club news - stroke nsw · can you believe that this is our last club news for 2011? ... glistened...
TRANSCRIPT
FROM MICHELLE’S DESK
SUBMISSIONS WELCOME
SPRING 2011
CLUB NEWS
The Stroke Recovery
Association welcomes
contributions to Club News,
especially for our ‘Around
the Clubs’ section.
Submissions should be
addressed to:
The Editor
Club News
PO Box 3401
PUTNEY NSW 2112
Or send an email to
Please note that
contributions may be edited,
either to reduce size, to
assist with readability or for
legal/liability reasons.
Original photos sent through
the post will be returned
ASAP.
Hi all,
Can you believe that this is our last Club News for 2011? I do not know
where this year has gone, I am well and truly stuck back in April and I
just can’t come to terms with the fact that Christmas is just around the
corner.
The Hunter Stroke Olympics was again held in October and a wonderful
day was had by all. There is a full report on Page 12 and also a report
on the inaugural Stroke Challenge held at the Ulladulla Stroke Club
during Stroke Awareness Week. It is less than 12 months now until the
first state-wide Stroke Olympics is to be held at Forster in November
2012. I hope you are all practicing in order to join in the competition.
Do not forget the Spring Fling next November 8-11. It is to celebrate the
Association’s 35 years of service to Stroke survivors in NSW and we
would hope that as many of you as possible can come along.
Information about accommodation and activities will be out to your Club
Secretaries by March 2012 so please keep those dates free in your diary
to attend.
Thank you to all Clubs who organised activities and press coverage in
your local area during Stroke Awareness Week. I know what a huge job
this is but it does a great deal to spread the word about Stroke
prevention out in the community.
We are in the process of organising the 2012 Stroke Clubs Quality
Assurance Survey. This will be sent out to all Stroke Club members in
February 2012. Please fill it in and send it back as the information and
feedback you provide assists us to improve the services the Association
and Clubs provide to Stroke survivors.
I started my column on a sad note and I am afraid I will have to finish on
one as well. Our wonderful Stroke Club Coordinator Christina Cotis who
has worked with us for over five years has informed me that she will be
leaving us in February 2012. Christina will retire to Queensland where
she will improve her skills as a doting grandmother to her beautiful
grandson, Max.
We have been very lucky to have Christina with us for so long and she
has done a superb job working with you all. I am sure you will join me in
wishing Christina every happiness in her retirement. I am sure you will
all miss her happy disposition and sunny smile as will we here at the
Association.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year
Michelle
Page 2 CLUB NEWS
MEMORIAL GIFTS & BEQUESTS
A bequest is a gift for the future; please consider putting us in your will.
For information about how to include The Stroke Recovery Association in your forward planning,
please contact the office on (02) 9807-6422 or 1300-650-594, or email [email protected].
We can also supply ‘In Memoriam’ donation brochures with pre-paid addressed envelopes for
use at memorial services.
SPILLING? SPELING? SPELLING? BEE
VANILLA OR VINILLA
PICCOLO OR PICCALO
TELIVISION OR TELEVISION
SILACON OR SILICON
AIRPORT OR AEROPORT
MONGOLIA OR MONGOWLIA
HAPPENING OR HAPPENNING
ICICLE OR ICEICLE
ABSENCE OR ABSENSE
COMPATIBLE OR COMPATABLE
7H15 P4554G3 PR0V35 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17. B3 PROUD! W3LL D0N3!
WHERE COULD OUR CLUB GO FOR AN OUTING?
My brain activity has
little resemblance to
a train of thought. It's
more like a
derailment.
Lunch at the local RSL, bowling club, golf
club or sailing club - sit back and relax!
Botanical Gardens
A nearby island, if you are near the coast
A temple
The local rescue service - SES, helicopter,
fire station, rural fire service, mounted
police
Wildlife Park or sanctuary
Local Government House/Town Hall (tours
are often available)
Take a ferry trip or cruise
A museum, art gallery or library
Tour a lovely/historical church or other house of
worship
Aquarium
Observatory
A zoo
The beach!
