Bulletin Magazine Birak/First Summer 23

Thrill Seeker Chris McEnroe (pictured) and
Social Butterfly Susan Finlay breathe new
life into the MSWA brand, proving that life is
so much more than limits.
Bulletin
Inside
YOUR MSWA MAGAZINE
BIRAK | FIRST SUMMER 2023
mswa.org.au

Welcome to the Birak 2023
edition of Bulletin.
WILSON CENTRE
29 Parkhill Way
9365 4888
Contact Us
If you would like to comment on anything you read in
this Bulletin please email bulletin@mswa.org.au
For general feedback or complaints please contact
feedback@mswa.org.au
The Noongar Season ‘Birak’ is the fire season.
The rain eases and the warm weather starts to take hold,
but the afternoons are cooled by the sea breezes.
Many fledglings are seen venturing out of their nests
while reptiles begin to shed old skins for new ones.
Editorial Working Group
Nicola Washington, Tony Millar, Emily Ace and
Nicolette Murphy.
Contributors
Geoff Hutchinson, Carol Chong, Dajana Tesevic,
Vanishree Chetti, Denise Vogels, James Beckett,
Tracey Hockey, Misty Reinkowsky and Crystal Chan.
Client Engagement Department
Our experienced teams will provide you with
personalised support throughout your service journey
with MSWA. From helping you to access funding, to
working with you to get the most from your selected
services, our trained staff are here to help.
For more information, please contact 9365 4888.
Our services include:
• Counselling, Peer Support and Health Education
• Community Support & In-home Care
• Dietetics
• Occupational Therapy
• Outreach
• Physiotherapy
• Social Welfare
• Speech Pathology
• Nursing
• Support Coordination
Nursing Support
Our Neurological Liaison Nurses are usually the first
point of contact after the neurologist’s diagnosis.
Community Nurse: 9365 4888
Monday to Friday (8.00am - 4.00pm)
Outreach at MSWA
If you live in Perth, Rockingham, Bunbury or Albany and
are interested in a trial to experience the Outreach
community, get in touch via outreach@mswa.org.au
Employment Support
The MSWA Employment Support Service is the only
specialist employment service for people living with
multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions in
Western Australia. Our team can help you to stay
in your current job or find employment in the open
labour market.
Please call: 1300 865 209
See all our supports and services at mswa.org.au
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Acknowledgement of Country
In the spirit of reconciliation, MSWA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the many lands
and language groups of Western Australia, and their connections to land, sea and community.
We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
2 3

From our CEO
As we head into summer and
the Noongar season of Birak,
we are conscious that whilst the
warm days bring beach days and
barbeques, the heat can mean a
challenging period for some of
our community with neurological
conditions. This issue of Bulletin
has some great hydration advice
from our Nursing team to help you
get through and for those who love
the beach, there’s an article about
wheelchair beach access.
As we reflect on the last quarter
and look ahead to the next, a lot has
happened and there is much to be
positive about:
Firstly, we recently announced
our significant support of $3m
for a world-leading clinical trial –
PLATYPUS, which will test the effect
of a number of repurposed drugs
on reversing neurological damage
caused by primary progressive
multiple sclerosis (PPMS). This is
exciting as the results will come
quickly, given the drugs are already
approved for human use. We are
really excited about the possibilities
for this amazing research to improve
the lives of those with PPMS. You
can read more about the trial in
this issue.
Secondly, Perth and MSWA
hosted the MS Australia Progress
in Research Conference in
November and welcomed more
than 200 national and international
researchers. This was also the
first time the conference adopted
a format which included the
community of people with MS to
discuss how research can positively
impact their lives.
A key topic was the benefit of
including the MS community in
co-designing and translating
research. It was wonderful to see
so many of our Clients in the room
– it added such a valuable
perspective to the conference
and the research community.
Thirdly, and in line with the
collaborative and community
focus of the conference, our Client
Advisory and Co-Design Committee
continues to engage on how we can
do things better. A key area of focus
we have agreed on is on improving
Client communications. We’ll keep
you posted on practical updates
as they emerge, but I’d like to thank
the committee for their time, focus
and commitment.
In terms of events and community
engagement, I’m continually amazed
by the support we receive from
our generous WA community. At
the 2023 MSWA Ocean Ride in
November we saw almost 2000
cyclists take to West Coast Highway
to tackle a range of challenges for
people with neurological conditions.
The riders raised more than
$280,000 and it was inspiring to
see people of all ages and abilities
enjoying the day.
You can read about the incredible
Jason Potter who cycled from
Sydney to Perth and concluded his
epic adventure at our Ocean Ride! I
did the 30km and it hurt enough, so
I truly applaud Jason for doing it for
so many days and at a considerably
greater distance.
Lastly, you may have noticed a fresh
new look for this publication and for
MSWA more broadly. Our ‘Life not
limits’ campaign puts the focus back
on the people who matter the most
to us – Western Australians living with
neurological conditions. You’ll get
to meet Chris McEncroe, our Thrill
Seeker, and Susan Finlay, our Social
Butterfly, who proudly feature in our
new adverts. We are very excited
about sharing the inspirational
stories of our community in this
Bulletin and over the coming months.
It wouldn’t be a December
publication without some mention
of festive celebrations. This year our
team at Butler have worked with the
local community to launch our first
ever Outreach Christmas Market
on 14 December, featuring creative
workshops, gift stalls and much
more. It was also a great chance
to meet the Butler team and tour
the impressive facilities. We look
forward to engaging with our Clients
and community to do much more of
this type of engagement.
I hope you all get time off to relax
and enjoy this season with your
family and loved ones. I know our
team at MSWA is looking forward to
a break (or at least a slower pace),
some good food and fun.
Wishing you all a happy festive
period and a peaceful New Year.
Thank you once again for your
unfailing support and collaboration
as we focus on Life – not limits.
Melanie Kiely
Celebrating at the finish line of the 2023 Ocean Ride.
Melanie with Social Butterfly Susan
Finlay for the live draw on Channel 7.
Announcing the PLATYPUS clinical
trial at the Progress in
MS Research Conference.
MSWA CEO
4 5

Member & Client Services
Welcome to the Birak / First
Summer edition of our Member &
Client Services Bulletin.
As featured on our front page,
MSWA Clients Chris McEncroe and
Susan Finlay have shared with us,
and now the world, their uplifting
stories of lives well lived for our
refreshed brand campaign. This new
era of MSWA is all about putting our
Clients at the centre of all that we do,
and showing that every life is about
so much more than a diagnosis. We
can’t wait to see what other amazing
Client stories we can share through
Life not limits.
NDIS News
On Friday 3 November, Co-Chairs
of the NDIS Review Panel, Professor
Bruce Bonyhady AM and Ms
Lisa Paul AO PSM, presented an
independent Report to disability
ministers and discussed the
Review’s recommendations.
Ministers discussed key challenges
currently facing the NDIS that have
been identified by the Review’s
What we have heard report released
in June, including:
• Participant numbers and NDIS
costs are higher and growing at a
faster rate than projected by the
Productivity Commission in 2017.
• Further detailed design and
implementation of any changes
to the NDIS needs to continue
with the engagement and
trust created through
deep engagement of the
Independent Review.
• The NDIS exists in an ecosystem
of disability support that must
be unified.
Newsflash:
Since time of writing, the NDIS has released
their Final Report with 26 recommendations
and 139 actions to the public. You can access
the full report and easy-to-read guide here:
• The NDIS participant pathway
has unclear criteria for
reasonable and necessary
supports, which create
complexity, stress, inconsistency
and mistrust.
