SNN March 2016

SNN
March 2016 Volume 19 Issue 1 2016 ISSN 1175-4573
SPINAL NETWORK NEWS
The National Magazine of the New Zealand Spinal Trust
Dreaming of
flying again
BRAD SMEELE ON HIS LIFE-CHANGING INJURY
PAUL FRANKLIN’S WONDERFUL
ADVENTURE ON HIS BIKE
THE NZST REVEALS ITS NEW
WEBSITE FOR 2016
| 1

CONTENTS
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITORIAL....................................................................................... 3
BEN’S BLURB..................................................................................... 4
BRAD SMEELE ON HIS
LIFE-CHANGING INJURY.......................................................... 6
NEW NZST WEBSITE................................................................ 10
NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE NZST BOARD................. 11
NZST UPDATES............................................................................. 13
THE BAIL BULLETIN................................................................... 13
NEWS IN BRIEF............................................................................... 14
PAUL FRANKLIN’S WONDERFUL
ADVENTURE.................................................................................... 17
LIBRARY NEW ADDITIONS.................................................. 21
CONNECTING PEOPLE............................................................ 22
FUNDERS & SPONSORS............................................................ 23
PETER THORNTON
Hi, my name is Peter
Thornton, and I am delighted
to take over the reins from
Johnny Bourke as the Editor
of the Spinal Network News.
I would like to pay tribute
to Johnny who has done
an excellent job with this
magazine in his time in charge.
I hope we can carry it on with
every issue beginning with this
one.
BERNADETTE CASSIDY
Hi, my name is Bernadette
Cassidy, and I am delighted to
be part of the Spinal Network
News Editorial Team. As the
Library & Design Service
Manager, I am passionate
about how libraries and how
having access to quality and
timely information empowers
people ‘to reshape their lives’.
SPINAL NETWORK NEWS is published by the NZ
Spinal Trust
Send your contributions to:
The Editor SPINAL NETWORK NEWS
c/- New Zealand Spinal Trust, Private Bag 4708,
Christchurch 8140
Tel: (03) 383 7540 Fax: (03) 383 7500
Email: peter.thornton@nzspinaltrust.org.nz
Web: www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz
DESIGN & LAYOUT: Melanie Evans
COPY PROOFING: Suzanne Reiser
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in SPINAL NETWORK NEWS
are those of its contributors. They do not necessarily
represent the opinion of the members of the Editorial
Committee or the policies of the New Zealand Spinal
Trust.
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
SUZANNE REISER
Hi, my name is Suzanne Reiser,
and I am a former patient
of the Burwood Spinal Unit
where I spent 4½ months
with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
I have since been involved
with volunteer work at the
BSU and am delighted to be
part of the editorial team.
Patrons of the
New Zealand
Spinal Trust,
Sir Tim Wallis
(left) and Trevor
Harrison (right).
Peter Thornton
Bernadette Cassidy
Ben Lucas
Hans Wouters
Brett Ladbrook
Johnny Bourke
Special thanks to the
Paralympics Trust, the
Attitude Awards, Brad
Smeele and Paul Franklin
for the images.
2 |

EDITORIAL
THE SPINAL NETWORK NEWS HAS A NEW EDITOR IN 2016. PETER THORNTON IS EXCITED TO FILL THE
POSITION. HE HAS A REAL EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY SPINAL CORD INJURIES, AFTER ALL, HE
KNOWS WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE IS LIKE. HE HAS THE VISION TO MAKE THE SNN THE MAGAZINE FOR
THE PEOPLE TO INSPIRE EVERYDAY KIWIS, THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
I will never forget the day I
broke my neck. The year was
1997; I was 17 years old and
playing First XV rugby for
Rangitoto College in my final
year of high school. We were
invited to play a pre-season
tournament at, what was then,
Western Heights Boys’ High School, in Rotorua, and,
for a bunch of skinny white kids from Auckland’s North
Shore, we were on a hiding to nothing. We didn’t care.
