north
queensland group
reports' archive
Archive of past reports from the SSPA North Queensland Group.
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The Northern Qld. SSPA Group had a meeting in Cairns on July 21. Four families were able to have their first consultations with Professor David Sillence, which were very profitable. A 35 year old mother and her 2 year old son were diagnosed with hypochondroplasia, a 6 year old girl was diagnosed with SED, and a 74 year old lady was diagnosed with achondroplasia - after all these years! A 12 year old boy with brittle bones found out a lot of information about his condition also.
We had a BBQ at someone's house where ten families gathered, with half of us meeting for the first time ever. From Scotland we had a mother with her 7 year old boy with brittle bones. He was about 1 metre tall and such an amazing person! Professor Sillence was able to stay for about an hour before his conference meeting, which gave us a great opportunity to catch up with him. One family drove nine hours from Mackay to be there!
During the BBQ, 12 year old Grant with diastrophic dwarfism, who is meant to be limited and careful with what he does, hopped out of his wheelchair and climbed up the waterfall rocks of the pool and jumped in several times, much to Professor Sillence's horror and amazement!! Our 15 year old computer whiz, Christopher, was busy getting information off the internet for our newly diagnosed folk, and he's keen to start a website for our NQ Group next year! Most of the other kids played cricket, while others got acquainted.
Our Group members are now able to be seen by the Paediatrics service team from the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane, which has about six specialists in different fields under Professor Sillence and Dr. Jim McGill's training. The service team come to Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns twice a year in their bus for consultations, which is a wonderful service to have. We're hoping to have a conference with them in November in Townsville for our Group.
Our last meeting for the year will be in December in Rockhampton, where we have yet to meet a few more families for the first time. At each of these towns we get media coverage, which is good advertising for the NQSSPA Group.
That's our latest news from up here in north tropical Queensland.
Regards,
Heather Knuth, NQSSPA Co-ordinator
The Nth Qld branch hasn't had any get-togethers this year, due to distance. However, individually we catch up with each other when we can. I was able to catch up with Cairns folk while there.
Chris Dickens, aged 17 years, won numerous medals in Spain recently at a para-olympics swimming carnival, and Grant Patterson has won numerous medals in local swimming carnivals. The 'Sporting Wheelies' has been great for our kids up north.
Regards,
Heather Knuth, NQSSPA Co-ordinator
The Nth Qld group had their first meeting of the year in Townsville on Sat 13th at a noisy Kids Mania playground. One family drove 5hrs from Ravenshoe near Cairns and another drove 5hrs from Mackay, and I myself drove 2hrs from Charters Towers to meet a new family Sandra and Greg who have a child with achondroplasia, who was diagnosed at three months of age. Sandra's mother in Townsville contacted me via email and we all spoke by phone and answered many questions and fears. They said they were coming to Townsville again and would love to meet our group so we had a lovely time getting to know them. We would now like to see the Brisbane group follow up by just having a casual get together so they can meet others in their local town.
We are going to ask Prof. Silence if he can visit Nth Qld again also.
We are planning to come to the Qld convention next year and looking forward to it.
Two of our SED children in Townsville have just had spinal fusions which is quite an amazing sight and another SED child is about to have one in May.
My husband Shane won the last State election for the seat of Charters Towers electorate which is one of the 4 biggest seats in Qld (has 33 towns) He is also the Shadow Minister for Disabilities which we are delighted about. We are taking the kids to parliament this week to see Shane get sworn in and opening of parliament etc. Will stay in his room at parliament, enjoying his new car, office, wage etc but you get the critics as well as the glamour.
A funny statement from my son Daniel, 6yrs old, when at doctors and the doctor was looking at his perforated eardrum. The doctor said “see the hole”? and Daniel’s eyes opened wide and shocked he said "What, can you see my brain"!
That’s all our news for this term. We plan to have a get together in Mackay in June holidays and Ravenshoe in September.
Happy Easter All!
Regards,
Heather Knuth
We are meeting in Mackay on 4th July.
A film crew from Melbourne and Townsville’s genetics clinics did a video on Daniel and people with a few other disabilities to show doctors in Universities studying medicine.
Regards,
Heather Knuth
Secretary, Nth Qld
T
hank you everyone who came to the convention and making it a wonderful experience with happy memories that will never be forgotten. For those of you who couldn't make it, I'll explain a little about our week.The first night was a meet and greet where you’d normally play a few games to get folk mingling. However, we didn't have to as everyone just talked and talked as though we had all known each other for years. The kids all hung around each other and were off for a week of fun together. They are still talking via email and SMS every night. The medical day was interesting and 12 families got to have appointments with Prof. Sillence and Dr Jenny Ault. We hired a juke-box for a disco and my little Daniel danced and sang the night away. He never goes to the discos at school but he felt right at home with all of his new short friends. Every day he cried that he didn't want to leave his new friends and continually asks when we are going to see them again.
