Rae Johnson has won the Premier’s Go For Your Life award for her work with the Cranbourne Arthritis Support Group.
By Sarah Schwager
A CRANBOURNE woman who has helped many local arthritis sufferers get back on their feet while going through her own battle with the disease has won Victoria’s second-highest seniors’ award.
Rae Johnson, who turns 80 in February, has been president of the Cranbourne Arthritis Support Group for 20 years and started teaching water exercise after trying to find her own way to cope with arthritis.
Last Thursday Mrs Johnson was presented with the Go For Your Life award by Minister for Senior Victorians Lisa Neville at Government House.
“When I was first diagnosed with arthritis 25 years ago, I had to have Cortisone injections. I couldn’t do anything,” Mrs Johnson said. “A nurse said to go to the Cranbourne Pool and do water exercises. Now I never miss a class, I go twice a week.”
Mrs Johnson was chosen out of 300 entries to win Premier John Brumby’s award after her husband Bill and friends Jean Perry and Jan Bedford, who are all also involved in the support group, nominated her.
The chief executive of Arthritis Victoria and Leanne Petrides from the Cranbourne Information and Support Service also provided letters of support.
Mrs Johnson was in shock when a Government representative contacted her a fortnight ago to say she had won.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted,” she said. “And it was a joy to be in there (Government House).
“Councillor Kevin Bradford drove us in the council bus and I was allowed to take 10 people. It was just the biggest surprise.”
Mrs Johnson has provided advice and support to people living with arthritis for 20 years and is always on hand to encourage others to get out there and go for their lives. She has also been a water exercise leader for 20 years, and is an active volunteer and fundraiser for a range of groups including St Vincent De Paul, the YMCA, the Cranbourne Toy Run, Juvenile Arthritis and Youth and Family Services.
“My aim is to help people have a better quality of life,” Mrs Johnson said. “There is no cure for arthritis but I can help people become far more mobile, with water exercises and the support we give them.
“It’s a whole way of life. It is about caring for one another and supporting one another.”
The Cranbourne Arthritis Support Group helps people participate in regular exercise such as water exercise, line dancing, strength training and tai chi.
Mrs Johnson, who faces her own battle with the disease, said her quality of life was very good despite having a knee replacement in 2001 and her fingers not being great.
“I can knit but I can’t sew,” she said. “You get over it, though, and learn to live with it. You don’t make an issue of it.”
Mrs Johnson thanked everyone at the Cranbourne Arthritis Support Group for their constant help and support over the years.
“I am the leader of the group but I couldn’t do anything without their support,” she said. “They are the most lovely bunch of people, we have loads of fun. Laughter is the best medicine, as they say.
“And my husband has been the greatest backstop all my life.
“We will have been married 58 years in three weeks.”
For more information on the Cranbourne Arthritis Support Group call Rae Johnson on 5996 0438.
