Seventy thousand wheelchairs. It is an extraordinary number to comprehend, but last week, our signature project, Wheelchairs For Kids Australia (WFKA), officially reached that incredible production milestone.
To mark the occasion, the team took the opportunity to recognise the vision, dedication, and practical leadership of a man who helped turn a difficult idea into a global reality: Br Thomas Oliver “Olly” Pickett.
The history of Wheelchairs For Kids is deeply connected to the Scarborough Rotary Club. Back in 1996, members of our club approached Olly about building wheelchairs from recycled bicycle parts. When the initial plan to build ten chairs proved too impractical to scale, Olly reluctantly turned it down. However, instead of walking away, he went to the drawing board and developed a completely new design using new materials.
Recognising that he was onto something brilliant, Scarborough Rotarians commissioned 20 of his new model to send to Fiji in 1998. That was the spark that ignited continuous production later that same year.
For almost three decades since that initial run, Olly has served as the Volunteer Factory Manager alongside the inaugural volunteer CEO, Gordon Hudson - a Scarborough Rotarian whose impact on the organisation cannot be understated.
Olly’s knowledge, unwavering energy, and high standards are built into the very walls of the factory and into every single wheelchair that leaves the floor. Producing 70,000 wheelchairs is an achievement that belongs to every volunteer, donor, partner, and supporter. It also directly reflects the persistence of a man who solved a complex problem and changed the lives of tens of thousands of children worldwide.
In recognition of Olly’s extraordinary service, it was announced during the event that the facility will now officially bear his name. A beautiful plaque donated by Ascot Sign Co. will now oversee production at the newly named Br. Olly Pickett Factory.
A strong contingent of Scarborough Rotarians were incredibly proud to be in attendance for Olly's emotional thank-you speech, standing alongside his visiting family and the dedicated Wheelchairs For Kids Australia volunteers.
It was a truly special morning, and a brilliant reminder of the global impact our local community can achieve when we work together.
