Parkinson’s NSW this year launched the Parkinson’s Community Heroes program to  both commemorate Parkinson’s Awareness Month and provide opportunities for Support Groups to recognise their local supporters – while also raising their Groups’ profiles within their communities.

The Heroes program was designed to recognise the local community heroes who play a big part in assisting their local Support Groups.

18 Support Groups took advantage of this opportunity to generate publicity in their communities:

• Chinatown Bilingual
• Coffs Harbour
• Dubbo
• Eurobodalla
• Illawarra North
• Inner West
• Kiama
• Lismore
• Maitland
• Nambucca Valley
• Narrabri
• Nepean/Blue Mountains
• Newcastle
• Orange
• Port Macquarie
• South Coast Young Onset and Nowra
• Snowy Monaro
• Tweed

“NOMINATIONS VARIED WIDELY – INCLUDING MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, ALLIED HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, AND ACTIVE FUNDRAISERS,” SAID SUPPORT GROUP COORDINATOR FELICITY JONES.

“It was heartening to see Groups taking advantage of this new opportunity to acknowledge their local supporters while driving publicity and hopefully also attracting new participants.

“We are looking forward to seeing more Groups take advantage of the Parkinson’s Community Heroes program in April next year,” she said.

Jenny Dowell with John Waters Deputy Support Group Leader Lismore

Owen Lednor (right) and Coffs Harbour Parkinson’s Nurse Vince Carroll. Nambucca Valley Support Group

Cassie Carswell (left) and Jane Gow Support Group Leader Coffs Harbour South

Catherine Goss (right) and Fran Hayes Inner West Support Group Leader

Janelle Saffin with John Waters Deputy Support Group Leader Lismore