MSWA Bulletin Magazine Autumn 18

BULLETIN
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MSWA mswa.org.au
AUTUMN 2018
MSWA Members’ Nicolette Murphy and Kate Gild
with MSWA CEO, Marcus Stafford, at the construction
of the new MSWA Supported Accommodation and
Services Facility in Butler.
NDIS UPDATE
BRAIN HEALTH AND MS
SOUND AND COGNITION
COMMUNICATE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

MSWA’S MAGAZINE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS
NURSING Our MS nurses are usually the first point of contact after the neurologist’s
diagnosis of MS. We’re committed to providing holistic supports; providing a greater
understanding of what to expect.
Lou Hatter, Manager: 9365 4888 or Community Nurse: 9365 4888
WILSON CENTRE
29 Parkhill Way (08) 9365 4888
Fax (08) 9451 4453
Freecall 1800 287 367
See Health Team Dept contacts on this page
MEMBER SERVICES
DIRECTORY
GENERAL MANAGER – MEMBER SERVICES
Sue Shapland: 9365 4840
INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS
Manager Community
Care Programs 9365 4851
NDIS TEAM 9365 4824
OUTREACH GROUPS
Wilson Outreach (Mon-Thurs): 9365 4830
Beechboro Lodge (Mon, Fri): 9377 7800
Southside Outreach (Fri): 9592 9202
Albany Outreach (Fri): 9841 6657
BUNBURY (WED) HUB
1 Mason Street, Davenport 6454 2800
BUSSELTON OFFICE
1/21 Cammilleri Street 9754 2320
MARGARET DOODY RESPITE HOUSE
Manager, Chris Rush: 9385 9574
FERN RIVER ACCOMMODATION
Manager, Danuta Figurska: 9356 2747
HAMILTON HILL ACCOMMODATION
Manager, Jayne O’Sullivan: 9331 5780
TREENDALE GARDENS RESPITE &
ACCOMMODATION
50 The Boulevard, Australind
Manager, Linda Kidd: 9725 9209
CONTACT US
If you would like to comment
on anything you read in this
Bulletin please email
bulletin@mswa.org.au
or write to
MSWA, Locked Bag 2,
Bentley DC WA 6983
The Bulletin can also be viewed at
mswa.org.au/bulletin
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Greg Brotherson (Editor), Marcus Stafford (CEO),
Paul Cavanagh, Sue Shapland, Ros Harman,
Libby Cassidy, Caitlin Skinner, Sandra Wallace,
Narelle Taylor, Leonie Wellington,
Sarah Lorrimar, and Dawn Burke.
The Editor welcomes unsolicited submissions.
All articles are subject to a reviewing process.
The views expressed are those of the Authors
and do not necessarily reflect the view of
MSWA’s staff, advisors, Directors or officers.
PHYSIOTHERAPY Our team aims to provide treatment interventions to develop and
maintain mobility and function. Our Physiotherapists are experts in movement and function,
and work in partnership with you to attain the highest possible level of independence.
Dave Hathorn, Manager: 9365 4837 or Physiotherapy Department: 9365 4834
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Occupational Therapists enable Members, and Clients,
to continue their work and other interests for as long as possible through advice, aids
and equipment.
Rosemarie Dravnieks, Manager: 9365 4804 or OT Department: 9365 4888
SPEECH PATHOLOGY Our Speech Pathologists provide support by assessing,
diagnosing and creating individualised treatment programs for Members who experience
swallowing and/or communication difficulties. We equip Members with information and
strategies to promote better communication and safe swallowing.
Jamaica Grantis, Manager: 6454 3140
COUNSELLING, PEER SUPPORT & HEALTH EDUCATION
Talking with a Counsellor creates a safe, respectful and confidential environment for you
and those close to you to explore options, create change or gain understanding about your
life. Attending counselling with our tertiary qualified practitioners enables opportunity
for personal growth and exploration in a non-judgemental environment. We have a Peer
Support & Health Education Coordinator who organises peer connection & events and
supports health and wellness education services. She can be contacted on 9365 4858.
To make an appointment please call:
Lisa Papas, Manager: 9365 4836 or Main Counselling line: 9365 4811
SOCIAL WELFARE Social Welfare Officers assist people living with MS and their
families to access services and supports to remain living independently at home.
They specialise in case management, advocacy and sourcing funding options.
They provide information on benefits and entitlements through Centrelink and other
government departments. Monitor NDIS/WANDIS Services.
Irene Gallagher, Manager, Social Work: 9365 4835
INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS We provide long-term and time limited in-home supports
including assistance with personal care for people with MS, to help them remain in their
homes. Care and supports are provided through a combination of funding from the
Disability Services, Department of Communities and our own fundraising efforts.
We manage both DSC and NDIS individually funded care packages.
Contact Aileen Ward, Manager on 9365 4851 for more information.
THE NDIS TEAM We can help answer all NDIS questions.
Our experienced team can help determine whether you may be eligible for NDIS support
and assist you with your application. This includes developing an individual plan that
best suits your needs. We support people with all neurological conditions including
MS, Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Acquired Brain Injury and
Motor Neurone Disease, to name a few.
Contact Mark Douglas, NDIS Operations Manager: 9365 4824
CAMPS & RECREATION MSWA provides separate recreation camps for Members,
carers, and families, primarily funded by Lotterywest, and for a nominal cost to participants.
These camps provide a break from daily routines, and strengthen friendships and
support networks.
Coordinator for Camps & Recreation: 9365 4843
2 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
DR GREG BROTHERSON
On behalf of the Editorial Team, welcome to your first MSWA
Bulletin for 2018.
Besides the usual fireworks and festivities, this New Year
celebration also turned out to be something very special
indeed when the heavens put on a rare and majestic display
with an eclipse of a stunning super blue blood moon. It was a
spectacle that captured the imagination.
By chance, I was giving my wife some respite and had moved
to MSWA’s respite home in Treendale, situated adjacent to the
Leschenault Inlet, Bunbury. It is a beautiful setting.
The area to the east is entirely flat and ready for development;
for the time being it is uncluttered by an encroaching suburbia.
It was a lovely warm evening, a crystal-clear night, with a
super moon making her entrance from the east over an
unblemished horizon.
The stage is set, my acquaintance for the performance about
to get underway is another resident, Janet, who has Motor
Neurone Disease (MND), and communicates by iPad with
a text-to-speech application. We paid due reverence to the
unknown conductor, raised the seats on our powerchairs
to the height limit, inclined the seats and waited for what
astronomers said would be a “mind-bending performance.”
That was to prove a gross understatement.
Captured by the wonder of it all, there was adequate time
for inner contemplation as Earth’s shadow glided across the
moon, blocking out the light from the sun. When the shadow
completely engulfed the moon, the beautiful colour of totality
formed, producing a blood-red Moon to ponder over.
The principles of celestial mechanics did not cause Janet and
me to spend hours watching the heavens in quiet contemplation
and amazement. Having a neurological disease, such as MND
and MS, can cause amenable people to think of the meaning
of life, the mysterious, and enjoy this cosmic experience which
stimulates the intellect, in a religious sense.
continued over
INSIDE | AUTUMN 2018
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 3-4
FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO 5
A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER –
MEMBER SERVICES 6
BOOK REVIEW: MAGGIE’S RECIPE FOR LIFE 7
MS RESEARCH ROUND UP 8-10
BRAIN HEALTH AND MS 11
THE BENEFITS OF PEER SUPPORT 11
EXPRESSIVE WRITING 12
MY WIFE HAS MS 13
SOUND AND COGNITION 14
BALANCE THERAPY TRIAL 15
MSWA MEMBER ALMA-JEAN IS ALL SMILES IN PINJARRA 16
COMMUNICATING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: WHAT’S NEW? 17
THE NDIS AND ME 18
NDIS UPDATE 19
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT NEWS 20
RESILIENCE – THE HEALTHY BRAIN 21
THE DAY I CHANGED MY MIND 22
THAT’S LIFE WITH NARELLE 23
CARERS’ SUPPORT GROUP CHRISTMAS BBQ 23
VOLUNTEER UPDATE 24
BEECHBORO OUTREACH GROUP 25
NORTHAM SUPPORT GROUP 25
ALBANY OUTREACH NEWS 26
SOUTHSIDE OUTREACH NEWS 26
2018 EVENTS CALENDER 27
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 3

