sydney Sunrise, Australia.
Bringing joy and love to the people of Woodside Sanctuary
The joy and inspiration the staff bring to the lives of their precious residents extends beyond standard care requirements.
Watch this video to see staff and residents in action participating in the ‘Jarusalema dance challenge’ - you’ll need sound for this video, the music is wonderful!
Woodside is a place of safety, security, love, learning, and assured dignity.
Lifelong care for individuals with profound intellectual disabilities requires round-the-clock support in compliant facilities from trained professionals to meet their complex needs.
All Woodside Sanctuary residents have access to integrated multidisciplinary care and services:
Medical and Psychiatric Assessment: Medical Practitioner; Prescription of treatment; Review of Medication
Nursing care plans; daily monitoring
Occupational and stimulation therapy, socialisation and learning
Physical therapy
Nutritional meals
Founded in 1955 and situated in Cottesloe, Johannesburg, the Sanctuary is a registered PBO and NPO. The Sanctuary is licensed under the Mental Health Care Act, No. 17 of 2002, to provide full-time residential and day care services to individuals with severe to profound intellectual and physical disabilities.
To read the stories of Woodside residents, scroll through using arrows.
