Darnley Montgomery

Darnley Montgomery, (1943 2014) was a long-term sufferer of Parkinson’s Disease and active member of the Shepparton and District Parkinson’s Support Group.

Growing up in post war Tallygaroopna, where he toiled away on the family farm, not only did Darnley excel at sport, but he earned to love and respect of his small community, with his never give up attitude and the fire in his belly.

Although, he would be the first to say he was annoyed by his circumstances and the affliction of Parkinson’s Disease, he never dwelled upon the negative, demonstrating, not what he couldn’t do, rather, what he could.

He would not take a backward step and did not apologise, when bumping into someone, whist walking down the local street, rather, he would see this as an opportunity to educate someone on this insidious disease of Parkinson’s, with which he endured, rather than suffered.

With great foresight, Darnley was integral in initiating the idea of creating a position for a Movement Disorder Nurse, to be based in the Shepparton Region and he set about fundraising toward this goal.

Darnley raised significant amounts for research into the disease and was instrumental in the project to establish a movement disorder nurse position at Goulburn Valley Health.