april 6 - 12 | 2016
regional extra >>> 25,000 readers every week
north east
north east jobs www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
inside page 7
circulating in wangaratta, myrtleford, bright, mt beauty, beechworth, yackandandah, rutherglen, chiltern and districts
Unstoppable optimism By KYLIE WILSON
BUILT FOR TWO:
Parkinson’s sufferer David James, and wife Helen, have taken up tandem bike riding as part of their exercise regime to enjoy time together and help maintain David’s physical fitness. PHOTO: Kylie Wilson
GARDENING WITH
NOELA
RSPCA
FILM
WITH
WINE TALK
THE JUNGLE
MOBY
BOOK
3.75
1 Year Fixed
continued page |
3
Comparison
$1400 off
your establishment costs.*
1 Year Fixed Rate Home Loan Offer wawcu.com.au 1300 368 555 HOME LOANS
LOANS
SAVINGS & INVESTMENTS
TRANSACTIONAL CARDS
INSURANCE
FINANCIAL PLANNING
*Terms & Conditions apply. Comparison rate is based on a secured owner occupied loan of $150,000 over 25 years. WARNING: Comparison rate is only true for the example given & may not include all fees, charges & waivers. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a GLIIHUHQW FRPSDULVRQ UDWH 2IIHU FORVHV EXW FDQ EH DOWHUHG ZLWKRXW QRWLÂżFDWLRQ (VWDEOLVKPHQW IHH RIIHU FRYHUV DSSOLFDWLRQ YDOXDWLRQ :$: OHJDO FRVWV XS WR D WRWDO YDOXH RI 5DLQFKHFN LV IRU RII SUHYDLOLQJ \HDU Âż[HG UDWH PXVW EH DSSOLHG IRU E\ DQG WDNHQ RXW EHIRUH 2IIHU LV IRU QHZ RU UHÂżQDQFHG KRPH ORDQV RYHU $XVWUDOLDQ &UHGLW /LFHQFH
P/06d11597/0516
Not ready yet? Ask about a rain check. Ash & Jessica, WAW Customers
ANITA
5.16
PLUS
up to
WITH
WHILE it creates challenges in his everyday life, David James refuses to let Parkinson’s disease rule or define his life. The Wangaratta resident was diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition back in 2008, at the fairly young age of 55. He said he had noticed symptoms for some time, often his arms would feel like heavy weights at his sides, he would drag his left foot on the ground when he was tired, and his handwriting would change size unexpectedly within the space of a sentence. As well, he had resting tremors in his left hand. While he found his initial diagnosis confronting, he and wife Helen have worked into a regular routine that helps keep him live a happy and healthy life. Regular visits to his neurologist at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne and taking medication several times a day are all part of life. But in months and years to come, he may be eligible for regular infusion therapy with equipment attached to the body, or even deep brain stimulation (DBS) to help manipulate the electrical impulses in the brain. David said that while there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s progressive and degenerative effects, he is optimistic for what research will uncover in years to come, and he freely participates in research studies. Through it all, despite tiredness and physical symptoms such as flinching, he stays very optimistic. “My moods are pretty good,� he said. “I don’t seem to suffer too badly, and if I’m feeling low, I’ll go and visit somebody.