:: Ménière's Support Group ::

Barb Ryan - Horsham Regional Coordinator

Happy Birthday to us; 11th July, 2005 was when Horsham had its first M.S.G.V. meeting.

As I look back over the past 5 years and where the Horsham group is today, I have the memories of the numerous phone calls to Lynn Poulson and Paul Jenkins at M.S.G.V., Sue Ward at Wimmera Hearing Society, Linda McWaters from Ballarat M.S.G.V. When I first spoke to Linda about starting up the Horsham group, she spoke of her experiences with the Ballarat group and inspired me to go ahead.

Paul Jenkins travelled the 3 hours to Edenhope to deliver all the gear, had lunch and then drove the 3 hours back to Ballarat. M.S.G.V. was keen to get this group going!!

Lynn Polson travelled to Horsham to give a presentation on Meniere's and in conjunction with the Wimmera Hearing Society, the group was launched and I was now the Regional Co-ordinator.

We've had the change in venues - teas at Horsham R.S.L., teas at White Hart Hotel; afternoon tea at Thipathy Coffee Lounge which has now been changed to lunches at Thipathy. Lunchtime meetings are great and it's easier for me to travel the 1 hour home in the daylight rather than late at night and contending with the kangaroos.

We haven't had a guest speaker for quite some time due to our fluctuating attendance but we do enjoy our lunchtime get-togethers where we catch up and head off until we meet again in 2 months time.

Along the way, I've met some great people and still continue to meet lots of people through M.A. and the Wimmera Hearing Society.

We still continue our bi-monthly meetings on the 1st Tuesday of the month. We had a meeting on June 1st - yes a month early but I didn't want to forget our 5 year milestone. Any excuse for a cake!

Thanks to everyone for their support over the past 5 years - without you, we wouldn't be where we are today.