The teams we played against were grown men and we
were young boys ready to take on the world. The draw
came out and, sure enough, the opening fixture of our
tournament was against the hosts with hundreds of
students filling the sidelines to see their boys run riot.
We held our own that day and scored a couple of tries
against the pre-tournament favourite to earn some
much-needed respect. I remember sitting in the spa
pool at the hotel with all of the boys that night – there
was laughing and war stories being told after going into
battle. Even though we had been beaten by 20 points,
we were chuffed. We felt like we belonged.
For me personally, the next day could not have been a
more different story. We faced St. Peters from Auckland
on the same ground, but from the outset, it never felt
quite right. About 15 minutes into the game, we packed
down against their big men for a scrum. I was at lock
forward and we were trying to muster up all of the
energy we had to hold our own. The scrum hit came; it
twisted and buckled under the weight and I found myself
trapped between the legs of my prop and hooker, and
lying prone. Another surge came from the St. Peters
scrum and I heard a loud crack. I was terrified. I was lying
under a pile of bodies and, as they removed themselves
one by one, I tried to get to my feet. I couldn’t feel my
legs. A mild panic came across me as the game stopped
and all of my team-mates tapped me on the head and
said: “Are you alright?”.
The next few hours of my life went by in a blur. It
seemed like an eternity before the ambulance arrived.
For the rest of the night, I lay strapped on a wooden
board and went through all of the tests and scans to
assess the damage to my neck. Meanwhile, my parents
got the call no parent ever wants to receive. In a state of
pure stress, they drove from Auckland to Rotorua to be
by my side. Before they arrived, I was lying there alone
when the doctor came in with the X-ray results. He
told me, in a matter-of-fact manner, that I had suffered a
hairline fracture to my neck to my C2 and C3 vertebrae.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He talked for many
minutes, but I didn’t hear much after… “From this day
forward, your life is going to be very different; I don’t
think you will play rugby again, and you will be fortunate
if you ever get full function back in your body.”
I was in complete shock. It didn’t make any sense. Just last
night I was horsing around with my mates, and now this!?
There was one more CT scan to confirm the damage
and, while that was going on, I was praying like there was
no tomorrow. It was around midnight by the time it was
completed; I had a lot on my mind but I was exhausted
and, with the significant pain relief, I slowly drifted off
to sleep. I woke the next morning to my Mum and Dad
by my bedside. They looked concerned and I quickly
remembered where I was. It wasn’t just a bad dream.
A few hours later, the doctor emerged with my CT
scan results and said, quite unbelievably, there had been
a re-think on my prognosis. There was damage to my
spine but they believed that it was only to the ligaments
around the vertebrae, and I was free to go home. I cried
with relief. I spent the next six months in a hard collar,
and every day I consider myself fortunate to have made
a full recovery. My neck still troubles me from time to
time, but I know I have nothing to complain about. Life
could have been very different, and, for so many people,
it is. To anyone who has suffered a spinal injury and lives
with discomfort and disability, I feel your pain. I am blown
away and forever inspired, by your courage and your
mental strength to never give up. Often I wonder if I
could have done the same.
I believe that this magazine has the power to change
lives. It is a forum to normalise the completely surreal.
It has the power to give hope and inspire a generation
of New Zealanders from all walks of life, that anything
is possible. The SNN is your magazine, to share your
stories, and bring together a community of people who
share a common bond of incredible strength. I hope I do
you proud.
| 3

CON
BEN’S BLURB
WELCOME TO 2016! WE ARE WELL AND TRULY INTO THE NEW YEAR AND I AM ALWAYS AMAZED AT
JUST HOW FAST THE YEAR FLIES BY. THIS ONE IS SHAPING UP TO GO JUST AS FAST, AND I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO ANOTHER OUTSTANDING YEAR WHERE THE TRUST CONTINUES TO DELIVER OUR
WONDERFUL SERVICES AND TO GROW OUR CAPABILITY. IT IS GOING TO BE A BRILLIANT YEAR!
