2009 NSW Go For Gold Winners
Education |
 Randa Magdi Randa worked in the federal government most of her adult life but having MS has forced her to think about her future and to reassess her earlier goals. Since her diagnosis 10 years ago, Randa has considered a number of options which will allow her to continue to work, to be innovative, creative and productive and she believes she can achieve that through the internet. For the past few years she has been doing free on-line learning and watching how-to videos on youtube. She has made connections with other on-line businesswomen around the world, but needs to further her skills and knowledge in order to set up a website. Randa's dream is to run a successful pet web business with links to a youtube channel and she feels confident that this will be very useful to other animal lovers. Her website www.dogsandcats.com.au is up and running, but she has had to rely heavily on paid professionals to turn her designs and ideas into an actual site. She is unable to do basic things like adding photos because she can’t use the FTP software and she would love to know how to add videos to her site and create a youtube dog and cat channel. So Randa will use her scholarship to receive one-on-one web training, buy a video camera and editing software and seek professional advice on how to plan her business. |
 Katrin Rochford Katrin wrote in her application that she has been obsessed with sport, health and fitness all her life. She drives her family and friends crazy (her words) telling them that they should eat healthier and making them accompany her on walks and runs. She has been teaching health, fitness and Pilates for the past 18 years doing everything from aerobics classes to walking school buses. Katrin was diagnosed with MS after the birth of her first child and was so overwhelmed with fatigue she could barely dress her baby son, but she was determined not to let MS defeat her and she worked hard at becoming stronger and most of her mobility returned. Twelve years and 3 children later, she no longer attends step classes and uses a bike instead of joining the walking bus group. Katrin's more limited mobility has led her down a new path and her dream is to become a Naturopath. Although she is physically unable to help people as much as she used to, there are no limitations on her mind and her determination. To be qualified as a naturopath she would be able to continue teaching people about how to be as healthy and well as they can be. Not only will she be able to help her family and herself, but it would enable her to earn a living doing something she is passionate about. This scholarship will assist her in being able to travel an hour and a half on a weekly basis to fulfil the 400 hours of practical study which is a requirement of the course she has chosen. Katrin is the only scholarship winner unable to be with us today and that is because she is in Athens. We look forward to hearing from her when she returns to Australia. |
 Kandiah Seevaratnam Kandiah was diagnosed with MS in 1998 when he was working as a residential property developer in the local community and running his own construction company. Since then he has not been able to pursue his chosen career, but has always hoped to further his passion and aspirations in the field of construction by continuing his professional education. Limited mobility has hindered Kandiah’s desire to attend any onsite academic classes. However, his dream is to attend the Building Institute of Training and Development to further his passion in the field of building and construction. Additionally, completion of the Building Construction Certificate will allow him to retain his builder’s licence. Studying by distance education will allow him to pursue this dream in a realistic manner and provide the sort of flexibility he needs to be able to cope with his MS and study at the same time. The Go for Gold scholarship will help pay for fees, books and other costs associated with undertaking the certificate. The completion of the course will allow Kandiah to reignite his construction business and he also hopes to be able to help fledgling companies develop within the local community. |
 Marina Kostis Marina states in her application that from her first day of physiotherapy in 2008, yoga, meditation and exercising at the gym have also become a part of her life. It has become part of her and despite any pain she may be experiencing her main goal is to keep fit. Marina was diagnosed at the age of 24 in 2007 the year she was married. She was working for a newspaper where life was all about deadlines which did not sit well with having MS so she had to resign. However, exercise has always been part of her life so her focus moved to maintaining her strength and fitness and to retrain her body to work well again. She strongly believes that exercise and strength training helps her stay in control and she would like to share that philosophy with others. Marina's dream is to become a qualified personal trainer firstly to help others remain fit and healthy, but also to regain employment which will turn her life around and allow her to move forward once again. So Marina will use her scholarship to study Certificate III and IV in Fitness, undertake a Level Two First Aid Course, buy outfits and footwear required by personal trainers and she will invest in mats, thera-bands, hand weights and a stepper amongst other things. |
