Disabled boost

By Melissa Meehan
DISABLED employees of Dandenong’s Gateway Industries Inc have been given a $10,000 boost to buy new equipment thanks to the State Trustees Australia Foundation (STAF).
Gateway Industries Inc is a disability service that provides employment in cleaning, processing, packaging, woodwork, litter pick-up and garden maintenance for more than 40 disabled employees.
The grant will be used to buy a commercial shrink-wrapping machine that will enable staff to expand their skills and compete on a broader scale.
Before receiving the grant, employees could wrap only small items, as all were wrapped manually – but with the machine larger items can be included.
Gateway chief executive Margaret Cleary said more disabled staff would be employed thanks to the new machine.
“We are very pleased to accept this grant,” she said. “This will enable our employees to further their training and enhance their skills.” State Trustees managing director Tony Fitzgerald said the annual State Trustees Australia Foundation fund distribution was perfectly timed to make the New Year a little brighter for organisations such as Gateways Industries.
“We are thrilled to be able to make these much-needed funds available to such a worthy organisation,” Mr Fitzgerald said.