The Transverse Myelitis Support Group is a group that developed in Australia, based in Brisbane Queensland to provide information and support to individuals with Transverse Myelitis, their caregivers and families. The Second TM Awareness Day meeting was held at the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland.

The Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of Queensland is an organisation that provides services and support to people with spinal disabilities including quadriplegia, paraplegia, post polio and transverse myelitis. I am manager of community services in the organisation and my major role is to develop support groups and member networks across Queensland in response to our member needs. These groups are all convened by people with spinal disabilities. The Transverse Myelitis Support Group commenced about two years ago at the request of Ian Hawkins, a member with transverse myelitis. Ian is the convenor of this group. We do not have a large number of people on our database with TM, however, those members with TM are keen to see the group develop.

Through its post polio membership this organisation is used to dealing with the problem of raising awareness of a little understood condition. In Queensland the medical profession is sadly lacking in knowledge and understanding of post polio. TM is another such condition.

This year the group invited Dr. Tim Geraghty, the new Director of the Spinal Injuries Unit, at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, to give the Second TM Awareness Day lecture to our members and staff. Dr. Geraghty informed those present that he was not an expert on transverse myelitis and that his specialty is rehabilitation. Dr. Geraghty gave an address on TM and the impact of the disease. We are pleased that he is prepared to take transverse myelitis on board and pursue an interest in the condition.

We had an audience of about 25 individuals. Twelve of the people had transverse myelitis. Some had traveled from regional Queensland and one had traveled nearly 1,000 kilometres to attend. We had a bar-be-que after the address and people came together in an informal group to share experiences. Queensland is a very large state and many of those on our database are spread across enormous distances. The woman who traveled up from New South Wales to attend has a child with Transverse Myelitis and she had attended the Seattle Symposium in 1999. After lunch she spoke to members about her experience.

Our Community relations Manager at the Association did a large media release for TM Day. We also developed posters for TM Day and had them distributed in various General Practitioner's rooms, Community Health buildings and hospitals.

People who could not attend the awareness day meeting will receive copies of Dr. Geraghty's address in our newsletter and videotapes will be available from our library. We recently forwarded copies of the TMA newsletters to all those in Australia who are on our database. Errol White, a member of the TM support group, provided us with the originals.

In 1999 the Association registered the name Transverse Myelitis Australia and all mail we send out goes to members across Australia who we have on a separate database. The Association has Member Networks and there are local and regional forums throughout Queensland where all members (including members with TM) come together around issues that are impacting on their lives as a result of living with a disability. This includes issues of access to services and the environment (built and natural), health issues, and equipment issues. These are very dynamic gatherings and provide great linkages with all members across a large state. As an organisation of 40 years we take a long-term view to raising awareness and build on each awareness campaign the following year.