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OAK Youth Pathways Program participants have had the opportunity to take part in a new and unique project, with links to Antarctica.

They have been helping clean and sterilise walking boots from Antarctic expeditions to help keep the frozen continent pristine.

The job also earns a small amount of much needed income, which is then put back into the program to benefit its participants (The OAK Youth Pathways Program attracts no Government funding and is fully supported by OAK Tasmania.)

Helping to keep Antarctica pristine are John Koppelman (left), Liam Kitson and Matthew Little.

Open to 18 to 25 year olds, OAK Youth Pathways helps young adults living with disability to develop their life, employment and work skills. Many of the program’s participants are potentially disengaged from the local community and in need of further training in life and work capabilities.

OAK Youth Pathways Manager Graeme Finlayson said the new job was proving beneficial in many ways to its participants including teaching them to work as a team, to uphold a work routine and the concept of work equalling dollars that could be used for something beneficial to them. He said the work would also provide a great link to other projects such as learning about hygiene and Antarctica.

Well travelled boots ready for cleaning.

An exhibition of more than 30 superb Tasmanian maritime-themed photographs was launched today at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Exhibition space in Hobart.

The ‘Boats and Beaches’ Photographic Exhibition is the culmination of a year’s work by five photography students at OAK Community Services. OAK Community Services developed its photography program in 2008 when staff started teaching clients the basics of photography and equipping them with the skills to use digital cameras.

The Photography Program grew to include both a basic skills class and a class for those students who had developed more advanced photographic skills. This year’s exhibition captures Tasmania’s natural coastlines and beaches, and the vessels that ply the State’s waterways.

OAK Tasmania Chairman Dr Julie Rimes (left) with Vicki Seymour, Pauline Rourke, Liam Kitson, Diane Groves and CEO Mr John Paton.

OAK Tasmania CEO, Mr John Paton said the Photography Program has produced many personal achievements and outcomes for the students involved.

“Our clients have increased their skills base and levels of confidence; discovered new creative freedoms in photography, and are socialising and integrating more with their community.

“OAK Tasmania’s Photography Program demonstrates how our clients can fulfil their potential and genuinely contribute to the community through their art.”

The exhibition can be viewed at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Exhibition Space between 3 February and 26 February 2012. The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is open 7 days a week between 9.00am – 5.00pm and has been a generous supporter of OAK Tasmania’s annual Photography Exhibition since 2009.

A selection of ‘first season’ heritage apple varieties were presented to Premier Lara Giddings today, as she toured the rejuvenated Grove Heritage Nursery in Tasmania’s Huon Valley.

The heritage apple varieties are part of Australia’s largest collection of 850 different varieties that are grown at the former Research and Demonstration Station.

The Research Station was opened by the Tasmanian Government in 1951 to research and improve apple varieties and growing techniques. OAK Tasmania took over the lease of the site in 2009 to preserve the Heritage Collection, which includes varieties that are no longer commercially available.

Dr Gordon Brown (left) & OAK CEO John Paton presenting a box of first season heritage apples to Premier Lara Giddings (centre).

Ms Giddings said that while the Tasmanian fruit industry had diversified into other areas, apples remain synonymous with the Tasmanian brand.

“I am very impressed with the work OAK Tasmania is doing to preserve our reputation for growing some of the best apples in the world.

“OAK is making a significant investment to upgrade and revitalise the existing orchard and future developments may include a cidery, cafe and heritage walk to provide yet another tourist attraction for the Huon Valley.”

View more images of the tour on our Flickr feed.

OAK Tasmania has scored a world first by using a newly-developed app to bring its 2010/2011 Annual Report to life.

The 4more app is produced by Tasmanian company, 4more Business Technologies in conjunction with leading UK developers Aurasma. It uses augmented reality to enable smart phone and tablet users to point to any product, sign, sales tag or brochure to reveal a virtual word of rich media content, be it video, text or audio.

The 4more app doesn’t require sophisticated bar codes to launch multi-media content and OAK Tasmania’s 2010/2011 Annual Report is a great example of how the new app. blurs the lines between printed material and virtual worlds.

People can simply point their 4more app enabled devices at the front cover artwork of OAK Tasmania’s latest Annual Report to launch a video that provides details about the organisation and the work it carries out in the community.

OAK Tasmania CEO John Paton says while the app will appeal to those with an interest in using the latest technology, its use in the disability sector is unlimited.

“The 4more app will certainly help bring our brand to life and increase customer and client engagement. However we also see it as a terrific tool that will assist those living with disability or who are experiencing learning difficulties to access information about our products and services in a way that is easy to use and understand.”

Apart from the immediate marketing benefits of using the 4more app Mr Paton said he was keen to use augmented reality to improve communications, induction and training procedures across the organisation.