• Ineffective market stewardship
and regulation has led to service
gaps, poor quality supports and
opened the door to exploitation.
• Participants have limited choice
over where, how and with whom
they live, and NDIS Supported
Independent Living decisions are
inconsistent.
• Complexity of local area
coordinators (LACs), support
coordination, plan management
and community connectors
are expensive barriers to
participants accessing supports.
You can read more information
regarding the report through the
Disability Reform Ministerial Council
Meeting Communique.
Get up to PACE
The NDIA are in the process of
implementing their new software
system ‘PACE’. This is being rolled
out over the next 18 months, but
it will mean some changes. Geoff
Hutchinson has provided a detailed
review on page 8 with what you
need to know about ‘PACE’ and what
changes to expect.
Around MSWA
On Tuesday, 14 November our
Outreach Team held a presentation
for our Clients who won prizes for
their artwork at the Canning Show
exhibition held earlier in the year. The
talent of some of our Clients is truly
outstanding, well done to everyone.
And so on to Christmas. Yes, we are
already there!
Firstly, our Client and Volunteer
Christmas party that is held every
year and is such a fantastic event,
with another fun day filled with
entertainment, wonderful food and
lots of singing.
We also held our first Christmas
Market at our Butler Centre on 14
December. This was an opportunity
to take a tour of our service centre
and residential accommodation,
while enjoying wonderful food,
entertainment and shop the handcrafted
stalls.
Check out the full gallery from both
of these wonderful events using the
QR codes on the right-hand side.
Our Client Advisory and Co-Design
Committee is now well established
and we are getting valuable
feedback on what we need to focus
on across our supports and service
delivery. Congratulations to Gavin
Harper who was voted in as Deputy
Chair for the Committee.
As always, your feedback is
important to us so if you have
anything you would like to
share please contact us at
feedback@mswa.org.au.
Nicki Washington
CHIEF CLIENT
OPERATIONS OFFICER
Christmas Market
Client and Volunteer
Christmas Party
6 7

Client Engagement
Can you keep pace
with PACE?
When a historical saying remains
relevant for centuries, there's no
doubt it's timeless truth. Greek
philosopher Heraclitus (born
so long ago that both Aristotle
and Plato considered him old!) is
credited with one of the truest
sayings - "Change is the only
constant in life." How does this
relate to MSWA, you ask? Well,
because one thing we've learnt
over the years when we're talking
about the NDIS, is that change is
consistently constant.
The latest change in the lives of
participants and providers alike is
the introduction of PACE. PACE is
the National Disability Insurance
Agency’s (NDIA) new business
management software, built to
replace the current Services
Australia platform used for the past
five years. If your eyes start glazing
over when people start talking
about Client relationship platforms,
I don’t blame you. However, PACE
is something everyone should be
across because the changes it
brings with it will impact the way
NDIS plans are managed and paid.
According to the NDIA, PACE is
the outcome of its ‘Participant,
Platform, and Process’ initiative
to streamline and enhance the
participant experience within the
scheme. This ‘enhancement’ will
be through greater transparency
across transactions for both Clients
and providers, real-time information
and centralised portals which will
make invoicing and claims more
straightforward.
Other stated benefits of PACE
include faster management of
service payments and greater
transparency in interactions, which
will ensure both participants and
providers have access to up-todate
information, thus streamlining
processes minimising delays and
simplifying financial management.
Of course, to bring about these
improvements, there will be some
changes to the process. One of the
most significant changes is the
introduction of a system called ‘My
Provider’, which asks participants
to endorse a provider (usually
done at Planning Meetings) which
will allow claims to be fast-tracked
and paid within two to three days.
When a provider is not endorsed,
participants will receive a text
message from the NDIA after each
claim asking them to confirm the
payment, with the whole process
taking about 10 days. Critically,
the ‘My Provider’ requirement only
applies to agency-managed funds.
This means that if you are self or
plan managed the ‘My Provider’
changes will not affect you at this
the time.
Additionally, PACE will also bring
changes to some of the support
categories used to allocate funding
within your plans (i.e., Core, Capacity
Building, and Capital budgets) and
have added one new support type
called ‘Recurring’ which so far only
has ‘recurring transport’ available.
Again, these changes are more
terminology and should not impact
your day-to-day service delivery.
One final change will be the new
annual ‘Participant Check-ins’. In
theory, participants will be called
by an NDIA representative to check
on their well-being, discuss whether
there have been any changes to
their support needs or goals, and
find out whether their current
NDIS plan is meeting their needs.
The outcome of this conversation
determines whether they will
then receive a slight variation or
complete reassessment. The good
news is these check-ins (especially
for those whose plan is working well)
will mean the plan roll-over process
should be quicker and reduce the
time required for the planning
process.
Finally, while nothing is confirmed,
and as discussed above change
is constant, the information we’re
getting from the NDIA is that longer
(five-year) or lifetime plans may be
coming.
But don't worry, because despite
all these changes, there are some
important things that are staying the
same, including (and very crucially)
the fundamental structure of your
NDIS plan. You will still receive
funding to purchase reasonable
and necessary support to help
your day-to-day activities. Also, the
support you are receiving now is
still available, which means your
services won’t change in a new
PACE world. So, while PACE will
be different, it shouldn’t be that
different once your plan is set
up properly.
The other good news is that
this won’t be happening all at
once. Following feedback from
participants and providers, the
rollout, which started in October,
will take place over 18-months and
the full national transfers of existing
participants will commence in
February next year. So, we’ve all got
some time to learn how the new
system works before the old one
disappears for good. You can find
out if you’re on PACE during your
next plan reassessment or your next
planning meeting.
So, as our good friend Heraclitus
has taught us, change will continue
to happen, and we know this is
exactly what happens within the
NDIS world. Having been around
the NDIS for some time now, I
understand that some of these
changes will be good, some less
good and some will come by without
anyone noticing. My read is that
PACE will be noticed briefly, before
becoming ‘just the way we do things’.
Whatever the outcome, MSWA will
keep our eye on all things PACE and
will keep providing you with as much
information as possible as these
changes come to our attention.
Geoff Hutchinson
MANAGER CLIENT ENGAGEMENT
8 9

Introducing…
Life not limits
After a massive year of consultation,
meticulous planning, market testing,
creative development and listening
to our Clients, we are so proud
to present MSWA's brand new
platform: Life not limits.
Chief Marketing Officer Tony Millar
said the mission was to transform
the way people perceive MSWA,
from a brand that ‘runs a lottery’
back to our core purpose, a charity
dedicated to supporting West
Aussies with neurological conditions
to live their version of best.
“The Mega Home Lottery is a big
part of our organisation’s history,
but we need to broaden that
understanding,” he said.
“This includes switching the spotlight
to our core purpose and why we
truly exist. The most authentic way
of doing that is through telling real
stories with real people.
“It was a privilege to tell the
authentic stories of Thrill Seeker,
Chris, and Social Butterfly, Susan,
who truly embody the concept of
‘Life not limits’.
Thank you to Susan and Chris for
granting us the privilege of telling
your stories, we had plenty of fun
both pool and trackside, and hope
you are as proud of the results
as we are.
It was especially heartwarming to
see Chris’ karting community go out
of their way to support him on our
shoot days – because being on the
track on your own just isn’t the same!
Well done to the Bunbury City Kart
Club for their unwavering support
of Chris, including our six racers who
took time out of their schedules to
appear alongside him in our
film shoot!