Janet was a year seven school teacher before her diagnosis
in 2011, and her ability to verbalise was her first loss. Janet
is doing well by what can be expected and makes every post
a winner.
After my diagnosis in 1979 and requalifying as an Historian
in 1983, I spent the next 32 years teaching at Murdoch
University, and it seems to me that the most important
function of teaching art and science is to arouse and keep
alive this feeling of a cosmic experience in those people who
are receptive. It was ‘high-fives’ after the moon emerged to
continue on her cosmic journey, so I’m sure Janet agrees.
Do people with a chronical neurological illness acquire a
new insightfulness? I believe we do. Even with these nasty
neurological pieces of work attacking our bodies we are
continually trying to heal ourselves. Thankfully we are not
alone as we look for ways to patch things up, revitalise our
spirits and prepare our minds for the challenges our condition
will impose upon us.
In this issue of your Bulletin, Marcus discusses the NDIS,
the construction of the new Butler facility, and the staff long
service awards.
Sue Shapland talks about ‘change’, the renovations taking
place at MSWA, and why. There are several new Outreach
centres being established, and more planned with funds set
aside in the forward estimates. Sue’s concentrated Roundup
of MS Research follows. Sue has also found time to review
Maggie Beer’s latest book of recipes for dietary changes
that have the potential to help ward off chronic conditions
and Alzheimer’s.
Everyone needs a little help, and in this issue, Sarah Lorrimar,
Coordinator of Health Education and Peer Support, has
organised several articles from our busy counsellors on
brain health, brain therapy, sound and cognition, and how
writing can enhance personal growth by creating a sense of
empowerment and control.
Nigel Carey updates us on the NDIS rollout and Ros Harman
tells you what it is like to be swept up in the procedures of
the NDIS.
You will find that our regular contributor’s Ros Harman and
Narelle Taylor have returned for 2018. We also have a special
article from Carl Marche, a carer with a refreshing outlook.
We definitely want to hear more from the unsung heroes – the
carers of people with multiple sclerosis
The effervescent Dawn Burke tells us all about her
volunteers and the outreach news completes the suite.
Thank you for your contributions, keep them coming,
and on behalf of the team here at the Bulletin treadmill,
we hope you enjoy this remarkably informative stunning
blood-red super-blue-moon special Bulletin.
Do you want to receive
the Bulletin online?
Want monthly
information updates?
Register your email address today to start receiving our
monthly Vitality e-newsletter and the Bulletin magazine online.
Just email damien.hill@mswa.org.au or call 9365 4814
and let us know your current email address.
4 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO
MARCUS STAFFORD
“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”
Alan Cohen
In many respects this quote defines effective organisations.
Our world is so fast-paced, that waiting for perfection would
be an exercise in futility! We are very conscious of this at
MSWA and understand that the sensible management of
today’s risks creates tomorrow’s environment.
Towards the end of 2017, the State Government made the
important and long-awaited decision regarding the National
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Western Australia. We
now have clarity regarding the future, and WA will join the
federally funded NDIS from 1 July 2018.
Although we were clear about the model that we felt offered
best fit for people with disabilities in WA, our approach at
MSWA is - and always has been - to support either decision
wholeheartedly, and to do everything within our power to
make it work. Our charter to serve Members and Clients as
the Scheme rolls out across Western Australia made that
a critical principle. By 2020, all areas of WA will be part of
the NDIS.
People already in the Western Australian Scheme (WANDIS)
will continue to receive services and will be fully transitioned
into the National Scheme. I am pleased that MSWA is an
approved NDIS service provider and we welcome new,
eligible participants. We never forget that it is our Members
and Clients who live with their neurological condition every
day, and our goal is to help them with the path they choose,
and to ensure they are maximising their benefits.
I’m pleased to share that we have commenced construction
of the new MSWA Supported Accommodation and Services
Facility, in the northern suburbs of Perth. The $8 million
facility in Butler will include a services hub – a one-stop shop
for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological
conditions, as well as a high support accommodation facility.
Residents will have their own self-contained unit, set within
a safe environment, that includes onsite 24-hour, 7-day-aweek
care for younger people who may have otherwise had
to face the frightening possibility of living in an aged-care
facility. With a decent following breeze and a normal winter
that doesn’t hold up the build, we believe that the welcome
mat will be laid out for Members and Clients in early 2019.
This facility could not have been built without the strong
foundations of our ongoing commercial activities and financial
success. Neither would we have achieved our continued
growth in Member and Client services, nor our leadership
position as the largest funder of MS research in Australia.
With that in mind, and with three quarters of the budget year
behind us, we are keen to finish well. I am pleased to report
that our financials are strong on profit and loss for current
trading, cashflow for operation, and in our balance sheet that
safeguards our future.
The results are in for the MSWA Albany Swim and the inaugural
Albany Ride, which saw over 300 participants come together
to support the South West community, raising tremendous
funds for people with MS and other neurological conditions.
Congratulations and thank you for your continued support.
Our 700+ staff do a brilliant job and I am constantly proud
of their dedication and performance. Some are ‘newbies’,
bringing fresh ideas and thinking. Others are seasoned
campaigners bringing history and experience to the play. All
are valued. As MSWA secures its position as an employer
of choice, it is very pleasing to note that 14 staff will be
receiving long service awards in the forthcoming ceremony,
celebrating their personal milestones, ranging from 10 to 25
years’ service.
What’s coming up? World MS Day Wednesday, 30 May is fast
approaching and MSWA will once again be providing lots of
opportunities for involvement. Plus, our annual Step Up For
MSWA (the stair-climb of Perth’s tallest building) is in June.
Stay tuned.
And so, our approach will remain. To continue to work
hard as we create those new beginnings, and in turn,
strive for ‘perfection’ for our Members and Clients.
Until next time.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 5

A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
– MEMBER SERVICES
SUE SHAPLAND RN, BN
“Great things never came from comfort zones.” Ben Francia
Welcome to 2018, although its already speeding by! I hope this
year brings us all good health, success, and an opportunity to
enjoy the people and things that are meaningful to us.
Comfort zones feel like that happy place where we are on
familiar ground and generally know how things will go and
turn out. Change challenges our comfort zones, often in a good
way, and allows us to think about new opportunities, review
how things have always been done, make improvements and
set new goals. Of course, uncertainty makes this process a
bit more challenging, however being proactive and embracing
change will help you along your journey.
There has been ongoing change in the Community and
Disability sectors for the last five years at least. The birth of the
concept of a national scheme, the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS), to improve equity of access to funding for
people affected by disability, has been welcomed by all.
As you know WA has been trialling two versions of the Scheme.
Whilst they had some differences, based on pre-existing
Disability Services Commission advances, they both seek
to deliver more timely access to funding for reasonable and
necessary supports, and give the individual choice and control
over how their funding is used and who provides their services.
Initially, it appeared that we would go ahead with the State
version, however, this decision was under review and in
December we heard that the State Government decided
that WA would now be joining the Federal Scheme. So, after
months of speculation and uncertainty we now have the way
forward. Fortunately, MSWA has not sat back and waited for
a decision, we have continued to plan for our future and get
on with business as usual.
We are very fortunate, through hard work and sound
governance, to have the resources available to us to meet
these challenges and opportunities, to continue to expand
our location footprint, to have our dreams and then see them
come to life.
As you will have heard we are now open in Joondalup,
replacing MSWA Wangara. Our new Butler facility is well and
truly underway and on track for finishing early 2019 - a large
services hub and ten high support accommodation units. We
now have a presence in Mandurah! A leased premise has been
fitted out to provide a services hub for our Members and NDIS
Clients in the region. This is great news and staff now have a
base bringing them closer for home visits. Busselton is next in
our sights, once again fitting out a leased premise to provide a
services hub, bringing our staff together and providing a gym!
I recently visited Albany for a Members Forum and the group
is getting quite excited about our plans to build high support
accommodation in the area. They are also eagerly awaiting
their turn to roll into the NDIS in 2020.
We are also currently undergoing a refit at Wilson. This will
see the physio gym and massage room expanded but will also
provide additional, much needed staff desks. Our staffing
has grown radically to match increased demand under the
NDIS and we have been quite cramped. This fit out will see a
great improvement in the surrounds. Of course, home renos
are never easy and we have had to relocate staff within and
outside of the building, and the Outreach Group has relocated
to Como temporarily. But with our ‘eyes on the prize’ we are
keen to get through the next few months, so we can get back
to normality.
Courtesy of our generous event supporters we continue to
provide essential equipment to benefit people with other
neurological conditions in our local hospitals. Participants
can nominate what condition they choose to support and it’s
our great pleasure to approach the hospitals to see what they
have on their wish lists!
As we face this year of great change and even greater
opportunities, please remember that our Member Services
staff are here to help. Whether it’s information about the
latest research and treatments or you want to chat with one
of the health team about your symptoms or challenges, we
can help you navigate your way through the mountains of
information, much of which isn’t necessarily accurate. Just
telephone 9365 4888 or email get-in-touch@mswa.org.au
The monthly Vitality e-newsletter also has updates on the
various programs and forums that may be of interest.
If you would like to know more about the NDIS, see Nigel’s
update in this addition. We will be contacting Members in the
July roll out areas by letter and arranging local information
sessions and pre-planning advice. These are great ways to
enhance your knowledge about the NDIS and maximise your
opportunity during planning.
Our annual MS Awareness Week Members Forum will be held
in the first week of June and we will confirm the date and
location very soon.
We hope you enjoy this Bulletin. Our staff and contributing
Members have provided some great articles and stories
for your information and enjoyment.
6 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

BOOK REVIEW
MAGGIE’S RECIPE FOR LIFE
MAGGIE BEER AND PROFESSOR RALPH MARTINS
SUE SHAPLAND RN, BN
I must admit I am a huge Maggie Beer fan. I enjoy her TV
shows, love her recipes and foodstuffs and have been lucky
enough to visit her farm in SA, where I even participated in
a food preparation demonstration! That’s my claim to fame. I
sautéed mushrooms on her TV set in front of a group of other
diehard fans and had my first introduction to verjuice! And I
bought an apron to prove it.
Last year I was lucky enough to buy tickets to the Perth
book launch for Maggie’s Recipe for Life, attended by Maggie
and WA’s Professor Ralph Martins - a leading Alzheimer’s
researcher. Accompanied by my bemused youngest daughter
we sat through an entertaining and educational session in
a Q&A-style forum and bought our books which were then
signed by both authors.
Maggie and Ralph had met at their Australian of The Year
ceremony and got chatting about the benefits of healthy
eating and ageing, and the potential for dietary changes to
help ward off chronic diseases and Alzheimer’s.
This book not only contains the scientific information and
evidence around positive diet influences, but also a range of
healthy recipes and hints. It’s full of lovely photos too.
Professor Martins says that more than one million Australians
and their families are affected by Alzheimer’s, and recent
research has shown healthy eating, regular aerobic exercise
and plenty of mental stimulation can help reduce the risk of
developing the disease.
He added ‘lifestyle’ diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high
blood pressure or heart disease can increase our chances of
developing brain damage in the future. But he said a diet rich
in fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, dairy foods, healthy fats
and whole grains can help fight cognitive decline. “You have
the power to give yourself the very best chance of a healthy
future,” Professor Martins said.
Maggie, who is passionate about promoting good food for
aged-care residents commented, “to reach a healthy old age
you must act now, whether you are 30 or 50. I have been
delighted to work with Professor Ralph Martins and I have
learned that if we are to avoid Alzheimer’s and other lifestyle
diseases, it is what we eat today that matters.”
I found it reassuring that extra dietary research evidence was
discussed and is still being gathered regarding brain health
and MS, of course. There was an overlap of advice regarding
fish oils and Vitamin D and it was great to hear that a healthy
balanced diet benefits all.
MSWA Research Fellowship recipient, Dr Lucinda Black, is
adding to this body of evidence and sharing findings with our
Members at various forums.
The proceeds from Recipe for Life are shared between
the Maggie Beer Foundation and the Lions Alzheimer’s
Research Foundation.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 7

