Retiree’s generous gift
Donation of special car to service
NEV Siebenhausen’s wife Rae never got the chance to use the new wheelchair conversion on their car before she died three months ago.
The pair had been married for nearly 50 years before she succumbed to a long battle with illness.
“I bought this car and converted the car to take her shopping. She never got in it so it’s still brand new,” Mr Siebenhausen said.
Now the Toowoomba retiree has given away the car, complete with an $11,000 passenger seat that rotates 90 degrees to become a wheelchair, to the region’s largest familyowned disability support organisation, Quality Lifestyle Support.
Mr Siebenhausen said the conversion allowed someone in a wheelchair to sit in the front seat of a car, rather than being secured in the back area.
“My gesture, and hers, is to give this to these people who look after people who need it,” he said.
QLS, based on Mort St in Toowoomba City, offers support and accommodation for people with a variety of disabilities.
Director Robyn Cavanagh said while one client would use the car the most, the conversion was a huge boost for all people in the organisation’s care.
“We’ve got vehicles that are wheelchair-accessible, but for a person who’s already labelled as different, it’s a bit of normality to sit in the front,” she said.
“This particular gentleman is over 65 and he’s not eligible for NDIS funding, so his funding is done through a pension.
“He requires 24-hour support, but his support is $46,000 a year, so this is going to be great for him.
“If he’s not needing it for the day and we get someone coming in on respite, it could be used with them.”
Mr Siebenhausen said his wife would’ve wanted him to donate the car.
“This is a gift to them from me - I know she would be happy with this,” he said.
For more information, head to the qualitylifestylesupport.com.