Northern Branch

Committee

The Northern branch is governed by a committee who all volunteer their time and expertise. The committee for the year as voted at the AGM held in May 2010:

Chairperson:	Claire Siddens
Vice Chairperson:	To be agreed
Secretary:	Joy Jenkin
Treasurer:	Lew Pulman (Te Kuiti)
Committee Members:	Huhannah Hickey Robyn Chester (Tauranga) Freda Evans Leigh Gleeson (Te Awamutu)

 

Staff

The Northern branch employs a small number of paid staff including:

Denise Ganley	Office manager
Tim Dempsey	Fundraiser
Joanna Baylis	Fieldworker
New Members:
Darian Smith	Fieldworker
Jenny Thornhill	Fieldworker

Northern Chairpersons Report - 2010

Click here to download the 2010 Northern Chairpersons Report.
Click here to download the 2009 Northern Chairpersons Report.

Waikato/BOP Partner's Group

As some of you may know, last year we established an Auckland Partner’s Group which began with a dinner and has since grown to a group of around 20-30 couples who meet socially every couple of months, usually for lunch or dinner.

It was our intention to run the Auckland group as a pilot and if it was successful to then take this to the other regions in our branch area. Consequently we have decided that we should see whether members in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty areas would be interested in forming a similar group.

The idea behind it came from one of our members who lamented that there were not many opportunities for her husband to meet others who could understand their home situation, and the impact that living with a person with a disability can have on everyday life and relationships. Having said that, this group is just a social one, an opportunity to meet others in similar circumstances.

The inaugural event for this group will be a lunch on Sunday 1st August at 12.30pm, at the Powerhouse Café at Lake Karapiro. The cost is $16 per person for a light lunch of sandwiches, savouries, slices and tea and coffee.
www.powerhousekarapiro.co.nz

Please RSVP by 15th July to Denise Ganley on (09) 415-5682 or 0800 636 787.

Two New Fieldworkers

Muscular Dystrophy Northern is very excited to announce that after a long and exhaustive search we have appointed two new Fieldworkers who will be joining the team to work 20 hours a week each. As you may know, Joanna has been very ‘snowed under’ with visits and other associated work for some time and so she is particularly pleased that the addition of Jenny and Darian will allow MDN to expand on some of the existing services such as the Partner’s Group for other areas, and to allow more coverage of additional services like attendance at clinics, more support groups and other ideas.

I have asked them both to write a brief introduction about themselves:

Darian Smith
My name is Darian Smith. I'm a qualified counselor and have spent the last two years working part time for Arthritis NZ, part time in private practice, and occasionally as an officer of the Dragon Corps in the TV show "Legend of the Seeker". I also write fiction and have been involved in a range of community development projects. As my wife has Myotonic Dystrophy, I feel a strong personal connection to MDN's mission to support New Zealanders affected by neuromuscular conditions and I am very excited to be joining the team as a fieldworker.

Jenny Thornhill
I am really excited to be starting my new role as Field Worker with Muscular Dystrophy Northern on 3rd May. I have quite a mixed bag of past experience which began with completing my Physiotherapy degree in 1999 at the Auckland Institute of Technology. I then worked for the Taranaki District Health Board gaining general experience in a variety of different areas before settling in my role as a Visiting Neuro developmental Therapist. I worked primarily with families with babies 0-2 years old who were at risk of developmental delay.
My role involved monitoring babies at risk and providing early intervention at the first sign of any difficulties. This could be in the form of therapy in the home, providing equipment, teaching parents and caregivers how to facilitate development, linking up with appropriate support services and liaison with other members of the paediatric team.
I then moved into Case Management with ACC in 2005 helping people rehabilitate following serious injury. In 2007 I left for London with my family and ended up working for a private rehabilitation company in a similar Case Management role. It was a very different environment in the UK. With no ACC scheme, getting funding approved for rehabilitation sometimes required lengthy negotiation between multiple parties.
In March 2009 I went on Maternity Leave and we returned home from the UK after campervaning around Europe (yes, with 2 children!) in October 2009 to settle on the North Shore.
I am really looking forward to meeting the members of Muscular Dystrophy Northern and finding out how best the new "team" can be of service.

Northern Branch Facebook Page

The Northern Branch now has a Facebook page which will have photos, events and lots more on it. If you would like to check it out go to http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/MDA-Northern/313538659363?v=wall

Entertainment Books

We are selling the Entertainment Books again this year, they are $65 each plus $5 postage and packing. Please contact Denise to place your order on 0800 636 787 or 09 415 5682

UPCOMING EVENTS

Away Visits for Joanna our Fieldworker

Joanna’s away visits will be – late February, Northland, late March Waikato, April BOP, May Central North Is, and August Northland again.

Annual Mangawhai Ball

Date: Saturday 14^th August
More information to be provided soon.

Waikato's Health and Disability Expo

Date: Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th September
Location: Claudelands Event Centre

Christmas Party

Date: Sunday 21^st November
Location: Hamilton Gardens

More details will be provided nearer the date