News

8 August 2011

Motor neurone disease (MND) Australia is very pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Guy Barnett as a MND Australia Ambassador.  The announcement made today follows an MND Australia board meeting held in Canberra to mark Mr Barnett’s retirement as a longstanding Tasmanian Senator.  “Mr Barnett has been a strong and effective advocate for people living with MND for many years. His mother Lady Sallie Ferrall was one of the founding members of the Tasmanian MND association which was established in 1986. Mr Barnett is a past President of MND Tasmania and a past national board member” said Carol Birks, MND Australia Executive Director.  “We are thrilled that Guy Barnett has accepted our invitation to become a MND Australia Ambassador”.  Mr Barnett’s appointment is the first under a new Ambassador Program that has been established by MND Australia.

In responding to the invitation by MND Australia to become its Ambassador, Mr Barnett expressed his commitment to continue his work on behalf of people living with MND and their families, both in Australia and internationally.  “Mr Barnett and his family have been true friend’s to the MND community and he has been a key leader in achieving better government recognition for people living with MND. We look forward to his continued support especially during the International ALS/MND meetings later this year in Sydney where he will give the welcome address at an official dinner for the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations” said Carol Birks.

MND is a rapidly progressive, terminal neurological disease for which there is no known cure or effective treatment. MND robs the body of its limb function and takes away a person’s ability to speak, to swallow and to breathe, whilst their mind and senses usually remain intact. There are estimated to be 1400 people living with MND in Australia. On average each week, 10 people die from MND and another 10 are diagnosed.

MND Australia is a national federated body made up of state organisations, supporting people living with MND, and its research arm the MND Research Institute of Australia.  Our purpose is to help all people affected by motor neurone disease and to promote and support the search for cause, control and cure. 

For further information and interview requests, please contact Carol Birks, Executive Director, MND Australia 0408461932 or visit www.mndaust.asn.au