We also loved seeing our MSWA
staff members in the spotlight,
a big thank you to Kim Jahnig, Pip
Johnson and John Ryan for their
starring roles, as well as Hawa
Jalloh and James Beckett for their
hard work behind the scenes to
make it happen.
We truly appreciate all of our Clients
who participated in our consultation
interviews, focus groups and
surveys to help shape this new
campaign.
We can’t wait to share even more
stories in 2024 – and would love
to hear yours! Send an email to
marketing@mswa.org.au and tell us
how you focus on life, not limits.
We hope you enjoy our fresh new
look, colour palette and graphics –
of which Susan and Chris had the
opportunity to design their very own
(take a closer look at the animation
on our new ads!).
Meet our Thrill Seeker, Chris
Meet our Social Butterfly, Susan, featuring another
amazing Client and friend Christine Wilder.
The Mega Home Lottery goes live on Channel 7!
For the first time ever, the winner of the Mega Home Lottery Grand Prize
Package was announced live to air on Channel 7 news on 13 November,
coinciding with our brand new ads going to air for the first time!
There was plenty of excitement building to this huge
moment, with Clients and staff from across MSWA
invited to the City Beach home to help celebrate.
See the amazing moment our 2023B MHL winner
Sophie had her life changed forever, here.
Chris' track mates Adam, Cody and Jamie responded to the call out for
support to appear in our film shoot by his side.
“We are hugely excited about the
next phase of our brand evolution,
and we are sure that ‘Life not
limits’ will set MSWA up for future
sustainability and success.”
Perth bridges light up red
The iconic Matagarup bridge, as well
as a host of other bridges across
Perth, shone brightly in MSWA red on
Sunday, 12 November, in recognition
of the MSWA Ocean Ride and
MSWA's brand refresh!
10 11

Research
Dietetics
Hope for Australians battling
Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Feeling fatigued?
Here’s how your diet can help
In a monumental stride towards
combating primary progressive
multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a
pioneering clinical trial named
PLATYPUS was unveiled at the MS
Australia Progress in Research
Conference in Perth on November 29.
The $4 million initiative, the first of
its kind in Australia, aims to reverse
neurological damage associated
with PPMS, providing a beacon of
hope for those living with this severe
form of multiple sclerosis.
Distinguished by its innovative
multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS)
adaptive design, PLATYPUS takes
a revolutionary approach to
accelerate the testing of potential
treatments.
The flexible nature of this
design enables researchers to
simultaneously explore the efficacy
of various existing medications.
Unpromising treatment arms can
be dropped, and new treatments
introduced, expediting the trial process
compared to traditional methods.
CEO Melanie Kiely expressed MSWA's
pride in contributing $3 million to this
transformative research project, with
its potential to redefine the landscape
of PPMS treatment.
“PLATYPUS has the potential to
deliver a significant breakthrough,
as we aim to provide real-life
outcomes which positively impact
the lives of people living with PPMS
– which is always our focus," she
said. “By testing two repurposed
drugs, we hope to find a treatment
which can be quick to market for the
people we support.”
MS Australia CEO Rohan Greenland
hailed the announcement as a
major milestone for the 13,000
people living with PPMS in Australia,
addressing a critical unmet need in
the MS landscape.
Neurology Professor Simon
Broadley from Griffith University’s
School of Medicine and Dentistry
explained PLATYPUS was an
extension of the Optimal Clinical
Trials Platform for Multiple Sclerosis
(OCTOPUS) clinical trial, funded by
the UK MS Society and launched in
April 2023.
Collaborating with OCTOPUS
partners in the UK, the trial will
examine the potential of drugs like
metformin, typically used for type
2 diabetes, and alpha-lipoic acid,
a health food supplement, both
showing promise in promoting
remyelination and/or repairing
myelin in MS.
MSWA Chair Horst Bemmerl said
the unique approach of PLATYPUS
gave him hope for faster treatment
options.
“People living with MS, like myself,
often say ‘a cure won’t happen in my
lifetime’ due to the time required to
bring new medications to market,”
he said.
"PLATYPUS is different, as it’s using
existing medications that have
shown potential in treating PPMS.
Because they have already been
tested, they can be fast-tracked.”
He further commended Australia for
joining the OCTOPUS program ahead
of other major players across the
globe, terming it a groundbreaking
move improving the chance of
delivering effective results.
The PLATYPUS trial, set to involve
collaboration among 20 academic
and healthcare institutions, aims
to recruit over 250 participants in
Australia.
Once available, the MS Australia
and MSWA websites will have the
information you need to progress
your interest in the trial. Also, keep
an eye on social media posts from
both MS Australia and MSWA during
2024 for the latest updates.
For many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other
neurological conditions, fatigue can have a significant
impact on day-to-day life, impacting energy levels for
work, socialising or engaging in activities they enjoy.
This can be heightened in the summer months when we
have long, hot days.
Fatigue can result from inflammation and immune
responses, or from other factors such as medications,
poor sleep, low mood and diet.
There is a growing body of evidence which shows us
that improved overall diet quality can help to improve
fatigue symptoms. But what specifically helps to improve
diet quality?
A good quality diet includes plenty of fruits and
vegetables, wholegrains, lean protein and healthy fats. It
also has lower amounts of highly processed foods such
as pre-made cakes, pies, biscuits and processed meats
such as sausages and bacon – but that doesn’t mean we
need to avoid these all together.
Here are some practical ways you can improve your diet quality and help manage your fatigue:
Include complex carbohydrates.
These release energy into the body more
slowly and give longer-lasting energy
across the day. Complex carbohydrates
include wholegrain breads and cereals,
rolled oats, brown or basmati rice and
wholegrain pastas.
Include lean protein.
This helps to support strength and
immunity, as well as provide energy
and help you feel satisfied from a meal.
This could include lean chicken or meat,
fish, lentils, chickpeas, tofu or dairy
products such as yoghurt, milk
or cheese.
Eat the rainbow.
Choose a range of different coloured
fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds to get
a range of fibre, vitamins and minerals.
This will provide longer lasting energy
and support improved gut health.
Rest when you need to.
It is important for the body to rest when
it needs to, so see if you can schedule
rest time into your day. Consider stress
management strategies such as
meditation, exercise or light movement.
Consider meal size and timing.
Large portion sizes will mean the body
uses more energy to break down and
digest a meal, which can worsen fatigue
symptoms. Eating smaller, more regular
meals and snacks can help you gain energy and nutrition,
without being too fatigued from digestion. You may plan
more substantial meals at times when your energy is higher.
Limit large amounts of processed foods.
Highly processed foods and drinks like
cakes, biscuits, processed meats, pies,
sausage rolls and soft drinks are often low
in nutrition and high in calories, sugars and
saturated fats (which we aim to limit in our
diet). They can cause our energy to peak
and drop quickly in the day.
Stay hydrated.
Drinking plenty of water will help to
alleviate fatigue symptoms.
Enjoying a healthy, good quality diet can help improve
your overall health and wellbeing, as well as support
fatigue management. If you are interested in looking at
your diet, our MSWA dietitians can provide individual
advice and support to help you.
Hannah Papendorf
MSWA DIETITIAN
12 13

Occupational Therapy
Margaret Cable:
Back to the Bush!
Beach Access Guide
In Western Australia, we are truly blessed when it comes to the natural
environment we are surrounded by, and sometimes take for granted. From
the bush to the beach, there is so much to explore – especially during the
long summer days ahead of us.
After three long years, Margaret Cable is back to
doing what she loves – ‘going bush’ to photograph the
wildflowers and spend time in nature.