After a great 2015, during
which the Trust consolidated,
we are excited to have a
brand-spanking-new website
after a long time in the making.
Sometimes in the not-forprofit
sector, what seems like
a simple project can turn into
a time-consuming brute-of-a-thing, which takes a lot
longer to get across the line than initially thought. Our
new website was no different. It is also something
we are immensely proud of, so special thanks goes to
our General Manager, Hans Wouters, and Bernadette
Cassidy, our Library and Design Services Manager,
who pulled much of it together. We worked on it in
conjunction with Gary Lee of Digital Operative, who
‘gets’ what we do and is just as passionate about the NZ
Spinal Trust as we are. So please visit www.nzspinaltrust.
org.nz and see for yourself just how outstanding the site
is.
I also want to acknowledge our departing Spinal
Network News Editor, Johnny Bourke, who took on
the position in 2014. It was the first time we’d had a
dedicated editor and he took the magazine to new
heights. Johnny has departed to pursue his research
career with our sister organisation, The Burwood
Academy of Independent Living, better known as BAIL,
where lived-research around spinal and brain injury is
converted to results and better rehabilitation outcomes
for you, our members and client base. Johnny’s last
edition was the December 2015 issue, and we now
welcome Peter Thornton, who joins us with a mountain
of experience in journalism. We are excited to have
Peter on board and look forward to the Spinal Network
News evolving further. As always, we embrace your
feedback and suggestions so please don’t hesitate to
contact us – we welcome it.
One exciting piece of work that I have been involved
with for a while now is the Spinal Cord Impairment
Action Plan 2014-17. This is available to view as a
download from our new website if you look under
“Resources”, then “ACC and Non-ACC”. This plan is
supported by ACC and the Ministry of Health, with the
process taking in the vicinity of two years. It is designed
to improve life-outcomes for people with a Spinal Cord
Impairment (SCI) – be the impairment from an accident
or a medical condition. There are eight objectives. To
ensure that this piece of work comes to life, there is
a Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan Governance
Committee, of which I am a member representing
the NZ Spinal Trust, and ultimately, you. There have
been positive results to date, with one of the great
outcomes being the ‘Destination Policy’: if a person has
an accident or a condition resulting in an SCI, he or she
is flown directly to one of two specialist spinal hospitals
– Middlemore Hospital in Auckland, or Christchurch
Hospital in the South Island, where specialist and expert
spinal care is provided. Children are flown directly to
Starship Hospital in Auckland. This reduces greatly the
time-frame until surgery or specialist treatment can be
carried out, therefore greatly improving outcomes for
people with a new SCI.
One particularly exciting aspect of the Action Plan in
relation to the NZ Spinal Trust is Objective 8, which is
to provide a consistent Peer Support Service throughout
New Zealand. We are working closely with our sister
organisation in Auckland, TASC (the Association
of Spinal Concerns), to ensure that this objective is
achieved. With the wonderful support of ACC, this is
becoming a reality, with a very real chance that it will
reach fruition later this year. Watch this space.
In the meantime, I urge you to download the Action Plan
and have a read – it is a powerful document.
Thanks again to all the people and organisations that
support the NZ Spinal Trust. We are looking forward
to a productive and successful 2016. Without your
support, this would not be possible, so a huge thank you
to you all.
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BRAD SMEELE
Former Junior World-Champion Wakeboarder, Brad Smeele,
Has a Recurring Dream That Gives Him Hope.
6 |

The 28 year-old who, in 2014,
attempted a double somersault
and went smashing neck first into
the ramp in Lake Ronix in Florida,
shattered his C4 vertebrae and
spent four months at Auckland’s
Spinal Rehabilitation Unit after
coming home, learning to live as a
quadriplegic. Following nine hours of
surgery to insert two rods; a plate;
14 screws; and fuse six vertebrae
together, Smeele spent five weeks
in an intensive care unit followed
by three months in a spinal unit in
Atlanta, Georgia, before returning to
New Zealand. He has had to come to
terms with the extent of his injuries.
