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SHAKIN’ GOSSIP
Jenny, Robert, Leonie and Jeff went on their cruise and all had a great time. They visited Noumea, Mystery Island, Port Villa, Champagne Bay and Luganville. Jeff sipped kava and Leonie danced with the locals. Rob and Jenny had fun in the casino. They have already organised their next cruise in January.
MEMBER PROFILE –Kerrie Follan
Sometimes I ask myself “where have all the years gone”.
I was born in Kogarah Hospital in 1949, my Mum and Dad separated when I was just a baby and my Mum passed away when I was 3 years old.
We were living in Tasmania at the time and I was sent to live with family back in Sydney. Being 3 years old at the time I don’t remember much of the flight back to Sydney.
I grew up with my Mums older sister and her 4 kids that became my brother and sisters, we lived in MaysHill between Parramatta and Wentworthville.
We went to Westmead Public School and then Arthur Phillip High school in Parramatta. I left school at 15 and started work in the local corner shop.
When The shop closed I tried different jobs from retail to office work. I met Rick (the love of my life) at 17, we married when I was 19 and we are still happily married.
We built our first house in Baulkham Hills, 3 years later our baby daughter arrived and 2 years later we had a son. Between them they have added 5 grandchildren, 2 girls and 3 boys to our family.
We moved several times and built our last house at Castle Hill.
When my son started school, I wanted something to do so I volunteered as a Pink Lady at Baulkham Hills Private Hospital which went on to become Norwest Private Hospital. I worked in positions including the Kiosk, Managing the Kitchen and in-house services and retired as a clerk in Medical Records after 27 years.
We sold up and bought a caravan and planned to travel around Australia.
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 2 weeks after moving into the van. That was big shock to our plans but my doctors advised us to carry on and we would know when to stop. That’s what we did and travelled for 4years and got to see about 95% of Australia including some very remote places.
We settled in Sunshine Bay in July 2016 and reckon we have landed in Paradise, and that is my story.
FUND RAISING
As our group is affiliated with Parkinson’s NSW we have agreed to donate some of the monies that we raise with them. Parkinson’s NSW uses this money for various things such as research and phone support for members.
We use the money in our group to promote and support the Eurobodalla Parkinson’s Support Groups outings, regular meetings and support to our members.
If you have any ideas on ways to raise money, please feel free to suggest your ideas.
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We have held our raffle for the beautiful quilt (donated by the Batemans Bay Quilting and Patchwork Group) and the lucky winner was Gai Burton on a green ticket E10. Thanks go to Nina Cheyne who drew the winning ticket at our meeting on the 19October.
CARERS
Our last Carers Meeting on the 19 October was very enjoyable with Nina Cheyne sitting in with us.
Unfortunately, this was our last get together for the year as a guest speaker is attending on our next meeting date. Hopefully we will be able to organise things a little better next year so guest speakers do not clash with our meeting dates. I am sure that everyone would like to join me in thanking Leonie for her efforts with the Carers Meetings and her willingness to lend an ear to anyone with problems (and I sure do like the chocolates she provides as well).
GUEST SPEAKERS
Melanie and Peter from Parkinson’s NSW came to our meeting on the 10 August. They spoke in length on the changes within Parkinson’s NSW and how we will now be getting better support from them. Melanie encouraged anyone with any questions to use the info line – the staff on the info line are all very keen to help us in any way that they can. There are councillors for our People with Parkinson’s, as well as their families and carers.
As always when speaking with anyone from Parkinson’s NSW the subject of Neurological Nurses was raised and discussed at length. We have been encouraged to keep writing letters and discussing the need for these nurses in our area. We have three Nurses in NSW (Nine – Shoalhaven, Vince – Coffs Harbour, and Meg – Orange) and the funding for these three nurses was raised differently. Parkinson’s NSW is looking for the best way to raise and hire the nurses on a long-term plan.
Everyone would like to thank Melanie and Peter for a very interesting discussion and we hope they return in the future.
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Maree O’Rourke and Helen Tuxworth from Integrated Living were our guest speakers on the 24August. This was a very lively presentation. Maree is a Case Manager and Helen is a Senior Registered Nurse for Integrated Living. Integrated Living is an organisation that assists people who have health and mobility problems, remain in their homes. Their assistance can vary from house cleaning, yard maintenance, teaching people how to use tablets. Once given a Home Care Package, the people from Integrated Living (or other Care Provider) can work with you to work out what you need and how you can be helped.
Maree took us through the process of registering with My Aged Care, which we need to do before we can obtain help from any group like Integrated Living. We are then assessed and advised if we qualify for Consumer Directed Care and which package. We can then shop around for a Care Provider that suits our needs.
To register with My Aged Care, phone 1800200422 or – this can take quite a while and you need to have all your details on hand.
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Craig Potts has sent the following email to thank us for the donation of an automated blood pressure machine as a thank you for his very interest talk earlier in the year.
On 1 Sep 2017, at 1:13 PM, Craig Potts (NSW Ambulance) <> wrote:
Hello Joy;
On behalf of Narooma Ambulance station, we would like to thank your Parkinson’s group for kindly donating the automated blood pressure machine.
I am pleased to advice that the machine has been installed into our casualty room at Narooma station and has been usedmany times now.
We are also proud to display Ritva (Rita) Jokinen memorial plaque directly above the machine.
Once again, thank you for your support and please see attached some photos of the blood pressure machine.
Kind regards
Craig Potts Station Officer Narooma|Southern Sector
It’s On Again!
11th November 2017
Saturday 2:00pm-5:00pm
Moruya & District Brass Band Concert
Moruya Golf Club
$10 entry fee
Food & Drinks available at Bar Prices
All welcome – Bring a friend
Major Fundraising Event for Eurobodalla Parkinson’s Support Group for 2017