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Limerick Leader Person of the Month: Wyn, 93, has achieved 'extraordinary things'
WYN Crabtree, a lady who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of children with disabilities in the Mid-West, culminating in establishment of the St Gabriel's School and Centre in Dooradoyle, has been awarded the Limerick Person of the Month award.
Described as an ordinary person who has achieved extraordinary things, Wyn's foresight and determination has resulted in thousands of children with disabilities enjoying a better quality of life.
"To see St Gabriel's now is wonderful. It is a real step forward.I am very proud of how far we have come," said Wyn.
In 1934 when her father, Arthur, was appointed general manager of Limerick Clothing Company, Wyn arrived in the city.
In the early 1930s Limerick had no facilities to care for children with disabilities. However, Arthur Crabtree soon set about addressing this need when he and a group of like-minded business men established what became known as St Gabriel's Centre.
Little did these business people realise that this small day care centre – with only three children on the first day it opened its doors in St Joseph's Street – would grow and expand to incorporate a range of education and health related services that now cater for up to 500 children and young adults in the Mid West.
Foremost to the development has been Wyn.
"We started with three children and at the end of the first week, we had six. We were then asked if we would take more physically disabled children and that was the start of the clinic. My biggest regret is that my father isn't here to see it now and the rest of the early committee, but I'm looking forward to the future," she explained.
From the 1960s Wyn's vision and unwavering commitment oversaw the improvement of specialist services to thousands of children and young adults with children with physical /sensory and/ or multiple disabilities in the region.
Her tireless campaigning eventually led in 1978 to St Gabriel's School being recognised by the Department of Education.
That recognition brought a new momentum and the school moved from an outdated building to a purpose-built school beside the centre in Dooradoyle. It offers individualised curriculum at primary and secondary level.
Wyn could see the enormous stress that families came under when they had to travel to Dublin for specialist services, and not one for sitting on her laurels she set about developing these essential services in St Gabriel's Centre.
In more recent times the centre has seen the establishment of regional seating and assistive technology service in association with the CRC (Central Remedial Clinic) Dublin, and feeding clinics.
Following on from the success of these developments Wyn organised a submission to the JP McManus Golf Pro-Am classic to address the need for a long awaited purpose-built hydrotherapy pool, which is due to open in the new year.
"The hydrotherapy pool is something I had dreamed of," Wyn explained.
"I said to myself that I wouldn't ever see the day we would have it, but thanks to the great support from JP McManus and others, we do. We have also always had the backing of very good staff– we have been very, very lucky."
Wyn retired from St Gabriel's in 1999, but remains, at 93-years-of- age, an active director on the St Gabriel's School and Centre executive committee.
She attends all meetings, fundraising activities and social events and is looking forward to visiting for a Christmas celebration next week.
Her ongoing commitment is an inspiration to parents and indeed to the staff and therapists who work to deliver a wide range of integrated services to children with disabilities. "I remember speaking to one of the parents in the early years and she said: 'Do you know Ms Crabtree, what I'm enjoying? It's being able to go into town, walk down O'Connell Street and being able to stop and look in the shop window. I appreciate that so much.'
"That always stuck in my mind. It makes you count your blessings," said Wyn.
The Limerick Person of the Month award is sponsored by the Limerick Leader, Southern Advertising and the Clarion Hotel.
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