And there is plenty of it around her property in Toodyay,
where her previous “townie” wheelchair couldn’t quite
handle the terrain.
Seeing how this had impacted Margaret’s quality of
life, her Occupational Therapist Michaela Van Zuylen
advocated on her behalf to the NDIS for chair that would
help Margaret live the life she wanted.
“She was finding that her old chair got her most places
that she needed to go, but where she really wanted to go
was the off-road trails where she used to go bush walking
with her dog, Smudge,” Michaela said.
“She would say to me ‘no, it’s great’ and that it was giving
her a lot of freedom, but it just wasn’t – she was really
missing those trails.”
Determined to help Margaret get back out there,
Michaela contacted Wild West Wheelchairs to find the
best off-road chair option. After some trials, the AllTrack
was the perfect fit and Michaela set about applying to
the NDIS to make it happen.
Although it took almost a year of work to get it to
Margaret, the pay off was all worth it.
“It's very rewarding, seeing the smile on her face when it
arrived – she was just grinning from ear to ear the whole
time. It was amazing,” Michaela said.
“Margaret and her husband also purchased a small
motorbike trailer so they can go to other trails in the area
– the plan is to explore and go places she couldn’t go
previously.”
Margaret said the new powered wheelchair had made
not only a huge impact on her life, but 7-year-old Smudge
the dog’s life as well.
“It’s just opened up so much choice for him to go walking,
the first day we went into the neighbor’s property he was
running around, he had his little tongue hanging out and
you could see the joy on his face for going somewhere
different for a change,” she said.
“It’s made a massive impact, not that anyone would ever
think, on the dog’s life, as well as my life.
“I wanted to go into the forest to take pictures of the
wildflowers and the orchids when they came out and that
was the number one reason – and now I’ve already put
100kms distance on it!”
Margaret said she didn’t think it would be possible to
get a new chair, but thanked Michaela and the NDIS for
making her dream a reality. In her own words, “the lady
done good!”.
“I get a few looks and people telling me I am pretty lucky
to have the chair, but it’s like ‘you don’t have to tell me, I
know!’,” Margaret said.
“I did say to Michaela
to thank the NDIS for
providing it to me, because
it does mean so much
to me.
“And now the neighbor has
cleared the firebreak, so
now it’s like a grand prix
circuit – I’m off!”
See Margaret in action!
And as Margaret has shown us in her story, using a wheelchair shouldn’t be a
barrier to enjoying the great outdoors or our lovely coastline on those hot days!
MSWA Occupational Therapist Michaela Van Zuylen has put together this
useful guide, from beach wheelchair and walker hire to accessible trails, so
you can start planning your summertime adventures.
Find your local accessiblebeaches.com/beach-directory
The Accessible Beaches website has a search function to help you find which beaches have public access
wheelchairs, matting, accessible bathrooms, hoists and other important information when planning a beach day.
Find the right equipment
There are a few beach wheelchairs and walkers which can be booked on spacetoco:
• www.spacetoco.com/space/fremantle-wa-beach-wheelchair-leighton-beach
• www.spacetoco.com/space/push-beach-walker-leighton-beach-north-fremantle-wa
• www.spacetoco.com/space/city-beach-wa-sandcruiser-beach-wheelchair
• www.spacetoco.com/space/sandcruiser-beach-wheelchair-bathers-beach-shipwrecks-museum
Other equipment can be booked through your local council’s website.
Time to change
This website is a directory of where to find changing places – these are specific disability change rooms for
people who require a hoist for transfer, change table, wheelchair accessible shower and toilet.
On Accessible Beaches I found two locations which also offer free loan beach wheelchairs and changing places
for people who need hoist transfers:
• accessiblebeaches.com/beach-directory/abc-beach-template-6r9we Sorrento Beach
• accessiblebeaches.com/beach-directory/abc-beach-template-dmscc Koombana Beach (Bunbury)
Time to hit the trails www.alltrails.com/australia/western-australia/perth--2/ada
Website AllTrails has a list of wheelchair friendly trails across Perth, with hand-curated trail maps, driving
directions and detailed reviews from fellow nature lovers – so you know exactly what to expect.
Ready for more? breaktheboundary.com.au/
Break the Boundary is a volunteer organisation that runs off-road cycling and hiking opportunities for people
with physical and neurological conditions. From multi-day camps to individual clinics and social group rides, the
team helps people connect with the outdoors and experience areas thought to be inaccessible.
Remember to reach out to your occupational therapist if you need help going off-road this summer. As well as
helping you to locate which beach or trail has the accessibility features you require, they can also assist you with
booking out the equipment and determine accessible changing places.
Happy adventuring!
14 15

Nursing
Water, life, the universe
and everything! – Part 5
Constipation has
many possible causes,
including:
Not eating enough fibre.
Foods high in fibre include fruit,
vegetables, high-fibre bread and
cereals, nuts, seeds and legumes.
How hydration impacts
continence and bowel care
We’re often told we should drink two, maybe even as
much as three litres of water a day for our health. But is
that right?
The reality is, there is one simple rule that all health
authorities, including Kidney Health Australia, agree on;
drink to satisfy your thirst – no more, no less.
So how much should we drink? It’s a simple case of
arithmetic; we need to take in enough to make up for the
amount we lose each day, which is around two litres (1.5
litres as urine and 0.5 litres as perspiration and water
vapour).
We consume about one litre of water through our food
(based on a normal diet of fruit, vegetables, cereal etc.),
so that leaves only about one litre to make up – roughly
six small glasses.
There are exceptions; you need to drink more on hot days
or when exercising, but even then, you should still be
making about 1.5 litres of urine a day.
Another way to tell if you’re drinking enough is to check
the colour of your urine, which should be pale lemon
coloured.
How the bladder works
The bladder is a storage organ that sits in your pelvis.
Urine is made by your kidneys and stored in the bladder
until you are ready to pass urine. When you pass urine,
the bladder outlet muscles (urethral sphincter and
pelvic floor muscles) relax and your bladder contracts
to push the urine out. Your brain controls your bladder
(consciously and sub-consciously) when it is time to
empty. So, for most of the day, your brain is sending
messages for you to hold on and not empty your bladder
– and most of the time you do not even realise.
A normal bladder
• Empties 4–6 times each day.
• Can hold up to 400–600 ml of urine, but usually feels
quite full at about half this amount (200–300 ml).
• May wake you up once at night to pass urine.
• Tells you when it is full, but gives you enough time to
find a toilet.
• Empties completely each time you pass urine.
• Does not leak urine (incontinence).
• Does not need you to push or strain to pass urine.
• Empties easily and without any pain.
How the bowel works
Digestion of food occurs in the stomach and small bowel.
The small bowel takes the nourishment your body needs
from what you eat. The remaining waste forms bowel
motions (faeces). Faeces enter the large bowel (large
intestines or colon) as liquid. The large bowel absorbs
water back into the body and faeces become more solid.
When faeces reach the lower part of the large bowel
(rectum), you feel fullness in your rectum (back passage),
or the urge to pass a motion (defecation).
Rochelle Brown
MSWA NEUROLOGICAL LIAISON NURSE
A normal bowel
• Passes bowel motions anywhere from three times
a day, to once every three days. The normal pattern
for passing bowel motions varies greatly from person
to person.
• Doesn’t need you to strain excessively, but allows the
bowel motion to be passed easily and without pain.
• Tells you when it is full but gives you enough time to
get to the toilet.
• Empties the lower bowel completely each time you
pass a bowel motion.
• Doesn’t leak faeces (formed or liquid/ diarrhoea) or
gas (wind or flatus).
