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Dunedin Regional Meeting 2025

Dunedin Regional Meeting
Sunday 4. May 2025
at the Catholic Social Services,
42 Macandrew Road,
South Dunedin, Dunedin 9012
(wheelchair friendly ramps)

Dunedin Regional meeting 4.5.2025 - time table

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What Is GBS
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30 Higgs Road, Mapua 7005

tonypearson@xtra.co.nz

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© Guillain Barré Syndrome Support Group NZ Trust

Lil Morgan

Lil Morgan, aged 70 years. Bill and I have 3 adult sons and 7 active grandchildren. We are retired and live at a lovely beach resort, the home of Rocket Lab. I went down with GBS 12 years ago and was hospitalised for six months. Delighted to report that I have made a full recovery and even managed to get back on the golf course. I can cover Wairoa and Gisborne Hospitals.

Margaret Shearer

Margaret Shearer is married to Logan, a North Canterbury farmer. We have 4 grown up children and 12 grandkids! I have been a music teacher, private and at schools for 35 years and am now retired although I do teach several adults and a special needs young adult. My interest include gardening, walking, pilates, reading and playing piano.I had GFBS in 2012 and apart from minor residuals am now recovered. I am happy to visit patients in the Christchurch area who are not fully paralysed, to encourage and share experiences with.

Sue Vesey

Sue Vesey lives in Kaiapoi and will be happy to visit and support people in the in the Christchurch area. Sue has been married to Ross for 40 years and has 3 grown up daughters and 4 lovely little grandsons. Sue owns and runs her own business. GBS was contracted in October 2015 and she was hospitalised to Christchurch and then to Burwood for 3 months. Sue describes herself as 75% recovered with some ongoing nerve pain in the legs and feet and left side facial nerve damage but remains very positive and active and manages to work full time. In her spare time Sue loves to look after her grand kids and breeds Wheaten terriers.

Marilyn Turnwald

Marilyn Turnwald lives in Hamilton and will visit patients in that area and Waikato Hospital.

Erika Burt

Erika Burt got GBS in 2014 and took a year to get back on her feet. A retired Pallative care nurse and will visit Hospital in Hawkes Bay and Wairoa.

Eileen Jacobsen

Eileen Jacobsen contracted GBS in 2000 and has made a good recovery with only mild residuals. Eileen is happy to visit patients in the Auckland, North Shore and Waitakere areas.

Alison Barclay

Alison lives in Gisborne and after years of ill health was diagnosed with CIDP in 2004 and receives ongoing treatment for her condition with 2 grown up children. Alison has just retired from her career as a music teacher. One of Alison’s interest is the impact of diet on autoimmune conditions.

Malcolm Scott

Malcolm Scott is a Miller Fisher survivor having contracted then GBS variant in 2014 and will visit patients in the Palmerston North / Hawkes Bay area and Masterton.

Murray Brown

Murray Brown lives in Nelson and is happy to make patient visit in the top of the south and the West Coast.

Chris Hewlett

Trustee

Tony Pearson

Trustee

Meike Schmidt-Meiburg

Trustee

Beverley Whittaker

Doug Young

Trustee

Harry Cockburn

I had GBS in 2018 and am happy to visit patients in Northland.

Terry-Ann Young

Larry Tasker

Hi, I'm Larry Tasker. I contracted GBS in July 2018. I had three and a half months in hospital. I am now 90% recovered and living a normal life again. I want very much to talk to anyone in hospital in Whanganui and districts to encourage them and let them see that recovery is entirely possible with time and patience. GBS is frightening so it is important to speak with someone who has come through it.

Daniel Leadbeater

Ian Hankin

I live in Lyttelton and am happy to visit or get in touch with folk in the greater Christchurch/Banks Peninsula area. I contracted GBS in the early 2000's and have made a complete recovery. I was a Dept of Conservation ranger at the time and still carry out that work today.

Tom Hoey

I was admitted to Hospital mid December 2019 with pains and tingling sensations in my legs, pins and needles in both feet and hands and the progressive loss of mobility in both legs and was diagnosed with GBS shortly thereafter. With the aid of medical treatment and recovery therapy I have made a steady recovery and am happy to visit or speak to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation and needs support either in Hospital or at home anywhere in the wider Auckland area and could if required extend this to Whangarei.

Carl Alfeld

Carl contracted GBS at the age of 15 back in 1981 and spent 3 months in Christchurch Hospital with little support, no drugs or Ivig etc and only O.T. and Physio to help with his rehabilitation – he refers to them as the “dark ages”! As a very fit Rugby and Horse Riding lad prior to GBS it took a lot of drive and positive thinking to get back into the workplace and accepting that things may never be the same again was hard. Carl and wife Chrissie own and run the Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park on the West Coast and in his late 50’s Carl is looking forward to retirement – in due course – and continues to play a significant role in the Civil Defence operations of that area. GBS’ers on the West Coast are far flung with very limited medical backup and support but Carl is willing to “go the extra mile” to help where he can on that extensive coast line.

