WHEN Dee Threlfo was told her son Jordy wouldn’t amount to much because of his disability, it would have been easy to despair.
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“In primary school, the professionals said he would not amount to anything, he wouldn’t be a brain surgeon, and in high school they told me to ‘put him with his own kind’ in a group workshop,” says the Sawyers Gully mum.
Her anger made way for determination: “It just made me want to look out side the box. Jordy is a delightful young man who loves to be around people.”
Hearing of a young Canberra man with a disability who did a mail run, Ms Threlfo reflected and thought odd jobs might be Jordy’s forte. She made up a letterbox flyer and put out the word about her son’s services.
“The response was slow at first and we had someone say not to go back, and that’s ok, it won’t suit everyone, but most people were excited that someone could get out there and do this,” she says.
In July, 24-year-old Jordy’s business Jordy Can Do Errands For You celebrates six years. It has 18 businesses in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri and Maitland on its books. In 2017, it won Cessnock Chamer of Commerce’s outstanding customers service award
Jordy works Monday to Thursday doing all manner of jobs, from delivering newspapers and putting out garbage bins to washing dishes and vacuuming.
When you ask Jordy if he likes to work, his reply is simple: “Yay! I’m busy!”.
Aided by support worker Jen Quinn, Jordy dons his blue business shirt and gets to work with infectious enthusiasm. Among his favourite jobs are ‘Going to see Ruthie’ at the newsagency in Weston and vacuuming at West Cessnock Medical Centre. Grateful for her “beautiful support workers”, Ms Threlfo says Ms Quinn knows when to step in and help.
“Jordy calls her ‘Gem’ and that’s what she is,” she says.
Ms Quinn says Jordy’s work ethic has grown and he is simply “happy to go out”. “Even if he got 10 cents he’d be over the moon,” she notes. “If you asked Jordy what was the best part of the day he always says someone’s name rather than something per se, he loves people.”