Constipation
Constipation is the difficulty of passing a bowel motion
that may be very hard. With constipation, bowel motions
are often passed less than three times a week. You often
have the feeling that you have not completely emptied
your rectum (back passage) after you have passed a
bowel motion.
Constipation is upsetting because it can make you feel
uncomfortable and bloated, as if your rectum is never
completely empty. It can cause haemorrhoids and anal
fissures (tears with bleeding in the anus) by the constant
need to strain to pass a bowel motion.
Straining can also increase the risk of you developing
a rectal prolapse (sagging of the rectum out of the
anus). Severe constipation or faecal impaction are by
far the most common causes of bowel leakage (faecal
incontinence), especially in the elderly population.
Hard bowel motions are difficult to pass and may cause
a partial blockage in the lower bowel, resulting in watery
faeces flowing around the constipated stool without
warning. This may be mistaken for diarrhoea.
Not drinking enough fluid.
Fibre and fluid work together
to keep bowel motions regular.
Without enough fluid, bowel
motions may become dry and
difficult to pass.
Not exercising enough
or reduced general activity level.
The side effects of some
medicines. Such as painkillers
or iron tablets.
Not being able to go to the toilet
because of poor mobility or
problems with standing, walking
and sitting.
Some diseases of the nervous
system such as Parkinson’s
Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
Some bowel problems.
Such as haemorrhoids, irritable
bowel syndrome, or diverticulitis.
Anorectal pain (pain to the
anus and the rectum) caused by
haemorrhoids, fissures, surgery or
birth trauma.
A slow transit bowel.
This may be due to nerve damage
as a result of a stroke, Parkinson’s
Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, spinal
cord injury and trauma.
Poor toilet habits.
Such as not sitting on the toilet
properly, ignoring the urge to go to
the toilet to pass a bowel motion,
rushing when on the toilet and/or
hovering |over the toilet instead
of sitting.
16 17

Counselling
Letting ourselves
off the hook
Looking at mistakes through a
bigger lense
I made a mistake the other day. Okay, so I’ve made
more than one, but this one seemed to carry a lot
more weight than the others. It was different.
I believed it was different.
I felt swept up in a storm of thoughts and feelings,
and all I wanted to do was climb into bed and eat
some chocolate.
I find journalling helpful, so instead, I began to write
down what was on my mind. I wrote out my thoughts and
feelings and then began to look at other resources to
see what could help me. It was then something I read just
popped out to me: Mistakes are necessary for growth.
You’re not expected to be perfect. Boom. It hit me.
I had heard this before and had even said something
similar to others, but this spoke directly to my heart.
It was what I needed to hear.
Suddenly, my perspective changed. I wasn’t meant to be
‘perfect’ and get it right all the time. Instead, I was offered
compassion, understanding and comfort.
My storm calmed further, and my feelings changed to
that of comfort, encouragement and even compassion
for myself. I no longer wanted to hide from the world, I
felt encouraged to go out and make new mistakes. In a
sense, I let myself off the hook.
The way that we think influences our feelings and
actions; and vice versa. This is the premise of an umbrella
of therapies called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
It also recognises that there a patterns of thinking that
we as humans have to some degree or other, which are
often irrational. Often called ‘unhelpful thinking styles’,
or ‘cognitive distortions’ in an extreme form, they can
have a big impact on our mood and thus, how we react
or respond. When we make a mistake and we experience
intense emotions, it could be that we are viewing the
situation and ‘mistake’ through a lens which incorporates
one or more of these unhelpful patterns of thinking.
So how can we widen our lens? Pausing and asking
ourselves questions that can help us gather more
information can give us a ‘bigger picture’ of the situation.
Below are some common unhelpful thinking styles and some helpful reflective questions to ask:
All or nothing thinking.
Seeing one extreme or the other. It is either ‘good or
bad’. ‘I never do anything right’.
Questions: Am I being ‘extreme or rigid’?
Is there any grey 'area' that I might be missing?
Mental Filtering.
Filtering in and filtering out so that the focus is only
on one part of the situation.
Question: What else might I be ignoring?
Catastrophising.
Where we view the situation as the worst possible
scenario. We ‘blow things out of proportion’.
Question: What are some other possible outcomes?
Jumping to conclusions.
We assume we know what another is thinking and
we make predictions based on this. ‘She probably
doesn’t want to have coffee with me because she
thinks I am boring’.
Questions: What are some other reasons for this?
Do I know this for certain?
Personalising.
Taking responsibility or blaming yourself for
everything that goes wrong.
Questions: ‘What other things could have impacted
this outcome?’
Overgeneralising.
Taking one or a few instances and assigning it to
others e.g. ‘You always...’ or ‘Everyone…’
Questions: Does this apply to every situation?
Emotional reasoning.
Where we view or base the situation on our feelings.
‘I feel like I’m a bad friend so I must be.’
Question: How would I view this situation if I
felt differently?
As you read this, I wonder what comes to mind for
you or what has stood out. Are there some mistakes
that you have found hard to let yourself off the
hook for? Or perhaps there have been other
peoples’ mistakes you are finding hard to let go of.
Both are very normal and common experiences
with mistakes.
Pausing and reflecting to become aware of these
thinking patterns might be one way to shift the
perspective. Offering ourselves compassion and
forgiveness for our imperfect humanness can also be a
powerful way to help ‘let ourselves off the hook’.
Like my own revelation – mistakes are necessary for
growth. We are not expected to be perfect.
If you would like someone to support you with this,
speak with your Client Liaison Coordinator or
call 9365 4888 and enquire about our MSWA
counselling services.
Meagan Butler
MSWA COUNSELLOR
18 19

Our People
NDS Awards Recognition
We’ve always known we have a quality team working here
at MSWA, and it is a pretty special moment when this
gets recognised on a national scale.
This was all the more impressive, considering he was up
against entire teams of allied health professionals from
across the country!
Bruce Hale
CARE SUPPORT WORKER
Melanie Cooper
CARE SUPPORT WORKER
Clinical Team Lead and Lymphoedema Physiotherapist
Randall Rooney flew to Melbourne with Physiotherapy
Manager, James Beckett to attend the National
Disability Awards on December 11, where he received
a high commendation in the Excellence in Allied Health
category.
Randall Rooney
CLINICAL LEAD AND LYMPHOEDEMA
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Dedicated Care Support Workers Bruce Hale and
Melanie Cooper were also nominated and placed on the
‘honour roll’, in the category of Excellence in Disability
Support Work.
Here is what their Clients and colleagues had to say.
Bruce has worked at MSWA’s Hamilton Hill supported
accommodation for 10 years, building a strong
rapport with Clients and always providing consistent,
high-quality care.
His mission is to ensure that residents enjoy the best
quality of life possible, despite the individual challenges
they face, because as he always says, “they deserve it”.
Bruce fulfills any extra tasks the residents’ request.
These tasks range from IT / television problems to
participating in playing games, or just having the time to
listen and converse with the residents.
Melanie provides a consistently high level of care for her
Butler supported accommodation Clients, seeing who
they are as individuals – not defined by the disabilities
they live with.
Melanie is a strong advocate for her Clients. She voices
their concerns ensuring they get the best quality of
service while following up with management and Clients
alike to ensure action is taken.
Melanie has been in the caring industry for more than
20 years, and actively seeks opportunities to expand her
knowledge within the disability sector.
Randall’s outstanding contributions include the
development and implementation of a Lymphoedema
Physiotherapy service at MSWA, after recognising a
need for his Clients.