MS RESEARCH ROUND UP
SHARING RESEARCH UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
SUE SHAPLAND RN, BN
WA based and MSWA supported MS research:
The PhoCIS Study, Professor Prue Hart
This WA based study, partly funded by MSWA, seeks to
identify if treating people who have had an isolated attack of
MS (termed CIS), using UVB narrow band light therapy, can
reduce the risk of conversion to MS.
Conducted by WA scientists at the Telethon Kids Institute, this
project has shown some very promising results, so much so
that MS researchers in Scotland would like to replicate the
study there.
The theory is that sun exposure suppresses the immune
system and that the UVB induces synthesis of Vitamin D and
other molecules, which positively affect the immune system.
In this study UVB narrow band phototherapy is given for
CIS within 3 months of the attack. All participants receive
Vitamin D supplements initially, and then half cease Vitamin D
supplementation and receive UVB treatment, whilst the other
half continue both Vitamin D supplements and UVB.
The researchers are analysing the results but also exploring
possible blood markers that may potentially help predict the
time to relapse.
Dietary Factors and MS
Increasingly, there is a body of evidence that diet affects
immune function and plays a part in chronic inflammation and
the development of a number of chronic conditions.
We know that antioxidants neutralise the free radicals
produced in inflammation and there are many people with
MS who modify their diet after diagnosis.
Until now, there have been several exclusion diets that claim to
cure MS and other conditions but overall there has been a lack
of scientific evidence to support any of these interventions,
some of which have caused other health issues.
Thankfully, we are now seeing greater interest in trying
to identify dietary recommendations with some level of
confidence.
Local clinician, researcher, and WA Australian of the Year,
Professor Ralph Martins AO, has recently appeared in the news
regarding dietary recommendations that can potentially reduce
the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by approximately 12%.
Some of his work has application across other disease groups
and supports Brain Health initiatives and adds to the weight
of evidence. Read about some of his work at https://particle.
scitech.org.au/food/warding-off-alzheimers-through-goodfood/
Dr Lucinda Black, MSWA funded researcher at Curtin
University is continuing her work analysing information and
results obtained through two large MS studies, one in the
USA and one in Australia. Lucinda is keen to identify if dietary
habits can influence causation of MS and, in the longer term,
if dietary changes can influence MS symptoms.
From MS Research Australia:
Understanding the male vs female difference
https://msra.org.au/news/males-vs-female-great-ms-divide/
Summarising research published in the USA, it is
acknowledged that women are 70% more likely to develop
autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematous
(SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and MS, whereas infections can
cause more serious illness in men.
Researchers feel that sex hormones, including estrogen and
testosterone, clearly influence disease susceptibility, but the
mechanism has remained unexplained.
While most studies have focused on what causes the
damaging inflammation in females, they believe there is much
to be learned by studying the factors that confer protection to
males.
Using a mouse model of MS, EAE, they identified a
testosterone-driven pathway mediated by IL-33, which is a
chemical that helps the cells of the immune system signal to
one another.
It is thought that these results may possibly help explain why
females are more likely to have an autoimmune type response
than males. It may also help explain males’ susceptibility to
developing MS, which increases as they age, and as their
levels of testosterone fall.
This research could have implications for the development of
therapies in the future.
8 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

Read more at:
mswa.org.au/researchupdate
From the UK MS Trust:
https://www.mstrust.org.uk/research/research-updates
Diet quality is associated with disability and symptom
severity in multiple sclerosis.
This North American study sought to assess the association
between diet quality and intake of specific foods with disability
and symptom severity in people with MS.
The study analysed dietary information surveys from 7,639
(68%) responders, of whom 6,989 had physician-diagnosed
MS. Results suggested that those with higher quality diet
scores had lower levels of disability, lower reported depression
scores, and less severe fatigue and pain.
The researchers concluded that this large cross-sectional
survey suggested that a healthy diet and a composite healthy
lifestyle are associated with lower disability and symptom
burden in MS.
However, the results do not necessarily confirm that what you
eat has a direct impact on your MS symptoms. It has some
limitations as this was a one-off survey and it can’t shed
further light on whether people with healthy diets continue to
have lower levels of disability in the long term.
Therefore, it is important that there is further research to help
us to understand better the influence of a healthy lifestyle,
including a balanced diet.
Could textured insoles improve walking?
Sensory feedback plays an important role in controlling
balance, posture awareness, gait and overall mobility.
People with MS often have poor sensation on their soles – thus
wearing of insoles, with a bumpy surface, could increase sensory
feedback leading to improvements in balance and walking.
This investigation pooled the results of three earlier studies,
of 85 people with MS, which compared textured insoles with
smooth insoles.
Overall, the review concluded that textured insoles have no
effect on balance or walking. The researcher suggested that
sensory feedback from muscles and joints in the lower leg
and feedback from other senses such as vision, touch or the
semicircular canals of the inner ear may be more important in
maintaining balance and walking style.
As there were limitations, being only three small studies,
some Australian researchers are now recruiting 176 people
for a three-month trial to try to identify any benefits.
From MSIF
https://www.msif.org/news/2018/02/14/antidepressantdrug-may-treat-progressive-ms/
Antidepressant drug may treat Progressive MS
Funding is now allocated internationally to seek a better
understanding of progressive MS and to try to identify
potential treatments.
A group of Canadian scientists has screened 250 medications,
from 1040 potential treatments used in other diseases, as
potential therapies for progressive MS; this process identified
clomipramine as a potential therapy.
The idea was to identify if any of these drugs could influence
some of the underlying mechanisms of progressive MS.
‘Drug repurposing’ or ‘drug repositioning’, is where a known
drug is used to treat a different disease. The advantage of
this repurposing is that the drug has usually already passed
safety tests and thus could pass more quickly through the
necessary clinical trials and regulatory approval processes.
Next, the team tested the ability of these medications to
protect neurons against a range of damaging scenarios. From
this, they identified 14 medications that could protect neurons
and, after further testing, reduced this to four.
The next step was to identify whether these four medications
could influence certain immune cells that are involved in
progressive MS. This narrowed the list down to just one
medication: an antidepressant called clomipramine.
The research team were then able to take this promising drug
forward into the more complex and expensive experiments
required to assess whether clomipramine could slow disease
progression.
The scientists used mice with two different types of
progressive MS-like disease. In both models, clomipramine
was able to reduce the clinical severity of the disease,
including the reduction of disability progression. The results
suggested that this may be due to a reduction in the number
and activity of immune cells moving into the brain and spinal
cord. There was also less degeneration of nerve cells in the
animals treated with clomipramine.
continued over
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 9

This study is exciting in that not only has it identified a
possible medication that might be beneficial for people
with progressive forms of MS, but it has also demonstrated
a thorough and systematic approach that could be used to
screen other large panels of medications and identify drugs
that could be repurposed for progressive MS.
3D printing to help MS drug discovery
A group of North American scientists has used 3D printing to
create a model that could be used to aid MS drug discovery.
3D printed ‘axons’ have similar physical and mechanical
properties to the axons in the human brain. The scientists
can change the properties of the artificial axons, so they can
test and discover different aspects of myelination and mimic
both healthy and damaged axons.
In an article published in the journal ‘Nature’, it is reported
that the 3D printed axons have the potential to help scientists
make fundamental discoveries about the myelination process,
as well as assist with cheaply and rapidly screening large
panels of potential drugs before going into human trials.
This is exciting technology which continues to evolve and
improve.
Stem cells, regeneration and repair in MS
https://www.msif.org/research/stem-cells-regenerationand-repair-in-ms/
Most cells in the body carry out very specific roles and are
called specialised cells. Stem cells are different as they
have two unique features: the ability to make many copies
of themselves (self-renewal) and the ability to produce
specialised cells (differentiation).
Stem cell therapy is any treatment that uses or targets stem
cells. This is usually to help replace or repair damaged cells
or tissues but can also be used to prevent damage from
happening in the first place.
Researchers believe that stem cells may one day be used
to treat MS, but research into stem cells is still at the very
early stages and there are currently no approved stem cell
therapies for MS.
New guidelines, written by international MS researchers and
MS societies from around the world, spell out hope for the
future of MS stem cell research and debunk myths about
stem cell clinics which claim to cure MS.
• Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
(AHSCT)
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a type of adult stem cell
made in the bone marrow, which can produce the different
cells found in the blood. Although only trialled in a small
number of people so far, AHSCT has shown some success,
particularly in aggressive forms of MS.
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in many parts of
the body and are usually taken from bone marrow, skin and
fat tissue. They can produce many different types of cells,
including muscle and cartilage, and there is some evidence
to suggest they might help promote remyelination and have a
positive effect on the immune system.
Several pilot or small-scale studies have investigated the
safety of isolating, growing and re-injecting someone’s own
MSCs. These studies have highlighted a number of minor
side-effects and have revealed some promising early results.
More studies are underway, including one funded by MSIF.
Want to access research articles?
Here are the places you can access up to date research
articles relating to multiple sclerosis:
• Vitality – Our monthly research focussed e-newsletter
• Our website – https://mswa.org.au/news/latest-news
• Right here as part of your Member magazine Bulletin.
It includes great research articles and information every quarter.
Just email communications@mswa.org.au if you would like any further information.
10 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

BRAIN HEALTH
AND MS
SARAH LORRIMAR, MSWA COORDINATOR OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND PEER SUPPORT
The brain can compensate for changes caused by multiple
sclerosis (MS) lesions. It does this by adapting healthy areas
of the brain to take on new functions. The capacity for
the brain to do this is referred to as brain health or
neurological reserve.
People living with MS may experience some form of change in
cognitive function, however these changes are often mild and
can be referred to as a hidden symptom. A small percentage
of people with MS will experience significant changes in their
thinking abilities. Taking steps to maximise brain health can
help manage these changes, protecting against cognitive
decline, and helping to maintain a good quality of life.
Whatever your MS diagnosis, the following strategies can
be incorporated into your daily life and can contribute to
improving lifelong brain health.
Get Regular Sleep
Sleep helps restore the brain by flushing out toxins that build
up during waking hours. Sleep is also helpful for storing our
memories. A good goal is to aim for seven to eight hours
sleep per night.
Keep Active
Whatever is good for your heart is good for your brain! Physical
activity increases blood flow to the brain which helps with
growth of brain cells.
THE BENEFITS OF PEER SUPPORT
Peer support is the help and support which people living
with multiple sclerosis (MS) can provide one another. Having
an opportunity to connect and support others, who you can
identify with and share common concerns, has shown to
improve people’s ability to cope with the challenges of living
with MS. The unique benefit of peer support is that you can
access the perspectives and experiences of others who have
‘been there’ and understand where you are coming from.
Support groups provide an opportunity to understand your
diagnosis better and make positive changes to manage
symptoms and live well with MS. By providing a safe and
understanding space, support groups encourage you to
communicate openly about your experiences.
Having peers around you who understand what you are talking
about, and have likely been through something similar, allows
you to connect with others and create new friendships! By
reducing feelings of isolation, support groups often empower
people to be proactive in improving their health and wellbeing.
Challenge Your Brain
Your brain is a muscle, it needs exercise too! Challenging
the brain helps strengthen and build new brain cells. Learn
something new every day, pick up a book, take up a hobby, or
research something you’re interested in.
Rest and Relax
Fatigue can affect the way we think. When we are more alert,
we are able to manage our day to day lives better. Regular
rest and relaxation can help you achieve a clearer mind.
Socialise
Social activities that involve mental and physical stimulation,
like singing or team sports, benefit our brain health. Catch
up with family or friends or get to know your neighbours to
stimulate your brain!
Eat Well
A balanced diet benefits overall health and helps your brain
function properly. Enjoy a variety of foods and cut back on
processed foods and saturated fats. Foods rich in Omega-3
fatty acids are also recommended. Follow the Australian
Dietary Guidelines or liaise with your GP/Dietitian.
MSWA has developed some ‘postcards’ for our Members
which feature information on keeping your brain healthy.
If you would like a copy, or for any other queries, please
contact MSWA on 9365 4888.
They are also a great source of new information on things
such treatment and research updates.
At MSWA, there are a variety of face-to-face peer support
groups available. This includes groups for people living with
MS, carers and friends and family. There is also a private
online support group for people who are deemed low support
and/or newly diagnosed. It is also possible to access a
peer volunteer which involves one-on-one communication
via phone or email. As well as individual support, our peer
volunteers can be involved in sharing their story of MS at
sessions such as the newly diagnosed ‘meet and greet’.
Our peer volunteers are provided with training and
support. If you would like to get involved, either by
joining a new or existing support group or becoming a
peer support volunteer, please contact Sarah Lorrimar,
Coordinator of Health Education and Peer Support on
9365 4858 or Sarah.Lorrimar@mswa.org.au.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 11