The second day we all had a trip to the Barrier reef and that night a trivia night. Everyone was quite surprised when Rose called out “number fifteen” and we all jumped up and shouted BINGO! That was a good trick!
On day three we had a fun sports morning, a three legged race with one short and one tall person, sack races with garbage bags that broke (so we ran!), egg and spoon race with plastic golf balls that kept falling off, tug of war with a thin rope that broke and sent us all to the ground, T-ball, soccer and then the biggest waterbomb fight in history. It ended up with the adults throwing buckets and plastic bags of water over each other… this went on for two hours! Then we enjoyed Jetski rides, tube rides, paddle boats and swimming. I also took a group of girls Four-Wheel Driving; I don't think they will ever forget! That night we went to watch Cane toad races, in which two of our families paid around $50 for a toad. One came last while the other won $120!
On day four we went to beautiful Alma Bay for swimming and rock climbing following the AGM. That night we played charades and heard some of the talented kids sing.
Day five after a bus tour of the island we had a sandcastle competition and played at the beach. Before we knew it our farewell night had arrived and we danced the night away, which ended in a big group hug and tears.
The Queensland group will get together in Rockhampton in January so all the kids can see each other again. If any kids from other states want to join us you’re welcome to stay with us! Mikey, Terry, con your parents to send you here!!
A big thank you to the committee that made this happen, a first for North Queensland. We appreciated you all travelling hear and getting to know you all, our second family.
To those that couldn't make it, we hope to see you at convention 2006, we won't miss it!
Love to all,
The NQ SSPA has been quite busy of late, organising our Trivia afternoon. We did have our Easter picnic, although we had to postpone from the actual Easter weekend, as it had been pouring rain, so we didn’t fancy being eaten alive by mosquito’s and wading thru mud puddles just to have an Easter egg hunt, so we had it the following weekend, and it was a lovely afternoon, however not all of our members could attend, but a good time was had by all who did.
Our Trivia afternoon is on at the same time as the national council meeting ironically enough. We have been flat out trying to get donations, and sorting out what we need to make this event a wonderful experience for all who attend. We have been overwhelmed with donations, and our sincere thanks goes out to those from down south who have supported us up here and donated items for our day. I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.
We did have a bit of a get together at the strand again, just to sort out some things with regard to our trivia day, about 3 weeks ago, and as it happens, there is a boarding school across from where we were seated. So we had a few students who were more or less stalking some of our kids, so I decided enough was enough, and went over to them and struck up conversation… They were absolutely amazed with the kids, and wanted to know how old they were etc…. I assured them that our kids are just like them, and that they are short, that’s the only difference, and they were amazed to find that one of our kids was the same age as them…
I like to think that being up here in NQ that we can educate as many people as possible as well as having a good time. I know how some people must feel, but my mission is to EDUCATE! I have always wanted to let people know that short statured people are no different to them, they are just shorter, however I know that this can also be challenging at times to get thru to people, but I am determined to continue to educate, and include.
I will have some news after this weekend as to how our trivia afternoon goes, I am actually a little excited, and we have had most of our families help out with the organisation. Kayleen has done all the trivia questions, Liz, Julie & myself, have gathered items for raffling, along with Kayleen who has donated a substantial amount of items, also Rhyl, (Matt’s grandma) has been extremely helpful in gathering ALL the items, and all the little bit’s and bob’s at her house ready to take over to our hall tomorrow morning. I tell you I would be lost without my mum (Rhyl) at the moment!
I hope you are all having an awesome time at Albury, I wish so bad that I could have been there with you, however this year, we were unable, and with a bit of luck maybe one year in the future, we’ll make it down there to spend the weekend with you all.
I would
like to start by saying a BIG G'day to our new members. I am very happy
to report that we have 2 new members up here in NQ.
