Historical November–December 2015 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Michelle Donnelly and Peter Willey recently returned to Australia after a memorable summer in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, where they stayed at the home of Pat Kohn on Kingsbury while Pat was doing her own travels abroad. Michelle is an Occupational Therapist who met our neighborhood’s Kathy Kniepmann, also an OT, years ago in London at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists conference. Michelle is the Program Coordinator at Southern Cross University in Queensland, teaching and doing research and curriculum development.
But this summer she was a Washington University Visiting Scholar. Michelle and Peter live in Fingalshead, a small town (with a smaller population than our SD neighborhood) in southeast Queensland, near its border with New South Wales in Australia. Fingalshead, often called “the Gold Coast” is considered a surfer’s “paradise lost” for its outstanding beaches and waves.
However, as Michelle and Peter noted, although we have no ocean, “St. Louis’mighty river is six-seven times bigger than any river in Queensland, which is semi-arid.” However, Fingalshead does have a quarterly newspaper, called the “Fingal Flyer”, which is currently focused on saving the dunes which protect the coast there. Michelle and Peter told me they really enjoyed their summer in SD, especially the neighborhood closeness.
They asked about how we had achieved the diversity, and asked about whether there had been “conscious efforts,” after they attended the BBQ concert at Lucier Park, which really impressed them.
They also loved Bill Christman’s great sculpture garden and Joe’s Cafe. Fresh produce from our community garden was a treat.
They mentioned all the opportunities to connect with people here.
They really appreciated the Gateway Orchestra Concerts at WU, especially the 4th of July concert with the Sousa marches!
They couldn’t believe the wealth of museums open to all, and loved the outdoor activities in Forest Park.
They loved the food and “hive of industry” at the Festival of Nations and participated in the International Folk Dancing group in U City. Just a bit outside the neighborhood, they went to see the Grand Canyon, of special interest to Peter, who’s a geologist.
He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go to KC to see the Rolling Stones at Arrowhead Stadium. Peter also enjoyed bicycling on the Katy Trail with neighbor Tom Snyder, husband of Michelle’s host at WU, Kathy Kniepmann.
As a visiting WU Scholar this summer, Michelle was able to work with the labs that work with discharged patients, as well as new programs working with patients with autism.
She feels that “the future of Occupational Therapy is community-based programs at school and work settings.” She shared her own research on the developmentally disabled in Australia. Michelle noted that the programs she observed in St. Louis were “more innovative,” specifically the “intervention programs for school readiness” and the “Bright Futures” program, focused on return to work and school after illness or injury.
Her enthusiasm made one eager to learn more about the great work being done right here! Michelle and Peter felt at home here, and they look forward to a return visit to Skinker DeBaliviere.
Original photograph caption
Michelle Donnelly and Peter Willey. Descriptive caption supplied.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2015.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2015_11.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
