MSSANT Network Magazine Winter 16

Naracoorte Auxiliary
not slowing down
World MS Day
The Naracoorte Auxiliary MS Society has been active since
1968 and they are showing no signs of slowing down with
the recent re-election of Monica Carter as president for the
47th time at their Annual General Meeting.
Secretary Barbara Johnson said there are currently 16
financial members involved with the Naracoorte Auxiliary
MS Society.
“We might be a small group, but each year we raise around
$10,000 for Multiple Sclerosis, which is very worthwhile,”
she said.
“Money raised during the year supports the Naracoorte
Clients Support Group by paying fees to Naracoorte and
Lucindale fitness centres for MS Clients.
“We also purchased cooling vests and exercise balls for
Clients’ private use – as an auxiliary we are able to support
Clients with any extras they may need, depending on their
mobility or lack thereof.”
The group of locals have organised a wide variety of
fundraisers over the past year.
These have included morning teas at Settlers Cafe,
a card day at the Lutheran Church Hall, badge days and
wood raffles.
“As an auxiliary we are very grateful to the community for
the wonderful support,” Barbara said.
“This year we received $1,550 from the Lucindale Ladies
Football Tipping Competition, $300 was donated to MS from
the Kingston Triathlon and $307 was given from the Lions
Christmas Stocking.”
On May 19, the Naracoorte Auxiliary MS Society held
their annual morning coffee fundraiser at the Lutheran
Church Hall.
“We had a trading table and raffle and were delighted to see
many friends supporting the auxiliary,” she said.
The support group meets on the third Thursday every month
at the Lutheran Church Hall, with a morning tea and light
lunch for those attending.
To find out more, contact Naracoorte MS Society
secretary Barbara Johnson on 8762 2063.
To help mark World MS Day, MSSANT held Adelaide’s first
‘Hip Hop Yoga’ with a free breakfast on Thursday, May 26
at the Adelaide Oval.
Australian hip hop yoga pioneer, Sammy Veall led the
session and the event helped to showcase the link between
yoga and management of MS symptoms in a unique way,
generating interest on social media.
100 yogis came together to get their mornings off to a bendy
and twisty start.
Thank you to everyone who came down and to our
volunteers, Adelaide Oval, Sammy Veall, and everyone
else who made MS Hip Hop Yoga a success and helped
us raise awareness for people living with MS in South
Australia and Northern Territory.
Outreach news
The month of May was a busy one with staff heading
on outreach trips to Naracoorte and the mid and upper
north of South Australia.
In Naracoorte, the MS Auxiliary members kicked
things off with a delicious morning tea and set up a
trading table as a fundraising initiative. Clients and
families then stayed on to speak with MS Occupational
Therapist, Ella and Peer Support Coordinator, Mary-
Anne. Topics covered included symptom management,
research, Centrelink, government concessions and
support networks.
Our MS Nurse, Helen and Occupational Therapist
Anna held information sessions at Port Pirie,
Port Augusta and Whyalla. They also held a staff
in-service at the Whyalla Hospital with tele link
to other country hospitals.
There is a visit to Darwin planned for October this year.
The visit will include presentations on employment
support, insurance and superannuation, continence
and sleep advice. Details will be provided via our
website ms.asn.au
MS Game Changer Lottery
On 31 January, the MS Society launched its inaugural MS
Game Changer Lottery, the biggest and most challenging
fundraising project in the Society’s 50 year history.
The Lottery offered a game changing $1.5 million cash
prize to the Grand Prize Winner along with a $250,000
cash Early Bird Prize and a $25,000 cash Bonus Prize.
Only 50,000 tickets were available for sale at $100 each
with an amazing 1 in 15 chance to win.
Our lucky prize winner Kartik Shivaraman was left
speechless when CEO Marcus Stafford surprised him
and his family at his home with the massive $1.5million
Grand Prize Winner’s cheque.
As well as the life-changing cash prizes, other winners
shared in the prize pool of over 3,333 prizes valued at
over $2.4million. Prizes included a BMW 420i Gran Coupe,
Mercedes-Benz C200, Volkswagen Golf, Mazda CX3 and
fantastic holidays to London, Orlando, Gold Coast and Rome.
All proceeds from the MS Game Changer Lottery will go
towards providing services and support to people living MS in
South Australia and the Northern Territory and fund research
into a cause and cure for MS. Thank you to everyone who
showed their support and purchased a ticket. Stay tuned
to msgamechanger.com.au for details on the next lottery!
26 Winter 2016 The MS Society of South Australia & Northern Territory The MS Society of South Australia & Northern Territory Winter 2016 27