The Echuca Moama District Pakinson’s Support Group and Kyabram Parkinson’s Peer Support Group have joined hands to bring together a successful Parkinson’s Seminar.
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The event saw more than 90 guests gather from all over the region at the Echuca Workers Club on Thursday morning.
The event aimed to connect carers and those living with Parkinson’s to local groups and organisations that can provide support.
Echuca committee member Sue Solly was one of the guest speakers and shared her experience as a carer for her husband.
Mrs Solly said the support she received from various services had been a huge help in their journey.
“We would not have arrived at our current happy place without the support of others, and that includes every single group and resource listed in the program today,” she said.
“You can learn a lot about Parkinson's from books or training, but socialising and communicating with people living with Parkinson's is the best teacher.
“The carer's role necessitates continuous learning and change. I'm confident I am improving and coping better although, as I said earlier, I know it is a work in progress.”
Kyabram Parkinson’s Peer Support Group facilitator Christine Anderson also gave a speech on the day about her experience as someone living with Parkinson’s.
She provided insight about the grief of being diagnosed and likened the experience to an ‘old car without a petrol gauge’.
Despite her challenges, Mrs Anderson is now able to see life with Parkinson’s in a new light.
“It might be the worst thing that's happened to me, but maybe it could also be the best. It makes us focus on things that are important,” she said.
“The champions are those who deal with Parkinson's every day — those who have the condition and those who care for them.”
Following on from Mrs Anderson, a special Zoom session with Fight Parkinson’s was held before speech pathologist Edwina Delco from Kyabram District Health took to the stage.
Ms Delco spoke with guests about the importance of building a support team.
After lunch, physiotherapist Emily Adamson from Echuca Regional Health shared more information about health services that could be accessed locally.
To wrap up the day, a question and answer session was held with the panel of guest speakers.
Lockington locals Pam and Bill Roberts were two of the many guests at the event.
Mrs Roberts is in the early stages of Parkinson’s and said she attended the event to learn more about the condition and how she could navigate it.
“We’re just here to find information and to help us understand it,” she said.
“I know you can’t cure it, but I’m hoping through knowledge, I can extend the time between diagnosis and when I’ll need a wheelchair.”
For Warramunda Village personal carer Jenny Cardy the seminar was an opportunity to broaden her knowledge as a carer.
“This is the first time since I’ve worked at the Warramunda so any training that I can go to and get something out of is great to help the residents,” she said.
“We can take back information and share it with our other work colleagues... so we know what to look for, how to support them and their triggers.”
The Echuca Moama District Pakinson’s Support Group would like to thank Campaspe Shire Council for the initial grant that made the event possible.
They would also like to thank the Echuca Workers Club and all the sponsors who supported the event.