About Port Macquarie Parkinson's Support Group
About Our Executive for 2022-2023
Our Executive Officers for 2022-23 were elected at our Annual General Meeting in November, 2022.
Our re-elected President is Kim Dahler
Our Treasurer is Allan Rapley
Our Secretary is Sue Faulkner
Carer Coordinator is Margaret Healey
Committee Member (Welfare) is Carol Brazel
Newsletter Editor is Gregg Faulkner
The Executive is charged with maintaining an organisation in excellent state, with a strong membership and active agenda.
About Our Members
Due to the nature of Parkinson's Disease, affecting as it does mostly the over-50's, our membership unsurprisingly consists primarily of retirement or near-retirement aged Parkinson's people and their carers. We also have a number of younger members who are "young onset" Parkinson's people. New members of all ages are encouraged and our activities are aimed at meeting members needs for knowledge about Parkinson's, practical care demonstration and guide talks, social events and fund raising activities.
Our members represent the full gamut of PD stages. Some of our members are recently diagnosed and may display few obvious symptoms while others range through the levels of affliction with a few experiencing significant disability.
Potential members are occasionally dismayed by the prospect of "seeing what the future holds in store" or withdraw into themselves avoiding social contact due to fear of embarassment. That is an understandable reaction. However, a few moments consideration will reveal the irrationality of avoidance and denial which prevents a Parkinson's person from receiving the benefits of mutual group supprt and from contributing to the well-being of fellow Parkinson's people and their carers.
Meeting people who share your condition, and who are dealing positively with its challenges is a very positive experience. Of course, there is so much to learn from these people who have found ways to maximise their quality of life and to minimise the responsibilities and workload of their carers.
Above all our members display a positive attitude and enthusiasm for enjoying life.
About Membership
Membership of Port Macqarie Parkinson's Support Group is open to all affected by Parkinson's Disease - sufferers, carers, family and friends. A nominal membership subscription of $5 is charged (renewable annually), to help support operational costs of the group.
Members of Parkinson's Support Group Port Macquarie are also encouraged to take up membership of our State body, Parkinson's NSW which provides resources from which all Parkinson's people benefit.
Membership of Parkinson's NSW is free, contact them on to register with them.
About our Meeting Venue
When - we meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month, including January. Our meetings run from 10.30am until noon.
Where - Salvation Army room
110 Lord Street, Port Macquarie
What to bring - yourself, carers and family are welcome.
Morning tea is served after the meeting
About our Services to Members
Our services include:
arranging for monthly meetings programs.Typically, some will have guest speakers covering subjects directly relating to Parkinson's and to other issues which are common to dealing with other partially or severely disabling conditions. Others will have an open forum for members to raise and discuss important current issues such as treament options.
provision of a Parkinson's library of books, DVD's and Videos available for loan to members.
arranging special local events such as a fun walk and barbeque, fund raising barbeque,
contact with Parkinson's NSW for dissemination of information
enquiries on behalf of members and potential members
Get involved today
We invite anyone affected by Parkinson's Disease or other movement disorders (MS, muscular distrophy, etc) to join us at our monthly meetings and other activities.