The Kiwi, who had spent 23 backto-back
summers between New
Zealand and the United States, was
living his dream before his life changed
forever. It is a reality that he refuses
to accept. “Every night, I dream, and
in those dreams, I am never stuck
in a wheelchair”, said Smeele, who
is a former member of the US Pro
Wakeboard Tour. “Sometimes I’m
walking as normal; sometimes I have
a limp; sometimes I am in the chair,
but then I am able to stand. I truly
believe that I am not destined to
be completely dependent on other
people for the rest of my life. As an
athlete I always pushed myself to
improve every day… that will never
change.”
Smeele’s resolve and determination
today, are the same attributes that
took him to the top of the world in
the sport that he loves. Watersports
are in his blood. His mother, Linda,
was a champion waterskier, so it was
little surprise that wakeboarding came
naturally. Coupled with his natural
ability, Smeele has an incredible work
ethic, and he dedicated his life to
training and improving every day. His
career was never about the money,
it was always about competing in the
sport that he loved. Success followed
his hard work, as he added trophy
after trophy, year on year, to his
growing collection.
In 2004, he made a name for himself
on the international stage, when he
was the winner of the International
Water Ski Federation (IWSF)
Wakeboard World Championships
in Seville, Spain. A year later, he won
the World Wakeboard Association
(WWA) World Championships
in Australia, and was the recipient
of the Mark Kenny Award. The
accolades flowed from there, with
Smeele breaking a number of records
with the tricks that he would pull
off. With all of the success, Smeele
kept pushing the envelope and, with
more risk came more reward, until
adversity struck in July, 2014, when he
suffered the life-changing injury. The
Aucklander had been trying to land
a double back-flip to blind 1080, a
trick he had successfully landed once,
two weeks before in Germany. He
is still the only person ever to have
executed it successfully.
Smeele has replayed the day a million
times in his mind. He has a clear
memory of trying to twist out of the
trick when he realised it was going
awry – the next thing he knew, he
was floating in the water, unable to
move.
After travelling the world and
following his dream, his reality is
very different these days. A normal
day sees him wake up; take his
medications; eat breakfast; get out of
bed; make his way to the bathroom
and shower; get dressed and then get
into his wheelchair. It is a routine that
is all assisted, and it takes two to three
hours which, in itself, has been a real
challenge for Smeele, who hates being
dependent on people.
“Everything is a challenge now”, he
says in a matter-of-fact manner. He
says the fact that he is unable to do
pretty much anything physical, means
his biggest challenges are mental and
staying positive. “I now have practically
zero independence, so I have
caregivers with me at all times. This
can be very frustrating at times, as I
have to ask for everything. I was never
very good at asking for things because
I would just do them myself.” He then
goes to physiotherapy for two hours,
five days a week, which he says is a
highlight of his day. Two of those days,
he has a second physio session for
another hour and a half. On the other
days, he sees a chiropractor
| 7

and kinesiologist. Smeele spends “pretty much” the rest
of the day at home, resting and recovering, along with
some time standing vertically on the tilt-table. In the
evenings and weekends, he hangs out with friends; they
go out for dinner or to a bar – “no alcohol for me of
course”.
“I look forward to physio every day; it keeps me sane”,
he says. “But mainly I look forward to time with my
friends.” Smeele says the ongoing support of his friends
and family is a huge influence on his never-say-die
positive attitude. He says he doesn’t know where he’d be
on this journey without his friends and family. “I honestly
don’t think I would’ve been able to get through this last
18 months without their support”, he says. “I’m very
lucky to have such amazing people in my life, and hanging
out with my friends helps me feel like I’m able to live a
relatively normal life.”
He has been humbled by the outpouring of support
from the community in New Zealand. His Givealittle
donation-page has received more than $232,000 from
1,590 donors to go towards his significant medical costs.