EXPRESSIVE
WRITING
JEAN HUDSON, MSWA COUNSELLOR
I work as a Counsellor with MSWA and I am also a trained
Expressive Therapist.
Did you know that using a pen and paper can enhance personal
growth by creating a sense of empowerment and control?
Have you ever been feeling low, down in the dumps, stuck in
a rut, or a little stressed out? Of course, the answer to that
question will be ‘Yes’ for everyone.
We all experience difficult times along with good times, and
often struggle to find a happy equilibrium. For some, seeing
a counsellor can help. For those who are creative, drawing,
painting, listening to music, and dancing can help.
You don’t need to be artistic to write, you don’t even need to
be a prolific writer. All you need is a pen, a piece of paper, and
the motivation to write. It’s inexpensive and something you
can do at any time of the day.
Expressive writing is different from writing in a journal or
diary writing:
• Journal/diary writing is usually free form, where the
writer jots down whatever pops into their head, whereas
therapeutic writing is often based on prompts or exercises
• Journal/diary writing usually focuses on recording events
as they occurred whereas writing therapy focuses on
analysing the events and writing about the thoughts and
feelings that arise following the event
• Keeping a journal can be very helpful for the user as it;
improves memory, records important events and can
promote relaxation at the day’s end; writing about traumatic
or extremely stressful events can have a significant
healing effect
Some of the benefits of expressive writing:
• Several studies have shown the healing effects of writing:
people who undertook writing for 15 minutes, four days
in a row, following a traumatic experience, experienced
better health outcomes for up to four months later (Baikie
& Wilhelm, 2005)
• Expressive writing may improve immune system functioning
(Murray 2002)
• Regular expressive writing can help the writer find meaning
in their experiences, view things from a new perspective,
and see the silver linings in their most stressful or negative
experiences (Tartakovsky, 2015)
How to get started
You might be writing on your own and thinking of seeing a
counsellor or you may already be working with a counsellor,
he or she may be able to assist.
• Use whatever works best for you, whether it is a beautiful
journal or a cheap notebook
• Decorate and personalise it if you wish
• Set a goal to write for a certain amount of time each day
• Choose where you will write each day
• Follow the 5 steps to WRITE
W what do you want to write about? Name it
R review and reflect on it – close your eyes, take a few
deep breaths and focus
I investigate your thoughts and feelings. Start writing
and keep going – don’t worry about spelling or
punctuation
T time yourself – write 5 to 15 minutes without stopping
E exit by re-reading what you have written – reflect on it
and write one or two sentences.
It’s okay if you only manage a few words or if you write several
pages. Write as if no one else will read it and avoid writing
what you think people would like to read. You are writing
about the good, the bad and the ugly as you experience it.
You are writing to be honest, even if it is painful.
Here are some prompts if you get stuck….
• 100 things I love
• 100 things that make me sad
• 100 reasons to wake up in the morning
• My favourite way to spend the day is ….
• If I could talk to my teenage self, the one thing I would
say is...
• 30 things that make me smile
• I really wish others knew this about me
• Use 10 words to describe yourself
• Write a list of questions to which you urgently require
answers
• List all the things you are grateful for
“The truth knocks on the door and you say:
“go away, I’m looking for the truth, and so it goes away.”
Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Finally, write from the heart, tell yourself the truth, trust
the process – and enjoy!
12 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

MY WIFE HAS MS
CARL MARCHE
“How much do you weigh?” I asked.
It was an innocent question, but after 22 years of marriage
I should have known better when the look of impending
damnation came, as my wife slowly raised her head from the
book she was reading.
“Okay, how about this then….” as I proceeded cautiously,
“are you close to 49kg?”
“Why?” she said, in a long-guarded tone that implied I could
have been after the secret code to the nukes.
“It’s just that I have been reading about the Wife Carrying
World Championships held annually in Finland, and the rules
state that the minimum weight of the wife to be carried in the
race is 49kg. It looks like fun and I thought we could give it go.”
Not surprisingly there was silence and a slight shaking of the
head as she turned the page and continued to read her novel.
It was Melbourne Cup Day in 2005. We both sat together in
the waiting room of Royal Perth Hospital, brought there by a
bout of Optic Neuritis, pondering the cause of this illness that
had rudely interrupted our busy lives.
We assumed that after powering through the birth of 4
children, my wife’s previous complaints of fatigue, imbalance
and limb numbness were simply caused by the demands of
parenting. Loss of eyesight in one eye however, told us there
was something very wrong and had us thinking the worst.
The lovely neurologist who presided over us soon provided
the diagnosis: multiple sclerosis.
Since that time, I have lost count of the number of times I have
said to people, “My wife has MS”.
At first, and now looking back, the way I said it was more
about me than her. I was coming to terms with it! Yes, I felt
bad for her having to go through this, but talking about it to
others was really about working through how it would affect
me, and the uncertainties I had. How will this impact the kids,
what if she couldn’t work, how would we pay the bills, what
if we couldn’t travel and continue with the perfect life we had
planned? I was just the stereotypical man who really viewed
things initially from my perspective.
But now, I say “My wife has MS” to anyone who will listen, and
it is said with a massive amount of pride. No, I would not wish
MS on anyone and its chaotic and random decline is horrible,
but what I have learned on this journey with her, is what an
incredibly strong and amazingly resilient human she is.
The inner beauty and peace that attracted me to her many
years ago has risen to outshine the physical limitations that
she endures daily and her appreciation of the simple beauties
of life around her, despite the daily obstacles, is awe-inspiring.
MS has brought us together, closer than I think we would ever
have achieved without it.
“It’s only 13,000kms from Perth to Finland,” I said, “and this
sport is made for us” as I continued to read out aloud the first
four rules set by the International Wife Carrying Competition.
May I say, they seemed so relevant for many people partnered
on an MS-related journey.
RULE 1. The wife to be carried may be your own, or the
neighbor’s, or you may have found her further afield. Well we
don’t know in life, at times of need, who may carry us or for
whom we may be the carrier.
RULE 2. The length of the official track is 253.5 meters and
has two dry obstacles and a water obstacle about one metre
deep. Obstacles – talk to someone with MS and they will tell
you about obstacles. That is one area in which they have an
intimate knowledge. Obstacles, we step right over you, albeit
very slowly and carefully.
RULE 3. Each contestant takes care of his/her safety and all
participants must enjoy themselves. The way we battle every
day, take responsibility for, and even choose to be happy in
the face of MS is our individual choice.
RULE 4. The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is
49kgs but any higher weight is acceptable. As the load gets
heavier, we have no choice but to get stronger.
“We have never been overseas together, so this could be our
first trip now that the kids are getting older,” I said.
Whether it was just to humour me, or if she had a genuine
interest I am yet to determine, but she eventually said, “54kg”.
“GREAT!” I exclaimed. “That means you only have to lose 5kg
to get to the minimum weight, and being over 40, we qualify
for the ‘Seniors’ class of the competition.”
“Why the look? What did I say this time?”
Note: At the time of publication the author is yet to have
gained permission to lift his wife on to his shoulders, but
the enthusiasm is ever-present.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 13

SOUND AND
COGNITION
CHERRY CHAPMAN, MSWA COUNSELLOR
The ingredients of sound and cognition may appear to be
a foreign concept for many, however, it is one that I continue
to explore and navigate whilst studying for a Diploma in
Sound Healing.
Psychiatrist Bessel Van Der Kolk and Psychotherapist Babette
Rothschild both write in detail about how the body stores
adverse life events. Living with a chronic illness can have an
impact on the architecture within the brain, interfering with
the development and formation of neural pathways.
Recently, I was delighted to be invited to share my knowledge
on sound and cognition at the MSWA Stay in Focus Groups
in Padbury and Beechboro. Maintaining a healthy balanced
lifestyle is essential for individuals living with a chronic illness.
Studies have shown that additional stress and fatigue on the
body can lead to relapses, with some individuals experiencing
cognitive processing issues as a result.
Finding strategies and tools that reduce stress and fatigue
is important in maintaining physical, emotional and
psychological wellbeing. I have found that introducing sound
into my sessions at MSWA has provided a greater sense of
calm for some individuals.
I understand that this style doesn’t suit everyone – it requires
an openness and awareness on a holistic level. Creating a
peaceful and tranquil ambience at Beechboro did come with a
few challenges, however. Combining a guided body scan and
creating a harmonious ensemble from the Tibetan and crystal
bowls, Koshie chimes, ocean drum and rain stick, created
a whole-felt body experience appreciated by the groups
who participated.
I emphasised a deep sense of listening through the whole
body, beginning from the crown of your head down to your
toes. The vibrations from sound instruments balance cellular
energy, bringing greater harmony between the right and left
hemisphere of the brain, which reduces stress and encourages
a deeper sense of relaxation. Some of the comments from the
group included;
“Restorative and revitalising”, “Relaxing”, “Valuable” and
“Energising”.
Resources
• The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma
and Trauma Treatment - Babette Rothschild.
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the
healing of trauma – Bessel Van Der Kolk.
• https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/podcast/brain-podcasts/
how-you-can-use-sound-and-music-to-change-yourbrain-waves-with-laser-accuracy-and-achieve-hugefocus-and-performance-gains/
• https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/cognition-and-cognitivesymptoms
• https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/stayingsmart
• Evelyn Glennie: How to truly listen | TED Talk | TED.com
14 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

