Newsletter No 155 Sept 2014 Our Federation Website is; www.af.org.nz ALL COMMUNICATION TO: President’s Message Amputee Society of Waikato, Bay of Plenty & Districts Inc. P O Box 15130 HELLO EVERYONE Dinsdale Hamilton 3243 Gentle reminder about our Mobility Scooters and Wheelchairs Have you ever thought you might like to “Try” a Mobility Scooter, just to see if it would fit in with your lifestyle? Upcoming Social Have you recently had an operation you are recovering from and would still like to get out and about? WELCOME EVERYONE! Have you ever thought you might like to use a Mobility Scooter while MARK THIS DATE DOWN IN YOUR the rest of your family or friends take a walk? CALENDAR WELL YOU CAN? Just remember our Society has its own Mobility Scooters, one is 29 November 2014 for a long term use and the other for short term use. Waihi Beach RSA Time: 12.30 pm Please contact me, Lee Cook to organise either one of these for rental. We have Price for Lunch $20.00 a purpose built trailer to deliver to your place. Partners, family and friends all Don’t forget we have a couple of standard wheelchairs, and a bath stool too. welcome. ODD SPOTS Numbers to Lee Cook by: Reindeer like to eat BANANAS. November 2014 Rice is the main food consumed for half the people worldwide The average person falls asleep in seven minutes LEE COOK 07 8463177 OR EMAIL Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries ME [email protected] It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body. Please contact Kerry Wilfred‐Riley our Field Officer if you have any concerns, she is available at the Limb Centre visits and can be phoned if you need a helping hand. I, urge you all to come along to our Christmas Lunch on 29 November, we had a blast at the last lunch in Tauranga and I’m sure this one will be exactly the same. Kind regards Lee PRESIDENT & EDITOR SADLY - No more Prantal We recently had an enquiry about Prantal Powder from one of our members and after checking with Lorraine Peacock our National Coordinator from the Federation she advised us to try Derma Prevent which is available at Limb Centres and replaces the Prantal Powder. She understands it works well to reduce perspiration and prevent chaffing. Commonwealth Games 2014 Glasgow Hands up who enjoyed the Commonwealth Games, which included our Amputees, Sophie Pascoe winning Gold in Swimming and Lynda Bennett from Waikato along with Barry Wynks and Mark Noble winning Silver in the Lawn Bowls open Triples it’s an absolute credit to these athletes, we can only imagine how much training goes into getting these athletes to this stage, I mean competing in the Common Wealth Games is a true honor. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ALL Integration not segregation is just incredible, and hats off to those who pushed for the para‐sports at the Glasgow Games. But para‐sports haven’t always been part of the Commonwealth Games schedule. In fact, this is just the fourth Commonwealth Games that para‐sport competitors have been included. The para‐sport athletes at these Games are not just athletes with physical disability, but also those with vision impairment, amputees and those with cerebral palsy, head injury or stroke. And like athletes that compete at the Paralympics, those at the Commonwealth Games are elite performers who have gone through rigorous selection criteria to make the team – they are the best of their classes. Para‐sporting Commonwealth history The first demonstration para‐sport events were held at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia. Manchester 2002 became the first Commonwealth Games to fully integrate athletes with disabilities in the sport program. In the Manchester 2002 program there were 10 full medal events across five para‐sports including athletics, lawn bowls, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting, and the number of para‐sport events integrated within the Commonwealth Games program has only increased since. LET’S GET TOGETHER YEAH, YEAH, YEAH,! OUR CHRISTMAS SOCIAL FUNCTION IS AT WAIHI BEACH Waihi RSA Christmas Function Date; 29 November 2014 Time; 12.30 pm Lunch is Buffet $20.00 per head Partners, family and friends all welcome. WE HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!!! Finance MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION ($10.00) $............... Associate Membership for your partner/spouse ($10.00) $............... Donation to Society funds (Donations over $5 are tax deductible) $............... Total enclosed $............... Please make your cheque payable to Amputee Society of Waikato, Bay of Plenty & Districts Inc. Name……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (include name of partner/spouse if subscribing as an Associate Member