Smeele made friends everywhere he went during his
wakeboarding career, and his friends from all over New
Zealand, and the world, are paying that back with their
incredible generosity. Mal and Jodie, who donated $1,000
to his cause, said, “Good luck and keep your chin up.
We’ve got three kids into freestyle skiing and are lucky to
have gotten away with only a broken leg and a couple of
concussions so far!”
Rob Waddell, the New Zealand Olympic team Chef de
Mission, put $150 towards the cause and said, “Brad, I
heard of your accident some time ago, and was pretty
moved by your determination. Stay strong mate.”
Ballistics put in $2,000, while Carnie donated $1,500, but
there have been many more, like Mike Hampson, who
were touched to give: “Your attitude and outlook on life
are inspirational. You make me want to do my best in life.
God bless you. You’re in my prayers”, he said. The twitter
hashtag #StayStrongBrad featured throughout the huge
number of comments, as the sporting community was
inspired to help Smeele in his recovery.
Smeele, who has featured on the cover of some of
wakeboarding’s biggest international publications, as
well as being a finalist in the Cleo Bachelor-of-the-Year
award, has always been a glass-half-full kind of guy. He
admitted to going through dark times in the early stages
of his recovery – because he didn’t want to be a burden
– but he shrugged off those thoughts with help from the
philosophies and beliefs of Huna, a traditional spiritual
practice with origins in Hawai’i. According to the third
principle of Huna, “energy flows where attention goes”.
The Huna wisdom was revealed to Smeele not long after
his injury, and he felt like he had always lived his life that
way. “Being able to read those seven key points every
day, definitely helped my peace of mind, and helped keep
me motivated to keep working hard.”
Smeele is living in the now. He feels the biggest lesson
he has learned is not dwelling too much on the past, and
not worrying too much about the future. “That’s a really
powerful way of being able to think.”
Even though it has been slow progress, Smeele feels
like he has come a long way since the accident. When it
first happened, he was on a ventilator, unable to eat or
drink, and didn’t have much movement at all. In the first
few months, he made great progress with getting off the
ventilator and was able to eat again. Over the last year
and a half, he has regained movement in his shoulders
and has been seeing some small signs of improvement
in his arm movement. “[It is] still not enough activation
to be able to lift my arms up yet, but I will keep working
hard until that happens.”
Doctors have given Smeele a one- to two-percent
chance of regaining feeling in his upper torso, but he’s
not listening. As well as putting in the physical work,
Smeele also actively researches information on spinal
cord injury, as he looks for breakthroughs and inspiration
in the field. “Working together internationally and being
able to share those results, is what is going to get this
research across the line”, he says. “We all need to help
each other.”
He has simple advice for people who have suffered spinal
injuries and are struggling with the mental battle. “Never
give up hope”, he says. “Find ways to enjoy life now, but
always work hard to improve the way things are.”
BRAD SMEELE
WAKEBOARDING
ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 IWSF Wakeboard World Championships
Seville, Spain.
2005 WWA Wakeboard World Championships,
Australia; recipient of the Mark Kenny Award.
2007 New Zealand National Championship.
2008 UK Wakestock Champion. First wakeboarder
to land a regular-stance 1080 which saw him
take out the prestigious Trick-of-the-Year award.
2009 The first wakeboarder to successfully land a
water-to-water step-up with an elevation of 22ft.
2012 The first wakeboarder from New Zealand to
land a double flip.
2013 Brad finished third at Wakefest in Tennessee,
and took his knowledge of the sport to the
commentary booth when he was awarded
x“Announcer of the Year”.
8 |

Brad Smeele – Wakeboarding
Achievements
2004 IWSF Wakeboard World
Championships Seville, Spain.
2005 WWA Wakeboard World
Championships, Australia; recipient of
the Mark Kenny Award.
2007 New Zealand National
Championship.
2008 UK Wakestock Champion. First
wakeboarder to land a regular-stance
| 9

THE NEW WEBSITE OF THE
NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST
New Zealand Spinal Trust
(NZST) General Manager, Hans
Wouters, says the hope for the
organisation’s new website is
simple: that the NZST becomes
the go-to organisation and
website for all things spinal.