 Sonja Collett Sonja and her husband had been married just over a month when she was diagnosed with MS. She initially trained to be a hairdresser but cannot continue working in this field because she will not be able to stand for lengthy periods or use her hands as much as required. As she had always planned to further her education she completed a course in Freelance Journalism which inspired her to want to study more and find another source of employment. Sonja's dream is to remain independent (which she states means freedom) and the way she can achieve that is to pursue an education. She wants to undertake a degree in Media Communications which is something she can do from home. She will use her scholarship to purchase a laptop and undertake a bridging course through the Open University and then enrol in a unit at Macquarie University. Sonja aims to improve her mind, become more focused and interested and more engaged in life. She would also like to become more involved in the MS community and become a role model for others to show just what you can do when you learn how to 'walk the tightrope between doing too little and doing too much'. |
The Arts |
 Christopher Scollen Christopher's scholarship application was submitted by his friend Sian Naylor who first met Chris a month before he was diagnosed with MS. Chris was wearing an eye patch, jovially referred to himself as a pirate and promptly had a "Pirate Themed Party" to celebrate his new attire. Despite the uncertainty he experienced during this period, Chris remained optimistic and in high spirits. Today, Sian says, much has changed and Chris has been challenged considerably both physically and mentally which has taxed his lifestyle and his positive outlook. According to Sian, Chris has the skill to pick up the cheapest most maltreated camera and take a photo worthy of publication. He takes stunning photos and his ability to see beauty in the strangest objects and capture it with a scientific accuracy is a testament to his photographic talent. However, Chris’s hands are not steady any more and this has affected his photographic ability and rather shaken his confidence. The Go for Gold scholarship will provide Chris with a professional camera with image stabilising capabilities and accessories such as tripods and remote shutter releases to reduce the impact of a shaking hand. It will enable Chris to pursue his passion for photography and provide him with a creative outlet for his considerable talent which would perhaps otherwise be lost. We have also been told that Chris organised a group for the Sydney to Gong Ride this year and was in the top 100 fundraisers. He has already designed his group's jersey for next year’s ride and is actively recruiting more people to participate. Well done Chris, you prove the old saying that there is no holding a good man down! |
 Lynne Smith Lynne has a dream to work professionally in the radio/television industry as a Voiceover specialist. She currently does weekly volunteer work creating and recording Community Service Announcements at a community radio station (Coastfm 96.3) in Gosford on the Central Coast. She has had excellent training during the past 16 months and has a marvellous mentor, but needs further expert tuition if she is to attain her goal of professional work in the exciting and challenging industry of radio. Lynne states that MS Australia has unwittingly helped to nurture this dream during the 5 years she has been an MS Ambassador because it was through this role that she discovered her talent for public speaking and her dream grew from that. Lynne's original plan was to use the scholarship to undertake professional voiceover training at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School at Moore Park in Sydney. However, this scholarship will enable her not only to do the course she had originally chosen, but it provides her with the opportunity to pursue other training courses should there be something at a more advanced level than the course she will undertake next month in Sydney. |
 Jayne Wilson Jayne worked for many years as a fashion designer and dabbled in painting, illustration, photography, dressmaking and all forms of design. After being widowed in her thirties, Jayne left the workforce to raise her three children, but in 2001 enrolled in a TAFE course. There she completed a vocational assessment which indicated that she had an aptitude for graphic design. She completed Certificate 2 in Desk Top Publishing/Graphic Design but then had to put a career on hold when she was diagnosed with MS in July 2003. Jayne lives on the outskirts of Sydney and enjoyed bushwalking in remote areas of the Wollemi National Park where she took slides and photos of her trips. She had an epiphany when she started to paint again and became so engrossed in her work that she forgot her MS. She entered an exhibition and was awarded a highly commended certificate for a painting of her husband’s old beat up desert boots. This success led her to think further afield and combine her skills in painting and design with the beauty of nature. Jayne's dream is to create large wilderness landscapes and other artworks based on slides, photographs and her visual memory. She will use her scholarship to purchase an art projector, large canvasses, art materials, have her works framed and have photographic prints made from slides to use as reference material in creating artworks. The scholarship will boost her self-esteem immeasurably, have a calming and positive influence on her life and be something to work on using her natural talent. |
