14th March, 2010
What a great idea! We've invited the QLD members of the Australian Addisons Disease Association Inc. to join us for morning tea at a private residence in Mt. Ommaney, Brisbane. Both groups have similarities where some of us need replacement steriods which are usually manufactured by our adrenal glands. Please go to http://addisons.org.au/core.htm to see their website.
RSVP - Ph: 07 3376 2083 or email qld address
Paediatric Gathering 27th February
Thank you to Richard & Carolyn, parents of Siobhan for hosting a wonderful BBQ at their home.
We all had a delightful day with two guests, Helen Kearny, who is the Endocrine Nurse from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, and a Mum who was visiting Brisbane due to her son’s medical appointment through the week.
Helen was just great, discussing schooling issues and hydrocortisone concerns with families and joining in on the fun. We would like to thank Helen so much for attending.
Another highlight of the day was having member, Alyse also join us (far right in photo below). It was great to hear her share her story of loosing her hormonal function at a very early age, growing up with panhypopituitarism and looking wonderfully healthy and bright, encouraging parents that all will be well when their kids get older.
Yum! Dessert! Here we all are!
Helen Kearney with Carolyn and Richard Little Elizabeth with Siobhan
News:
Jessica, Backpacker from the UK, was hosted overnight by members in Brisbane recently. Jessica is on full hormone replacement and has traveled thru Japan, Australia, presently doing New Zealand, then she is off to India!
Christmas Day was spent at a hostel in Byron Bay where they had a good Aussie BBQ, then Jess enjoyed the fun of Airlie Beach for New Year’s.
Although Jess only stayed in Brisbane overnight, after she explored the city during the day we managed to show her the highlights of Brisbane by night. The following day we drove up to Maleny (in the hills) and the Sunshine Coast to show off beautiful Queensland.
Jess tells us that she was instrumental in setting up the "Teens & Twenties" group for the UK Pituitary Foundation, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could do that here in Australia. Can you help us?
We wish Jess all the best in her travels - what an inspirational young woman!
Checking out the Cookoo Shop at Maleny At Mt. Cootha Lookout, Brisbane
Social Support Brunch 9th August, 2009
Thanks to Heidi Begley, one of our members, for arranging a” brunch” at the Jetty Kiosk in beautiful seaside Manly. Members took the opportunity to bring Mums, Dads and Sister’s along. It is wonderful to meet the extended families of our members. The all day ‘big breakfast was just that and we all had a lovely time.
Paediatric get-together 1st August 2009
Due to the postponement of the paediatric seminar it was decided that a small number of families get together for a casual BBQ with Marina Noud, Paediatric Endocrine Nurse from the Mater Children’s Hospital as our guest speaker. Marina chatted with parents, discussing all sorts of issues including transition from children’s services to adult services. The kids had a good day as well, throwing the ball for the dogs and watching videos.
Pituitary Awareness Seminar Sat 30th May 2009
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Our "Pituitary and Hormones in Adults" seminar was a great success with a variety of people attending - pituitary patients, family members and friends, GP's, Nurses and Physiotherapists. Thank you to the Nurses and Doctors who put this program together for the Foundation.
 The quality of the presentations was outstanding. As someone said on the day, the pituitary is so complex, the seminar could go all week! Alas, we had to send the presenters home when the day concluded...
We were delighted with the content - the speakers had an easy manner and were clear to understand.
Dr. Jane Howard, Dr. Robert Campbell
 Much thought went in to the preparation of these talks, none overlapped with the content although one speaker joked that the previous speaker was "using his slide". The anatomy of the pituitary and surrounding areas was very comprehensive, as was the information on tumours and their effects (what can go wrong) - learning about topics such as what can happen if the third ventrical gets blocked by a macroadenoma was fascinating and something we would not usually learn.
Dr. Eugene Estella
Mater staff: Sara Fingleton, Tania Watene, Katherine Jackman, Michelle (and baby) Marrington, Kylie Schoeffler
The audience was transfixed at a video of the actual transphenoidal operation, while later we had a bit of a giggle with the Hypopituitarism, Sexuality and Intimacy talk (I think a few people gave their partners a bit of a nudge with some topics). We learned about medications and hormone replacements and treatments. The information on adult growth hormone replacement certainly stirred a few questions.
 
Dr. Tom Slaughter Dr. Michael Redmond
 The Foundation provided patient speakers on the day. Kel Child's spoke of his journey with Acromegaly, his ongoing tumour activity and treatments while sharing a positive attitude to life. Sue Kozij spoke of Cushings Disease and the success of her treatment. This gave the audience different perspective of two diseases, two symptom and diagnosis experiences with two completely different outcomes. One with ongoing disease and hormonal therapy, the other with a cure or "remission" with residual pituitary gland producing the required hormones again.
Colin McNamara (Vision in Paradise),
his companion dog Clancy and Sue Kozij
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Supported by an educational grant from Novartis
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