Page 3 CLUB NEWS
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in Club News are not
necessarily those of the Stroke Recovery
Association nor its Board. No liability or
responsibility is accepted by the publisher for
any consequences resulting from any action
taken based on information or advertisements
included herein. All care is taken to ensure the
accuracy of the contents, but this cannot be
guaranteed and should not be relied upon.
COPYRIGHT
The Publisher of Club News is the Stroke
Recovery Association of NSW.
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
either in print or any other media, including the
internet, without the written authorisation of the
Executive Officer of the Stroke Recovery
Association. Permission should be sought by
writing to PO Box 3401 PUTNEY NSW 2112
Australia.
As reported in previous editions of our newsletters, please keep these dates free next year:
Thursday 8 November 2012 to Sunday 11 November 2012
These are the planned dates for our 35th birthday celebrations, to be combined with our Annual
General Meeting plus a Conference and Spring Fling Weekend in Forster-Tuncurry.
Last time we all had a weekend away, it was the Forster Winter Break, photos of which can be
seen below.
Leslie Watkins, from the GLAMs (Great Lakes and Manning) Stroke Recovery Club, organised
the weekend’s events which were a huge success, as you will see in the photos below.
AGM AND SPRING FLING 2012
LAST YEAR’S WEEKEND AWAY
Page 4 SPRING 2011
MUSWELLBROOK STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
Secretary Lem Rose sent in the following news:
“The Muswellbrook Club recently held a farewell lunch for long-time volunteer Jeff Gill and his wife Rosemary. Jeff has been a volunteer member for some 13 years as a driver on meeting days for members requiring transport, and has been our bus-driver on numerous occasions, particularly to the Annual Stroke Olympics at Hexham. Always willing to do “that extra bit”, Jeff will be sorely missed. The Club wish them well in their retirement.”
AROUND THE CLUBS
WALLSEND STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
Joy Jackson sent in the photo at left, in which
the group celebrates 25 years of existence. This
was taken at their Christmas party in 2010.
It was a 25-year celebration for several other
important reasons too. They have always used the
Newcastle Community Transport Service, which
also turned 25, as has the Wallsend RSL where
they meet. Also, Gloria Ninness has been
Secretary for 25 years and Betty Gormlie has been
Treasurer for that long too. Happy Silver Jubilee to
all!!
LIVERPOOL STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
Christina Cotis, our Clubs Coordinator, stopped in to see the Liverpool Club’s display during Stroke Awareness Week. As she says, ‘Col and Andy were handing out lots of information and selling lots more ribbons than last year – who could resist buying from them?’
Page 5 SPRING 2011
“GLAMS” STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
Lesley Watkin, Coordinator/Secretary of GLAMS, reports:
“GLAMS Stroke Recovery Club has been very busy this year. We decided that we would see if we could raise enough funds so that our members’ expenses for attending the Hunter Stroke Olympics could be covered. With this in mind we applied for funding from the CDSE Funding Programme. We were successful in being awarded about half the amount we asked for!
We were also given a Pro Hart framed limited edition print at the end of May, which we decided to raffle. In order to sell more tickets than we usually do, we joined the brigade of Local Market Stall Holders, invested in a gazebo, developed a roster and booked a space at all the local area market stalls, not only selling the raffle tickets and ribbons, but also promoting information on Stroke and our local club. It was unfortunate the markets were all held during the winter months, being up so early in the morning was certainly a new experience for me! I’d like to thank all our club members for their support and help and I am pleased to report we reached our target with our fundraising. To add to our coffers, a local choir, ‘Company of Voices’ put on a Sunday Recital in August to raise funds for our club.
Suffice to say we are all looking forward to our trip to the Hunter Stroke Olympics. We hope to be ‘on our game’ as they say!”
The photos above show (L) the stall held during Stroke Awareness Week at the local shopping centre: Ray Saunders, Robyn Shaw, Jeff Cole, Olive Zeller, and David Watkin in the background;
(R) Peter Federow and Jenny Collins conducting the draw, with the winning prize, the Pro Hart print, which was kindly donated by Peter’s daughter.
