Nor'West News: May 30, 2017

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6 Tuesday May 30 2017 Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi Our People NOR’WEST NEWS Shane McInroe Giving people with disabilities a voice Mairehau’s Shane McInroe advocates for people with disabilities. He talks to Julia Evans about why he dedicates so much of his time to helping others What keeps you busy? Do you do a lot of work with the organisation People First New Zealand? Not just with People First, although I’m president of the Christchurch branch, which is a big commitment – I’m also involved with The Cube, which is a collaborative organisation about creating a community for young people. I’m involved with them and I’m on the board of Catapult Employment Services. They’re like Workbridge, trying to help get people with disabilities in work, but are only based in Canterbury. They’re small, which creates a family environment that I like. I give advice on what can and can’t work for the community based on my own experience. I’m also part of the IHC friendship programme, which buddies people up with someone BUSY: Shane McInroe in the People First New Zealand office where he works to give a voice to people with disabilities. (Inset) He earned a New Zealand Youth Award for his work. PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER you grow a relationship with. And I’m part of the Youth Housing Hub, which is Dr Sue Bagshaw’s big project, as well as being part of the city council’s disability advisory group. Do you have a disability? I have a learning disability but what type is invalid and irrelevant. It’s just a learning disability. So you grew up on the West Coast? Yes, I moved to Christchurch when I was younger. I would say if I didn’t move to Christchurch, my life wouldn’t be where it is now. At the time, I thought it was crazy, why are these people talking about moving. Christchurch is a big smoke compared to Ikamatua. Population 600 on a good day. What was it like growing up there with a disability? Everyone treated everyone as they were. You had to. You’re pretty much right across the road or next-door from each other. If you don’t treat everyone very well, it’s going to be an unpleasant time. In Christchurch, I would say, yeah, it was okay. I mean, I wouldn’t say high school was great because no one really thinks it is great. Do you work with the city council? Not directly with the council but groups come and talk to us and we give advice and feedback. It’s important we have this role because a lot of councils don’t see it as important to have an advisory group. A lot of councils have got rid them. Want the best Dog Food possible? formulated for dogs KNOWLEDGE AT WORK • Pure meat • No Chemicals • No Fillers • Dogs love Essential • Convienent chilled roll • Affordable $1 a day for a medium dog VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR STOCKISTS OR BUy OnlInE www.animalessentials.co.nz phanley@xtra.co.nz 0800 HAnlEy (0800 426 539)
NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi Tuesday May 30 2017 7 in the community News How did you come to wear all these different hats? Was it something you just fell into? There was a presentation at the course I did at CPIT and I thought this sounds a bit like me. I joined People First NZ first and then got all these other roles after that. I also did a leadership course, just to understand what it was all about. From there, I got all these other roles in the community that take up my time. But that’s what volunteering is all about. That’s how the country keeps moving. You’ve got a lot on your plate? No, not really. It’s just the projects I came on board for are coming to an end and there should be some new blood in the group. So what challenges come along with all these roles? Some challenges would be all the jargon the people use and all the documents they love to write. They love typing. It’s the scholarly articles where my support person, Marg, comes in to be a great help. It’s like another language half the time and I’m there to bring the reality of disability to the table and share my experience. But some of the time I can’t speak because I haven’t necessarily dealt with a particular area of disability. So all these opportunities sprung up once you started with People First NZ? Yes, that’s when I needed to go and get a diary. Was it something you always set out to achieve? It snowballed very quickly. In some ways it’s a good thing, but right now, it’s hard having all these roles. It’s good because I can speak using my life experience and my knowledge for people who can’t speak for themselves. There’s a huge amount of people that I know who are non-verbal, which is sad, but they can speak, just in a different way. I want to advocate for those people so their voices can be heard when often the system doesn’t allow it. And off the back of all this hard work you earned yourself a New Zealand youth with disability award, how was that? The youth awards was the quickest ceremony I’ve ever been to, it was great. None of this speech stuff. Well, there were a couple, but it was all very efficient, it was great. I knew about a week before and I was sort of embarrassed, everyone was pretty proud. Do you show off about it? Oh, no. I’m not that sort of person. It’s not just for me. I feel like the award is for the community, even though it’s a youth award. It’s for all the work I’ve done in the community so it’s pretty much a community award. It’s just got my name on it, which doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it? So what’s next for you? I’m not sure, I just play it by ear and see what life throws at me. I would love to see more people with a disability understanding how local and national Government work. That’s why a lot don’t vote because they don’t understand. I would love to see civic education in schools. I’m working on it at the moment but so far it’s just a taster. Civic education is a bit useless at the moment, it doesn’t relate to people’s lives. It takes two seconds to vote every three years and it’s very sad. It’s not just people with disabilities who are affected, it’s a lot of young people. TRUST: Perpetual Guardian client manager Kate Palmer presents a cheque to Christchurch Methodist Mission executive director Jill Hawkey. Redevelopment boost for retirement village MORE THAN $30,000 from the Susannah B Chapman Charitable Trust has been donated to Wesley Village in Papanui. The village is solely owned and operated by the Christchurch Methodist Mission and consists of its residential care facility WesleyCare, affordable housing for older people without assets and independent rental living for those wishing to live independently, but want the security of a rest home and hospital close by. Funds from the Susannah B Chapman Charitable Trust have been earmarked for the redevelopment, as well as the on-going provision of high quality care and support given to residents. Perpetual Guardian administers more than 550 charitable trusts on behalf of the generous legacies of its clients and has managed the Susannah B Chapman Charitable Trust since it was established in 1987. AMI RUGBY SHUTTLE Helping us, Helps tHe community Drop off or buy 3 family stores in your community 30 Main North Rd, Ph 352 4581 520 Cranford St, Ph 352 0515 50 Charles St, Kaiapoi Ph 03 903 0017 Beautiful Teeth Meet the Owner Ryan Carlton Exclusive 10 seater non-stop shuttle service to AMI Stadium with on-site parking. No long walks in the wind and rain! Natural Smile Free Consultation, No Obligation • Full Dentures • Dentures Repaired • Implant Assisted Dentures • Injection Moulded Flexible Partials • Relines • Mouthguards • Additions/Repairs • Purchase cleaning and care products from our website. All dentures personally designed and created to ensure a comfortable natural fit. DENTURES PLUS (2014) LTD Denture Clinic and Laboratory 396 Innes Road, St Albans. Phone 385 5517. Email: denturesplus@paradise.net.nz www.denturesplus.co.nz AvoId A pARkInG fIASco • Northlands • Merivale $20.00 shuttle ticket Highlanders Vs Crusaders 3rd June / Lions 10th June Contact Ray 027 2418 770 asap Orbiter Bus stops Innes Road Make your GP team your first call 24/7 Even after-hours a nurse is available to give free health advice Phone your usual General Practice number 24/7 9 6 12 3 9 12 6 3
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Nor'West News: May 30, 2017

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