His excellent clinical abilities, positive attitude and
confidence as a therapist allows him take on Clients
with complex care needs, helping them to overcome
significant challenges and achieve therapy goals.
Client Graham Partridge OAM, who was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s Disease in 2017, and his wife Robyn were
quick to sing Randall praises during the nomination
process.
“Randall is excellent, oh my god he is so good. We
previously went to another provider and have had
physios from different hospitals come over, but Randall is
by far the best,” Robyn said.
“The others were all scared of Graham’s height, because
he is big. Because they were worried he would fall, they
had him sitting down most of the time, taking his blood
pressure. But not Randall.”
Graham said he was most impressed with Randall’s
“dedication to his job and his Clients”.
“His whole demeanor is good, we have a laugh and it
works. I always say to him, ‘where have you got the whip
today?’ and we have a laugh.
“He puts the time in, he knows how to get the best out of
people. He is dedicated, makes you feel at ease.”
He is also known to volunteer his time to stay with
residents on lengthy medical appointments either with
specialists, at GPs or hospital visits so they don’t have to
wait alone.
As well as his care for his Clients, Bruce shows
leadership each day in growing the knowledge and
skillset of his team.
The team is becoming a little worried about Bruce
retiring, because Hamilton Hill does not know how it
would cope without him!
A colleague gave this glowing recommendation for
Bruce:
“Bruce is a gentleman to work with. He treats everyone,
residents and colleagues alike, with utmost respect,
kindness and gentleness.”
“Even though he is brimming with skill, he remains
humble and gracious. He turns his ever present ‘can-do’
attitude into ‘will-do’ and does, making him a highly valued
team member who is most deserving of this esteemed
recognition.”
A certified level two manutention trainer, Melanie acts to
maintain as much Client independence and dignity while
ensuring safety for the Client and staff members alike.
One of Melanie’s Clients, Debra Evans, moved into Butler
five years ago and credits Melanie for making what was a
difficult transition into a smooth one.
“Mel has made that transition of coming to live here really
quite easy. She made me feel a bit more normal, made it
feel more like home,” Debra said.
The qualities she most appreciates in Melanie are her
helpfulness, friendliness and down-to-earth nature.
“My sort of cup of tea! You shouldn’t have your favourites,
but I would say she is mine,” Debra said.
“Mel has a natural ability in making someone feel
accepted, feel normal. She treats you with respect with
dignity and she has made a very difficult transition for
me personally much easier.
“She is very conscientious and caring in what she does,
and she is so genuine. She means the world to me.”
20 21

Community Supporters
Our Stories
Margaret Doody’s Masterpiece
Louise Bruce: Caring by nature
Local artist Liv Robinson Art
dedicated hours of painstaking
work to create a beautiful four
metre underwater-themed mural,
bringing new life to the courtyard of
MSWA's Margaret Doody House.
The respite centre in City Beach
gives our Clients the chance to relax
and reset, while their carers and
family members also take some time
out to rest.
This art project was years in the
making, with Liv visiting Margaret
Doody in September to add the
final flourishes - complete with fans
watching on as she worked.
"It’s always a bonus when your art
can help start a conversation or
inspire some sort of interaction,” Liv
explained.
“That’s the whole point of putting big
pieces out on a wall; to bring people
together, create a community feeling
and have a chance to meet people -
that's the power of art,” Liv said.
Liv’s drive to give back to the
community stems from her own
health-battles she experienced as
a child.
“I spent two years as an inpatient
in a hospital when I was a child, so I
know what it’s like when there is no
art on the wall,” she said.
The project was funded through
a Go-Fund Me page set up by Liv,
to ensure the mural was gifted to
Margaret Doody House.
This piece is particularly unique, as
Liv bought the artwork to Wilson
Outreach for Clients to leave their
own signature mark on the painting.
“That was really important, because
my work is really about empowering
people through the art process, so it
didn’t feel right to just paint it myself
and then put it up on the wall,” Liv said.
“The hour or so I was at the centre,
it was lovely to see everybody get
involved, take an interest or even just
watch on.
“It’s not about whether you think
you have an ability, it’s about letting
yourself get lost in the process
of having fun, playing and getting
creative.
“Get out there – whether it’s
sketching, music, moving or dance
– whatever. Just invite art back into
your life because it is a tool available
to all of us and it is so good for the
mind, the spirit and the soul.”
Michael, who was enjoying a stay
at Margaret Doody House when Liv
came to paint the finishing touches,
said it had transformed the whole
courtyard area.
“It’s amazing – you can’t believe
something like that is just out here
on this wall,” he said.
“With all the difficulties in the world
these days, to have artists and
musicians contributing and putting
up murals like this, it just brings so
much joy to everybody in the world,
and we really need that.”
Thank you Liv, your masterpiece is
so appreciated by our staff and
our Clients.
After 15 years of service to MSWA
and its Clients, Louise Bruce knew
the time was right to say goodbye
– but not until she had served up a
delicious spread for all of Wilson to
remember her by!
“They all loved the food today – I
wanted to do my own catering for
them so they could enjoy something
different,” Louise said.
This selfless desire to put others
first is what has left a lasting impact
on all who met Louise during her
time with MSWA, with almost 100
Clients, fellow volunteers and
staff packing the Wilson atrium to
say goodbye.
Around the room, memories were
shared – and one anecdote from
Teresa Zammit truly defined the
character of Louise: someone who
would give the shirt off their own
back, literally.
Coming to work one day, Teresa
had complimented the top Louise
was wearing. Without a second
thought, Louise had visited the
bathroom, whipped it off and
changed it for another, just so she
could gift it to her .
“That’s just me. If somebody likes it, I
just give it,” Louise said.
Louise first set foot in Wilson to
accompany her husband, who lived
with MS, to his hydrotherapy and
physiotherapy appointments all
those years ago, and her love for the
Clients meant she never left.
“I had a disabled husband and I
looked after my parents with their
illnesses, so that’s why I love caring
for people.
“I started as a volunteer in the
kitchen because I used to bring
my husband here to Wilson, so I
did volunteering while he did his
exercises.
“It’s the members I am so attached
to, they are so lovable. They are
loving and caring even though they
have their own illnesses.”
Louise would always arrive a half an
hour early each day to prepare all
the morning tea for the Clients and
was always one of the last to leave.
“If the members are still here and
there are not many staff around, I’ll
stay back and play games with them
until they get picked up by the taxi.
So if you add up all the hours that I
have given, bloody hell!” she laughed.
“But it has come to the stage where
it’s time for me to go, my arthritis is
playing up otherwise I would have
stayed on. You always know when
the time is right for you.”
Louise will be remembered for her
fantastic culinary skills, smiling face
and of course, her love of singing.
“I put the music on, and I am always
singing – Celine Dion is my favorite,”
she smiled.
Even though Louise has officially
retired, she will be going from one
caring role to another with plans
to help look after her great niece
and her children with her newfound
freedom.
“I love kids, and my family always
comes first,” she said.
As well as babysitting duties,
Louise will have plenty of time to
get creative thanks to a parting gift
of scrapbooking supplies from her
“card ladies”.
From all of us at MSWA, we
thank Louise for her generosity,
selflessness, and years of service.
You will be missed!
“What has kept me here is the
members,” she said.
22 23

Social Connections
Outreach/Accommodation
Happenings
Canning Show Exhibition Awards
Wilson Outreach’s talented Clients entered more
than 50 artworks into the 2023 Canning Show, from
16 different artists. Of the works displayed, there
were 18 winning pieces, two high commendations,
two champion titles (Jasmin Franklin for receiving the
Champion People with Disability Painting/Drawing
Exhibit and Jackie Edwards for the Champion People
with Disability Hobby Ceramics Exhibit) and a coveted
People’s Choice Award winner for Tony Villamagna!