I guess it's a good thing for a watch to take a licking and
keep on ticking. But is there really that much danger of having your
watch licked?
A person struck
twice by lightning
undoubtedly finds
the experience
revolting.
How can a man who is able to
leap tall buildings in a single
bound not understand that your
underpants go on the inside???
Page 6 CLUB NEWS
WYONG STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
The photo above, kindly sent in by Jackie Galbraith, shows the ‘WYSS Guys’ at their recent
barbeque at The Entrance. It looks like a lovely outing!
Jennifer Winten, Secretary of this group, sent in the following:
“On Friday 23 September, the Lower North Shore Stroke Recovery Club
went on a wonderful bus trip.
We drove down through the Royal National park, via Audley Weir, then
on to the Sea Cliff Bridge to our lunch destination of the Scarborough
Hotel. It was a stunning spring day, the sky was cloudless and the sea
glistened as we took in the amazing views. After a very pleasant lunch,
overlooking the ocean, we headed back to Sydney via the expressway.”
LOWER NORTH SHORE STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
Page 7 CLUB NEWS
WOY WOY STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
Helen Anderson sent in photos and
news from the Woy Woy group, who were
very active during Stroke Awareness
week, it seems:
“We had a table set aside in Peninsula
Plaza all day on Monday 12 Sept. We had
tartan ribbons for sale, tickets in a donated
raffle, a donations tin, and information
about our club and FAST cards to
distribute. Quite a few members gave their
time to attend and help sell the ribbons.
At our September meeting (during Stroke Awareness Week) we had the pleasure of listening to
Marion Davis, a descendant of one of the first families to settle in Woy Woy. It was a pleasure to
listen to all about her family, and members were able to join in with their own memories.
On 21 Sept, on our regular bus trip, we were going to Toukley RSL Club for lunch. We detoured
along the road to Patonga for a stickybeak look at the waratahs, just beautiful!”
BROKEN HILL STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
The Broken Hill group held a display at their local shopping centre during Stroke Awareness
Week. The photo above left shows Darryl Hill, Rob Jones and Carol Kellond manning the stall.
Above right shows the group on a recent outing to the local waterhole, Stephens Creek
Reservoir. From left to right are: Carol Kellond, Bev Starkey, Joyce Locke, Larry Stephens & Dot
Greeney.
Page 8 CLUB NEWS
ULLADULLA STROKE RECOVERY CLUB—STROKE CHALLENGE A SUCCESS!
Readers may recall an article recently about the Ulladulla club’s planned “Stroke Challenge”, well
we are pleased to report the event was both a roaring success and a whole lot of fun! They
secured funding from the IMB Community Foundation and invited the local Parkinsons’ Support
Group, who were also very appreciative for a great day out. It is hoped this can expand next year
into a whole South-Coast event, much like the annual Hunter Stroke Olympics (see page 10).
PROTECT YOURSELF—LOTTERY SCAM ALERT
SCAMwatch is advising Australians to ignore recent lottery scam letters requesting $25, credit card details, or payment by cheque in return for a false $15,000 windfall.
How the scam works:
You receive a letter in the mail claiming that you have won an amount of money in a lottery you never entered, or asking you to enter. Recent reports show that the false winnings are commonly $15,000 or $25,000.
The letter will ask for an initial payment, commonly of $25, in order to claim the winnings or to enter. It may ask for credit card details or payment by cheque.
The letter may look official and may contain forms to be returned................continued page 11
Page 9 SPRING 2011
The Camden group has been exceedingly busy! Christine
Crooks has sent in the following news:
Earlier this year we commissioned the services of local
artist Carmelina Nunnari, who is also an Art Facilitator. We
embarked on three sessions of expressive art with
Carmelina. Her patient direction and encouragement
allowed members of the club to unleash their artistic ability
and thus the ‘Art for Stroke Exhibition’ slowly evolved into
the works which were displayed at the Narellan Library in
September, where we were accepted as ‘Artists of the
Month’. The art works were a combination of works by
stroke survivors, their carers and our volunteers. As well
as being a great experience, the sessions were also a lot of fun and proved to be a great achievement
for those with limited use of one arm and hand. The photo above shows some of the artists from the club
in front of the art wall at the library. From left are Christine Crooks, Des Lagerlow, Donna Dixon, David
Napier, Jill McKenzie, Doreen Napier, David Crooks and Barbara Bradshaw.
