Our Kid's Stories

Charlie Veech was born with significant tongue-tie. For three years, his Carinda-based parents, Donna and Chris, were taking their son to regular sessions at a speech therapy clinic in Dubbo. When this closed they had nowhere to turn until they heard about Royal Far West.

David and Kylie Fisher and their three children Isabella, Harrison and Adelaide, live on a remote sheep and cattle station. Situated 160km west of Bourke, their isolated location means they are without easy access to regular healthcare services. They are reliant on the Royal Flying Doctors for medical assistance or they drive 50km to Hungerford in Queensland where monthly clinics are held.

It’s been 57 years since Bill (Billy) Mitchell first came to Royal Far West as a baby diagnosed with polio. Here he spent almost three years receiving the specialist healthcare he required. During his stay Billy learned to walk with the aid of crutches and callipers, and later returned for reassessment and upgraded callipers. Until recently he had little memory of this period of his life.

For Tahnee Mann, the help and support from the staff at Royal Far West have meant her learning difficulties and intellectual disability are no barriers to achievement and the Narromine girl is intent on realising her dream of becoming a pre-school teacher.

The Dowton family live in White Cliffs in far Western NSW, an opal mining town about 300km from Broken Hill. Typical of the area, the family home is a dugout – a house built in to the side of a hill to maintain a comfortable year-round temperature. The community relies on a local health clinic and the Royal Flying Doctor Service for medical attention or travel the three-hour drive to Broken Hill hospital.

Karen Simmons is a busy woman raising five children and managing a farm in Wellington, 360km west of Sydney. Three of her children - Mark, Kristy and Jason - have speech and language delay and issues with mobility, balance and coordination that require occupational therapy. Her middle son, Luke, has mild cerebral palsy, epilepsy and an intellectual disability.

Rowan Martin from Cobar has significant speech sound difficulties, expressive language delay and below average early literacy skills. These difficulties have impacted on his school work and ability to express himself, both of which were beginning to affect his confidence.

Tabitha and Mitchell Lane live in a country town five hours north of Sydney. As the specialist healthcare they require is not available locally, they both access health services through Royal Far West. For their mother Anne, this has been an absolute blessing - from the level of care she receives to the connections she has made during her visits.

When Terri Doorey turned 21 she celebrated in style like any young girl - with a big party at home, surrounded by 60 of her closest friends and family to help share the moment. For her Grandmother Jean though, it was an extra special day because Terri has achieved what Jean and those closest to Terri, were told was the ‘impossible’.

Even as a baby, Henry Rich was always ‘busy’. But despite repeated assurance by friends and professionals that he was ‘just being a boy’, his mother Bronwyn felt something was not right. For six years she travelled to Sydney, Newcastle and Port Macquarie to visit psychiatrists, psychologists and paediatricians but was unable to get a diagnosis. Until one day, a chance conversation led her to Royal Far West.

Life for the Taunton family of Worrigee is always busy. Jody Taunton is a single mother of five children, two of whom have special needs. Her youngest daughter, Jordan, has cerebral palsy and her son Harrison has a range of behavioural difficulties.

Coonamble mother Michelle McCauley first contacted Royal Far West for help with behavioural management for her two young boys, Evan and Nick. Impressed and overwhelmed with the positive difference this made to their lives, Michelle and her mother Helen, wanted to give something back—to support the organisation that supported them when they needed it most.

Ron Morey is a single father raising two children on his own. As a child, he suffered from learning problems that went unchecked so he understands first-hand, the long-term effects this can have on a young child. Naturally, he is passionate his own children don’t follow the same path and wants to ensure they have every opportunity possible to succeed in life.