Bulletin Spring 2018

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL NEWS ROUNDUP
SUZIE BARKER, MSWA BUNBURY OUTREACH COORDINATOR
A big warm “hello” from all the Members and staff at the
Bunbury Hub Outreach Group as we welcome some brighter
weather heading into spring. We are now into our second year
of enjoying our wonderful Outreach area and all the services
this wonderful facility provides for our Members and Clients
here in the south west area.
Apart from our weekly social gatherings and playing various
board games including the popular focus word quizzes, Bogan
Bingo and a trip to the Las Vegas Casino Strip, we have also
enjoyed visits from several guest speakers. They have covered
various topics including a very informative presentation by a
volunteer Dave from the Citizens Advice Bureau, on a range of
situations that may affect any of us in everyday life.
The highlights of this year so far have been firstly, celebrating
World MS Day in late May with a very interesting and
informative presentation given by special guest and MSWA
funded researcher, Dr Lucinda Black on her recent research on
Diet and Living with MS. This was followed by a presentation
from Member Services General Manager Sue Shapland
detailing recent MS research updates and information about
the NDIS soon to commence in the remaining south west
as of October 1, 2018. The morning was very well attended
with many questions asked with informative conversation
and discussions being had around the room regarding these
topics and the coming future changes of the NDIS. Members
were advised that our MSWA NDIS team will contact them all
in August and schedule information sessions in Bunbury – so
stay tuned.
Secondly, after a presentation by guest speaker Mr Laurie
Blurton from the Bunbury Lawn Bowling Club to gauge interest
in the possibility of an outing to their club, we switched tacks to
holding an indoor bowling morning in our large Outreach area.
This proved to be a great success with Members, Clients and
staff participating together. We had a great laugh, so many
thanks to Nicola Ryan and Wilson for loaning their bowling
mat and gear to the Bunbury Group. Laurie has graciously
offered to acquire a donated bowling mat for our group to hold
future bowling challenges and trophy mornings and to provide
a set of bowls to use. Many thanks to Laurie and the Bunbury
Bowling Club for their time and organisation for the morning
and into the future.
We are now looking forward to once again hosting CEO
Marcus Stafford for our regular MSWA update presentation
in late August. We will have a special morning tea before the
presentation, which is always well attended.
Other activities in the pipeline are a holiday trip to Ireland to
find some leprechauns, four leafed clovers, kiss the Blarney
Stone and attempt some Irish dancing!! We are also excited
to have been invited to return to Chalbury Park B & B gardens
in Harvey by owners and friends Jeff and Karen Wittock
for a garden morning tea. Our first outing to this beautiful
establishment was absolutely fabulous, and to enjoy the
immaculate surroundings in spring was, and will be again,
sublime and uplifting for the soul.
As I close, I would like to thank all our Members, Clients
and staff for their great contributions to our group thus far
this year, and always, and for making us who we are today.
TREENDALE GARDENS
PAULA KENNEDY, MSWA TREENDALE RESPITE COORDINATOR
Wayne Harris, a much-loved resident at Treendale, sadly
passed away in June 2018. His parents have bought a lovely
handcrafted wood and glass plant stand for Treendale. It is
a lovely way for us to remember Wayne who was a lively
and entertaining resident and member of our Treendale
community; enjoying a joke, singing along with music and
chatting to all who passed by.
Our Treendale Gardens residential units will be full in August
when a new gentleman moves in. He has regularly visited
us and enjoyed staying in respite and is very much looking
forward to joining us here. The residents continue to enjoy
regular social support from the Individual Options team as well
as regular recreational events in the communal area. Some of
the residents, and our cooks, continue to enjoy working on
our fruit and vegetable
garden and reap the
rewards, with their
meals often including
something homegrown
from the garden.
We still have many wonderful visitors to our respite
house and family holiday unit, who come down to enjoy
the restful atmosphere of Treendale Gardens and the area
in general. We often have space so if you are interested
in a country getaway please give us a call regarding a
booking on 9725 9209, or email Treendale@mswa.org.au
MSWA BULLETIN SPRING 2018 | 33