By Stacey Foster, Support Group Coordinator

Spring is in the air, and we have been out and about visiting Support Groups.

In August, we visited 10 Support Groups:

Mary Kay Walker, Parkinson’s NSW CEO, visited the Inner West Support Group. The group has undergone a transformation over the past 12 months with a new leader (Dr Paulo Pelicioni, lecturer at University of NSW, School of Health Sciences), and a new venue. Paulo’s commitment and passion is appreciated by the group and by us.

Mary Kay also visited Hawkesbury Support Group, which has been very ably led by Meryl Heynsdyk for over 10 years. Wonderful dedication, commitment, and knowledge sharing – thank you Meryl.

Keith having his beard and hair shaved at the Wagga raising awareness fundraiser

Keith after the head and beard shaving

Gary Cowlishaw, Donor Development Manager, visited Wagga Wagga Support Group which put on a fabulous fundraiser with all proceeds going to Parkinson’s NSW.

The group raised $1811 through raffle ticket sales and two gentlemen who grew their beards and were sponsored to shave them off!

A heartfelt thank you to Support Group Leader Ann Mitchell who spearheaded the day, and to those that helped in many different ways.

Participants from the Tumbarumba and Tumut Support Groups meeting at Batlow

Mirelle Brockett, Marketing and Digital Manager, and I travelled to Batlow and met with Tumut and Tumbarumba Support Groups.

It was lovely to see everyone again after meeting them for the first time last year.

We brought with us Parkinson’s NSW resources, and Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses Kate Warren and Sarah Wood also spoke. Both Support Groups have strong and committed leaders in Karen Doyle and Barry Whiting. Thank you both for always making sure your groups’ needs are met.

Other Support Groups visited in August: Kiama (with a strong leadership team), Yass (long-time leader Jan Scanes with support by Liz Gailer) , Blacktown (under new leadership this year by Kathy & Gordon Gilchrist and Wendy Symington) and St George Sutherland (another strong leadership team).

September was quieter in terms of visiting Support Groups, but me and John Back, Communications Manager, visited Orange Support Group. The group has been led since 2009 by Bernie Duffy, a dedicated carer to his wife, Petah. After speaking with Bernie many times over the last couple of years, it was lovely to finally meet in person.

Over the last 12 months, Associate Professor Rachel Rossiter, a researcher with the School of Rural Medicine at Charles Sturt University, has come onboard and is supporting Bernie and the group. John and I enjoyed speaking with the group, hearing about their past lives, and sharing information about Parkinson’s NSW – what we do and how we can support you.

Parkinson’s NSW Counsellor, Viviem Luo, also facilitated the Eastern Suburbs Support Group as fellow counsellor and Support Group Leader Shushann Movsessian was away.

Upcoming Support Group visits:

• Eastern Suburbs Young Onset
• Bega Valley
• Kempsey
• Coffs Harbour North
• Grafton
• Nambucca Valley

If you’d like us to visit your Support Group in 2025, please let me know!