Murder mystery
In celebration of the spooky
season, Rockingham Outreach
enjoyed a murder mystery
themed game! The team went
all out with costumes and
decorations to boot.
Rockingham
beach day
Rockingham Outreach enjoyed
a day by the beach at Bell Park
Reserve, filled with games, good
company and tasty treats.
Albany Outreach
There has been plenty happening
at Albany Outreach over the past
couple of months, celebrating loud
shirt day, an “Aussie” themed BBQ
and galaxy-themed resin workshops.
Melbourne Cup
Wilson Outreach went all out to celebrate spring
carnival, with raffles, sweepstakes, delicious lunch and
fancy hats! A special shout out to Warren Black, who not
only won the sweepstakes but also generously donated
the winnings back to Outreach. He also won best hat on
the day – how’s that for a run of luck!
A refresh for Treendale
It’s been a busy year for our Facilities and Maintenance
Team, who have prioritised upgrade works across a
number of our accommodation and respite facilities.
Treendale Accommodation and Respite experienced
the most significant face lift this year, receiving all new
panelling, painting, flooring and LED lighting throughout.
Treendale Supported Accommodation Coordinator
Paula Kennedy said the changes had brightened the
facility to make it feel new and more spacious.
“We had all the carpet removed and stunning wood look
flooring laid, this makes it cleaner and brighter looking,
easier to keep clean and improved manoeuvrability of
equipment and Clients’ wheelchairs,” she said.
“All the residents have commented how much they
like it. We have had both MSWA employees from other
departments and other visitors comment on how much
they love the changes and how much it seems to have
lifted the spirits of staff and Clients,” Paula said.
“We acknowledge the integral part the Facilities Team
of Steve, Brendan, Brandon and Brendon played in
planning, organising and supervising everything as
well as being there to support the Treendale
Gardens leadership team and staff
with any issues that arose.”
Rummikub champion
crowned for 2023
Wilson Outreach hosted its annual
rummikub competition, with 10
competitors battling it out for
top spot. This year’s champion
was David Mewburn, with Shane
King taking out second place.
Congratulations!
Butler gets creative
for Halloween
Butler Accommodation also
got into the spooky spirit for
Halloween, decked out wall
to wall in cobwebs and
creepy crawlies!
African drumming
workshop
Our Butler Accommodation staff,
physiotherapists and residents
enjoyed a team building African
drumming workshop in September,
with plenty of laughs had all around
while learning a new skill.
“We have also had some new
furniture to help brighten up the
feel of the place and maintain the
flow of the renovations. Natalie
and Linda and some of the support
workers have also been creative
in respite making it a more homely
atmosphere since the renovations.”
And the work hasn't gone unnoticed by
our most important stakeholders.
24 25

Events
Cross-country adventure
all for ‘mum’
Cycling for a
better future
It was only fitting that everyday
Aussie Jason Potter finished his
4,278km cross-country challenge
in the arms of his mum, Marilyn, at
the MSWA Ocean Ride finish line in
November.
Marilyn, who lives with multiple
sclerosis, was the inspiration
behind the 29-day journey from
Sydney to Perth, with Jason raising
over $22,000 for MS research and
support.
Jason tackled an average of 147km
per day past the Blue Mountains,
across the Great Australian Bight
and down the 90 mile straight to
make it in time for the MSWA Ocean
Ride, with the 120km challenge the
final flourish to end his journey.
“Now to be able to say ‘I’ve ridden
across Australia’ is a bizarre thing,
I’m not a super athletic person by
any stretch of the imagination, so
to achieve that is quite something,"
Jason said.
As well as raising money, Jason was
able to converse with many different
people along the way to raise
awareness for the cause.
“I spoke with some kids in Caiguna,
they had come over to have a chat,
see the bike and to understand what
I was doing. A few days later both of
the boys had donated their pocket
money to the cause,” he said.
“It’s little things like that, that make
you realise there is good in the world.
People do want to help, you just have
to talk about it and give them the
opportunity, and I guess that is what
the ride was all about.
“To donate is a conscious positive
decision you are making for a cause,
and I think that is an amazing thing.”
For Jason, tackling the MSWA
Ocean Ride was an opportunity
to reflect on the culmination of his
journey.
“The emotion built up over the
course of that 120kms,” he said. “I
rode with a few different people on
the way and had a good mate join
me for the last 5kms where I could
thank him for his support.”
“But to come into Whitfords Nodes
and see mum... the relief and the
excitement all molded into one.
“I had thought about that moment
a lot in terms of how I was going to
feel, and it really was special, really
emotional to see mum and the family
there to watch me complete my
journey.”
A dedicated supporter and volunteer
of MSWA’s events, Marilyn was a
proud mum waiting to hand Jason
his medal at the finish line.
“It’s enormous what he has done,”
Marilyn said. “He is just an ordinary
man, but the main thing is all about
raising as much money as he can for
MS research, because he can see
the debilitating effect MS has had
on me.”
“Everyone can do their part to make
a difference. The research they are
doing now in time to come will find
a cure. Even if it is not in my lifetime,
that is my hope.”
There is still time to support Jason
and his fundraising efforts at
Ocean2OceanRide4MS.com.
Congratulations Jason on a journey
of gargantuan proportions!
Watch Jason's Journey
The 14th annual MSWA Ocean
Ride – Powered by Retravision was
a day filled with enthusiasm and
community connection on Sunday,
12 November.
Starting at the scenic Port Beach in
Fremantle and finishing at Whitfords
Nodes Hillarys, the event attracted
more than 1,700 participants,
including 236 teams, who embarked
on journeys ranging from 10km to an
impressive 140km!
The collective spirit was truly
heartening, and we are thrilled to
share that the event has already
raised an astounding $288,037, with
the donations still rolling in!
This generous contribution will go a
long way in supporting individuals
in Western Australia living with
neurological conditions.
Introducing Bryan Kennington,
one of our proud ambassadors.
Bryan first heard about MS when
his aunt was diagnosed with the
condition in the early 1980s.
Back then, MS was incredibly
difficult to diagnose. There were no
drugs approved to treat relapses,
and in fact the first drug that proved
effective for treating MS was an
injection, and this wasn't until 1993.
The 2023 Ocean Ride was Bryan's
11th year in a row cycling for MSWA,
having pushed through the 100km
challenge a few times, but his
average ride over the years has
been 70km.
A special shout-out to Team ROAR,
led by Captain Garry Giles, a
devoted MSWA supporter. Garry's
outstanding efforts earned him the
title of Highest Individual Fundraiser
and Team ROAR the Highest
Fundraising Team, securing an
impressive $11,400 as an individual
and a massive $21,600 as a team.
We extend our sincere gratitude to
everyone who pedaled, volunteered
and showed support on this
memorable day.
In addition, Team Wood claimed the
title of Highest Fundraising Corporate
Team, amassing an incredible $16,669
and counting! Your dedication is truly
making a difference.
As we reflect on the success of
this year, we invite you to mark
your calendars for the 2024 MSWA
Ocean Ride.
Bryan said his commitment to
participate each year is primarily
because the money raised supports
people with neurological conditions,
but also because of the fun of event
day itself.
Bryan plans to ride for many years
to come, and hopes that the money
raised will continue to be contributed
to research and clinical trials to find
better treatments and one day, a cure.