BALANCE THERAPY TRIAL
ENHANCING BALANCE AND GAIT IN PATIENTS
WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS – COMBINED USE OF
BALANCE TRAINING WITH NON-INVASIVE BRAIN
STIMULATION: A CLINICAL TRIAL.
Participation in this MSWA funded study now includes the option to receive
balance therapy, as part of the treatment phase of the trial, at MSWA Wilson.
Pre and post treatment assessments will be required at the
Perron Institute Clinic, Nedlands.
To participate in this study, you need to:
- Be over 18 years of age
- Have definite relapsing-remitting or a progressive form of MS
- Have mild to moderate balance impairment (including falls), though able to walk
- Walk 20+ meters with a walking aid
This study aims to evaluate whether combining non-invasive brain stimulation
(transcranial direct current stimulation – tDCS) with balance therapy will improve
mobility and independence among MS patients with balance and/or walking impairment.
If you are interested in participating in this study, you will attend twice a week sessions of balance therapy for
6 weeks (12 sessions, each about 90mins). Half of our group of participants will receive the brain stimulation (tDCS)
and half will receive sham brain stimulation prior to balance therapy.
To date there have been no adverse effects associated with tDCS.
If you would like to participate in this research or have any questions about the study you may contact:
Jesse Dixon or Jenny Eisenhauer at the Perron clinic on 6457 0207 or at jesse.dixon@health.wa.gov.au
or jenny.eisenhauer@perron.uwa.edu.au
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MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 15

MSWA MEMBER ALMA-JEAN
IS ALL SMILES IN PINJARRA
LARA RUSHTON, MSWA SPEECH PATHOLOGIST BUNBURY
Member Alma-Jean Crowley has been living with multiple
sclerosis for over thirty years and has never let her diagnosis
dampen her positive spirit. Last year, one simple question got
the ball rolling and Alma-Jean was introduced to some of the
services the MSWA speech pathology team provides.
As a former nurse, Alma-Jean noticed changes in her
swallowing and decided to email the MSWA speech pathology
team for some tips regarding travelling with dysphagia.
Alma-Jean was hoping to plan a train journey across Australia
and wasn’t sure how she would manage easily, thickening her
own drinks along the way. The MSWA speech therapist was
able to show her a range of single-serve premixed thickened
fluids which are ready to go and perfect for travel as they
don’t require any preparation.
After meeting Alma-Jean face to face, her softly spoken
voice lead to a referral to the Communication and Assistive
Technology Service (CATS) at Fiona Stanley hospital. She was
blown away by the different types of technology and services
available in 2018.
Since this visit, Alma-Jean has trialled an iPad with a textto-speech
application that ensures no one misses hearing
anything she has to say! The application offers a personal
word prediction engine with the option of several voices that
can be used to enhance voice output. It even has a cheeky
wolf whistle which is perfect for getting the attention of
Alma-Jean’s Committee Members when she is at her regular
community meetings.
“It is absolutely amazing as to what can be done today with
people living with MS… the mind boggles! Even the drinks
that you have introduced me to have worked wonders, and all
one must do is simply ask you experts. One happy customer.”
Alma-Jean, we hope we helped you with some tips and
tools that will help you plan your trip and are looking
forward to seeing some of your happy snaps!
16 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

COMMUNICATING THROUGH
TECHNOLOGY: WHAT’S NEW?
LUCY STROM, MSWA SPEECH PATHOLOGIST
Some people with multiple sclerosis and other neurological
conditions find it difficult using Smartphones to text or surf the
internet because these devices are becoming smaller every
year. And with that, the keyboards are becoming smaller and
harder to use too. These smaller keyboards are particularly
hard to use for people with limited hand mobility, decreased
sensation in their fingers or those who experience chorea (an
uncontrolled movement).
Some people simply have large fingers that press three buttons
at once, instead of the one that they want to press! If you are
one of these people, don’t worry. There are some exciting
new (and free) iOS applications (Apps) and wireless devices
out at the moment that are helping people communicate
through technology!
AntzFree - Use your head!
AntzFree is a fantastic new free iOS App that uses your front
facing camera to follow your head movements like a mouse
(hands free). So far, the device includes a keyboard that
allows text to speech, but developers hope to include Twitter
and games in the future!
Vysor
Vysor is a Chrome mirroring App that displays your Smartphone
on your computer or laptop. This App is great for people who
have difficulty using small phones or tablet keyboards. Once
your phone is wirelessly connected to your computer you can
use your larger computer keyboard and mouse to send text
messages, surf the internet, check your bank accounts or
update your Facebook status. The Vysor App does cost about
$2.50 a month, so make sure that it is appropriate for you.
Wireless keyboards
Wireless keyboards are a great way to attach a larger surface
to your Smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth. There is a
wide range of wireless keyboards available, ranging from $10
at Kmart to $120 Logitech keyboards. I would suggest going
to your nearest Officeworks or JB HI-FI to look through their
options. These stores will let you try the device before you
buy it, so make sure that your Bluetooth connection on your
phone is working before you purchase anything.
Text to speech or speech to text?
Did you know that there are several iPhone and Android
applications (Apps) that you can use to communicate more
effectively? Some of these Apps create speech from text and
others create text from speech... Are you still with me?
Let’s start with Apps that convert text to speech. To use
these Apps, you simply type what you want to say into your
smartphone or tablet, click ‘speak’ and the App will talk for
you! These Apps are particularly helpful for people who have
quiet voices or difficulty talking. Listed below are some Apps
that convert text to speech:
• ClaroCom
• Text To Speech
• SayIt
• Speak4Me
• Predictable
• Speak My Words - Text to Speech
Just to confuse you, there are some Apps that work the other
way around, so they turn your speech into text when you
speak into your device. These Apps are great for people on
the go who want to quickly send text messages or emails but
don’t have time to sit down and type out a message.
One example of this is using ‘Siri’ on your iPhone. If you have
an iPhone, Siri is a great way to search the internet quickly,
send text messages, check the weather and make calls
without having to touch your telephone! Some Apps that turn
speech into text include:
• Dragon Dictation
• Speech to Text Dictate Message
• Transcribe - Speech to Text
• iSpeech - Speech to Text
If you are interested in using any of the new technology
mentioned in this article please contact one of our
Speech Pathologists on 9365 4888, or feel free to come
down to the Speech Pathology office at Wilson for a free
trial on one of our iPads.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 17

THE NDIS AND ME
ROS HARMAN, MSWA MEMBER
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been in
the news for about four years now. It’s new! It’s going to be
great! It will transform the lives of people with disabilities! It’s
going to be too expensive! There are going to be problems!
The Prime Minister kissed another baby! Blah, blah, blah.
For the average pleb like me, the news has become confusing
and boring.
But the NDIS is coming to me, in July this year. A few weeks ago
I was contacted by a Local Coordinator from the Department
of Communities to start the process of developing my very
own individual NDIS Plan. She came over one day and took
notes as she asked me about my life. She wanted me to think
about everything I do now, or want to do, and what help I
might need to make it happen.
We discussed the services I am already receiving from MSWA
like physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and the art and
craft group I attend. I also mentioned the home care service
I receive and the gardeners, the taxi subsidies, continence
aids and advice, and maintenance of my mobility equipment.
I have also discovered that all these services can be provided
or coordinated by MSWA. It will be great to have everything
provided by them, an organisation I know and trust. And as
part of my plan all of these things will be funded by the NDIS.
We also discussed some things I would like to do if I had
support. I would like to go out sometimes to movies, or the
theatre or exhibitions, but I have some anxiety about going
alone. I would also like to travel interstate to visit my daughter
and sister, or to my old home town, Albany. Currently, if I do
these things I need to rely on the goodwill of my sisters or
friends, and their availability. With funding from the NDIS, I
will be able to pay a support worker to accompany me at a
time of my own choosing.
Not long after this visit, I received a draft copy of my plan. I
noticed that I was feeling some anxiety at this stage, worrying
about whether I had got it right. Had I included everything?
What if I needed something else in the future? Would I be
able to change things? I took the plan to the NDIS team at
MSWA to check it out. The team member was very helpful
and identified a couple of improvements that could be made.
She became my advocate in the NDIS process and contacted
the Local Coordinator to see that the suggestions were
included. Knowing this, I felt a great weight lifted off my
shoulders. She did tell me that this team of NDIS support at
MSWA is there specifically to help Members with their NDIS
process, preparing their plan and making sure they get the
best outcome for them. In fact I could have had them there at
the initial meeting with the NDIS Local Coordinator.
One of the important messages of the NDIS is that it is about
giving people with disabilities a choice. I have always been
happy with MSWA’s support and fortunately it is well placed
to provide many services. As I continue on my journey, with
the possibility of increasing disability over time, MSWA will be
my first choice as service provider.
Change is scary. I’m happy with the way things are now.
But change is coming anyway, and I am glad to have help
as I negotiate my way through it.
18 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

