The Winner of the 2002 Nicholson Award for the International Caregiver of the Year was Jon Ferguson of Australia

Jon Ferguson

Jon Ferguson has provided constant care for his wife over the last 14 years. Between 1978 and 1990 Jon cared for Carolyn on a less intensive basis after 1990 Carolyn became more disabled due to M.S.

Jon has been the main carer for his wife Carolyn. He also works as a primary school teacher at Newtown School, Toowoomba. Since 1994 Jon has reduced his school hours to three days per week to enable him to care for Carolyn. Prior to going to work at school Jon puts Carolyn's splints and compression stockings on, toilets, transfers Carolyn into wheelchair and dresses Carolyn. On return from work Jon once again provides all Carolyn’s personal care, cooks meals and cleans up the dishes to then allow him time to attend to school preparation.

On the days that Jon is at school Community Nurses provide hygiene care, but on the four other days of the week Jon provides total care. This also entails taking Carolyn to physio and doctors appointments. Jon also helps Carolyn do her exercises and stretches, and applies strapping to her hands and arms. Other areas of care are preparing medication, giving injections and changing Carolyn’s peg (Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) every six weeks.

Jon and Carolyn have two children who are now in their mid to late twenties. John also played a large role in caring for his children whilst they were growing up. According to Carolyn, Jon has also been supportive of the needs of their parents, a person who you could always call upon to help.

Jon has been involved with the Toowoomba M.S. Support Group since its inception ten years ago. Carolyn was involved in setting up this support group. Over the past ten years Jon has attended many functions to support this group, this has been somewhat restricted lately due to the extent of care that Carolyn requires. Jon continues to promote the MS support group and is always involved in passing on information that he comes across to the group. He also has encouraged his school students to be actively involved in the MS Readathon. Therefore Jon has provided his students with invaluable knowledge about people with MS.

Jon has proven to be a valuable member of the community of Toowoomba. He has been a Cub Scout leader for the past I8 years, coached junior hockey for twenty years and taught Sunday School to intellectually disabled children for twenty years.

More recently Jon has been a member and involved with the Queensland Council of Carers. He believes more men should be involved with this group to allow them to talk out their highs and lows of caring for their spouse. Recently Jon talked on local radio about the Council of Carers group encouraging men to join this group

As well as caring on nearly a full time basis for Carolyn and his family, Jon has been monumental in his contribution to the Toowoomba community. As has already been discussed, Jon has provided instruction and support to all walks of life to this community. Not only has he provided such monumental care and involvement but also he does this with a cheerful heart. Carolyn stated that Jon has been a happy, cheerful husband and carer, a man that has given up much for her needs. There is a possibility that Jon will have to give up school teaching next year as Carolyn’s disability is needing higher amounts of care. To Jon this is an important role that he has to do but he in tends to do this cheerfully. He has one other aim, and that is to play bowls more regularly!

As well as caring on nearly a full time basis for Carolyn and his family, Jon has been monumental in his contribution to the Toowoomba community. As has already been discussed, Jon has provided instruction and support to all walks of life to this community. Not only has he provided such monumental care and involvement but also he does this with a cheerful heart. Carolyn stated that Jon has been a happy, cheerful husband and carer, a man that has given up much for her needs. There is a possibility that Jon will have to give up school teaching next year as Carolyn’s disability is needing higher amounts of care. To Jon this is an important role that he has to do but he in tends to do this cheerfully. He has one other aim, and that is to play bowls more regularly!

Jon’s words of wisdom for other carers:

* Talk to lots of people

* Don't be afraid

* Don't hold grudges

* Make caring an enjoyable experience for you both

* Laugh and learn from your mistakes

* There is no perfect way to do anything

* Use services that are available, which allows the carer
to have a break/space

* Have lots of breaks, even only for a couple of hours

* Take frustrations out in the garden and not carer -
channel frustrations away from carer. For example,
chop the wood, prune the roses and dig up the garden

Jon will be presented with an engraved silver salver, commissioned from Boodle and Dunthorne, Regent Street, London. Boodle and Dunthorne has supplied the prize for the Nicholson Award since its inception in 1984. In addition Jon's name will be added to a plaque kept at MSIF’s office.