National TV: Channel 10
On Monday the 7th of July, the APF was featured on the 9am program with David and Kim. We were represented by Beth and Connor Doig, Kel Childs and Professor Ken Ho from the Pituitary Research Unit at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Professor Ho spoke with regards to the medical aspect of pituitary illnesses and treatment. Professor Ho was incredibly informative and covered a lot in the short amount of air time. Connor, who is 10, has Panhypopituitarism. Beth, Connor’s mum and Connor spoke with regards to his condition and the limitations of the growth hormone injections which Connor requires on a daily basis. David and Kim were in awe of Connor who talked about how he gave himself his own injections!
Kel spoke briefly about his condition, Acromegaly and also discussed the APF and our upcoming Pituitary Awareness Week and seminars. This was a fantastic opportunity for the APF to raise awareness in the community. I have had great feedback from both members and non-members. I would like to send a huge thanks to Beth, Gavin, Connor and Grace Doig and Kel Childs for taking time out of their busy schedule to fly down to “sunny Melbourne” to support the APF. We also greatly appreciated Professor Ken Ho traveling to the Channel 10 studios in Sydney to link up by satellite. My gratitude is also extended to both Laureen Deale and Timothy Powell, producers of the 9am program who helped make it all possible!
Jill Murray
Professor Ken Ho Kel Childs, Beth Doig, Connor Doig & Jill Murray
South Australia
Peter Goers, announcer with ABC FM Radio, invited the APF on to his program on Monday 21 July. Professor David Torpy, Endocrinologist, Pam Nicholson who suffers with Acromegaly and Loretta Schar attended. Peter Goers had never heard of the APF or even the pituitary gland. Peter spread on his desk two large posters regarding the endocrine system and he kept looking at them while Professor Torpy was talking. He then interspersed the discussion with questions directed to Pam about how she felt prior to diagnosis, during treatment and how she was currently. He also asked Loretta questions about the APF, how long she had been involved and what we do. The interview went for about 20 minutes and Loretta found him to be genuinely interested in the talk and particularly endocrine disorders.
Western Australia
Elizabeth Howell was interviewed by Kerry Scott on community station, Radio Fremantle. Kerry hosts a medical programme and had interviewed Elizabeth last year. Kerry is proving to be a great supporter of the APF. The seminar was promoted on both her medical programme and on a gardening show she hosts on another community radio station Curtin FM. Not only did she attend the seminar but she also arranged for three more interviews, one from Dr. Hurley, another from Emily McKenzie our new co-ordinator and the third from Jenny John, an APF member who is also the state co-ordinator for the Addison’s Support group. Thank you Kerry! During Pituitary Awareness Week, Elizabeth was interviewed on Curtin FM Radio by Liz Pye. The station targets the discerning audience of 45 years and over and according to statistics broadcasts to over 140,000 listeners. The APF is very grateful to Alwyne Parker who kindly agreed to be interviewed by the ABC (south west). Alwyne was able to share her story and promote the APF to country listeners in the south west of the state. All interviews touched on what causes pituitary disease; types of; treatment options and a short overview of our lives since receiving the diagnosis of acromegaly. The interviews concluded by promoting the APF and giving contact details.
Queensland
4GR - Radio Toowoomba. Sue Kozij participated in a short interview with Graham Healey on The Midday Show to promote Pituitary Awareness Week. Graham asked many questions mostly related to where the gland was situated, what the symptoms are and where was the best place to get treatment. Sue thought this a great opportunity to encourage people with symptoms, however subtle, to suggest to their GP they could be pituitary related, and request tests so that they can be referred to a specialist in the field called an “Endocrinologist”.
LISTEN TO PODCAST HERE!!!
Channel 9 Local News NQ & Townsville Bulletin - Ann Robinson, presenter at the Townsville seminar spoke briefly about pituitary disease with Stephanie Dank and her daughter Chloe Grace Dank who was born with Panhypopituriatism on the 16th June 2005. Stephanie spoke with both Channel 9 & the Townsville Bulletin about life dealing day to day with the condition - for example amounts of medication along with injections that Chloe needs to have daily. It was also explained to them about what happens when she gets sick and the urgency of getting medical help straight away. Stephanie was hoping that doing these interviews would raise awareness with nurses and doctors alike about how to deal with her in an emergency, because she finds that not enough medical people know about the condition apart from specialists. Chloe is a pretty average 3 year old apart from the medication and the stress she causes Stephanie, but says she wouldn’t have it any other way!
Townville Sun – Kay Richter, member, was interviewed and a photo taken for the Sun newspaper. Kay spoke of her protracted diagnosis and the symptoms of her condition, Acromegaly. Kay also promoted the Australian Pituitary Foundation as a very valuable organization to be a member of.
“Good work Kay!!!”
Tasmania
Coastal Times Newspaper, Burnie. Member, Melissa Syme always comes to the fore down there in Tasmania when we call on her to help with publicity! Thank you Melissa. Melissa had a couple of photos done which were published along with her story of diagnosis, which were initially symptoms of vision impairment. It is a great article, setting out information about the APF as well as symptoms to look for and what can go wrong... click here