NDIS UPDATE
NIGEL CAREY, MSWA MANAGER NDIS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
WA goes with the Federal model of the NDIS!
We had all been waiting several months for the final decision
to be made on whether WA would be adopting the Federal
model of the NDIS or a State model of the NDIS.
In mid-December the decision was finally made: WA is
adopting the Federal model.
MSWA has successfully worked across both the NDIS and WA
NDIS trial sites and we have many Clients in both Schemes.
We are therefore enthusiastically looking forward to this great
opportunity!
We are primarily relieved that a decision has finally been made
and the sector can now move forward with greater certainty.
From our Members’ point of view there is very little difference
between the two Schemes.
The models are underpinned by the same philosophy of
‘choice and control’ and the benefits of both Schemes are
very similar, so the impact on Clients will be minimal.
So, what are the next steps?
Clients with a current WA NDIS plan will receive a letter
informing them of their transfer to the NDIS.
The dates of the transfer are as follows:
April – July: WA NDIS Clients living in Perth Hills, Bayswater,
Bassendean, Chittering, Northam, Toodyay and York will be
asked to transfer to the NDIS
July – November: WA NDIS Clients living in Rockingham,
Mandurah, Armadale, Murray and Serpentine-Jarrahdale will
be asked to transfer to the NDIS
August – October: WA NDIS Clients living in Cockburn and
Kwinana will be asked to transfer to the NDIS
September – December: WA NDIS Clients living in the lower
South West will be asked to transfer to the NDIS
The NDIS team at MSWA would be happy to help you better
understand what this means and to guide you further on the
process when you receive your letter.
This year the NDIS will also be launched for the first time in
the following new areas:
July 1st
• East Fremantle
• Fremantle
• Melville
• South Perth
October 1st
• Joondalup
• Wanneroo
• Bunbury
• Capel
• Dardanup
• Harvey
• Waroona
The NDIS team will be organising a series of information
sessions to communicate how the NDIS can benefit you, and
to help with pre-planning.
Please don’t hesitate to contact MSWA’s NDIS team and we
will register you for an information session in a location which
is convenient for you.
Please also feel free to circulate this information to people
you know who have a neurological condition including stroke,
Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone
Disease and acquired Brain Injury; to name a few.
Please contact the NDIS team if you have any questions
or if you require further information.
Our NDIS team members are:
Christine Richards: Client Relationship Coordinator
Email: christine.richards@mswa.org.au
Phone: 9365 4867
Pranjal Pawar: Client Relationship Coordinator
Email: pranjal.pawar@mswa.org.au
Phone: 9365 4810
Annabel Vasquez: Client Relationship Coordinator
Email: annabel.vasquez@mswa.org.au
Phone: 9365 4806
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 19

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
DEPARTMENT NEWS
ROSEMARIE DRAVNIEKS, MSWA OT MANAGER
Curtin University Award
The MSWA Occupational Therapy department was pleased
to receive an award on Tuesday, 13 February at the Curtin
University prize giving ceremony. The award, in the category
of Speech and Social Work, was for organisational excellence
in student supervision. It was a welcome recognition for our
OT department staff, particularly the student supervisors who
worked hard to give the OT students, both in the metro and in
the South West area, a good learning experience.
Sally Hunter, Curtin University Student Placement Coordinator, presenting
award to Rosemarie Dravnieks, MSWA OT Manager and Jess Dinsdale,
MSWA Senior OT .
New Member Support for MS Fatigue Management
Fatigue is the most common and disabling, yet invisible,
symptom experienced by most people with MS and it affects
all spheres of their lives. MSWA has recently sourced, and
begun offering, the MS Energise App to assist with education
for our Members in strategies for dealing with their fatigue. We
are pleased to offer a subsidy for our Members to assist with
the cost of the App which is available on the Apple App Store.
Behaviour. Thoughts. Emotions. Body. Environment.
The MS Energise App can help you manage your fatigue
better. It consists of seven modules, each with a section in
which you will learn some new information, a section in which
you will interact with this new knowledge, and a section in
which you will apply what you have learnt.
MS Energise provides a comprehensive coverage of multiple
factors that contribute to MS-related fatigue. In MS Energise,
we discuss the differences between fatigue and just being
tired, and look at the way that behaviour, thoughts, emotions,
bodily factors, and the environment around us can all
contribute to fatigue. Finally, when you’re making effective
use of the many self-management techniques in MS Energise,
we look at how to maintain these skills into the future.
As you work through the content, each module contains
information to learn, ways to interact with these ideas, and
tools to apply them in your day-to-day life.
The App costs $20 to download the full program, and
MSWA is covering this cost for our Members. The program
uses a clinically proven approach to help people with MS to
maximise their energy. It is currently not available in Android
form. Please contact the Occupational Therapy department
on 9365 4804 if you would like more information. We are
also keen to have feedback on the App and how it has helped
those who have used it.
OT Department staffing changes
We have sadly said goodbye to a couple of colleagues who
have been with MSWA for a few years, Russell Hulme, who
has gone to pursue medical studies, and Taneeka Bettenay
who has moved to NSW. However, we have also been
fortunate to welcome several new staff to the OT team; both
in the metropolitan area and in the South West. Some are
former OT students of ours who have now graduated as OTs
and some are experienced therapists joining us from other
organisations.
Donation Funded Equipment Purchases
Because of the very successful and ongoing fundraising
efforts of our MSWA events and fundraising staff, such as the
Ocean Ride and Step Up 2017, we have been able to purchase
several pieces of equipment for our loan pool, to benefit
both MSWA Members and people with other neurological
conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s
Disease and Motor Neurone Disease.
These have included several different hoists with associated
slings, ramps and other smaller equipment.
We have also recently purchased a MOTOmed bike for people
with Parkinson’s and a wheelchair for stroke survivors, which
was gifted to Osborne Park Hospital. This is in addition to
equipment purchased and handed over to SCGH and Fiona
Stanley Hospitals. The hospitals are always very grateful
for these donations of equipment that benefit many and are
made possible through allocations by generous participants
at our events.
20 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

RESILIENCE –
THE HEALTHY BRAIN
MICHAELA MUNDY, MSWA COUNSELLOR & CERTIFIED NEUROPSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTITIONER
As a Neuropsychotherapy Practitioner I work from a brainbased,
holistic and integrated approach. We acknowledge that
the brain has influence over our entire body and is essential
for us to function in our everyday life. When the brain gets
what it needs, it’s ready to repair, maintain and even change
(re-wire). Not only does this improve our wellness but also the
brain’s capacity to create new pathways (neurogenesis) and
rewire (neuroplasticity). These actions enhance our resilience
by enabling change and allowing us to cope with life’s many
adversities.
So, what do we need to maximise our brain wellness and
enhance our resilience? Think of our resilience as a colosseum
– the pillars that hold up the roof are sleep, nutrition, exercise
and social connectedness. These pillars are essential for
our brain health and therefore our capacity to be resilient to
everything that life throws at us. Each pillar is as important as
the other and each needs to be well maintained. If not cared for,
these pillars can crack, leaving a fragile and unstable structure.
Imagine a stressful life event like a storm. The pillars struggle
and the roof becomes unstable. It might crack or even fall to the
ground, but if the pillars are maintained and cared for, the roof
has a stable foundation that supports it when the storm hits. If
we take care of our pillars, we enhance our capacity to cope
and even thrive during the most challenging times.
The good news is that we can influence this. There are small
things we can do which have a significant influence on our
brain health and increase our capacity to bounce back from
adversity and to thrive rather than survive. The challenge is
motivating ourselves to do it. There are not always immediate
rewards and in fact it can often feel uncomfortable and like
hard work. A desire to develop healthy habits around sleep,
nutrition, exercise and social connectedness is not new to us,
but the impact it has on the physical wellness of our brain and
our resilience has been underestimated.
Sleep
It is generally agreed upon that sleep is one of the vital
ingredients for physical and mental wellness. REM (rapid eye
movement, also known as dream sleep) is important for the
connection and communication between our Smart (complex
thinking) brain and our Impulsive (primitive) brain. During
Non-REM (deep slow wave) sleep a chemical is released in
our brain (BDNF) that is necessary for our brain to rewire and
regenerate, a process that is vital for our capacity for wellness
and resilience. Good sleep hygiene is essential.
Exercise
We have always been told exercise is good for our heart, but
the benefits of regular activity/exercise are just as important
for our brain wellness. We are not talking about marathons or
endorphins. Manageable aerobic exercise has also been shown
to release chemicals that reduce cortisol (stress hormone)
and other chemicals (BDNF, serotonin and dopamine) which
improve mood without side effects. Exercise has also been
shown to improve learning and memory.
Nutrition
We often think of nutrition in relation to weight loss or
management of a medical condition, however, there is
increasing research that shows healthy eating patterns
significantly enhance our brain’s plasticity and wellness.
Social connectedness
Just as we have a basic need for food and shelter, we also have
the need to belong and form relationships. When we experience
these interactions, it has a positive physical action on our brain,
from a simple ‘hello’ with the shop assistant to going out with
a group of friends.
There may be times when our resilience is challenged to the
extent that we feel overwhelmed and do not know where to
begin. At MSWA, our counsellors and other MSWA team
members can support and help you with this. This support can
be face-to-face, via email, telephone or via a video conferencing
platform for those who find it difficult to access one of our
MSWA centres. If you would like to know more, please contact
Lisa Papas on 9365 4811.
References
Arden, J. B., & Linford, L. (2009). Brain-based therapy with
adults: evidence-based treatment for everyday practice. New
Jersey, USA: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Rousouw, P, (2014). Neuropsychotherapy. Mediros.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 21