The organisation, which
Professor Alan Clarke established in 1994, has recently
upgraded its website, and the result, in terms of
aesthetics, function, and resources, is markedly different.
“The site has a number of new features specifically
provided to help people solve problems and develop
independence,” said Wouters.
The new features can be found on the Resources
Tab and the Support Tab, which are in addition to the
ongoing nationwide services. Users will also find a list
of “Helpful Businesses”, and another list of “Amazing
Organisations”. There is even a page specifically for
carers - an incredibly important group of people to the
NZST. The charity is also making available for the first
time, for free, back issues of our Spinal Network News
magazines. “A final hope, is that the site makes it easier
for readers to preview our publications and order them
easily online - from our new “Back-On-Track” e-Book, to
hard-cover books and CD-Roms.”
The NZST website is a great asset for the organisation.
After funding was secured from The Lions Foundation
in December, 2014, the build process began in early
2015, and went live on Christmas Eve, 2015. It has
been four years in the making but it has been worth the
wait. “Our old site was well past its use-by-date and we
decided we needed to have a fresh start,” said Wouters.
The redesign process began with the simple question:
“What do we want our website to do?” The entire
NZST team was engaged to answer this important
question, as the answer would be different for each of its
specialised departments.
After much consultation and collaboration, the answer
came in two main branches. First, the website needed
to communicate clearly who the NZST is, and what
it can offer to the people they expect would need to
visit the Trust. The second desire was for the NZST to
become the go-to resource for all things spinal in NZ,
and the website would be a critical conduit for that.
Website design company, Digital Operative, in
Christchurch, gave the NZST the confidence that they
“really got what we were about” and could express that
in the new site. Wouters said that Gary Lee and his
team have partnered with the NZST in a generous way
and will assist the Trust in maximising the opportunities
the new site can present. The design brief for the
NZST site was simple: it needed to look modern and
vibrant, be navigationally intuitive and, project life and
hope during and beyond a significant illness or injury.
It also needed to be accessible for various disabilities;
an efficient means to share NZST’s knowledge; sell
its publications, and receive donations. In addition,
it needed to have simple content management that
the staff of NZST could conduct themselves to keep
ongoing costs down.
10 |

A key consideration was how the site would be
navigated by users with spinal injuries. “This was critical
so we consulted extensively with various users and also
assistive technology specialists at Burwood Hospital.
We trialed navigation of the site with voice-activated
software and track-ball mice, and also gave consideration
to readers who may have other disabilities.”
Since going live, the feedback from the NZST
community has been very favourable, with an
appreciation for both the design and the content. “Up
till now, our online presence has lacked punch and has
been a reason for readers not to return - we are hoping
this will change.” Having a meaningful and purposeful
website is hugely important to the NZST in being able
to meet its organisational objectives. “A good number
of our members, and others who would be interested in
what we have available, are unable to visit us regularly,”
said Wouters. All organisations need a strong online
presence offering information 24/7, and there is an
international awareness of the NZ Spinal Trust. “We
are keen to help anyone, anywhere, with a spinal cord
impairment, to find their future.”
If you have any bouquets or brickbats; think of
something that should be on the site; or perhaps would
like your business or organisation on our site; please
contact us at: hans.wouters@nzspinaltrust.org.nz
The New Zealand Spinal Trust would like to thank
Digital Operative for their efforts and the result which
exceeded their invoice amount. http://digitaloperative.
co.nz/
NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
WELCOMED AT NZST
The NZST marked a big
changing-of-the-guard in
the governance of the
Trust recently, with the handover of the Chairman of the
NZST Board.
Dr. Richard Smaill resigned from his position as Chairman
of the Board, but will remain as a Trustee, which NZST
CEO, Ben Lucas, said was great news.
“Richard has a lot of institutional knowledge that is
important for the continuity of the Board,” he said.
