SPINAL NETWORK NEWS

THANKS
Bob Parker
The recent Local Body Elections saw the retirement
of the Christchurch Mayor of the last two terms, Bob
Parker. I couldn’t let this pass without recognising what
Mayor Parker and his wife Jo did, not just for the city
of Christchurch, but also for the NZ Spinal Trust – in
particular, our Connecting People Peer & Family Support
programme.
First, for the city of Christchurch; it is hard for those of you
who live out of town or in other parts of the country, to
know just what impact the series of earthquakes has had on
the people and the fabric of the city. The noise, the power,
the energy: the fact that terra firma which we rely on to be
stable and take for granted, became a violent and frightful
adversary, was something that one had to experience to
truly appreciate. People’s lives were lost, homes destroyed,
roads torn apart, and the city all but demolished.
and, to date, this has exceeded $5,000, with a final payment yet
to be completed. This book is available for purchase from the
NZ Spinal Trust for $30.00.
To Bob and Jo – we thoroughly appreciate all the hard work
you have both done for the city of Christchurch and for
the NZ Spinal Trust, and hope that you enjoy a thoroughly
deserved break from official engagements.
Ben Lucas CEO NZ Spinal Trust
Bob was such a calming presence for the city with his
dulcet, rich baritone voice imparting a sense of calm in the
chaos that was everyone’s lives at the time. His leadership
was just what the city needed over that time of uncertainty.
For the NZ Spinal Trust, Bob was, and still is, a very
good friend. As CEO, Bob invited me to many functions,
providing me with an endless source of networking
opportunities which presented many good leads that have
helped, and continue to add value to the Trust to this day.
Bob’s wife, Jo, was just as avid a supporter of the Trust
and has been a fantastic sport. Jo took part in a celebrity
tandem sulky race behind a full-blown race-horse at the
Canterbury Trotting Cup Race Day amongst a field of
other celebs, coming in second to All Black, Andrew Hoare.
Sitting trackside, it looked incredibly exhilarating and I was
watching with just a twinge of jealousy! Jo also competed
in the inaugural “Freewheelin’ Frenzy 150” wheelchair
race at the Benchmark Homes Festival of Cycling event in
Christchurch last year, winning the title!
Finally, Bob wrote a book called “Ripped Apart, a City in
Chaos”, about his experiences through the quakes. He
kindly donated the royalties from this book to the Trust
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