 Iva Marsden Iva was diagnosed with MS 23 years ago and often feels like her life has been put on hold. After a few years she needed to use a walker and eventually progressed to a wheelchair which made her feel very self-conscious. As Iva couldn't enjoy her back yard because it was too slopey, she and her husband Frank sold their house and bought another one on a flat block of land. However, the house was smaller and didn’t accommodate a wheelchair, so Iva returned to using the walker which she has steadfastly refused to give up and feels much stronger for her efforts. In the past Iva pursued ceramics with great enthusiasm. She loved being able to draw and trace designs on greenware, paint china and enjoyed the thrill of seeing the results of her work when it was fired. However, she began having difficulty with her hands and gave up her much loved hobby. Iva's dream is to return to ceramics and this scholarship will provide her with the opportunity to take classes, buy tools, glazes and greenware and pay for firing her work. Her wish is to regain the skills she once had and be given the opportunity to participate in activities away from her home and enjoy the companionship of others. |
 Caroline Larcombe Caroline was working as an architect in 1995 and had two young children when she was diagnosed with MS. Her symptoms had been relatively benign until 2006 when she was confined to bed for 9 months. Now unable to practice her profession, Caroline has discovered a passion for painting which provides her with a creative outlet. She paints in oils, mainly painting interior scenes and still life. She tries to paint most days and it provides her with much joy and a meaning to life. Caroline has been invited to exhibit at NG Gallery in Chippendale a few times and has had a significant boost to her self-confidence on a number of occasions when she has sold a painting. The gallery held an exhibition in June this year in support of the F5m Foundation raising money for MS research and Caroline’s work was included in this exhibition. She enters painting competitions and attends a class at the Waverley/Woollahra Art Centre whenever she can. These classes are important because she not only learns more about her craft, but enjoys the social interaction and the discussions about painting. This scholarship will allow Caroline to purchase oil paint and canvases, cover the cost of entering exhibitions and attending art classes. She dreams of holding her own solo exhibition. |
 Julie Anne Hayes Julie Anne moved to Australia to marry and is now the mother of two daughters. She is also a woman of great skill and creativity according to her referees, who also say that she is innovative and a talented inspiration to everyone who knows her. She is gives actively to her local community and charities even though she has often been challenged by having MS. Julie Anne started using a sewing machine when she was 10 and one of her first productions was a yellow dress which she made to wear to school – much to the dismay of her teacher who had been painstakingly encouraging her to make a pencil case. She then made clothes for dolls, herself and friends, later made her own wedding dress and went on to make and sell clothes to colleagues and friends – although never made much money. Two years ago she started making handbags for gifts and was encouraged to sell them. She made about 40 but because her sewing machine had a foot pedal it became harder to use and a year ago she packed up and stopped sewing. She says that she felt like she had lost part of her soul. However, Julie Anne recently went to a craft fair with friends and trialled a machine that has hand controls. She was inspired and her dream is to be able to purchase one of these machines and start sewing again. Her mind is full of ideas of handles and fabrics and she can now start creating again. |
 Gary Norton Gary has always been interested in photography, but it was never something he was able to pursue actively because of work commitments. Being diagnosed with MS 10 years ago changed Gary’s focus and led him back to his interest in photography, but as he stated in his application - this dream is not cheap or simple and he just couldn’t afford to spend the money on the required equipment. Gary’s dream is to buy a DSLR camera and the necessary accessories such as a flash, a wide angle lense, a tripod and a printer capable of producing quality photographs. He would also like to undertake a photography course at TAFE to further his knowledge and improve his skills. He now wants to explore the local area, finding new and interesting sights each day and perhaps do some freelance photography which might even provide him with an income one day. This scholarship will give Gary a new lease on life, make him happier and more focused. It will provide him with a purpose and motivate him to lead a healthier life, spend more time outdoors and greet each day with a more positive outlook. |
