She is the president of the NSW/ACT Speak Easy Association and she also has the same problem.

Ms Randall attended an intensive three-week course to help her speak smoothly at St Vincent's Hospital in 1994.

``On completion I could speak fluently but my proficiency wore off over time,'' she said.

Ms Randall, who works two days a week looking after the area's foster carers, opens her house in Stanhope Garden to stutterers once a week.

She said there were about 45 people in two groups with stutters in Blacktown and the surrounding areas.

``We try to help each other to speak smoothly, practising the techniques we've learnt,'' said Ms Randall, who also attends refresher courses, to ensure her proficiency does not wear off.

``Whatever proficiency I've acquired often wears off if I don't go for refresher intensive courses,'' she said.

October22 was International Stuttering Awareness Day.

``The day gave us all the opportunity to address the social anxiety and isolation associated with having a stutter,'' Ms Randall said.

``Recent findings indicated stuttering negatively impacts on quality of life, including vitality, social functioning, emotional functioning and mental health.

``There are over 200,000 people who stutter in Australia and stuttering represents a significant cost to our community, as well as to the individual.''

Details: Speak Easy infoline, 98362728 or Diane Randall at: diane.r@iinet.net.au..