An electric wheelchair owned by Sunbury stalwart and former Hume mayor Jack Ogilvie, who died in November last year, was donated by a friend to a Macedon Ranges family.
Autobarn Sunbury owner Adam Mizzi, who was a close friend of Mr Ogilvie’s, said that he decided on Monday, February 3, that it was time to donate Mr Ogilvie’s wheelchair to a local community member.
“[Jack’s wife) Lesley and I had been talking about it for quite some time – about giving it to a home [where it’s] needed, and obviously I needed to deal with the emotional rollercoaster of Jack passing, and I’d left it in storage at AutoBarn in Sunbury,” Mr Mizzi said.
Lesley Ogilvie said that she and daughters, Rebecca Harmer and Michelle Robertson, decided along with Mr Mizzi it was time to donate the chair to someone who needed it, and “we’re very happy with where it’s gone”.
Mr Mizzi said that the electric wheelchair was initially funded by a gala dinner fundraiser hosted on behalf of Mr Ogilvie.
He created a post on Facebook calling for expressions of interest from community members, where he received an email from Macedon Ranges resident Kylie Dalton – whose mother Verna Dalton recently had her foot amputated due to ongoing health complications from a horse riding accident.
The chair was donated to the pair on Tuesday, February 4.
Ms Dalton said that receiving the electric wheelchair was an “absolute godsend.”
“It’s just endless at the moment, so for this to happen … I forked out and got a push wheelchair but it still didn’t give her the freedom to go outside … because I’ve got osteoarthritis in my shoulders and spine,” Ms Dalton said.
“So it’ll give mum the freedom to get out and about, she can go and see the dogs and her horse when she wants to.“
“She was quite happy. I wasn’t expecting a reply back because there’s people still worse off than us … it’s really good.”
Mr Mizzi said that he knows “Jack would be smiling right now.”
