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Edition 35, 2020
Hi Friend,
Welcome to Brainwaves.
I've recently started to notice increased advertising from businesses and charities (like us) who are struggling to remain afloat during COVID-19 challenges. Something I am focussed on is the type of messaging we are conveying. Epilepsy Tasmania is conscious of moving forward now - from crisis intervention messages to a more positive space of hope and resilience and we are trying to ensure everything we are doing (Walk For Epilepsy, our new TV advert and social media) contribute towards resilient mental health and wellbeing.
Also, a quick reminder for us all to maintain our physical distancing and other government health recommendations.
I would like to give a personal shout out to all the people who have been busy fundraising for us this year. The provision of our services and support to Tasmanians is reliant on government funding and our vital fundraisers and donors.
Our Bunnings BBQ fundraisers are back again so I would also like to thank Bunnings in Kingston for their support.
Take care,
Wendy Groot, CEO Epilepsy Tasmania.
Our Critical Service Energy Audit
We'd like to thank TasNetworks and Sustainable Living Tasmania for a recent complementary critical service energy audit they undertook of our Launceston office.
We are implementing their recommendations to reduce our footprint while being able to divert more of our infrastructure costs to Tasmanian service provision. A win-win!
Have you heard of SUDEP?
SUDEP Action Day is a special day that brings organisations and people together to raise awareness of SUDEP and epilepsy deaths worldwide.
Launched on 23 October 2014 it shines a light on the largest cause of death in people with epilepsy, helping empower people through increased awareness and raise funds for SUDEP research.
We've Already Walked Around Tassie - twice!
This year's Walk for Epilepsy is a virtual event, so from the 1st to 25th October (these 25 days represent the number of Australians affected by epilepsy: 1 in 25), participants have been choosing their own challenge - walk, run, ride, swim, or a combination to raise awareness of epilepsy and funds for Epilepsy Tasmania.
If you're not doing the walk yourself then please sponsor a Tasmanian on www.WalkForEpilepsy.org.au or sponsor our Epilepsy Tasmania Tassie Tails dog walking team.
So far, Tasmanians have collectively walked over 3,000 kilometres (that's approx twice around Tassie) and we thank people for generously supporting their efforts. It's not too late to join in or sponsor our team.
Thank You Rueben!
Our Friend, Rueben Hollick, has completed his fundraiser to help spread awareness of children with epilepsy. He spent winter encouraging Tasmanians to grow a beard or dye a purple streak in their hair and had great success (and we imagine fun!) doing this.
Thanks Rueben - your efforts will provide direct support to Tasmanians affected by epilepsy. Well done!
NDIS - some good news!
The Commonwealth Government has just allocated some more funds to the NDIS.
This is now an opportunity for people to review their plans and include the services that Epilepsy Tasmania can provide, including our equipment, devices and training.
Our training is specifically targeted at support workers around Understanding and Management of Epilepsy and Seizures, and individualised education for person-specific Epilepsy Management Plans. We aim to ensure that individuals are cared for and provided with appropriate and personalised first aid and support during and after seizures when they are unable to voice this themselves.
SHE-Shed Fundraiser
Sisters, Sage (pictured on the right) and Sidney, held a morning tea at Allison Bassano's She Shed at Invermay to celebrate International Women’s Day (with assistance from Mum Krystal and Grandma).
The girls handed out morning tea and passed the donation tin around and raised some money for Epilepsy Tasmania - awesome effort girls!
The money Sidney and Sage raised will directly help provide services and support to Tasmanians affected by epilepsy.
Our new TV commercial showcases Friends like you!
We are very proud of our new television commercial which we hope will further increase awareness of the services and support Epilepsy Tasmania provides in our state.
Keep an eye out for it on the WIN Network all around Tassie and let us know what you think!
And many thanks to Winning Post Productions and WIN for their continued support of our charity.
School Winners are Grinners
Congratulations to Mount Stuart Primary School and Latrobe High School who were the winners of our #FingerKnittingChallenge and earned themselves some free epilepsy-related training.
Twenty-three schools around Tasmania participated and we had some amazingly creative efforts that made it very tricky choosing winners.
Thank you to all schools, teachers, students and families who participated.
Fundraising BBQs Continue
One of our recent BBQ fundraisers held outside Bunnings in Kingston was nearly washed away in very heavy rain - but it still raised some much-needed funds and we really appreciate the work and willpower of our volunteer Friends - thanks Croon!
Our next BBQ is Sunday 8 November so please say hi and buy a sausage. All proceeds to Epilepsy Tasmania.
Strahan Movie Event - POSTPONED
Due to expected bad weather, this weekend's planned outdoor movie event in Strahan has been postponed until the 13th February. More details to follow.
“Life isn't about finding yourself.
Life is about creating yourself."
George Bernard Shaw
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.