Jeni Donald
MSWA PEOPLE & CULTURE ADVISOR
(AND PROUD PARTNER OF BRYAN!)
Join us in the challenge to ride
and contribute to the real impact
we can make for those living with
neurological conditions. More
details will be released in the coming
months.
Thank you for being a part of this
incredible journey. Relive the magic
of the day through our gallery.
Dannielle McConnell
PROJECT & OPERATIONS
MANAGER - EVENTS
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Fundraising
To find more opportunities
to connect, visit our
website here.
Clients stack up serious stats
in annual Stationary Cycle
Stay Connected
Well, another great Stationary Cycle Challenge!
As part of the 2023 MSWA Ocean Ride – Powered
by Retravision, we had 217 of our Clients take up the
Stationary Cycle Challenge.
This event runs for an eight-week period leading into the
MSWA Ocean Ride, where we see our MSWA Clients rack
up kilometres as part of their weekly physio sessions.
And boy, did our Clients do some distances on their
chosen piece of gym equipment! As we know, not all our
Clients can make use of the bikes, so if the equipment
counted kilometres, they could choose to use it.
This year’s combined teams total tallied a whopping
7,711.8kms. This is like driving from Exmouth to Adelaide
and back!
We had Clients from:
• Albany, whose kilometres tallied 1,024.10
• Beechboro, whose kilometres tallied 1,402.57
• Rockingham, whose kilometres tallied 1,482.20
• Mandurah, whose kilometres tallied 1,272.73
• Metro Central, whose kilometres tallied 640.29
• Vasse, whose kilometres tallied 367.21
We also had a lone Client from Hamilton Hill whose
distance was untracked.
This year our Butler Client team, whose kilometres
tallied 1,522.70, made a fantastic effort and took out the
bragging rights by a small 40.5kms, just beating out
Rockingham to host the perpetual shield.
Many of our Clients rode hundreds of kilometres, but our
longest distance was from Lovorka from our Beechboro
team with 269.7 kms.
Albany Client John took out the Highest Fundraiser with a
grand total of $850!
Together, all of our Clients should be very proud of
themselves, but this year has seen the introduction of a
Physio’s Choice Award to be given to Clients who have
shone during the Challenge.
Genie, Anne, Anne and Michelle (seated)
from Beechboro
We congratulate all our Physio’s
Choice Award winners below!
John – Albany
Michele – Beechboro
Vicki – Metro Central (Wilson & Kelmscot)
Kate – Bulter
Timothy – Rockingham
Jani – Mandurah
Terry – Vasse
Robert – Hamilton Hill
Trish Watson
EVENTS AND GIVING OFFICER
Peer Coffee Catch Ups
Monthly catch ups on Saturday mornings
Led by volunteers, who also live with neurological conditions like Claire
Kennelly, these groups are ready to welcome those who are newly
diagnosed or simply seeking connection at any stage of their journey.
“It’s good because everybody understands. We honestly talk about MS
for maybe 10 minutes, then it is all about us. There is no judgement and
there are lots of new people all the time – it’s really fun!”
Claire’s group enjoys a variety of activities, including picnic days, movie
and park outings, visits to museums and concerts – the list goes on!
There are also themed morning teas once a month, with prizes, as well
as the opportunity just to connect with others informally.
After five years of running the club north of the river, the group has
branched out south of the river, too.
Contact clairethepa@gmail.com or jodivictoria@gmail.com to
find out more. You can also search MS & All Neurological
Conditions Perth on Facebook to join the group.
www.facebook.com/groups/489935325840464
Mindfulness and Meditation Group
Monthly catch ups on Tuesday mornings
Are you interested in learning Mindfulness and Meditation to improve
your stress management and resiliency skills, or simply incorporate
more relaxation into your life? Come along to our monthly group
facilitated by our experienced counsellors.
To register for the Butler group, contact Eve.Parsons@mswa.org.au
or call 0427 124 391. You can also contact Ian.Sampson@mswa.org.au
or call 0429 226 997
MSWA Art Group
Second Thursday of the month
Would you like the opportunity to explore your story with art and work
creatively with a group to gain connection and understanding? We are
looking for new members to join our ongoing monthly Rockingham Art
Group, facilitated by our experienced counsellor Alyson Yearsley.
Please note, Counselling Group funding will be required.
To reserve your spot, please contact Alyson.Yearsley@mswa.org.au
or call 0439 790 490
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News In Brief
MSWA Albany facilities take
top accolade
MSWA Albany’s Services Centre and Accommodation
facilities were awarded the 2023 Commonwealth Bank
Best Regional Project for the Great Southern region at
the Master Builders Awards.
The Wauters Building Company (pictured), who delivered
the building project for MSWA in collaboration with
our Facilities Team, proudly accepted the award at the
ceremony held at Crown in October.
This major award win will see Wauters Building Company
automatically entered into the National Finals for the
Albany project, which is due to take place in 2024.
MSWA would like to congratulate Wauters Building
Company on this outstanding win.
This project was a team effort which would not have
been possible without long-standing partners Parry and
Whyte Architects, the City of Albany and of course our
incredible Facilities Team lead by Steve Corbett.
A night at the Ballet
The West Australian Ballet invited some of our MSWA Clients to
enjoy a night out at the Ballet for the final dress rehearsals of Van
Gogh and the Nutcracker as part of their community program.
As you can tell from the smiles, there was a great night had by all.
Thanks West Australian Ballet and to their supporters who made
this initiative possible.
Would you like to be notified about future available tickets?
Send an expression of interest to marketing@mswa.org.au
Slot Car Group tracks big prize
for MSWA
The Mandurah Raceway Slot Car Group (MRSCG) held
their fourth annual community fundraising event on 11
November, kindly choosing MSWA as the beneficiary for
this year’s event.
Group members were joined by family, friends and
community members to partake in the fun of racing
1:32 scale slot cars on a routed wood racetrack. Later
in the evening, after a scrumptious meal, an auction
was held, with goods donated by various businesses
and individuals.
The varied, high-quality goods on offer, coupled
with enthusiastic bidding saw an amazing total of
$1,450 raised on the night for MSWA. A huge well done
to all involved!
If you are interested to take a look or have a drive,
contact Dave at slotman@gmail.com
Diwali
Diwali is the festival of lights that celebrates the triumph
of good (light) over evil (darkness) in South Asian cultures
and is celebrated over five days in parts of India.
In November, this auspicious occasion was celebrated
at Wilson, organised by the Funding team, and Rivervale,
organised by the Rostering team. We think everyone
looked amazing!
Submit your article to us
Do you have a story about living with a neurological condition in WA that other MSWA
Clients might like to read? We invite you to share your experiences with us.
Email your submission to bulletin@mswa.org.au for consideration.
Suggestions, complaints and compliments
We want to hear from you. Your feedback helps us to understand what is working well
and where we can improve.
You can raise a concern or acknowledge the support an MSWA staff member has
provided by telephoning 6454 3146, via feedback@mswa.org.au or writing to
Quality and Compliance; Locked Bag 2, BENTLEY DC 6983.
For more information, visit mswa.org.au/about-mswa/contact-us.
Another grand adventure for
Horst Bemmerl
After walking for eight consecutive days, MSWA Board
Chair Horst Bemmerl and his wife Helen completed the
Camino de Santiago pilgrimage – a 159.7km journey!
Horst never lets his MS diagnosis get in the way of
achieving his epic adventures - we can't wait to see what
journey he will tackle next.
In case you missed it, you can read Horst's story here:
https://mswa.org.au/living-well/our-stories/horst-bemmerl
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