Newsletter May/June 2022

Welcome to our May/June 2022 edition

May Newsletter 2022 Agenda

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Dragon Claw Charity acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

• Welcome to Newsletter – Mother’s Day theme
• First Australians Multi-Generational Trauma Research by Dr. Robin Murray (Corrected)
• Jackie’s daughter on being raised by a mother with RA
• Bec on pregnancy with RA
• Charlotte’s amazing story on recovering from painful Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Exciting News!
• Nurturing yourself
• Carer’s Corner
• Welcome DC new Treasurer Alison
• Canadian and Australian Acknowledgements to Country
• DragonTalk Summaries
• National Help lines number
• Upcoming events

If you have any questions you would like us to research and publish, anonymously if you prefer, email our Dragon Talk’s Dr. Charmaine This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Multi-Generational Trauma Research

by Dragon Dr. Robin Murray

In our last edition we incorrectly summarized the introduction to Dr. Robin’s important research article. Our apologies Robin, corrected version as follows:

We recently spoke at a Dragon Talk meeting of the consequences of multigenerational trauma. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 18 represent approximately 2% of the population but form 28% of the nation’s prison population!  Similar ratios exist in Canada, New Zealand and the U.S.A. Is there evidence that trauma is passed through generations? Does trauma from years ago have real impact now? A recent study suggests that multi-generational trauma has a significant impact on Australian Aboriginal people.

To read more Click Here

Dragon Jackie Morris with daughter Katie

My name is Kathryn and my amazing mother was diagnosed with RA well before my birth. As such, rheumatoid arthritis has been a part of my entire life.

To read more Click Here

The Saunders Family – l-r Stephen, Edward, Penelope, Rebecca

Our Founding Dragon RA Patient Ambassador Rebecca Saunders tells her story on becoming a mother

Pregnancy. Will I fall pregnant? Am I too old?  How many eggs do I have? 12-week scans, 22- weeks scans, hormone tests.  It is an exciting time but also a time full of great anxiety and worry about the unknown. That is the norm. Then you throw into the mix a chronic disease such a Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My name is Rebecca, I have a 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl and I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 40 years.

Click here to read more . . .

Announcing new series!

Dragon Claw has arranged for a foundational series of ten education sessions featuring Nutrition (Charlotte Hill) and Stress Management & the Psychology of Illness (Dr Robin Murray). These will be freely offered and taped for viewing or review. A great learning opportunity for newer dragons and a deepening opportunity for founding members. Anyone who has heard these two dragons present are so very keen to hear more from them! More details to follow.

See Lupus talks in May

Do something today your body will thank you for…

So often we are amazing at helping and supporting others and showering them with gifts but how often do we take the time to nourish ourselves?  Just the small things can make a big difference to how you will feel tomorrow, the next day and the day after. This will not only expand your capacity to live but also help others.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Hydrate with a BIG glass of water
• Have an extra serving of vegetables at each meal
• Eat a piece of fruit or have a handful of nuts before you reach for a Mother’s Day treat that is lying around the house!
• Practice gratitude, meditation or something else which brings you into the present moment
• Do something you love and makes you smile
• Sleep 8 hours and have a nap if you body needs it

What are you going to do to nurture you?? You deserve it! 

Ps: Here is a great cake recipe with nutrient dense ingredients in case you need inspiration for entertaining anytime soon. 

Your Partner’s Support Corner

Mmmm, how to effectively communicate your issues . . .

How often do we hear that “communication is key to . . .” And yet, the item to be communicated, the method used, and the circumstances in which the interchange occurs, all seem to be variables that either interfere with, or enhance, a sometimes critical situation.

Read on to learn more . . .

Meet Alison our new Treasurer. Ask a busy working mum!

L-r DC Directors Alison Marshall incoming treasurer and Susan Hughes outgoing treasurer

Mrs. Alison Marshall, a Dragon Claw Board Member during the past two years has kindly accepted the additional role as the charity’s Treasurer, voted upon and endorsed at the AGM last December.  Outgoing treasurer and DC Director Susan Hughes said “we are so privileged and grateful to have Alison accept this important volunteer role, keeping our financial reporting efficient and compliant for us and our stakeholders.

As the saying goes “ask a busy person to do the job properly and Alison is one busy lady – full time corporate leader, wife and mother of a 15-year-old daughter,” said Susan. She keeps our accounting and financial governance in check thanks to the cloud-based accounting apps.

Thank you, Alison!

Indigenous Land and Reconciliation Acknowledgement

As members of the Dragon Talks group, we feel the correctness of expressing a land acknowledgement and our intent to commit ourselves to a process of reconciliation.

Paul and I have crafted a statement that we would like you to review with you and we will have further discussion on May 31/June 1st at “coffee’ time.

Read further here

Dragon Talks

Contact  National (Australia) Help Line

Our friends at Musculoskeletal Australia provide a contact free national Help Line!

Do you have questions about dealing with pain, your musculoskeletal condition/s, treatment options, COVID-19, or accessing services? Then be sure to call their nurses on their free Help Line. They’re available weekdays between 9am-5pm on 1800 263 265. 

Alternatively feel free to drop a line to our patient volunteers with your phone number and we are happy to give you a call by appointment This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To see the Event Calendar Click Here

Medical Disclaimer
While all information in our newsletter  has been researched, reviewed and presented with all due care, the content is provided for general education and information only.Information here is not intended to replace medical advice from a health professional and Dragon Claw does not accept any liability for any error or omission, injury, expense, loss or damage incurred by you or another party as a result of you using or relying on any information contained in our newsletter, on our website or any linked website. All users are urged to seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.