“Richard became Chairman in 2009 and has presided
for seven years through what has been a time of great
growth and challenge for the organisation. I have really
enjoyed working with him and feel I have grown under
his leadership.”
The new Chairman is someone well-known by most of
the NZST community: Andrew Hall. Andrew was the
previous CEO who Ben Lucas took over from back in
2011. He is thrilled to be named as the new Chairman.
“I’m delighted to be able to step up (figuratively!) to help
the NZ Spinal Trust continue its really important work
helping New Zealanders with an SCI to live independent,
confident, and productive lives”, said Hall.
“Taking over from Dr. Richard Smaill as Chairman will
be a tough task because he has done an outstanding job
over the past seven years. He has done an enormous
amount of work through some challenging times. But
luckily, Rich is staying on the Board, so his wisdom and
experience won’t be lost.”
Smaill has a huge passion for what the NZ Spinal Trust is
all about, and he is looking forward to doing whatever he
can to support Ben and the team in continuing to build
the Trust in the future.
Lucas said Hall grew the organisation, its programmes,
and professionalism during his tenure as CEO and,
combined with his outstanding knowledge, he has a
passion and drive for the success of the organisation. “I
know he will be a great Chairman who will put his own
mark on the Trust, and I’m very much looking forward to
working with him”, said Lucas.
WORD FROM FORMER CHAIR,
RICHARD SMAIL
“I have really enjoyed my time as
Chair of the New Zealand Spinal
Trust since taking over as Chair
in 2009 from Peter Waddell. The organisation
always seems to have new challenges. Over recent
years the NZST has continued to develop and
expand vital support services nationwide to the
ever-growing spinal cord-injured population. The
organisation has certainly had it is challenges of late
with the loss of the Allan Bean Centre based at
Burwood Hospital due to the 2011 Christchurch
earthquake. I am a firm believer that everybody has
their time therefore felt it was time for someone
else to step into the role of Chair of the Trustees
to bring a fresh outlook. I am sure Andrew Hall will
do this. I look forward to remaining on the board
under Andrew's Chairmanship.”
| 11

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TA complies with all ISO safety standards including ISO 7176-19
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12 |
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NZST UPDATES
FUTURE LIBRARY SERVICES
Planning is underway for a combined library space at
Burwood Hospital comprising the Allan Bean Centre
(ABC) Library with the Princess Margaret Hospital
Library (PMH). The new library space will be housed in
the current administration/old main entrance. The aim
is to provide a space for teaching, training, library, and
research, in the new Burwood. The space will recognise
the four pillars of health and wellbeing as conceptualised
in the Te Whare Tapa Wha Maori model of health.
This is an exciting opportunity for library services for
Burwood; there will be further updates as information
becomes available.
Until the new library space is ready, a library service is
available in the day-room in the Burwood Spinal Unit.
Laptops; free wifi; librarian support; computer training;
and a range of books, magazines/journals and DVDs, are
available. There is not enough space to display all the
book collections, so these are kept in a container on
site. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please let
the library staff member on duty know so that it can be
retrieved from the container for you.
COMPUTER CLASSES
Free computer training is available to Burwood inpatients,
families/whanau and staff. The classes are
taught by experienced volunteer tutors, and topics range
from learning how to email and search the Internet, to
how to use social media and Microsoft Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint applications. The classes are one-on-one,
self-paced and very flexible. If you would like to know
more about the classes, please contact the library by
phone/email, or call in to see us.
Tel: 99484 or email: abclibrary@burwood.org.nz
BERNADETTE CASSIDY
Information and Design Services Manager
Ext: 99484
Email: bernadette.cassidy@nzspinaltrust.org.nz
THE BAIL BULLETIN
BAIL is carrying much of the momentum gained in
2015 into 2016. There are exciting research plans in
the pipeline and the BAIL team is thankful to all of the
numerous individuals and organisations who continue to
support our work.