THE DAY I
CHANGED MY MIND
ROS HARMAN, MSWA MEMBER
“I would try being a pessimist, but I just know I would be no
good at it.”
I’m a happy person, generally. I’m not always cheerful, but I
am reasonably content with my lot. Of course if I think for too
long, there are a few things I could whinge about, but I usually
try not to think for too long.
I could whinge about using a wheelchair to get around, but the
alternative is not to get around, so I don’t. I could whinge about
the difficulty of finding ACROD parking when I go out, but I’m
glad to be going out, so I don’t. I sometimes just park across
two normal parking bays instead and no one’s complained
yet, or at least not to my face. I’m actually looking forward
with glee to the day when they do, as I have an eloquent and
brilliant rant all ready to deliver.
I could whinge about buildings that don’t have wheelchair
access, but I don’t. Oh, hang on - yes I do, but that is perfectly
reasonable to whinge about so it doesn’t count.
I could whinge about having MS, and sometimes I do, but I’ve
got a life to live so I haven’t got energy for whinging too long.
Like most people, I want to be happy.
Recently I read about the difference between happiness and
pleasure. It has to do with the brain chemicals dopamine
and serotonin. When we have a hit of pleasure like sugar, or
alcohol, dopamine races around and excites a few neurons. If
the neurons get overly excited too often they die, so to protect
against that they down-regulate their dopamine receptors.
This means that the next time around, you will need an even
bigger hit of pleasure in order for the dopamine to work.
This is how addiction starts, including alcoholism, or drug
addiction and it doesn’t lead to lasting happiness. It usually
leads to misery and regret.
Serotonin, however, is the chemical that is activated during
activities that make us feel contentment, like sleep or exercise,
or in my case watching a Jane Austen film. It behaves
differently from dopamine. Serotonin slows the neurons down
instead of exciting them, and you end up feeling at peace with
the world, or feeling what we call happiness.
To me it sounds like serotonin is the Buddha of the brain,
and takes us into a contemplative zen-like state. Mind you,
chocolate does that for me too. Mmmm... chocolate ...
Once upon a time when I was a child, I used to think that
happiness was a five-cent bag of lollies and a teddy bear.
Actually, sometimes I still think that, though the price of the
lollies has gone up. As a teenager full of maudlin adolescent
sentimentality, I developed the weird idea that if I imagined
some situation that made me happy I had jinxed it, and it
would never happen. When I found myself daydreaming about
marrying Daryl Braithwaite from Sherbet as he sang about
Summer love, like no other love, I would slap myself because
I now knew that it was never going to happen. (Those of
you who were teenagers in the ‘70s will know what I mean).
Not allowing myself to imagine happy things meant that my
teenage years were often quite miserable.
As I got older, into young adulthood, I somehow developed
a belief that happiness was something that happened to me
like a lightning strike, or it didn’t, and that I had no control or
choice in the matter. As a consequence, I sometimes made
poor decisions and felt powerless.
One day, when I finally grew up and turned 40, I came across
the unique idea that I could have some choice about who I
wanted to be in life, and how I could think about things. One
day I worked out that the words I use to talk about myself
or others affect how I feel. One day I discovered that telling
someone you love them can make you fall in love with them.
One day I worked out that feeling bad or sad or mad or glad
was something I had a degree of control over.
That was the day I changed my mind.
Being happy is not always an automatic thing, and for me it’s
not always easy. Sometimes I really have to work hard to take
control of the way I am thinking, and consequently influence
the way I feel. Like physical exercise, I have found that the
more I practise, the better I get. Fortunately training the mind
doesn’t hurt as much as doing push-ups, although it can be
just as hard. There are lots of books around with advice on
how to do it, and therapists and counsellors who can help
too. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation and cognitive
behavioural therapy are all about taking control of your mind.
I also know that some people find it easier than others to
decide to be happy, for all sorts of reasons.
I want to be happy. I also like a hit of pleasure from time
to time but I have to limit the quantity. So today I’ll just
have one chocolate biscuit and one glass of wine. And to
feed my serotonin I’ll watch Pride and Prejudice... again.
22 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

THAT’S LIFE
WITH NARELLE
NARELLE TAYLOR, MSWA MEMBER
MSWA had arranged for me to go on a wheelchair-friendly boat
for a day, out of Fremantle Harbour, fishing, with a carer all
to myself. I was really looking forward to it. I nervously hoped
that even though I had never ever been seasick, I wouldn’t
end up being the one, that day, who the entire boating party
felt sorry for.
I tried to think of any seafaring skills I had assimilated by
having lived on board when I was younger, and MS-free, so
that I might be able to be of assistance to the crew. I’d not
only enjoy the day, but I’d also be a star. Oh, sure. In my
dreams I would.
It wasn’t the actual fishing that I really looked forward to.
When I was diagnosed with MS, I had moved from our boat to
live on-shore and I missed being on the water.
I was therefore exhilarated by the prospect of being at sea
again. Since my diagnosis I have been on a few sea cruises
and have comfortably made my way around the liner on my
scooter. It always felt just as if I were on land. Ocean cruise
liners are so big that one can forget about actually being
afloat and just become blasé about waking in a different port
each morning. On a smaller vessel, one hears the motor and
is conscious of the effort being made to travel any distance.
I was resolved to the fact and accepted, sadly, that I would
never again feel that oneness that you feel with the water,
when floating close to the surface. I was living a life in a
nursing home where I would never feel the salt spray on my
face, a life where I would never again rock with the swell of
the waves. So being on board that boat in Fremantle, with
wind in my hair, felt fabulous.
The ‘Fish Ability’ vessel, Top Gun, is 81m long which is large
enough for passengers in wheelchairs to feel safe, but small
enough to be comfortable leaning over the side when fishing.
People were doing that avidly and there were prizes given
for the first fish caught, the most fish caught, the largest
fish caught and so on. The anglers took it so seriously. I was
very happy just watching them fish. Baiting up, casting out,
winding in their catch, and then unhooking the poor little fish.
They wouldn’t have wanted to hear me chortling on about
how smelly it was. I get fed plenty of fish at my place so I had
no need to catch any myself. Really small ones were thrown
back and a volunteer deck person filleted the keepers which
were later offered – bagged and chilled – to all visitors as
we disembarked.
My selfish concern for my own freedom from seasickness
was bought home to me when my carer, Kelly, told me that
she was not feeling perfectly well. She stoically had lasted out
the day and drove me home as if she were perfectly well. I
made no provocative chatter about burly and our time on the
boat was not spent discussing death wishes. I admired her.
On board, there was a TV journalist and a cameraman who
interviewed me. When I saw the film clip on TV the next day,
I was mortified that my speech slurred so badly and thus
I now need to enlist the assistance of the Speech Therapist
at Wilson.
At least I hadn’t been fishing or seasick, so I smelt alright.
CARERS’ SUPPORT GROUP CHRISTMAS BBQ
As a Christmas celebration and a well-earned break for our
carers, MSWA held an end of year BBQ at Floreat Beach.
With lovely summer weather, 13 carers from the Carer Support
Groups enjoyed a tasty brunch provided by MSWA. Bonbons
and Christmas outfits added to the festive atmosphere,
whilst staff and carers enjoyed cooking together on the BBQ.
Brunch was followed by a delicious pavlova and, adding to
the Christmas spirit, one of the carers generously brought a
home-made Christmas cake and a secret Santa lucky dip!
If you are interested in joining our Carers’ Support Groups
please contact our Counselling Team on 9365 4888.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 23

VOLUNTEER
UPDATE
DAWN BURKE, MSWA COORDINATOR VOLUNTEERS
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2018. It’s great to be writing
to all of you in this Autumn Edition, and the first Bulletin for
the year.
This year brings many changes to the ever-evolving MSWA.
As many of you may be aware, Wilson will be having a
much-needed refurbishment starting in March. These
refurbishments have been in the planning stages for many
months, and by the time this Bulletin reaches you, they should
be in full swing.
With it will be some slight chaos, confusion and upheaval. As
with any major renovations this is inevitable, but if we trust in
the process and go with the flow, the result will be amazing!
Please remember it will be business as usual, with some
relocation of services within and out of Wilson. Please don’t
hesitate to ask questions. I would like to thank you for being
flexible during this process, which allows for a smoother
transition for all concerned.
Let’s recap on 2017. What have we been up to here at MSWA?
The Cove in Denmark is such a beautiful place to stay and
the owners are also willing to do what is necessary to help
the camps run smoothly. I tried a few new activities which
everyone participated in, some more reluctantly than others,
but a good time was had by all. I must say, what a creative
bunch the South West Members are!
Of course, following on from camp was our annual and best
party of the year, the MSWA Members, Volunteers and Staff
Christmas Party! We had a new venue this year, which was
very cosy and intimate at times. The acts as usual were superb.
I don’t usually like to pick a favourite, but I’m afraid this year
the ‘Nurses Act of Greek Fountains’ was hilarious and was
a step above the rest with a few dampening moments from
either the fountains or laughing too much. Take your pick!
Thanks again to all the staff and volunteers who helped plan
for and set up this event. Events such as this don’t happen on
their own and it takes many hands and many hours of hard
work to coordinate and organise everything. Many staff were
behind the scenes in organising this event, and I would like
to take this opportunity to thank Donna Hill, Nicola Ryan and
Giselle Martin for their part in organising things.
I know what you do to make this happen, and on behalf of our
volunteers, I wish to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
A quiet thank you to Kevin who volunteered to don a hot and
sweaty red suit – it wouldn’t be the same without you, and
your size eight boots. Special thanks to the marvellous QBE
staff who have provided volunteers for the last six or more
years to help at this party, and always with a smile.
So, what has been happening in 2018 so far? 2018 brings
with it new volunteers and others wanting to volunteer. I
always try to accommodate potential volunteers, but this isn’t
always possible.
At MSWA we are very blessed to have a dedicated group of
volunteers who have been with us for many years. It makes
life much easier for myself, Members, and staff, when we
retain the same volunteers and have little turnover. Thank you
for being loyal and dedicated to MSWA and to the community
of people that we serve. You are a testament to yourselves
and the volunteering industry at large. Give yourselves a pat
on the back, you deserve it.
To our newest volunteers, and we have a few, the MSWA
family wishes you a warm welcome and hopes your time here
is enjoyable and helps you on your own journey, whichever
road that takes.
I’m in the planning stages for the National Volunteers’
Luncheon and hope to see all of you at this event. It is MSWA’s
way of thanking you for all that you do. I hope you can make
it, it will be great to see you there.
Keep enjoying this beautiful weather we are having, be
safe in all that you do, and remember, I’m only a phone
call away 9365 4897. Take care and bye for now.
Over the past six or more years MSWA has
benefitted from having a dedicated team of QBE
Staff volunteering for our Annual Members’ and
Volunteers’ Christmas Party.
December 2017 was no exception. Once again, they
proved invaluable, assisting our Member Services
staff to set up the venue, including the tree, to hand
out food and beverages, and generally lending a
willing hand in any task.
They are such a pleasure to work with and we
certainly rely on their good will and enthusiasm to
make this event a great success. They genuinely
love to come along to help and always ask if they
can come again next year!
Thank you, Team QBE, for supporting MSWA and
our efforts.
24 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

