By Stacey Foster, Support Group Coordinator
Winter is here… welcome to the June Round Up.
I’d like to begin by acknowledging the following leaders who have stepped down and thank them for all their work and commitment to their support group.
Taree Support Group – Annette has been the leader for a few years now, and while she’s stepped away from that role, she will still be involved in the background and assisting the new leader, Andrew. Thank you, Annette and welcome, Andrew!
Port Stephens Support Group – Bob is stepping down as leader after 6 years in the role and has done a great job bringing everyone together several times a month – whether it’s for a meeting, lunch, or exercise. Thank you, Bob. Laurelle, who has been Secretary for several years also, has volunteered to be leader and I welcome her to the role. I also welcome Christine Gray to the Treasurer role and thank Kaye Robinson for her continued commitment to her leadership role as Welfare Officer.
Support Group Visits
May and June have been busy months for Support Group visits.
Congratulations to Kiama Support Group for holding another successful Community Seminar. They had a geriatrician, speech pathologist and physiotherapist as guest speakers on Parkinson’s related topics. Christine McGee, Education Manager at Parkinson’s NSW, also attended and gave the attendees an overview of the National Parkinson’s Alliance and Parkinson’s NSW role in it.
Also in May I attended Yass and Crookwell Support Groups with Parkinson’s nurse, Lauren. It had been about a year since I visited, and it was wonderful to see familiar faces but also new ones. Both support groups enjoy a chat about Parkinson’s and non-Parkinson’s related things happening in their lives, over a cup of tea and a homemade cake or biscuit. They are small, intimate groups that have established friendships and trust, led by people living with Parkinson’s who are keen to bring community together.
At the beginning of June, Parkinson’s CEO Mary Kay Walker, and I were invited to attend the Bathurst Support Group. It was a large turnout of almost 40 people, all of whom were very friendly and welcoming! We had a great meeting, chatting about Parkinson’s NSW purpose, our services and supports, and the advocacy Mary Kay has been involved in.
Parkinson’s NSW Counsellor, Shushann Movsessian visited our Manly-Mosman Support Group; Marketing and Digital Manager, Mirelle Brockett visited Inverell Support Group; Mary-Kay Walker and I attended Port Stephens Support Group, InfoLine Nurse, Melanie Ledbury visited Belrose Young Onset Support Group and Mary Kay will shortly be visiting Evans Head Support Group.
Support Group Spotlight
In May, Northern Rivers (Ballina) Support Group participant, Yvonne McGrath, organised a high tea fundraiser with the local church she attends. It was a very successful event, and they raised an amazing $3,000 which was donated to Parkinson’s NSW to support our Parkinson’s specialist nurse in the region. Everyone enjoyed each other’s company, food, and tea. Thank you to Yvonne and Robyn, who runs the café at Wollongbar Christian Church, for organising this event and for supporting Parkinson’s NSW.
In June, Chinatown Bilingual Support Group celebrated 20 years! To acknowledge this special milestone, Donor Development Manager, Gary Cowlishaw and Direct Marketing Officer, Natalee Robotham attended the event and were on hand to also present the support group’s Community Hero with their certificate.
A big congratulations to Chinatown Bilingual on reaching 20 years – it is amazing to think how much of a community you have built and supported (and continue to support) for people living with Parkinson’s and their carers, from all over Sydney.