To try the new 4more app you don’t need to have a hard copy of OAK Tasmania’s latest Annual Report.Simply purchase and download the app (available for both Apple & Android operating systems), and point your smart device at the image of the front cover of our Annual Report (below, or on our Home Page). Once the video starts to play, tap the screen of your smart device twice to play in full screen mode.

OAK Tasmania’s Grove Heritage Nursery has found itself a key player in an Australian cider industry revival.

While beer and wine have always featured high on Australia’s list of favoured alcoholic beverages, it seems the European love of apple cider has come our way with an increasing number of growers and drinkers interested in the cider market. Gaining momentum both internationally and nationally, the cider industry is now one of the fastest growing sectors in the Australian beverage market.

And with Grove housing Australia’s largest collection of hertitage apple trees, demand for the nursery’s stock is set to increase.

Stokes Red - just one of several cider varieties grown at Grove Heritage Nursery.

Grove Heritage Nursery manager Mark Robertson, who attended the inaugural Australian Cider Awards in New South Wales, said the nursery’s stock had put it in a fantastic position.

“As home to Australia’s largest collection of apples, including cider apples, Grove Heritage Nursery is in the unique position of being one of the only commercial sized nurseries with access to a range of specialist cider varieties to service growing demand,” Mark said.

There was also strong interest shown in several unconfirmed varieties held in the Grove Heritage Collection, some of which closely resembled the varieties used by cider growers in France.

Mark said such varieties would play an important part in the industry’s future.

“There is a large amount of interest in a number of unconfirmed varieties held within the Grove Heritage Collection which are of specific interest to the industry going forward,” Mark said.

Many reasons have been attributed to the rise in popularity of cider in Australia (and internationally), including the search for a non-beer drink lower in alcohol than wine and the demand for a non-beer, bottled, alcoholic beverage for female drinkers. However while cider’s popularity in Australia was unquestionable, Mark said the challenge for the quickly growing industry would be one of supply.

He said Grove Heritage Nursery was putting a lot of energy into supplying what the industry needed.

“We are exerting a lot of effort into making as much material available to the industry as possible,” he said.

“We are endeavouring to bulk up our scion wood supplies and are building our capacity to keep up with demand and assist the industry in establishing new plantings.”

“We are also looking into some virus cleanup work on existing varieties to potentially help boost production of these.”

Mark said Tasmania was especially suited to a strong future in the cider industry.

“Tasmania is terrifically well suited to apple and cider production and has a rich history in this industry,” he said.

“Perhaps one day we will again be known as the ‘apple isle’ but for a different reason.”

With the push for greater gender diversity on company boards receiving much attention throughout Australia, OAK Tasmania is proud to announce the appointment of Dr Julie Rimes as its new Chairman of the Board. It is the first time in OAK’s history that a woman has occupied the position.

A member of OAK Tasmania’s Board for six years, serving as Company Public Officer and Company Secretary, Dr Rimes also brings a wealth of skills in relation to education and disabilities to her new position.

In Hobart, Dr Rimes is Director of the Kilburn Institute and Principal Curriculum Adviser at St Michael’s Collegiate School. She has a strong background in teaching locally, as well as in the South Pacific and the United Kingdom and also works as a consultant to a number of schools and businesses nationally. She has also served on many state and national boards.

Dr Rimes welcomed her new role and said she would continue to work hard to maintain OAK’s quality and diversity of programs and to further improve the lives of those living with disabilities.

“There are always ongoing important issues in providing those with lifelong disabilities [the] opportunities to develop and maintain skills and to participate in activities that enable them to achieve valued roles in the community,” she said.

OAK Tasmania's new Chairman Dr Julie Rimes

Dr Rimes said the continued improvement of OAK’s different sites and maintaining the strong diversity of OAK’s programs, were important priorities.

“Diversity is our strength. As a Board we must provide for future growth and development so that our social enterprises and services are the best that they can be.”

Dr Rimes takes over the position from Don Macleod, who has been Chairman since 2003. Both OAK Chief Executive Officer John Paton and Dr Rimes acknowledged the outstanding contribution Mr Macleod had made as Chairman.

“Don is a passionate supporter of the organisation and the important work it undertakes in the community and we thank him for his tireless work as Chairman,” Mr Paton said.

Dr Rimes also praised the ‘outstanding leadership and stewardship’ Mr Macleod had given the OAK community.

Mr Macleod, who is the owner/manager of the very busy Hobart Bank of Queensland franchise, will stay on the Board as Company Public Officer and Company Secretary.

Everyone at OAK Tasmania sends their best wishes to our clients, their families and carers; our customers, suppliers and supporters for the holiday season. We wish you joy and peace this Christmas and throughout the coming year.

