Mr Norton who has previously been vice president and treasurer of the association said he was happy to receive the honour.

“I was pleased that the other members of the association had faith that I would be able to fulfil that role and the responsibilities attached to it,” he said.

Mr Norton was not taking the new position lightly.

“It is a challenge to represent the interests of more than 60,000 people across Australia with Parkinson’s disease,” he said.

Mr Norton said the challenge was growing with ever increasing numbers contracting the disease.

“Currently, there are about 25 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every day,” he said.

The new president said his primary role would be to ensure there is adequate education and awareness in the community.

“We will continue to provide online education for doctors particularly in rural and remote areas. We have been successful in negotiations with the federal government to provide $200,000 for neurological nursing positions,” he said.

One in 100 people over the age of 60, 55 per cent of which are men have Parkinson’s disease with the causes yet unknown. Research is being conducted on the role stress, pesticides and preservatives play in the condition. Mr Norton said the severity of the disease varied enormously.

“Parkinson’s disease can progress quite rapidly and it can also be quite slow,” he said

The new president has been a Parkinson’s Disease sufferer for a little over eight years and said Parkinson’s Disease sufferers can live fulfilling lives.