Stroke Awareness Week was certainly a busy time for the Camden Stroke Recovery Club. We hosted
stands at Narellan Town Centre and also in the foyer at Campbelltown Hospital. We have also done
some fundraising for the local hospitals. With help from the Rehabilitation Unit at Camden Hospital and
the Stroke Unit at Campbelltown Hospital, we conducted a father’s day raffle, with proceeds to be
shared by both units. The raffle was drawn on September 2nd by the Federal Member for Macarthur, Mr
Russell Matheson MP, in his offices at Camden. The club was thrilled that it was able to help provide
funds to both units for much needed equipment to assist with stroke recovery. Presentations to both
units were made at the opening of the Art Exhibition during Stroke Week at Narellan Library. The
Exhibition was opened by the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Greg Warren. Brian Lane, Acting
Operational Nurse Manager at Camden Hospital and
Christine Lyneham, Stroke Liaison Nurse Stroke Unit
at Campbelltown Hospital, were on hand to receive
presentation certificates to purchase parallel bars for
the Stroke Unit at Campbelltown Hospital and
various items of equipment for the Independent
Living Unit, part of the Rehabilitation Unit at Camden
Hospital. The photo at right shows the presentation
to Hospital Representatives at Narellan Library
during Stroke Week. From left: Christina Cotis from
the Stroke Recovery Association, Brian Lane,
Malcolm Bourne, President Camden Stroke
Recovery Club, Christine
Lyneham and Greg Warren.
Our other exciting news is that one of the Carers in our Club, Doreen Napier,
was recently recognised in the NSW Local Government Area Carer’s Awards in
Camden, during Carer’s Week in October 2011. Doreen has cared for her
husband David on a full time basis for the past ten years. The photo at left
shows Doreen being presented with the award by the Mayor of Camden, Greg
Warren. Our Club also received a nomination acknowledgement award, in
recognition of the club’s contribution to caring in our local community.
CAMDEN STROKE RECOVERY CLUB
Page 10 CLUB NEWS
On Wednesday 12 October, seven Stroke Recovery Clubs in the Hunter area gathered in the
spirit of fun and inclusion for the Annual Hunter Stroke Olympics at Hexham.
This event, now in its twenty first year, brings out fierce competition between the area’s clubs,
whilst providing an opportunity for the participants to ‘have a go’ at carpet bowls, dominoes,
quoits, skittles, putting and euchre.
Three major awards are also presented each year at the event:
The Elaine Leneghan Memorial trophy for “Carer of the Year” was awarded to Sue McCullough
(WAGS), The Bill Bobbins Memorial trophy for “Volunteer of the Year” was Coralie Fisk
(Westlakes) and “Battler of the Year” was Graham McCullough (WAGS).
The Champion Club 2011 was WAGS with Muswellbrook a very close runner up
Congratulations to all award winners and competitors!
