Neural oscillations? Rhythmic patterns? Synchronised electrical pulses? Why do we need brainwaves?
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Edition 38, 2021
Happy New Year Friend,
We are excited and motivated by how well 2021 has started! We have already taken many bookings for epilepsy training and education and are busy finalising preparations for our March awareness month.
This year, we have created a new theme for Epilepsy Awareness Month - Just Go Purple. We have created some exciting new branding and resources that we think will inspire people to just go purple in any way they like to improve awareness of epilepsy and support Tasmanians with epilepsy.
Our Government House Open Garden for Epilepsy event is going ahead this year and we will soon be contacting people who booked (and paid) for last year before publicly advertising spare tickets for sale.
In our next edition of Brainwaves, we will provide a calendar of events and activities for everything on offer during March and ways you can get involved too.
As always, please stay in touch.
Wendy Groot, CEO Epilepsy Tasmania.
Just Go Purple
We are very excited to introduce new fundraising branding that we will launch in time for Epilepsy Awareness Month this March.
Just Go Purple will become our ongoing fundraising initiative and we have created an exciting suite of downloadable resources. Our next edition of Brainwaves will include a website link to show what we have created!
In the meantime... we are on the hunt for businesses, shops and buildings to light up purple to create awareness of epilepsy throughout March. Please let us know of any we can approach and get the word out for us.
And... we are in need of volunteers to help us run events during March or run their own!
Also... IKIN Media will soon be producing six more audio podcasts for us and we are looking for a few more people to share their story about how epilepsy affects them (or affects their family, friends, colleagues, classmates, staff etc.).
Outdoor Movie Fundraisers
Our Longford outdoor movie fundraiser was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Special thanks to our sponsors: OPTUS (especially Peter, Ramen and Ian), Longford Show Society, Rotary Club of Longford, Swift Meats, Banjos Longford and for support from Longford IGA and Roamer Bean Coffee Van. And special thanks to our volunteers: Wendy, Emma, Bec & Dan, Colin & Lynette.
Our next outdoor movie event will be in Strahan on 13 Feb!
Tickets just $10 each or $30 for a family and we would love you to join us for a relaxed outdoor family movie event as we raise funds and awareness to support Epilepsy Tasmania with a screening of Smallfoot.
Strahan event on 13 February. Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/BNLSU
Fundraising Friends
We would like to thank the Snug Tavern Social Club and in particular, Brooke Emery, for their recent fundraising efforts and donations.
Brooke was motivated to create awareness of epilepsy and fundraise for Epilepsy Tasmania after her good friend's teenage son passed away from epilepsy last year. Brooke's dad, who runs the Snug Tavern Social Club, kindly offered to kickstart her fundraising efforts and with the help of their local community gathered some great prizes for a raffle.
Thank you to everyone involved - the money you raised will go into Epilepsy Tasmania's 'Tomorrow Fund' to ensure the organisation can provide ongoing statewide services to Tasmanians affected by epilepsy, including:
- Epilepsy Friendly Workplace training.
- Epilepsy Connect telephone-based peer support service.
- Open Gardens for Epilepsy events in partnership with Blooming Tasmania to raise awareness of epilepsy within relaxed environments.
- Smart Schools resources and training.
- Personalised Support for individuals and families.
- Disability resources and training.
- Seniors resources and training.
New 2021 Epilepsy Surveys
Epilepsy Tasmania has released two new surveys for 2021 to ensure it continues to hear and represent the voices of Tasmanians affected by epilepsy.
They are quick to complete (we promise!) and we encourage you to pass them on to others.
What is a Brainwave?
In order for us to simply think, feel and act, our brains have to work very hard.
The neurons within our brains must constantly communicate with each other using 'brainwaves' or synchronised electrical pulses within our central nervous systems.
You can even see these brainwaves using special sensors placed on the scalp!
Other terms used for brainwaves are neural oscillations and rhythmic or repetitive patterns of neural activity. But we prefer the term Brainwaves and used it to name our newsletter!
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."
Oscar Wilde
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.
