Your stories
Everyone in the Rocky Bay family has a story to tell. Stories of resilience, perseverance, and the fight to prove the doubters wrong (including yourself). It is our privilege to share these stories with the world. They lay bare each individual’s journey of growth as they challenge old ideas and discover new ways to let their unique abilities shine through. As your partner in possibility, seeing the self-belief grow is what motivates us day in, day out. We hope you find these stories as inspiring as we do.
Brian Matthews is a long time customer, and currently resides at our Independent living units in Mosman Park. Since 1984 Brian has been accessing services to enhance his independence, and in September will be moving into a new development home in Pearsall.
Twenty-year-old Mason Byworth, who lives with autism, recently experienced his first an overnight stay at the Bush Retreat, Rocky Bay’s respite guest house, allowing both he and his family time to recharge. He was slowly introduced to the new environment with the support of the Bush Retreat team.
Forging an exciting new career path was something 29-year-old Julie Marie Carrasco did not imagine for herself, but with encouragement and support she is beginning to change the course of both her professional and personal life.
Carlos Saunders is a cheeky 11-year-old, who receives community services from Rocky Bay. Carlos lives in Rockingham with his mum.
Rhys Nazareth is a fun loving 21-year-old with a sharp sense of humour and a knack for solving word puzzles. In addition to his personal pursuits, Rhys has also partnered with Rocky Bay in Joondalup to ready himself for the workforce with the mentorship of our Stages Toward Employment Pathways team.
Ian Lo is becoming a familiar face at the Country House, having started his journey with the team to transition into respite. With the amazing support from Ian’s mum and our dedicated support staff, Ian has embarked on a new chapter in building his independence.
In March 2023, Rocky Bay was excited to welcome its first young customer, bubbly eight year-old William Richardson, to Lady Lawley Cottage in Cottesloe – Rocky Bay’s new child and youth facility.
Evelyn Cheater is a happy and engaging 18-month-old who loves playing with her big sister, spending time outdoors, and going on fishing trips with her family. In 2021, when Evelyn was six months old, she received a diagnosis of LAMA2 Muscular Dystrophy – a congenital condition that causes weakness of skeletal muscles.
Motivation and a zest for life is inherent in 24-year-old Chris Minutillo, who has just recently earned his Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award after completing the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure’s Ultimate Challenge, with support from Rocky Bay’s Wishing Tree.
Henry Duca, a bright and happy two-year-old, has had a challenging start to his life. Since birth, he has endured seven different surgeries in relation to his diagnoses.
Max Lockyer is embarking on an exciting time in his life. In his last year of school at Coodanup College, Max turned 18 years old in August and is preparing to take his learner’s permit test at the end of the term.
Moana Marsh’s life was changed when in 2015 when, at the age of 48, he sustained a spinal cord injury following surgery to remove an ependymal tumour, which resulted in quadriplegia.
Jarrod Douglas was 20 years-old when he was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer. After radiation and surgery, he was left with an acquired brain injury affecting his speech and mobility.
Technology can be a wonderful thing, and no one knows that better than Peggy Harvey, who was recently gifted an iPhone X by the Rocky Bay Wishing Tree, with the wish made on her behalf by Rocky Bay Allied Health Team Leader, Amy Hutchinson.
No one understands more than Malcolm Burgess, long-term Rocky Bay resident and customer, the importance of spreading the message to the teenagers in our community that drinking and driving don’t mix.
In 2012, Alicia Waterman underwent major spinal surgery for a previous condition which left her as a quadriplegic and living with a tracheostomy. Fast forward six years and Alicia has come further than anyone could have dreamed.
At the age of 12, Markus was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and, in time, had to give up playing sports. His passion and enthusiasm for sport never wavered, and recently Rocky Bay was able to help Markus find an alternative avenue to continue to follow his passion and help him transition from high school to the workplace.
An avid aviation enthusiast, 27-year-old Sean, has been a customer of Rocky Bay since 2015, staying twice a week at the respite Guest House in Rockingham. Thanks to the Wishing Tree, Sean took the skies for his first ever helicopter ride.
Nineteen year-old Chloe Hutchinson, who is supported by our Community Transition team, recently returned from an adventure voyage of a lifetime on the STS Leeuwin II that only a select few young people have the opportunity to experience.
Shirley Howell, a 47-year-old mother of one, had her life turned upside down following a stroke in 2007 at the age of 35. Since joining Rocky Bay, Shirley had progressed through her post-stroke neurological rehabilitation extremely well and had achieved many of the goals she had set herself over the years.
Rocky Bay customer Ariana Pila was left with very limited movement and cognitive ability in a severe vegetative comatose state, following a diagnosis of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis in 2013 at the age of 16.
Shaun kicks goals in rehabilitation. In April 2015, Shaun Cole suffered a stroke which saw him spend more than six months in hospital.
Family has played a significant part in Rocky Bay’s very cheeky and happy customer Maria Bassano’s life.
Leah, a bubbly 21-year-old with Down Syndrome, had been searching for meaningful employment for some time, and even though she had extensive work experience.
The Rocky Bay Wishing Tree made a dream come true for customers Nick and Tyler. Nick and Tyler embarked on a five-day high seas ocean voyage on a round trip from Fremantle.
The New Year has started with a bang for brothers Ryan and Klive Saunders-Lawrence, thanks to their hard work and some assistance from Rocky Bay’s Wishing Tree.
Three-year-old Emilio Jimenez-Lozano is now able to enjoy precious play time with his older brother, Javier, riding their bikes together, with a little help from Rocky Bay’s Wishing Tree.
Fenton D’Rozario was determined to reach his ultimate goal of indoor skydiving when he started his health journey three years ago, and this month he has done just that, thanks to support from Rocky Bay’s Wishing Tree.
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