Members were joined by Workers Club president Tony Dawson and CEO Brett Gorham for the cake cutting.

The Goulburn Workers Club has supported our Parkinson's Group since the very beginning and are always there to help us out in everything we do.

The Parkinson's Support Group was started by Michael and Gill O'Connor with the first meeting being held at their home in 2006.

They started the Support Group after Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2002, they didn't know anybody else in the area with Parkinson's that they could talk to and wanted to talk to others experiencing what they were.

"The group has had a changing member base, some are not well enough to attend meetings while sadly some others have passed away but we now have others joining the group and we are keen to have anybody else in the region, family, friends or person with Parkinson's join,”Gill  O’Çonnor said.

“It is amazing to know that others are going through what you are, you are not alone with this disease  - we are all in it together.

“Our meetings are held monthly on the second Thursday each month (except January) at 10:30am at the Goulburn Workers Club.

“Some months we have guest speakers, other months we just discuss with each other what problems we may be encountering at the time.

“It's great to have input from others. Sometime we may go on an outing/bus trip or have a barbecue get together.

“It is a very relaxed atmosphere where family and friends are always welcome. Why not come and have a cuppa and a chat.

“Parkinson's Disease receives no Government funding, either State or Federal.

“We are currently focusing on raising funds for the appointment of a Neurological Clinical Nurse Specialist, here in Goulburn, who would assist so many in the region acting as a go-between for medical personnel and patient/carer/family.

“Many of our members travel hours to be seen by their Neurologist. If for example, a medication adjustment is prescribed and it doesn't work as planned, they then have to wait for an appointment again, possibly months down the track, and travel hours again, all the while with their medication not working as it should.

“A nurse could short-cut this whole process by liaising with the Neurologist.

“We have been advised that in other regions where these Nurses have been established, hospitalisation times have reduced drastically and entry to aged care facilities has been delayed.”

Gill and Michael O’Connor have taken to the sky about to set off on their 180km Mont Blanc Circuit walking trip to raise funds for the Neurological Clinical Nurse Specialist. 

If people would like to follow their trip, they can do so by going to the Everyday Hero page and search Mick and Gill - they will be posting pictures and updates on there.