HUNTER STROKE OLYMPICS 2011
1st place 2nd place 3rd place
Carpet Bowls Robin Tapara Bisje Herford David Bostock
George Newson Trophy: Robin Tapara
Euchre Jim Maunder & Paul-
ine Croft
Gail Connolly &
Wall Mitchell
Eli Newham &
Peter Collins
Ruby Dunn Trophy: Jim and Pauline
Dominoes John Wallace Doreen Jones John Connell
Quoits Peter Collins Peter Caddis Eli Newham
Skittles Jeff Cole Bisje Herford Bob Rodger
Putting Ray Buttsworth Michael Chin Brian Ellis
Carers Putting Lem Rose Jane Martin Monica Saunders
Page 11 SPRING 2011
IN MEMORIAM
Malcolm Bourne, President of the Camden Stroke Recovery Club,
wrote this wonderful tribute to the late Terry Bradshaw:
“Camden Stroke Recovery Club recently said goodbye to Terry
Bradshaw and we are filled with great sadness. Terry and Barb joined
our group right at the beginning in 2006 at the Camden RSL. We
were not quite sure at first whether he wanted to be there but it didn’t
take too long to discover a really unique and entertaining guy. A bit
gruff at times on the exterior but when he smiled the room lit up,
especially when he was caught out trying to illegally adjust the rules
of Uno. There was always the hint of the naughty boy, like, when
under strict instructions by the ground staff not to do so, Terry took a
walk on the famous ANZ stadium playing area. But that was Terry,
always that bit different and special. Terry served in Korea and flew airplanes. Amongst other
things he flew the glider tug out of Camden airport. And without a doubt there was far more to
him than that, but he preferred not to talk about himself. Our group is more family than just a club.
And over the five years we have got to know Terry and Barb as really close friends. We’ll miss
him heaps. To Barb, special in so many ways, our fondest love. “
Sad news from Woy Woy:
Vale to a loved member of our Club. Margaret Morrison and husband John were only members
for a short time (but a good time!). We called her our happy Scottish Lady. She enjoyed the
meetings, loved the bus trips and looked forward to our Sunday luncheons. Margaret passed
away on Sept 1 at Gosford Hospital, which was a real shock to our members, as she endeared
herself to many of us.
returned along with the initial payment via an enclosed prepaid envelope.
The letter may mention an international organisation based in the USA and provide postal address details for this organisation. These organisations often disappear and morph into others.
Protect yourself:
If you receive an unsolicited letter about a lottery you never entered destroy it. Never write back as this may lead to more scam letters being sent to you. Never send any money, personal or financial details.
If you aren’t sure whether a letter is authentic, do an internet search using wording from the letter. Many well-known scams can be found this way.
If you think you have provided your banking or credit card details or sent a cheque to a scammer contact your bank or financial institution immediately. Source: www.ScamWatch.gov.au
LOTTERY SCAM ALERT (continued from p8)
DONATIONS TO:Primary Business Address
Your Address Line 2 Your Address Line 3 Your Address Line 4
Phone: 555-555-5555 Fax: 555-555-5555 E-mail: [email protected]
IN MEMORIAM
Trudy Farrell from the Singleton Stroke Recovery Club, wrote a lovely piece about the two members the group has recently lost:
Leo Farrell (86) passed away suddenly in July. He had so many obstacles in his life to
overcome, but he was always smiling, never complaining about what life
threw at him; he just got on with it. Leo was paralysed from the waist down
following a work accident and spent 47 years in a wheelchair. This didn’t
stop Leo from leading a very full and happy life. Leo had many major
setbacks health-wise but he always bounced back - but not this time. He
and co-member Lindsay played incredible euchre and together won many
medals at the Hunter Stroke Olympics; they were a great team. We will
never forget Leo’s cheeky smile and his quiet stirring.
Mona Baxter (94), along with her husband Jack, and Alec and Betty Moore, started the
Singleton Stroke Recovery Group in 1991 after Jack suffered a stroke.
Although Jack passed away in 1992 Mona continued supporting the group
for 20 years coming nearly every week until six weeks before she passed
away. Mona was a wonderful person with a great philosophy of life. Her
hands were never still and she made many crocheted items not only for the
Stroke Group but also the Stockton Hospital. When her hands couldn’t
manage the delicate doilies Mona progressed onto the crocheted hand
towels which she donated to our annual stalls. Mona had a very sharp mind
and she loved cryptic crosswords. Mona was the matriarch of our group and
a very fitting one at that. She is sadly missed by all of us.
DONATIONS TO: PO Box 3401
PUTNEY NSW 2112 Freecall: 1300 650 594
Phone: (02) 9807-6422 Fax: (02) 9808-6173 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.strokensw.org.au