Hello Friend,

Yesterday I was very pleased to attend the TasCOSS Premier's Luncheon. In particular, to hear his reflections on the past 12 months and ongoing commitment to work closely with community sector organisations like ours to achieve the shared goal of ensuring we all have access to a good life.

We look forward to the excitement of Epilepsy Awareness Month this March and are again working with our national epilepsy partners to #MakeMarchPurple with our own local contribution of #JustGoPurple.

Look out for our exciting and very different animated TV advertisement that will be shown on the WIN Network leading up to and during March. I look forward to hearing your feedback on this!

Remember, it's the simple things that matter - so whatever you do Just Go Purple!

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 sexy-looking nude inspired by Picasso's blue period piece; Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Starry Night; or a face in Picasso's cubist style.

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.

March is Epilepsy Awareness Month, where we raise the awareness that enables our work throughout the rest of the year.

20,000 Tasmanians have epilepsy and another 80,000 are affected as supporting family members, classmates, work colleagues, employers, first responders and so on. That's one-fifth of our state's population who rely on services and support from Epilepsy Tasmania.

We need your business, shop, school or building to light up purple to create awareness of epilepsy throughout March. We can supply free purple gel to help.

We need your help running some of our March events:

Government House Open Garden (Hobart): Wednesday 3 March. Ticket numbers this year are more limited, but you don't need to miss out or pay if you are one of our garden tour guides! Needed between 10 am and 1 pm.

Bunnings Community Sausage Sizzle (Kingston): Saturday 20 March. A couple of hours in a team, making new friends and having a laugh anytime between 8 am and 4 pm.

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.

Flick the Bean coffee day (Launceston): Saturday 13 March. Greeting customers and selling merchandise at either Invermay or High Street. 7 am to 10 am.

Starry Starry Night - Purple Party, Hobart Town Hall: Friday 26 March. 7 pm to 9.30 pm.

Phone or email your interest to 6344 6881 or email admin@epilepsytasmania.org.au

“Every day may not be good,

but there is something good in every day."