About Us

Each and every one of us performs many roles in our lives and one of mine is being a carer for my wife, Carmel.

For the most part, as carers, we see from the sidelines what effect Parkinson’s has upon those we love and care for; often feeling a sense of frustration and helplessness and asking ourselves “What more can I do?”

For me, the answer lay in helping to create ParKanDo, a Peer Support group with a difference, and actively participating in the various activities offered to our members. They are a lot of fun. Come join us!

I was diagnosed in 2007 after a long time of trying to make sense of a wide range of seemingly unconnected symptoms that I had been experiencing over many years.

I soon realised that exercise plus medication was the way to go, so it was with surprise and dismay to find little on offer in the west of Melbourne.

Meeting Pam and starting ParKanDo has been very rewarding not only to help me but all those who suffer from PD.

I have recently been appointed as Co-Secretary of ParKanDo.  Having worked in the tertiary education sector for over 15 years, I have considerable administrative and management experience.

Keen to raise the profile of Parkinson’s Disease in the community, I recently raised over $4,500 for Parkinson’s research.  I was diagnosed in 2020 with early onset Parkinson’s and in the same year my brother passed away from PD.

My passions are my gorgeous grandsons and giving back to the local community. Keen to address the shortfall of peer support opportunities in Melbourne’s West, I became a founding member of ParKanDo.

Despite an early onset diagnosis in 2009, ParKanDo has helped me realise I still have the ability to do things; I just do them a little differently now.  ParKanDo has shifted my focus from what I have lost or can’t do to what I can do and for that I am truly grateful.