Len’s Story

Meet Len. Len lives in Junee, a small town in regional NSW.

Len works at CID on the More Than Just a Job project and in our Advocacy team. He enjoys telling people with intellectual disability and businesses about inclusive employment.

In this video Len shares his story. He wants to help other people see what is possible.

He tells us about the jobs he has had throughout his life, his hobbies, his social life, and his partner..

Len loves helping his community and his leadership and lived experience help other people see what is possible.

Transcript

Fleabag, come here! On here. Its good, arent you, Fleabag. Come on, on the road we go, on the road we go, on the road we go, on the road we go.

I am Len. I live in Junee.

Going to look at the countryside eh?

It is nice and quiet I reckon. I have a lot of friends out here because I used to play lawn bowls. I used to be on the committee at the bowling club. I was on there for so long.

Come on! Oh went too far. That was good.

RSL, I have been on there for a while, yeah. Dad was in the Navy. ANZAC Day I do march, but now I can not, they put me in the car now.

Which way do you bowl? Over that way.

Leonie is my partner.

The small one goes in that way.

Right.

Yeah we’ve been together for 27 years. We lived here 27 years too. We love eating out, going to parties, and there is a few people who come around and see us.

Oh just a fraction.

Oh you got one.

Oh well done Leonie.

I love it.

Leonie got a bowl, Leonie got a bowl!

I used to do a lot. But I am slowing down now.

These are orchids. They come out in beautiful flowers when the weather is right.

School I did not go too well. Only left about year 9. It was hard to pick it up. Could not read at all. I had to go TAFE to learn how to read. Yeah I wanted to learn. Met Leonie at TAFE. Studying literacy and numeracy. Both of us. We got out for lunch and then we progressed a bit more and progressed a bit more. And then we got together.

I used to have my own business. My own mowing service. I did like it. Yeah. Yeah it was hard work. Yeah. Kept me fit. My back was starting to play up and everything so I stopped. Then I went to recycling. We used to get the rubbish off the belt. It was very very dirty. And we were working 7:30 to 4. Hot and cold. Freeze!

That is an award when I had 10 years at the recycling job. Yeah the amount of money was bad. I could not live on it. I liked the people but I could not afford staying there.

Oh yeah we’re doing Young. Yeah. Wagga. Albury. Leeton.

Leonie said there is a job coming up at CID. And so I said Oh that’ll be interesting. But I did not know how to use a computer or anything. And then I got taught how to use it. And then I got the job.

I think we need the team. We will send everyone then.

I have been at CID for 4 years. I love it. Real good. It is really interesting.

Young is not far from Junee.

How far is it?

You go past Cootamundra and out that way.

The 1st job at CID was my rights matter. And that was supported decision making. Sometimes it is real hard for people. Want to make decision to go to work or make decisions here or make decisions there.

June. Wagga.

Oh is it June?

Yeah.

Oh okay so we have time still.

Now I went to more than just a job. For getting jobs for people. What job would they like to pick. You know? I say right. What sort of job would you like to do? And then they will say I would like to be a spray painter. 1 said that. I said Oh that’s something different! We have expos. And we have got adults workshops. You go to a workshop and it is very good too. You teach them what to do. And then they will tell you what to do too. And it is handy.

The community member of the year I was. From RDAS. I help people from RDAS every 2nd Monday night. And then after that I got on the board of RDAS.

Yeah advocacy. Still am an advocate at CID. So now, now I am from there doing this.

You like going for a ride in it eh? You do? You do Fleabag.

I like being happy. And I like being social.

And looking around eh Fleabag.

Yes I do. I love helping people. And I like enjoying life, the work and everything else what is going on. It is good.

Come on. On the road we go, on the road we go, on the road we go, on the road we go…