Travel |
 Kerry Brooks Kerry was nominated for a scholarship by her daughter Kate who provided a detailed picture of the Brooks family and the challenges they have faced in the last few years. For a decade Kate and her brother Rhys did not know that their mother had MS as she continued to work full time, care for her family, socialise, walk and attend the yoga classes that she loved. In 2007 their father Rod was diagnosed with cancer and required extensive surgery and chemotherapy. At the time, Kate was overseas and Rhys was studying for the HSC so Kerry took on the major responsibility of caring for her husband. Unfortunately, when his health was restored, Kerry’s began to deteriorate and she is now unable to do the things she enjoyed so much. Kate described how this has had a very negative affect on her mother who strongly feels the loss of her independence. Kate’s dream is for her mother to be able to travel, but because of financial restraints she could not afford to do this on her own. Her MS means that she would not be confident about travelling without a companion which of course is more costly. Kate has heard her mother speaking of the happy times she spent in New Zealand and Tasmania where incidentally the climate is better for her health. Recently she has expressed a desire to go to Alaska so Kate decided that a Go for Gold Scholarship might be worth a try. In Kate's application she states 'my mum deserves to be selected for this scholarship, she has been a hard working woman all her life, a committed mother and wife – has gone out her way for others – is a genuinely good person and being able to have a trip away from the pressures of home and the realities of life would significantly improve her state of mind as well as her physical well being.' |
 Kelly Ryan Kelly has 3 gorgeous daughters, Mona, Anita and Anne, aged 12, 8 and 6 who she is raising on her own. Having MS has restricted the type of activity she is able to undertake with her children. Life has not been easy for Kelly or the girls during the past few years and it has been 3 years since they had a holiday together. The memories of that holiday live on and Kelly's dream is to provide her girls with a happy holiday full of laughter and fun. One of Kelly's referees stated that she has always had her children’s best interests at the forefront of her mind and always makes sure that her daughters’ needs are addressed. Her courage and determination are an inspiration as she continues to cope with life's challenges which are difficult enough without having to cope with MS as well. The 3 girls would benefit from a vacation and it would be an opportunity for them to have fun and essentially be kids without the added responsibilities they often take on. Anita, in particular has just come out of hospital and a holiday would be the perfect way for her to recuperate. |
 Ruth Hamilton Ruth has a passion for travel, but since her diagnosis 4 years ago she has felt a little afraid of venturing too far away from her comfort zone and our safe Australian shores where medical help is readily available. However, Ruth has a dream to visit Nepal and particularly to visit the town of Nepalganj so she can visit the full-time community worker who is supported by the parishioners of The Hamilton Baptist Church where Ruth and her husband worship. She and her husband will also be able to join a small group from the church who plan to visit Nepalganj and then trek through an area of the Annapurna mountain range close to Pokhara. Ruth has wanted to visit Nepal for many years to learn about the local work and culture, to support and encourage the local people and then on her return to Australia to encourage the other parishioners in Hamilton to continue to support – and even visit – their partners in Nepal. This is the first visit from the church and it is hoped that there will be more in the years to come. A Go for Gold Scholarship means that Ruth can follow her dream to visit Nepal, to see first hand the difference that her church's sponsorship is making and on her return to Australia undertake more community development work. |
 Kathryn Anne Nielson Kath is a single mother with an 18 year old son Andrew. Following her diagnosis nearly 7 years ago, she has become an active member of the Hunter Region MS Support Group and Secretary of the Fundraising Branch. Kath lives in Newcastle near her parents and her sister but has a younger brother who lives in Perth with his family. Her dream is to be able to go to Perth so she can join in the celebrations for her brother's 40th birthday on the 28th November and also attend her niece’s 21st birthday three weeks later. It will be a very special time and Kath's sister and her family will also be going. On a limited income, Kath would not be able to attend these festivities but with the Go for Gold Scholarship, both Kath and Andrew can fly to Perth and have a real holiday which hasn’t been a possibility because of Kath's ill health. The last two years have been particularly difficult but Kath believes that the long term affects of being able to go to Perth will give both her and Andrew a real boost and have a very positive influence on every aspect of their lives. One of Kath’s referees says that despite the daily challenges, she makes the world a better place. We hope this scholarship makes a world of difference to your life Kath. |