Megan Dunn

Megan was diagnosed with GBS in 2020 whilst studying at Otago University in Dunedin. She was transferred to the Burwood Hospital in Christchurch where family could support her during recovery. After 5 months in Hospital, including a relapse, Megan has made a steady recovery and was able to complete her studies in 2022. Now 26 years old Megan is busily employed managing 4 retail stores in Auckland and is happy to visit patients in that area.

Kathy Eggers

Kathy was diagnosed with CIDP in 2007 and lives with ongoing treatment to control further relapses but has not let it stop her love of endurance sports nor conservation activities preserving kiwi population in the ranges in her locality. Based in Napier and a practicing Specialist Nurse with the Hawkes Bay DHB with an understanding of Māori tikanga Kathy will visit any GBS patients in the Hawkes Bay area but already knows many of the “regulars” receiving treatment at that facility.

Riva Walker-Pitman

At the age of 18 Riva was a rising star in the basketball world when GBS hit her out of the blue in April 2020. Suffering a severe attack requiring ICU support in Waikato Hospital her 4 months hospitalisation was complicated by Covid isolation which initially denied her family visits. A long recovery journey followed but Riva has been able to complete her studies and has re-engaged with the basketball world. As our youngest Authorised Hospital Visitor Riva, based in Raglan, is happy to visit patients in Hamilton and surrounding areas.

Dr Dean Kilfoyle

Dr Dean Kilfoyle is a Neurologist and Neurophysiologist at Auckland Hospital. He graduated from Auckland Medical School in 1995 and trained as a Neurologist at Auckland Hospital followed by fellowship training in peripheral nerve disease and neurophysiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN USA. He has been a consultant neurologist at Auckland Hospital since 2007 where he runs the peripheral nerve clinic overseeing the care of patients with CIDP and GBS as well as other forms of neuropathy. Dean is also somewhat reluctantly involved in hospital management and is the clinical director of the Department of Neurology at Auckland Hospital. He is married with two teenage children.

Dr Gareth Parry

Dr Gareth Parry is an internationally renowned neurologist. He is an Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the University of Minnesota, Research Professor at Nelson- Marlborough Institute of Technology and Consultant Neurologist at Wellington Hospital. He is currently working as a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Scholar in India. He has a career long interest in neuromuscular diseases, particularly GBS and CIDP and has written two books on the subject, one for physicians and one for patients and caregivers. In 2009 he was awarded the NZ Order of Merit for services to Neurology.

Dr Chris Lynch

Dr Chris Lynch is a Neurologist and Neurophysiologist based in Hamilton since 2003. A Doctorate research project in basic science of nerve injury lead to Fellowship training in Oxford UK, and Mayo Clinic for peripheral nerve and electromyography training. He established Neurophysiology services in Waikato Hospital, and currently serves public and private services across Tairawhiti, Taranaki, BOP, Waikato and Lakes districts.

Dr Suzie Mudge

Dr Suzie Mudge is a physiotherapist with expertise in working with people with GBS and other neurological conditions. She spends most of her time working at Neuro Rehab Results, a rehabilitation clinic she runs in Auckland and works the rest of her time as a health researcher at AUT University. She teaches a number of clinical courses about rehabilitation and is also on the board of trustees for Mobility Dogs.

Dr David Gow

Dr David Gow qualified from the Liverpool Medical School in 1994. He completed his neurology training in the North West of England before being appointed as Consultant at the Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre in 2005. He developed a peripheral nerve unit serving a population of 4.5 million and subsequently became Clinical Head of Neurology. He was also active in medical education and held an Honorary Senior lecturer post at the University of Manchester. In April 2014 he moved to New Zealand with his family to take up a role with the Southern DHB. Whilst passionate about general neurology he maintains an ongoing research and clinical interest in peripheral neuropathy. He also has a strong interest in junior medical training and is a pre-vocational educational supervisor at SDHB. Outside of work he is a keen sports fan and is involved in senior soccer in the Dunedin area.

Nicole Vercoe

Nicole is a Physiotherapist employed as the Clinical Manager at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust in Christchurch having had previous extensive experience working with the rehabilitation of patients in DHB settings – including at the Burwood Hospital. Nicole self diagnosed herself with GBS in 2020 at the age of 33 and confirmation by the Hospital and prompt treatment has allowed her to make a good recovery. A busy mum with a young family of 3 Nicole and husband Brendon ( previously a senior Physio at Burwood) live in the Burwood area of Christchurch. Nicole has a long and officially recognised association with The Order of St John and is keen to bring her special experience and skills to the Group.