What are you doing this Epilepsy Awareness Month?
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Edition 40, 2021
Hello Friend,
It's Epilepsy Awareness Month!
We began March with an Open Garden at Government House. It was a wonderful day and following Covid-19 requirements during the morning, over 90 people participated in walks around the garden. A heartfelt thank you to Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AC for granting access to the beautiful gardens.
Our new Just Go Purple initiative with downloadable free resources is being well received and it's great to see people accessing them.
Epilepsy Tasmania looks forward to taking part in the Tasmanian Principals Conference in a few days where we will provide advice on Epilepsy Smart Schools training and accreditation.
The Australian Epilepsy Project is a team of epilepsy researchers and clinicians who use artificial intelligence technology to guide clinical epilepsy decisions including diagnosis and precision treatment options including medications or surgery resulting in more people living an independent life, free from seizures.
They have just received $30 million from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund to further their work and Epilepsy Tasmania is proud to partner with them. Read more about this exciting news here:
My journey Exhibition will be the culmination of March at the Hobart Town Hall and we will celebrate at a purple party on the evening of 26th March that we hope to see you all at, (bookings below).
Please let us know how you might be involved during the remainder of the month and tell us how you will #JustGoPurple.
Remember, it's the simple things that matter - so whatever you do Just Go Purple!
Watch our animated TV advert on Youtube:
Wendy Groot, CEO Epilepsy Tasmania.
Just Go Purple is a website devoted to helping individuals, schools and workplaces increase awareness of epilepsy and raise money to support Tasmanians.
Posters, bookmarks, reading lists, fundraising ideas, fun activities, decorations and more are all available to download for free at www.justgopurple.org.au
Epilepsy Awareness Month Activities still to happen:
My Journey Exhibition
Hobart Town Hall, 23 – 28 March from 10 am to 4 pm: A photographic exhibition featuring some Friends of Epilepsy Tasmania and their journeys with epilepsy, as well as an exhibition of paintings and items by Tasmanian artists that will be auctioned. Entry by Gold coin donation. Tea and coffee available by gold coin donation.
Paint and Sip nights
Learn to paint a masterpiece at Archaica Schola studios in a relaxed, social setting. 7 pm to 9.30 pm on Tues 23 and Wed 24 March. Bookings available through their website below and selling fast as Thursday night has already sold out.
Bunnings Community Sausage Sizzles
Come and say hi and buy a snag from our stalls at Kingston on Saturday 20 March and Invermay on Sunday 28 March.
Starry Starry Night ~ Purple Party
Celebrate Purple Day with us on Friday night 26 March from 7 pm to 9.30 pm.
One of the celebrity paintings will be Vincent Van Gogh's “Starry Starry Night” to be included in the auction. Did you know it is possible Van Gogh had epilepsy?
"It has often been said that Van Gogh’s use of yellow was a result of his suffering from xanthopsia, a condition that causes the person to see everything as though through a yellow filter. Xanthopsia was a side effect of digitalis, often used to treat epilepsy." Nicola Swanborough, Epilepsy Review
Starry Starry Night ~ Purple Party
Everyone loves a party, so celebrate Purple Day with us during Epilepsy Awareness Month from 7 to 9.30 pm on Friday 26th March. Tickets just $50 each and all proceeds support Tasmanians with epilepsy.
Enjoy drinks, canapes and conversations while browsing photographs from Epilepsy Tasmania's My Journey Exhibition and bidding on paintings by notable Tasmanians in the ballroom of the beautiful Hobart Town Hall.
Ticket price of $50 pp includes canapes and refreshments, with entertainment provided by the Matthew Ives Big Band and CROON. The ballroom will be lit up purple too!
Vincent Van Gogh's painting 'Starry Starry Night' is our evening's inspiration because we heard a rumour he may have had epilepsy and it is one you can paint yourself at another one of our March events - the Archaia Schola Sip and Drink painting sessions (below).
Epilepsy affects people in many different ways. Some feel exposed like they are naked in public or unable to show their face, some feel as though their features are being totally rearranged.
These 2.5-hour sessions will have you painting either a nude inspired by Picasso's blue period piece or Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Starry Night.
You can choose the colour scheme to suit your decor! Purple perhaps?!
BYO drinks and nibbles (glassware, plates, fridge, ice and bottle openers provided). These sessions are strictly for over 18s, no children even if supervised.
Tickets just $45 pp with proceeds from the three Just Go Purple: Sip & Paint sessions to help Epilepsy Tasmania continue supporting the one-fifth of Tasmania's population who are affected in some way by epilepsy.
Can You Spare a Few Hours?
March is Epilepsy Awareness Month, a time we raise awareness and funds to support Tasmanians with epilepsy - and we still need help at some events:
My Journey Photo-Story Exhibition, Hobart Town Hall: Tuesday 23 to Sunday 28 March. Plenty of role choices, including greeting visitors, making tea and coffee, assisting with COVID-19 online check-in; providing leaflets about Epilepsy Tasmania's services, explaining the exhibition and general chit-chat! Any times between 10 am and 4 pm.
Starry Starry Night - Purple Party, Hobart Town Hall: Friday 26 March. 7 pm to 9.30 pm.
Phone or email your availability to 6344 6881 or admin@epilepsytasmania.org.au
“A garden of purple is always in bloom!"
Epilepsy Tasmania is a not-for-profit community organisation improving the quality of life of Tasmanians with epilepsy, and those around them, through education, coordination and support.