Address…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Phone Number ……………………………………………………………………… Email address…………………………………………………………………. Direct payment May be made to our Westpac Account 031555 0088303 00. Tick the box if paid by Internet + date. Date …………………… Please include reference on payment as to who you are. New Members – welcome to you ALL PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS, we look forward to meeting you at one of our Social events. Mrs Marilyn Boorer 60 Holland Road Fairfield Hamilton 07 853 8742 Bi‐lateral AK Mr Greg O'Neill 57 Hendon Road Fairview Downs 3214 Leanne Adams 5 Norrie Ave Raglan Mr Ryan Mc Indo 2883 State Highway 1 R.D.2 Putaruru Mr Scoon 19 Collie Drive Rotorua Mr Malcolm Mc Coll 9 Noble Street Nukahau Taupo 3330 Kerry’s Field Officer News Greetings Everyone Well I hope you have been able to stay upright in this very windy weather we have been experiencing lately. I have been caught out a few times and have found myself cling to poles fences, whatever comes to hand as I make my way around the town. Walking sticks and rubber soled shoes certainly make life easier in weather like this, although the decision not to go out may well be a more sensible one for me. Any way I digress, have you seen the New Challenge and Purpose books that came out this month? They have been reprinted with the new logo and have been updated, sporting a change of colour from red to mauve/burgundy, they are very smart and I have had some very positive feedback from our health professionals. A very big thank you goes out to the Amputees Federation for all their effort and hard work in producing yet another great information pack for Amputees. EQUIPMENT EXPO UPDATE Glo Grip is a new product made for stairs, a glow Grip is placed on the edge of each star, and glows in the dark. How very handy Stair nosing (as they call it) increases the grip on the edge of the stair while also improving visibility of access routes. The product can be used inside and outside the home. This service is available nationwide. If you are interested or know someone who is you can contact www.rampworx.co.nz or phone 09 832 3727 Mob 027 546 9008. Counselling services Vita is a national provider of workplace wellness and support services Vita provides counselling services for people in employment. It cost nothing to attend a number of counselling sessions. Your employer provides this service free to you. You will be able to address issues such as grief and/or loss, motivation and self‐esteem, anxiety and depression, personal trauma, work place stress. The services are confidential and you can make an appointment on their Free Phone number day or night 0508 644 981 or use the self‐referral form on their website www.vitae.co.nz/counselling‐form In local news the Hamilton City Council has employed a new disability adviser Judy Small Important things have happened. A new Disability Policy Action Plan for 2014 / 2015 has been written. The Access for All and HCC staff have given feedback on the plan and like it. It was very valuable getting and including the feedback on the plan from the disability sector and Council staff. You can request a copy by sending an email to Judy. Or if you have any issues you would like her to address please feel free to contact her. Judy Small Disability Advisor Hamilton City Councils E‐mail [email protected] DDI 07 838 6665 Mobile 021 276 5527 Well that is all the news for now, keep warm and smiling everyone, spring will soon be here. Kerry Wilfred‐Riley Field Officer Resignation of Mervyn Monk the CEO of NZALS “It is with regret that we announce the resignation of Mervyn Monk from his position as Chief Executive Officer with the NZALS. He will be leaving NZALS at the end of January 2015”. During his five years with the NZALS, Mervyn has made a major contribution to the organisation’s success, in line with the Board’s objectives and has firmly established greater awareness of both clinical compliance and the need for ongoing CPD. “Of particular note has been his greater awareness and extra attention given to addressing the specific needs and expectations of amputees and their groups. Mervyn has also ensured increases in health benefits funding to include liners and sleeves, as well as supporting regular overseas instruction and training to ensure the NZALS is always updated on the latest developments in componentry and methods.” Mervyn goes with best wishes from the Board. George Reedy NZALS Chairman Our Beloved Secretary/Treasurer Edith Sealey HAS MOVED! Yes, Edith has recently moved down to Woburn, Lower Hutt to be closer to her twin daughters. Edith tells me she has a lovely room with a fabulous bathroom just perfect for her wheelchair too. Next time I’m in Wellington I will call in and visit Edith.