Over 100 people from Shellharbour attended our latest health seminar on 24 October and heard how to get the most out of their appointments and treatments and take more control of their arthritis.
The event was the third in our 2024 rural health seminar schedule. The presentation focused on how people living with arthritis could best use health information and services to make decisions and take action for their condition, otherwise known as building their health literacy.
Held at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club, Arthritis NSW (ANSW) shared the benefits of exercise and nutrition.
The seminar was enthusiastically attended by members and friends of the long-standing ANSW Warilla Shellharbour Branch which has been supporting local residents who live with arthritis since 1988.
Branch President Jill Majkowycz said they had encouraged ANSW to bring the seminar to Warilla because they knew the Illawarra community would support the event. ‘We were glad to be involved and encourage people to come along,’ she said.
‘At least half the seminar audience were from the Branch and our friends, and we all found it inspiring, with lots of useful information. ‘I spoke to many other attendees who said the information was very helpful.’
Knitting a path to $65,000
The Warilla Branch formed 36 years ago to raise money for ANSW’s children’s camps. They’re very proud of the fact that they’ve raised more than $65,000 over the past 14 years. They’re just as proud of the way they’ve raised it – through their handicraft stalls run over the years at Bunnings Shellharbour and Warilla Grove Shopping Centre.
‘We’re very lucky to have a large group of clever ladies who knit and crochet for us,’ Jill said. ‘One of our knitting ladies is 95 years old and, until recently, we had a 103-year-old lady who knitted us toys.’
Their knitted jumpers and beanies sell well in winter and the crocheted hand towels sell out all year round.
The Branch added secondhand books to their stalls this year and sold 200 of them because, as Jill says, libraries are difficult to get to if you’re elderly and don’t drive.
Another handicraft success are the cotton bags the group make to hang over the handles of mobility walkers to carry the users’ phones and keys. ‘We deal with the elderly so we know what they need.’
Jill said the Branch was grateful to the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club which has donated a room for their monthly meetings for 24 years. ‘We held a walkathon along the edge of Lake Illawarra and the club donated the meat for the BBQ and they donated the morning tea for the seminar last week.
‘They and others in the local business community and State Member Anna Watson MP have been very supportive of us.’
‘The Warilla Shellharbour Branch has been a vital and engaging part of Arthritis NSW for 36 years and we are grateful and proud of their contributions,’ said Philanthropy Manager Nick Cadey.
Branch committee members: Jill Majkowycz (President), Sheila Morris (Secretary), John Churchill (Treasurer), John Brooks (Assistant Secretary), Pat Brooks (Social Secretary), Gail Feltham (Assistant Treasurer), Selma Yusuf (Fundraiser).
