In his Dec 2006 trip to Melbourne, Winston brought him more than 40 video sets of 15 DVD discs (over 300 discs!) he videotaped during the National Aphasia Association's Fifth National Conference in Boston June 2006. Winston also brought DVD copies of his speech, and the grand opening of the Stroke Comeback Center in Oakton, Virginia two years ago. He also shared DVD videos of Harvey Alter's speech given at the Stroke Comeback Center in November 2006. Harvey is in the process of starting up the International Aphasia Movement (I AM). Please read Harvey's letter about I AM for more information about this new organization.
Winston and Bruce did visit some aphasia associations in Australia while they were in Melbourne, and Winston had shared the DVDs with them.
They visited the Stroke Association of Victoria in Geelong. They had several meetings with the Secretary of the Association Mrs. Clare Gray. Winston, Bruce, and Clare had a meeting with Mr. Lloyd Knight, a retired air force pilot, and his wife, Bonnie, a stroke survivor and an aphasia patient. They shared their experiences in stroke recovery, and how they benefit from the resources available from the stroke and aphasia associations.
The website of Stroke Association of Victoria is http://www.strokeassociation.com.au. Mrs. Clare Gray's email address is savclare@ncable.net.au.
You may be interested in getting to know these stroke associations in Australia as well:
Winston's traveling plans to Australia in September 2007:
On August 28th, 2007, Winston and Harvey will be traveling to Australia for up to six weeks.
The Stroke Week of Australia starts on Sunday, September 16th, 2007.
On the 16th and 17th of September, Winston and Harvey will attend a conference in Sydney.
On the 18th and 19th of September, they will attend a conference in Melbourne. Winston and Harvey are invited to be the guest speakers at the conference.
On the 20th of September, Winston and Harvey will travel to Hobart, Tasmania for another conference.
During this five- or six-week journey, Winston and Harvey, together with an Australian cousin of Winston's, will be traveling along the east coast, to places including, but not limited to, Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania. They have reserved a recreational vehicle for the trip. While they're on the road, they will have their laptop computers set up, with video conferencing if possible, in this "Motorhome". They plan to visit the stroke and aphasia associations in the area, and to meet people with aphasia, as well as their families and caregivers. They are ready to make new friends, and to help out each other in the global aphasia community!