Once again, the Sovereign Hospital Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta can proudly say that it has achieved resounding success with the gala dinner on Wednesday 27 April, at the elegant Aqua Luna Waterfront Dining restaurant, in Drummoyne. Proceeds from the lunch go to giant Steps School, located in Gladesville, which the Order has been supporting since 2017, where the entire staff, especially teachers, specialize in the care of autistic children. Autism is a developmental disorder associated with difficulty in communication, cognitive impairment, perceptual-sensory abnormalities, motor and expression difficulties of affected children. Although their ability to communicate with the outside world is very compromised, this does not mean that they do not have skills that can only emerge with the competence and support of properly trained and specialized teachers. The role of teachers is therefore crucial, who must not only possess didactic-methodological knowledge and adequate intervention strategies, but also that empathy capable of getting in tune with children, understanding their difficulties and rejoicing with them in every little progress. Giant Steps, founded in 1995 to welcome children from the age of 3 and young adults up to 18 years, also assists families, often unprepared to face the unknowns of autism.
The lunch, organized by the order’s women’s steering committee, Ornella Tomaino, Carmela Di Pietro, Mariarosa Bonanno, Rosaria Cusumano, Tina Zanco, Wendy McGirr, Anna Maria Cirene, Annette Scaturchio, under the wise guidance of Lady Angela Panzarino and Lady Filippa Indovino, was attended by at least 350 people. The school’s director general, Andrew Frakes, was present, highlighting how the Centre has achieved excellence in implementing innovative and effective programmes. He thanked the ladies of the Order of St. John who, with the funds raised, contribute to the implementation of a clinic within the school, where specialized doctors can treat autistic children without compromising their emotional stability.
The intervention of the former Grand Prior Pat Pedulla, who, representing the current Grand Prior Dr. Samiul Sorrenti OAM, unable to participate, underlined how already a first visit to the Giant Steps Center convinced him of the need of the Order to support its programs, in the certainty that every penny donated is donated to the improvement of the lives of the boys.
The testimony of Dr. David Lord and his wife, Dr. Naomi McIntyre, both doctors of recognized value, who have a child with autism and who attends the Giant Steps, aroused emotion. Dr. Lord described his and his wife’s bewilderment when they learned of their child’s diagnosis. They understood at that very moment that their lives and that of their families would never be the same. She expressed gratitude for the staff and teachers at Giant Steps, where their little girl feels comfortable and they themselves have learned to handle the relationship difficulties with her. He also spoke of the importance of supporting scientific research with the aim of detecting autism early and developing new treatment interventions.
The event was impeccably conducted by MC Maureen Pancia, who encouraged those present to be generous to help a just cause. The talented singer Lisa Genovese performed with a very engaging repertoire suitable for the occasion.
A rich lottery and a silent auction have made it possible to collect $71,073 dollars, which will be added to the 44 thousand of 2019 and the 71 thousand of last year. A truly extraordinary success for a work carried out with humility, seriousness and determination. But the greatest success is to see the faces and names that follow this event from year to year, with the intimate satisfaction of contributing to a noble and useful cause. And if each of us can improve even a little the life of a child and his family, he has already done a good part of his duty.
Article by Concetta Cirigliano Perna