Ted Long
- Location:
- Meringadan
At age 14, Ted Long shoed horses for the older people in his district and this first act of generosity started his lifelong commitment to helping people who need a hand. Ted developed a passion for solving the problems of rural families. For 40 years Ted arranged Christmas gatherings for isolated rural families through his Queensland Rail contacts and used his practical know-how to supply food and gifts.
Today at 82 years of age, Ted’s passion for helping people continues to burn brightly and he is an active volunteer in many community groups in and around Toowoomba. Ted is currently president of a group that is working to provide a ‘shed’, which will be a space where older people can pass on their skills to the younger generation, and also help prevent the social isolation of older people. Ted’s enthusiasm and sheer determination to help people in a practical way has been instrumental in moving this project forward.
He is also an advocate for older people in the Darling Downs and south-west Queensland region and travels up to 22 000 kilometres a year visiting private homes and nursing homes to identify issues that are of concern to seniors and pass this information on to the state government Minister for Communities and Seniors. Ted is also active in lobbying for the rights of partially and fully self-funded retirees.
Every day Ted is out there working to make his community a better place. He is an active volunteer at the East Creek and Harlaxton Neighbourhood Centres and TRUST, a support group for the trucking industry. He has also been instrumental in establishing groups to improve the physical, emotional and social health of older men and women.
Ted’s energy and dedication to the people in his community make him an outstanding role model and an inspiration to us all.
Last updated: 19 August 2008.