MSWA Bulletin Magazine Summer 17

Sarah Lorrimar, Coordinator of Health Education and Peer
Support, has written an article celebrating our carers. Sumit
Sandhu, Coordinator of Camps, also tells us what an actionpacked
year it has been. But there’s a problem, MSWA has
respite homes at City Beach and Treendale in Bunbury this
year that will cost a considerable amount of money to run
and maintain. The Government contribution is minimal
and now the NDIS is rolling out, their appetite is perhaps
understandably diminished, so ask for some respite in
your package.
Elsewhere, you will find articles from our Counsellors,
Occupational Therapists, and something new to consider,
we have physiotherapists who will teach you boxing as part
of your programme. There is nothing like a few well-placed
jabs and an uppercut to make you feel good about yourself.
Even Narelle, one of our regular contributors living in a
nursing home, has written an article about her picking up a
few pointers regarding the artful skill of throwing a few wellaimed
punches.
Our other regular contributors, Ros Harman and Dr Ong, add to
the spice with their particular point of view. Dawn Burke tells
us all about her volunteers and the immeasurable contribution
each make to the success of the organisation. Then to finish
off the year, every Outreach Group has become involved in
writing articles for this festive summer edition.
These contributions are tremendously important because
both volunteering and ‘Outreach’ is a fundamental tradition
reaching back to before the organisation was incorporated in
1973. Outreach was the cause of people coming together and
volunteering their time at the first meeting and then reaching
out to others, that caused them to form the Society. Christmas
is such a lovely time to reminisce about these things.
One way or another, each of us are volunteers, and
on behalf of the Editorial Committee, we would like to
thank all of you, our readers, for your support and the
contributions you have made throughout the year. Have
a happy, merry festive season, stay cool, and we will
return in the Autumn of 2018.
MEMBER SERVICES XMAS CLOSURES
AND REDUCED COVER
Some of our services are closed or reduced over the break whilst others, like Individual Options run as usual.
Outreach Group and Respite closures and re-opening are as follows:
Outreach Group Last Day for Member Attendance Re-open date
East side (Beechboro) Outreach Monday 11 December 2017 Monday 15 January 2018
Bunbury Outreach Wednesday 13 December 2017 Wednesday 17 January 2018
Wilson Outreach Thursday 14 December 2017 Monday 15 January 2018
Rockingham, Albany and Northside Friday 15 December 2017 Friday 19 January 2018
Margaret Doody Respite House Friday 22 December 2017 Monday 15 January 2018
Treendale Gardens Respite Friday 15 December 2017 Monday 15 January 2018
Wilson Hydro Pool Tuesday 19 December 2017 Monday 15 January 2018
• Wilson Reception, 9365 4888, is unmanned from 2PM Friday, 22 December 2017 to Monday, 8 January 2018
• MS Nursing cover is reduced between Friday, 15 December 2017 to Friday, 12 January 2018. However if you would like to
speak with an MS nurse please call 0458 362 188 excluding weekends and public holidays
• On-call counselling services is available, please call 0458 999 422 excluding weekends and public holidays, staff return
to work Tuesday, 2 January 2018
• Individual Options out of hours contact number is 0417 982 814
• Our Get-In-Touch@mswa.org.au email is monitored over the break
• Beechboro Lodge is closed for renovations from December Friday, 15 December 2017 to Monday, 15 January 2018
The MSWA Member and Client Services Team wish you a safe and happy festive season and look forward to working with you
again in 2018!
Sue Shapland
General Manager
Member Services
4 | MSWA BULLETIN SUMMER 2017