Clifton Waters Village partners with ISDA
October 24th, 2019
Who loves you more than you love yourself? - as Josh Billings (Henry Shaw) would say - your dog.
A glorious day was had at Clifton Waters Village (CWV) this Wednesday 23 October when the elected MLA for Gippsland East, the Hon. Tim Bull Shadow Minister for Carers and Disability (amongst other things), Ben Johnson the CEO and Co Founder of Integra Service Dogs Australia and Peter Down the Chair of the Board governing CWV (homes for the actively aged) all converged at Reg’s house at the Village.
In March this year, Reg Maxted moved into Clifton Waters Village - established in Wy Yung in 1953. He’s an ex 20 year Veteran who retired as a Warrant Officer back in 1983 ‘2-3-7 RAR Malaya - Thai Border - Vietnam’. He’s had more than his fair share of challenges to date and redressing the toll physically and mentally is not a quick fix, or something to be done alone - then add to this coping with Leukaemia. Browsing photo’s in Reg’s house, and listening to him talk, you soon see his sincere connection with his previous dogs.
The Village has welcomed its latest resident, Abbey, Reg’s new housemate. Fresh from Parliament where she’d been posing for photo’s on the luscious grass in Australia at Canberra ACT. She is one of over 50 dogs trained by Integra Service Dogs Australia (ISDA) founded by Ken Lloyd and Ben Johnson back in 2016.
ISDA works with Veterans and First Responders and their families suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by enriching lives through highly trained canine guardians. And it’s Ben Johnson, the CEO and co-founder of ISDA spent a few hours with Reg and Abbey to help them adjust to each other - and he’ll be back to regularly check on progress.
Clifton Waters Village recognises the very real role that companion animals play in our well being, and to have one of our residents go through the rigorous vetting process to be able to benefit from ISDA’s amazing vision - and be successful - is a meaningful accomplishment and we are sure the addition of Abbey will make a very real difference for Reg, and our ever increasing canine community joining us at the Village.
Kevin Broughton Acting CEO - Clifton Waters Village