2012 is going to be another exciting year for OAK Tasmania as we launch a range of new, person centred community services; officially open our new premises in Derwent Park; and embark on new business ventures that will further improve the lives of Tasmanians living with disabilities.

2012 will also be a cause for celebration, as OAK Tasmania (through its association with the former Retarded Children’s Welfare Association) celebrates 60 years of dedicated service to Tasmanians. We have a number of key events planned for next year and we would like you to be part of them. We’ll be launching a dedicated area on our website in early 2012 with more details.

From all of us here at OAK Tasmania, we thank you for your support and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Closure dates

Corporate Services: closes 23/12/11 & re-opens 3/1/12

Tahune Fields Nursery: closes 23/12/11 & re-opens 30/1/12

Walkabout Industries: closes 23/12/11 & re-opens 9/1/12

Oakdale Industries: closes 22/12/11 & re-opens 16/1/12

Mailhouse Tasmania & OAK Sewing Service: closes 22/12/11 & re-opens 3/1/12

OAK Community Services: closes 23/12/11 & re-opens 16/1/12

Team OAK Tasmania made a big splash at the inaugural Outrigger Paddling Regatta held at Montrose Park last weekend, winning the 1000 metre sprint race.

Staff members Craig Wilcox, Omar Venegas, Scott Longo, Dee Khanal & David Johnson looked the part as they paddled it out against eight other teams during the fun event. Team Captain Craig Wilcox said the Team had an ‘absolutely awesome day’ and proved to be one of the strongest social entries on the day – despite never competing in an outrigger canoe race before.

OAK Tasmania inches ahead of the competition.

Outrigger canoe racing is a relatively young sport in Australia. The first club in Australia was formed on the Gold Coast in 1978 which prompted Australia’s first outrigger canoe championships to be held in 1981. The first club in Sydney was formed in 1989, followed by Melbourne in 2003. Hobart’s Outrigger Canoe Club was formed in 2006 and focuses on teamwork, fitness for life and connecting with an ancient cultural practice of the Polynesian People.

First across the line in the 1000 metre sprint.

The Hobart Outrigger Canoe Club may have found five new members as Team OAK Tasmania are already planning to enter the next social paddling event in February 2012.

Images courtesy of Shauna Spurling.

Winners are grinners!

OAK Tasmania is celebrating the 2011 International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) by exhibiting a selection of photos taken by participants of OAK Community Services’ Photography Program.

A broad range of superb photos will be on display at the Moonah Arts Centre as part of an exhibition entitled ‘A Common Thread’, which showcases different types of artworks produced by clients of a number of disability service providers in Hobart.

'A Common Thread' Exhibition at the Moonah Arts Centre.

OAK Community Services’ Photography Program started in 2008 and has grown in size from just a few participants to two groups that cater to the different skill levels of participants. Each year an exhibition is held at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens to showcase the work participants produce during the year. The next exhibition is scheduled for February 2012 and the Exhibition will depict a maritime theme.

A selection of images taken by clients of OAK Community Services' Photography Program.

In the meantime, help celebrate and acknowledge the contributions, skills and achievements of people with disability by visiting the Exhibition at the Moonah Arts Centre between the hours of 11.00am and 5.00pm from Tuesday November 29 to Thursday December 8. Further details may be obtained by contacting the gallery on 6214 7633.

A State Government initiative that recognises and promotes Tasmanian organisations that successfully attract and retain skilled employees has awarded OAK Tasmania the title of ‘Tasmanian Employer of Choice’.

Presenting the Award to OAK Tasmania at a ceremony in Hobart this week, Minister for Economic Development Mr David O’Byrne MP said the best employers understand that a great workplace offers challenging and rewarding careers, while helping workers enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

OAK Tasmania’s CEO Mr John Paton agreed.

“The majority our supported workforce can’t wait to turn up to work each day, and we have been referred to as one of the happiest workplaces in Tasmania. We pride ourselves on how best we can assist individuals to achieve their own personal goals while balancing the production requirements of our five social enterprises.

“We offer part-time employment, flexible working hours, time off in lieu and work from home opportunities to our staff and employees, many of whom are still working with us after 10, 15 and 30-plus years of service.”

OAK Tasmania's Jason Balmforth (left),Peter Fenton, Brett Wagstaff and Stephen Fletcher with the 2011 Tasmanian Employer of Choice Award.

Mr Paton said OAK Tasmania continually monitored its progress against a Quality Assurance program and a continuous improvement process to ensure that the needs of staff and supported employees are being met. The Award was a culmination of a rigorous process that consisted of a written application, site visits, and members of the judging panel interviewing staff and employees at their workplace.