By Stacey Foster, Support Group Coordinator
This year, many of our support groups participated in the annual Parkinson’s Community Heroes initiative.
Each April, during Parkinson’s Awareness Month, support groups are invited to nominate an individual or organisation that has supported them over the past 12 or more months. Their Community Hero is then presented with a framed certificate at a special presentation.
The Community Heroes for 2026 are:
Jo Lavelle, Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse
Narrabri Support Group Leader, Patricia Hadley says, “Jo Lavelle is a wonderful nurse. She moved to Tamworth to take on the position of Parkinson’s support about four years ago, working from Rural Fit. She was just amazing, contacting community members with Parkinson’s in the Hunter New England region.
She has been very supportive and informative. She set up a timetable for our Narrabri Group where she would attend our monthly meetings every second month. During these meetings she would always be able to update our group of any seminars or health expo’s in our region. Jo would meet with newly diagnosed people as soon as possible when contacted by them. Nothing was ever too much trouble… It is my honour to nominate Jo Lavelle for this award and we can’t think of a more deserving person as a Parkinson’s Community Hero.”
Penrith RSL, venue for Nepean Blue Mountains Support Group
Support Group Leader, Vivienne Ross says, “Penrith RSL Club has been providing a meeting room for Support Group meetings for many years. The staff go out of their way to make sure our meetings are in a comfortable room, with technical equipment and refreshments.”
East Maitland Bowling Club, venue for Maitland Support Group
Douglas Cottrell, Support Group Leader, says “The East Maitland Bowling Club has supported us for many years with free room hire for our monthly meetings and has also given access to two bowling greens once a month for members to play bowls. They are always happy to help if we have any problems, the Events team is very supportive of our needs.”
Charlie Pope, Balgowlah RSL
Manly-Mosman SG leader, Robyn Lindsay says, “She sets up our room and gives us such great service for our meetings.”
Corrimal RSL, venue for Illawarra North Support Group
Co-leaders, Jill Peirce and Sue Buchhorn say they are very appreciative of the RSL providing their venue free of charge for their monthly meetings.
Club Banora, venue for Tweed Heads Support Group
Marie Bakker, leader of Tweed Heads says, “The Slice and Fork Restaurant at Club Banora host our meetings twice a month. They provide sound amplification and go the extra mile delivering orders directly to members instead of members having to respond to the electronic prompters. They are very caring. Their staff are always ready to assist members who are experiencing any difficulty.”
The Late Jenny Dowell
Lismore Support Group nominated Jenny Dowell as their Community Hero this year. Sadly, Jenny has since passed away but Leader of Lismore Support Group, Marie Dudgeon, wanted to make sure Jenny’s contribution was known and acknowledged. “Jenny has been a crucial advocate for the support group as well as a vocal representative in organising funding and recognition for people living with Parkinson’s in the Lismore and surrounding areas.”
Member for Port Macquarie, Robert Dwyer
Port Macquarie Support Group Leader, Kim Dahler says, “Since Rob won his seat in the by-election 12 months ago, he has been an active supporter of our Group. I emailed him last year inviting him to join our event at WPD and he turned up. He has since attended SG meetings, the Christmas Party and is one of three founding MPs of the Parliamentary Friends of Parkinson’s. We are very fortunate to have a Local Member like Rob.”
Rod McKenzie, President of the Woopi Senior Centre
Woopi Support Group Leader, Wendy McCallum says, “Supporting Woopi Parkinsons Support Group both personally and financially through his positions as President of The Senior Centre and President of Woopi Rotary Club.”
Club Blacktown, venue for Blacktown Support Group
Leader of the Group, Kathy Gilchrist says, “I would like to nominate Club Blacktown for having us every month and providing our room free of charge.”
They also nominated Dane Glover from Club Blacktown. “From the Club I wish to nominate is the very friendly and helpful concierge, Dane Glover who always lets us into the Club before it opens so we can set up our room before all the members arrive and we can grab a coffee before we begin the meeting. He does this every month and is very helpful and polite to all our members, he deserves this nomination.”
Jane Butler of Evans Head
Di Lymbury, leader of Evans Head Support Group says, “Jane is a resident with us, an ex-RN who has adopted our support group. She attends every month always arriving with a plate of fresh, nutritious, delicious sandwiches. As the group members arrive, Jane is always looking for ways to help. She is very quick to assist those members arriving with food and bags to carry. Jane just magically appears by their side every time. Jane sets up for morning tea, helps serve it and cleans and washes up afterwards.”
Creative Print Group
Nominated by St George Sutherland Support Group. Creative Print Group have been designing and printing the group newsletter, name badges and any other signage for the past eight years.
Orange Support Group nominated several Community Heroes this year!
Sue and Michael Schmich
Bernie Duffy, leader of the group says, “Sue and Michael Schmich have provided practical, hands‑on support to the Orange Parkinson’s community over several years, contributing their time, energy and personal resources to help raise both funds and awareness.
On 8 November 2025, they opened their beautiful and sizeable garden, “Mejuluelda” at Borenore, to host the Group’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. They undertook the preparation themselves. Sue set up the garden and helped ensuring the day ran smoothly for people living with Parkinson’s, their families and friends. Their efforts created a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, and the event raised $1,639 for Parkinson’s.
In November 2024, Sue also worked as a key volunteer at the ‘Hazelhome’ Open Garden. She contributed throughout the day, assisting visitors and supporting the organisers. This event raised $5,650 and helped broaden local awareness of Parkinson’s.”
They also nominated Miriam Dawes, “An artist who has been associated with the Group since the early 2000’s. Her brother had Parkinson’s and Miriam was friendly with the then Leader, Martha Brown. Over the years she has provided many art works as raffle prizes. We have a raffle open at the moment with Miriam’s painting ‘Flowers for a Friend’ as first prize.”
Justin Porter, “…who has been coming to monthly meetings since mid-2024 and other events and plays the guitar. He adds a measure of energy and joy which is missing if he is an apology.”
Tony Craw “is a speech therapist who leads the monthly Parkinson’s Voice Therapy sessions attended by many of our Support Group members. His sessions are practical, supportive and delivered with an encouraging and sensitive manner that helps people feel comfortable and confident. Tony’s consistent presence has become an important part of the ongoing support our group relies on.
In addition to running his own therapy group, Tony has also presented to our Support Group on the mechanics of voice and swallowing. His clear explanations have helped members better understand the changes associated with Parkinson’s and why this knowledge matters for maintaining health and quality of life. Tony’s contribution is genuinely valued by our community.”
On behalf of Parkinson’s NSW, I would like to sincerely thank every Community Hero for their commitment and willingness to support our groups. Reading through the reasons of why they were nominated, it is obvious their contribution and support is deeply valued by the leaders and participants. Thank you.
Awareness Month Activities
Several of our support groups also participated in Awareness Day and fundraising activities:
- Picnic in the Park, by Kiama Support Group
- Awareness Table and Raffle, by Armidale Support Group
- Walk around the lake and information table, by Temora Support Group
- World Parkinson’s Day Lunch and Meal Raffle, by Port Macquarie Support Group
- Static display, information table and raffle, by Orange Support Group
- Community Walk, Pancakes for Parkinson’s, Pizza for Parkinson’s, by Evans Head Support Group
- World Parkinson’s Day lunch, by Yass Support Group
- Morning tea, sausage sizzle and information table, by Narrabri Support Group
- Other community members also participated with a high tea in their retirement village, a staff lunch with donation entry and a PingPongParkinson tournament.
