By Stacey Foster, Support Group Coordinator

Anytime I can visit with a Support Group or SGL either online or in person, I am happy! Thank you for having me, I enjoy meeting you all.

The month of October saw me travel to Cootamundra to meet the local Support Group. It was wonderful to have Temora and Young support groups also joining. We were a big group of almost 20, socialising, meeting for the first time or reconnecting, over a nice lunch. 

A smaller group of us then retired to a meeting room and talked about services and supports offered by Parkinson’s NSW, as well as sharing experiences of hospital visits.

I’d like to take the opportunity to say thank you to Helen Eccleston who was the founding Cootamundra Support Group Leader from 2013 until just a few months ago! Thank you, Helen, for your commitment to supporting the Parkinson’s community in Cootamundra. I wish you all the best as you focus on the local Red Cross and Food Bank.

With Helen stepping down, I’d like to say welcome to Murray and Dorothy Billsborrow who have taken on the role as leaders in Cootamundra. It was lovely to meet you recently and the Support Group is in good hands with you.

I can’t round out my time in Cootamundra without also saying thank you to Temora leader, Coral Moncrieff and Young leader, Margaret Bailes. Your dedication and support of people living with Parkinson’s and their families and carers in your communities is very much appreciated.

Also in October, I visited the Sydney-based Support Group, St George-Sutherland. I had such a lovely, warm welcome from Janece Pulbrook (leader) and rest of the Committee – thank you! Everyone at the meeting was friendly and interested in a chat. 

They also put on a delicious morning tea and lunch which was organised by Nan Godwin. Their guest speaker was a Healthy Ageing Advisor from the local Healthy Ageing Hub who put together a very positive and helpful presentation.

There is fantastic teamwork with this Support Group which I love to see. Aside from the President, Secretary and Treasurer, they also have a welfare officer, a social secretary, two volunteers to sort out AV, a welcome table, a trading table, a newsletter editor — just to name a few. 

Well done to you all for the work you put in to create the community you have!