BEECHBORO OUTREACH GROUP
GISELLE MARTIN, MSWA RELIEF OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Beechboro Lodge has finally completed its long-awaited
makeover and the results are amazing!
Our Members who use the Beechboro facility really
advocated for these renovations, to ease the crowding in the
physiotherapy gym and create a bigger space for massage.
General Manager of Member Services, Sue Shapland and
Physiotherapy Manager, Dave Hathorn, were then tasked
to make it happen, and after consulting with the staff and
Members, plans for renovations began!
The start of Summer heralded the beginning of the exciting
changes. The old wire fence running at the back of the
property, that allowed little privacy and an unattractive view
of a carpark, was the first to go. Although most of the fence
had been covered in bougainvillea, it was not completely
private. This old fence has now been replaced with a tall
colorbond model with beautiful trim, adding the wow factor
whilst increasing security.
Friday, 15 December was the last day of Outreach for 2017,
and it was all hands-on deck to pack up the building. Now
that our outdoor area was privately secured, all of the
physiotherapy equipment was hauled outside to clear the way
for the walls and floors to be done. Outreach and the allied
health offices were boxed up and furniture relocated. You
should have seen Brenda’s kitchen – it was full to the brim!
As the only room not undergoing changes, it was the main
place to store everything, aside from outside.
A very special thank you goes out to all the wonderful
staff from across the different teams, who all lent a hand
throughout this huge task.
Once the colossal task of packing everything up was done,
Joseph Jangi, our ever-trusty handyman and builder, set to
the task of knocking down and rebuilding walls. He personally
NORTHAM SUPPORT GROUP
worked tirelessly for four weeks, over the Christmas break,
as well as coordinating the various contractors to ensure the
timelines were met.
When all returned to work on Monday, 15 January, we had our
socks knocked right off. We didn’t realise how much work he
had planned to do and were stunned by the professional finish
in every aspect.
The first thing you notice as you step in the door, is the original
old grey carpet has been replaced by a warm wood laminate
surface throughout the main area and into the physiotherapy
gym. This has lightened the area and gives the illusion of
a much larger space. As you step in the door the smell of
fresh paint wafts through, drawing your eyes to the shiny new
lacquer that reflects from our walls and feature cornices, all
lit up by new downlights.
The physio gym room is now more spacious and impressive,
after the wall to the old massage room was removed, and the
area made into one big space. The massage room has been
relocated to the other side of the building and is also a larger
room, achieved by relocating a wall. All the offices have been
shuffled about and you may need to pop your head in to find
out who is where.
The counselling and consulting room has also had a furniture
makeover and will be repainted in due course.
The first day was just as big as the pack up day. Whilst we had
less staff for this exercise, due to unforeseen circumstances,
the staff worked double time to get things sorted before the
Members started arriving at 8.30am.
Things have settled down nicely now after a few weeks,
and everyone, staff and Members alike, are really
enjoying our fresh new facility.
SARAH LORRIMAR, MSWA COORDINATOR OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND PEER SUPPORT
Every three months, I eagerly travel up to Northam with MSWA
Counsellor, Cherry Chapman for a Peer Support Group, which
includes Members from Northam and surrounds. Meeting us
up there is MS Nurse, Dee Menzies, and we often have a
guest visit from an allied health team member.
Our most recent visit to Northam was in February at the
Bridgeley Community Centre, with seven Members attending.
The group began by catching up on their Christmas break,
which included a spontaneous adventure of driving across
Australia in a caravan! It was interesting to hear the group’s
different perspectives and experiences of travel.
The group was then asked if they had any topics or questions
they would like to discuss. One of the Members had thoughtfully
prepared a list of questions which began an engaging Q&A
session, including topics such as cooling garments, medications,
recent media coverage of MS, the NDIS, and exercise.
After some morning tea, I gave a short presentation on brain
health. This included an overview of why it is important for
people living with MS to maintain their brain health, and
suggested tips to help incorporate this into everyday life.
To put some of these tips into practice, the group worked in
pairs to complete a fatigue diary to help plan their day and
completed some fun brain puzzles to challenge the brain.
To end the afternoon, we discussed upcoming
MSWA events and what Members would like for the
next support group meeting. Based on the feedback, it
looks like we will next be travelling up with one of our
speech pathologists.
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 25

ALBANY OUTREACH NEWS
CAROLINE CLARKE-SMITH, MSWA COORDINATOR
We have had a busy start to the year in The Great Southern,
first with the MSWA Albany Ride, which was well attended
with riders coming from Perth and all over to participate. 172
riders entered the 80km, 40km or 10km distances. It was
great to see all the family and friends come along to see them
off on their way, so well done to the riders for participating,
especially the kids who came back red-faced, puffing but
keen for next year.
Well done to the events team and all those who volunteered.
Thank you for doing such a great job. The MSWA Albany Ride
raised in excess of $20,000 for The Great Southern.
The MSWA Albany Swim was another success raising more
than $21,000, with 11 teams and 132 swimmers participating
on the day. The events team worked hard to get it all together.
Thank you and well done to everyone.
We were invited to speak at Great Southern Grammar School
to let them know what the money is used for, as well as giving
an update on what MSWA does and our history. It was a great
opportunity to say thanks to them for the support they have
given us over the past seven years.
Thank you to all who were
able to make it along to our
Members’ Forum. We received
an interesting slant on diet and MS, with research showing
that it is beneficial to have a healthy balanced diet with more
fruits, vegetables and lean meats, oily fish and less processed
foods. Dr Lucinda Black is doing some fantastic research in
WA, supported by MSWA research funding, and it will be
exciting to see what else she discovers.
Sue Shapland provided an update on other MS research in
Australia and overseas, as well as an update on the NDIS
roll out and how our team can help our Members with preplanning
support. Sue also discussed our plans for growing
our locations, including building high support accommodation
down in Albany!
Suzanne Rice, our Physiotherapist, also gave a talk on the
benefits of exercise, and that small amounts often can be
a benefit.
If you would like more information, please email
albany@mswa.org.au or give us a call on 9841 6651.
SOUTHSIDE OUTREACH NEWS
ANGIE WALLACE, MSWA MEMBER
We did it! A win! Our Friday morning Outreach group buys
multiple tickets in each MSWA Mega Home Lottery – eight
tickets with Members buying $5 ‘shares’ in one or all tickets. In
last November’s draw, Member Doug had the winning ‘share’
and was pleased with a set of Bose Wireless Headphones!
It’s nice to put faces to winners and we are certainly in this
current lottery, with eight tickets again!! Time for a big win.
Long-standing southside volunteer, Jan, has had a run of bad
luck with her health over the past several months, as has her
husband, Member and volunteer, Barry. Hurry and get well,
both of you!
Jenny Buchanan is back and thawed out from her recent
holiday in the US – she definitely needed those gloves and hats.
Member Judy has been cruising and we are waiting to hear
about her adventures.
The wonderful kitchen cooks, Rosemary and Peta, continue to
amaze us. We loved those spectacular pineapple cheesecakes.
The brand new gym equipment we recently acquired, a Multi
gym and MOTOmed, have proven popular amongst the Members
accessing physiotherapy - especially the new multi gym. It will
surely help to keep us fit, and ready for more cheesecakes.
Left: 2017 Xmas party at Gary Holland Centre in Rockingham –
a wonderful event – venue perfect too. Longstanding Volunteers and
Member Jan and Barry Wakelam.
Right: Doug receiving his Mega Home Lottery prize.
Tuesday’s group has taken up a new craft, diamond painting
– which is made with beads, and looks like tapestry. Very
clever ladies and certainly good for fine-motor skills.
Our Rockingham centre is getting busier, especially
since the roll-out of the NDIS in this area. Come and join
in the fun.
26 | MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018

2018 EVENTS
incredible scenery.
CALENDAR
SATURDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2018
Be part of this unique community cycling
event and enjoy some of Albany’s
SATURDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2018
Help us This make is an amateur a swimming difference event where
in 2018!
teams compete to swim the longest
MSWA
MSWA
holds
holds a
number
number
of
of
events
events
throughout
throughout
the
the
year.
year.
All
All
funds
funds
raised
raised
enable
enable
MSWA
MSWA
to
to
provide
provide
support
support
and
and
services
services
to
to
people
people
living
living
with MS and other neurological conditions in Western Australia.
distance with MS in and a set other eight neurological hour period. conditions in Western Australia.
Help
Help
us
us
make
make a
difference
difference
by
by
joining
joining
us
us
at
at
one
one
of
of
our
our
many
many
events
events -
you
you
can
can
volunteer,
volunteer,
take
take
part
part
or
or
donate!
donate!
ON WORLD MS DAY
WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY, 1730 FEBRUARY MAY 2018
2018
Join us on World MS Day for a session of
Be part of this unique community cycling
Hip Hop Yoga & then catch us in the
event and enjoy some of Albany’s
Perth CBD for our annual street appeal.
incredible scenery.
ON
ON
WORLD
WORLD
MS
MS
DAY
DAY
SATURDAY, 24 FEB 2018
Rottnest Channel Swim
SATURDAY, SUNDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 17 JUNE 2018
This A unique is an amateur vertical swimming challenge event to the where top of
Central teams Park. compete Do you to have swim what the longest it takes
distance to conquer in a 1,103 set eight steps hour to the period. top?
THURSDAY, WEDNESDAY, 16 30 AUGUST MAY 2018
It’s Join time us on to World get dressed MS Day up for and a session enjoy a
of
night Hip Hop of good Yoga & food, then fine catch wine us and in the some
fabulous Perth CBD auction for our items.
annual street appeal.
WORLD MS DAY, WA
SUNDAY, SUNDAY,
25 NOVEMBER 17 JUNE 2018
2018
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Follow Western Australia’s beautiful
A unique coastline vertical from challenge Fremantle to to the Hillarys. top of
Central Put your Park. body Do – you and have bike what – on the it takes line
and to conquer join us for 1,103 the steps cycle of to the year. top?
WORLD MS DAY, WA
World MS Day brings the global MS community together to share stories, raise awareness and
campaign with and for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis.
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
World MS Day brings the global MS community together to share stories, raise awareness and
campaign with and for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis.
To find out more information and how you can get involved, visit our website:
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING EVENTS
SUNDAY, 27 MAY 2018
HBF Run for a Reason
City 2 Surf
It’s time to get dressed up and enjoy a
night of good food, fine wine and some
fabulous auction items.
THURSDAY, SUNDAY, 16 AUGUST 26 2018
SUNDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2018
www.mswa.org.au/support-your-cause/events
For more information
To find out more information and how you can get involved, visit our website:
www.mswa.org.au/support-your-cause/events
events@mswa.org.au
or call 08 6454 3131
Follow Western Australia’s beautiful
coastline from Fremantle to Hillarys.
Put your body – and bike – on the line
WORLD MS DAY, and join us for
WA
the cycle of the year.
Wednesday, COMMUNITY 30 FUNDRAISING May 2018
EVENTS
For more information
SATURDAY, World MS 24 Day FEB brings 2018 the SUNDAY, global MS 27 community MAY 2018 together SUNDAY, to share 26 AUGUST stories, 2018 events@mswa.org.au
Rottnest Channel Swim
HBF Run for a Reason
City 2 Surf
or call 08 6454 raise awareness and campaign with and for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis.
3131
To find out more information and how you can get involved, visit our website:
www.mswa.org.au/support-your-cause/events
MSWA BULLETIN AUTUMN 2018 | 27

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