 Karen Vernon Karen has applied for a Go for Gold Scholarship to travel to the United States to investigate the world of book arts and artists. Since her diagnosis 10 years ago the changes to her physical condition have altered both her paid employment and the practice of her artwork. She was previously employed as a Technical Assistant in art departments in TAFE where she produced drawings and paintings. Earlier this year she did some workshops in bookbinding and discovered an avenue that is both exciting and inspirational. Whilst researching the world of Art Books and Book artists, she was inspired to seek out new forms and techniques and found that the largest collections of these unique pieces and limited edition works are housed in the USA. This art form is still in its infancy here in Australia and Karen has an opportunity to travel to the States with a native of Chicago to visit a number of recognised centres for book arts. She plans to visit Columbia College in Chicago, the Minnesota Centre for Book Arts, the Penland School of Arts and Crafts in North Carolina and the Jaffe Centre for Book Arts in Florida. When she returns home Karen plans to run workshops in conjunction with her bookbinding teacher and feels that her background as an exhibiting artist will make a fitting addition to her skills. |
 Sally Tugwell Sally migrated to Australia at the age of ten, but felt displaced, as did other members of her family. The effect of the move away from England caused great unhappiness for Sally’s mother and brothers and Sally keenly felt a loss of her own identity. The Tugwell family had been part of Highcliff in Devon for many generations so there is much family history to be discovered in the area. Sally's dream is to go on a pilgrimage to visit the place of her birth and visit her parents' graves. There are places and people for which she still has a fond connection and it will help bring closure to a part of her life that has weighed rather heavily for much of her life. Returning to England will also allow Sally to bring back a stronger sense of family history which she will then be able to pass on to her son, daughter and three grand-children who all wholeheartedly support Sally's journey. Sally says in her application that she has unfinished business and we hope that this scholarship will provide the means to bring about the closure that she desires. |
Employment |
 Fiona Gye Fiona is currently working three and a half days a week as an ESL teacher. However, her dream is to diversify and undertake further vocational training which will open up a wider field of employment and not only give Fiona more career choices, it will improve her level of income. Fiona's dream is to undertake Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. She has applied for jobs in the past, only to find that this certificate was an essential criteria for positions advertised by organisations such as TAFE and Community Colleges. Having this certificate will open up new possibilities to pursue more varied teaching positions and give her the option to work and manage her MS with an appropriate mix of work and rest. Fiona states in her application that the demand for casual teachers with Cert. IV is high and she feels confident that a Go for Gold Scholarship will help her realise her dream which will ultimately provide her with greater financial security without the demands of full time work. |
Sport |
 Carolyn Nelson Carolyn has been living with MS for 21 years and like many others has had her fair share of ups and downs. In 1999 a woman at her children’s school asked if she would help sell raffle tickets at the local Bowling Club. Carolyn has now been working at the club for 10 years and during this time some lady bowlers encouraged her to give bowling a try. She had some coaching, was told she was a natural, has now been bowling for 6 years and says that it is what keeps her going. Carolyn joined NSW Wheelchair Sports 2 years ago and started playing in their Multi-disability Lawn Bowls State Championships – then was chosen to play for NSW. Last year she won the National Singles Gold Medal and National Pairs Gold Medal which resulted in an invitation to compete in other State Championships. She was also part of the Australian team which competed in a tri-nations tournament against Korea and Malaysia in Adelaide. She won a Gold Medal in the Fours and Silver in the Triples at this event. Carolyn stated in her application that in order to compete in the NSW, Victorian and South Australian Championships, along with the Nationals over the next 12 months she would need around $4,500 to pay for airfares, accommodation and other associated costs. Success in these competitions may see Carolyn realise her ultimate goal to be able to represent Australia at the next World Championships in Seoul in 2011. Seeing such dedication and commitment led the judges to conclude that Carolyn's future success would be given the boost she needs to go on to compete at an international level. As a result, it has been decided to offer her a scholarship of $5000 to help her on her way to even greater success and we wish her well on her journey. |