Australia: The Spinal Injuries Association of Australia and The Transverse Myelitis Association Announce Partnership

The Spinal Injuries Association of Australia and The Transverse Myelitis Association announced an affiliate relationship to ensure that members of the TMA from Australia and New Zealand would receive education and support, as well as advocacy for research and clinical care.  The announcement was made at the Spinal Injuries Association Transverse Myelitis Day in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on May 17, 2010.  In so many different ways, this event marked a very auspicious occasion for the TMA and the Spinal Injuries Association.  The very first TM Day in the world was held in Australia on May 12, 1999 and was organized by Ian Hawkins.   This Australian experience led the way for a number of other TM awareness days that have taken place across the United States and around the world.  The announced partnership and awareness day also took place during the Spinal Injuries Association’s celebration of its 50th anniversary of assisting and empowering people to live independently.

Bernice Quinn, Member Networks Coordinator, was instrumental in coordinating the TMA and Spinal Injuries Association partnership and also in the planning of the TM Awareness Day.  David Riley, President of the Spinal Injuries Association addressed the participants at the TM Awareness Day Program and announced that the Spinal Injuries Association would become the affiliate of the TMA in Australia and New Zealand to provide support services and education to people with TM, NMO and ADEM.  Also participating in the Awareness Program were Mark Henley, CEO of the Spinal Injuries Association and John Mayo, the Executive Manager of Community Relations of the Association.

The TM Awareness Day Program included two presentations.  Sandy Siegel, President of The Transverse Myelitis Association talked about the history of the TMA, offered a status report and discussed the future of the Association.  Dr. Benjamin Greenberg, the Director of the TM and NMO Centers, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, offered a presentation on the current state of research in these rare neuroimmunologic disorders.  There was a question and answer session after each presentation which was simulcast to the audience in Australia via web cam.  A lunch followed the presentations and the people who attended the program had time to visit and share in their experiences.  It was a wonderful celebration of the newly formed partnership, as well as an educational and inspirational gathering for all who were able to participate.

The support group leaders in Australia are Errol White and Ian Hawkins.  The support group leaders in New Zealand are Dyllice Eastwood, Jennifer Murray and Steve and Ali Alderton.  These people will remain involved in the TMA community and will continue in their roles as support group leaders in Australia and New Zealand by serving as points of contact for people seeking information and support.  We are so grateful for their many years of service to our community!  Errol has, for more than a decade, taken on the responsibility of distributing all of the TMA publications for our members in both Australia and New Zealand.  We so appreciate all that you have done, Errol, for all of these years.  You are such a good man.

The TMA is honored to have such an exceptional partner organization in Australia.  The Spinal Injuries Association will serve as the affiliate of the TMA for both Australia and New Zealand.  They will distribute the TMA’s publications to our members in Australia and New Zealand and will support our mission and goals for people who have ADEM, NMO and TM.  We look forward to working with the wonderful people at the Spinal Cord Injuries Association in the years to come.