As you all know, we had our Trivia Afternoon in June, which was a huge
success. We raised over $700 which is a wonderful effort. We have had a
few events on since the Trivia Day, starting with a road trip to Cairns
in Early July. Liz and I decided it was time to head north and meet up
with the families in Cairns. We headed off on Friday afternoon, and made
it to Cairns around dinner time Friday night, after finding food and
beverages, it was time for sleep. Saturday we arranged to meet at the
Esplanade, the weather was overcast, but we didn't get any rain, so that
was great. We were also treated to a ukulele festival at the Esplanade,
which was a wonderful experience. The kids had a play and a swim, and a
rather late night, but heaps of fun. Sunday we went to the botanical
gardens, and also to watch Lachlan participate in his athletics
carnival. It was a great day, and I am sure Lachlan appreciated his
cheer-squad coming all the way from Townsville! On Monday we headed
home, and I am not afraid to say it, but I know Liz and Tiana were glad
to be rid of us Lundies!
Late July we had a get together out at Alligator Creek at Kayleen's
place. It was a beautiful afternoon, and the kids had a ball. It was a
little too chilly for a dip in the pool, but maybe next time. The kids
saw heaps of wallabies hopping through the bush, which created quite a
stir, when they wanted to go and pat them. We then had a beautiful
dinner followed by lots of fun and laughter.
The last
week of July was the Challenge Games which is held here in Townsville
every year, where school students with a disability are invited to
attend. The games are held on a Wednesday & Thursday. This year Matthew,
Tiana, and Nathan all went along. I must say having 3 kids in the car
all talking at once was a new experience. The kids participated in
numerous different sports, like soccer, ball games, running races,
vortex throw, boccia, frisbee throw, and bean bag throw to name a few.
(Margherita, I think you may need to come up to Townsville to give us
some lessons in Boccia!) The kids received ribbons for participating in
the events, and came home with a shirt (or hat) full of multi coloured
ribbons. There is also a disco held on the Wednesday night that Matt and
Tiana attended. The disco was heaps of fun, great music, and dancing by
everyone. (I know Matt slept well that night!)
Our next event is happening this Sunday. We are having a family fun day
at a local park. We are going to have ball games, egg and spoon races, 3
legged races, basketball and soccer games, not to mention face painting
for the kids too. We will have more info on this day turns out ready for
the next Journal.
So until then, take care.
Sandra
Greetings from
the North of Queensland. I do believe that in the last report we were about to
have our family fun day. We had numerous family and friends come along and join
us for the morning, which was wonderful.
We played soccer, tunnel ball, got our faces painted, and chased around Reece
with lollies all over him, followed by a sausage sizzle. It was a very lovely
morning, and a huge success.
Early October we had the opportunity to go to one of the local motor bike shops
(Rising Sun Honda) here in Townsville, and do some community awareness, and
fundraising. We were able to speak with the public, and let them know all about
us. We received a very warm response and are very happy with how the morning
went.
Late October, we had a visit from Michelle who lives up in Ravenshoe (near
Cairns). Michelle stayed with us for a week, (hope we didn't scare her off) as
she had a work function to attend here in Townsville.
We went out for dinner to Cactus (for happy hour of course), and had a beautiful
lunch and swim at Kaylenes place while she was here, which was heaps of fun. I
know a lot of the kids loved having Michelle here to be able to talk to, and
play soccer with (in Matts case!) We are having our Christmas Party on the 4th
December at Lizs place, where we are bbq-ing roasts, and having roast veggies,
and of course lots of yummy treats. So if you are going to be up here in
Townsville, please let us know, and come along to our Christmas Party!
We are also currently planning next years events and fundraising, as we have the
Convention here in Queensland at Alexandra Headland on the Sunshine Coast. I
hope that we will be able to see you all in our beautiful Sunshine State next
October.
Hope you are all well.
Top
Group report - April 2011
Greetings
from North Queensland.
What a start to the year we have had!
We had our Christmas Party in December which was a lovely day. The kids
had a blast, and the food was delicious. A BIG thank you to all that
came along, it was great to have our extended family
members with us also. I must also say thank you to Liz, Linda & Rhyl for
making sure everyone had a great time.
Our start to this year has been filled with highs and low’s I must say.
We have had flooding, cyclone Anthony, & of course the scary cyclone
Yasi. I must say from a personal point of view, I never wish to
go through something like that again. However early January, we had a
visit from Cooper and his family who live in Mackay (about 4 hours
away). We had a great morning relaxing by the pool.
We have started planning our fundraising and social events for the year,
with a Girls Night in for April, craft market stall in April & May,
Disco for the kids in May, and our Trivia day in June. We hope to have a
great turnout at all these events.
We are also looking forward to the Convention at Alexander Headland in
Sept/October this year. It will be great to catch up with all our mates
again.
Until next time.
Sandra
Any comments or suggestions should be
forwarded to: francisjk@bigpond.com
Copyright: ©1998 Short Statured People of Australia Inc. All rights
reserved.
Last updated:
28 December, 2011