Hi there,

Greetings to you all from the middle of winter. We are very lucky with our weather here in WA with our mostly sunny days, but I’ll admit the chilly nights still find me running to put on my pyjamas and Ugg boots at the end of the day or soaking in a hot bath when all the jobs are done!

Another way to keep warm is by exercising, and how great is it that you can exercise whilst supporting a great cause at the same time!!

A recent example of this was Step Up for MSWA where so many teams and individuals climbed the stairs (all 1,103 of them) at Central Park on a cool wintery Sunday, to raise awareness and funds to support people with neurological conditions. This was my first event, and I was amazed at the passion, enthusiasm, and sheer dedication of everyone who organised it and took part to raise over $233,350. Thank you.

I recently went down to Albany – both to attend the MSWA Albany Swim, which the local community supports so well, and to see the new MSWA facility we have just completed. I spoke to the team working there and it is really exciting what this facility offers the community in Albany in terms of supported living accommodation and community services. We are looking forward to officially opening this magnificent facility, soon.

Looking ahead, we have many more opportunities to contribute as individuals, families, communities, and employees. I am so proud, honoured, and excited about the chances we all have to make a greater impact in helping the people we support to live their best lives.

Thank you all for your support and ongoing faith in MSWA as we celebrate a 50-year milestone of doing what we do, and reflect on the many lives the people working, volunteering and supporting have touched and improved.

What a legacy.

Melanie Kiely
MSWA CEO

Take a peek inside the new MSWA Albany Services Centre

Clients and staff have been enthusiastically testing out the new equipment and bespoke facilities at our new $7-million development in Albany.

This state-of-the-art development is made possible by your generosity. Your support of MSWA has directly helped us to expand our footprint in the Great Southern, increasing our capacity to support regional people living with neurological conditions.

Researcher in Focus: Rebecca Russell

MSWA-funded PhD candidate, Rebecca Russell who is part of Associate Professor Lucinda Black’s team at Curtin University takes us through her contributions to the ‘Elucidating diet in MS to improve disease outcomes’. MSWA’s funding has been supporting this work for over six years.

“The internet hosts a wealth of information, not all of which is correct. The influx of information can be overwhelming, confusing, and conflicting, making it difficult for people to navigate and access information that aligns with the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

To make it easier and simpler for people with MS, we will provide clear advice on what dietary changes to make and how to make healthy food choices. In addition, the program will help with selecting, planning, preparing, and cooking foods to create healthy meals.”

Rebecca Russell’s research is just one of the many projects supported by MSWA’s commitment to research.

Pictured above: Tracey Hockey and her son Keelan getting ready to begin their stair climbing challenge on 19 June.

Fundraiser in Focus: Tracey Hockey

Tracey Hockey is truly ‘Team MSWA’. Tracey joined MSWA as Client in 2018, to support her rehabilitation from a stroke. She recently also became a member of staff. Tracey has always supported our fundraising events but this year she wanted to challenge herself to climb the 1,103 stairs of Central Park – twice!

“I signed up because I wanted to challenge myself and raise funds, but I didn’t even know what was possible!” says Tracey, who has had to navigate mobility issues since her stroke.

“I didn’t even know if I could go up those stairs once, let alone twice!”

Her MSWA Physiotherapist, Jack, advised Tracey to complete the challenge with a teammate and Tracey thought it sounded like a great way to spend time with her youngest son, Keelan. “My son was amazing. I never once felt I was going to fall backwards.

“The other people in the stairwell were also amazing. Every single person had an impact on me, and I had an impact on them.

“The guidelines say to keep left, but I had to keep right so I could use the wall for balance. No one minded, everyone was so supportive. One man who passed by me didn’t think he could do another set, but he saw me and said, “If you can do this, I can do another one, and I’ll think of you while I’m doing it.”

Tracey recalls the fantastic feeling of reaching the top of Central Park after the first climb. “How lucky we all were to be able to do that and just sit on top of the world.

“It was definitely harder going up on the second climb. By then, I had to use my left leg and drag my right leg behind me. But I just focused on all the amazing people around me and that’s what got me up to the top again.”

Tracey says she’s incredibly thankful to the different people who supported her fundraising efforts – friends, family, fellow MSWA Clients and staff. “The MSWA Events team helped me organise a workplace ‘poke bowl’ fundraiser. It really felt like a community was in this with me.”

And she’s inspired to challenge herself further in 2023. “Keelan and I are going to do it next year – and we’ll do the Multi Climb!”

Pictured above: Des and Barbara Catherwood celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary in 2013, shortly before Des’ first symptoms of Huntington’s disease appeared.

Staying strong for his family

When Des Catherwood started losing his balance and having trouble manoeuvring around, he knew it was the result of the flawed Huntington gene he had inherited from his mother and grandfather.

“My mother had Huntington’s disease,” explains Des. “She was in a wheelchair and lived in a nursing home for 20 years. My grandfather was in a wheelchair too. Sadly, he took his own life. There wasn’t the help available that there is now.

“Because I knew of my mother’s symptoms, I was aware of what to look out for as I started ageing.”

Did you know MSWA now has an Employment Support Service?

MSWA is excited to add the Employment Support Service to its service portfolio. This is a free service for Clients to access and is the only specialist employment service for people living with multiple sclerosis in Western Australia.

The service was recently awarded a DES 5-star award at the CoACt conference in Brisbane.