A key focus of BAIL throughout 2016, is the translation
of research into accessible forms for people living with
various impairments, clinicians and health professionals,
and people working within the fields of rehabilitation
and disability. To this end, our knowledge translation
specialist, Dr. Jo Nunnerley, has been working on a
number of exciting initiatives. These include the BAIL
Peer Group Meetings, where academics and students
conduct 20-minute presentations of their research
projects to a diverse audience in a friendly and
supportive environment. Jo has also worked hard to
organise BAIL Presents, which are short presentations
from guest presenters from around New Zealand.
We recently had Associate Professor Nicolas Kayes
from AUT in Auckland present the findings of a study
which explored what matters most in the therapeutic
relationship from the perspectives of patients and
practitioners in the neurorehabilitation setting. A third
initiative developed by Jo is Research Workshops, which
are group based presentations with a focus on research
methods and interpreting research. Many of these
presentations and sessions are being recorded, and
videos can be viewed on the BAIL website.
Altogether, these initiatives will hopefully make research
and the processes involved in research production more
accessible to a variety of people. As a research-based
organisation, BAIL is focused on producing and facilitating
research which influences real-world outcomes for
people living with impairments and their families. In
addition, BAIL is equally focused on making sure that the
processes involved in producing that research are also
understandable to people living with impairments, their
families, and indeed, health professionals.
BAIL continues to be involved in a variety of research
projects involving people with various physical and
cognitive impairments. For the latest up-to-date
information, to view videos of the presentations
mentioned above, or to contact any of the BAIL team,
please visit our website www.burwood.org.nz.
Kia Kaha, from Debbie, Hans, Anne, Brian, Jenny, Jo and
Johnny.
| 13

IN BRIE
NEWS IN BRIEF
FORMER ALL BLACKS GET BEHIND
PARALYMPICS NZ
Former All Blacks Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, and Ali
Williams, have joined forces with Paralympics New
Zealand (PNZ) to help young disabled Kiwis excel
in sport. The big-name trio, through their charity
iSPORT, provide grants to teams and individuals in local
communities. They have teamed up with PNZ after
identifying that applications from the disabled community
were low. Former All Blacks captain McCaw says they
are determined to lower the barriers of entry for all
young sportspeople, regardless of their situation. “When
we set-up iSPORT, Dan, Ali and I, really wanted a ‘sport
for all’ approach,” said the two-time World Cup-winning
captain. “We’ve all been there ourselves. We know that
getting into sport is one thing, but staying in sport is
another thing if you cannot afford things like club fees
or equipment. This is multiplied when you are a young
person living with a disability because you often need
special equipment that comes with a high price tag.
There are also not as many local clubs or competitions;
sometimes you have to travel. We want all kids to have
access to sport and be the best they can be in the sport
they love, no matter their circumstances.” With Rio’s
Paralympic Games fast approaching, it is hoped the
increased interest around the New Zealand Paralympic
Team will inspire young disabled people to try Para-
Sport and apply to the charity for support.
MICHAEL JOHNSON ON TARGET AT THE
ATTITUDE AWARDS
Paralympic target shooter, Michael Johnson, had a
phenomenal year on the range in 2015. On top of
winning six gold medals at the IPC Shooting World Cup
events and setting a new world record for the R4 10m
Air Rifle event, Johnson took out the Sport Performer
Award at the 2015 Attitude Awards on December
3. The national awards celebrate the excellence and
achievements of Kiwis living with a disability. The Sport
Performer Award celebrates an elite athlete with a
disability who has achieved at the highest level of their
sport – and there is no denying Johnson’s international
success. He was 22 years old when he was in a motor
accident that left him with tetraplegia (paralysis of the
limbs and torso). He took up target shooting as a hobby
a few years later, and now he is world record holder and
revered in his sport. “The great thing about shooting; is
it is one of the few sports which integrates both ablebodied
with those with disabilities, and my goal was to
try and beat the able-bodied guys,” said Johnson.
14 |

EF
Auckland teenager, Muskan Devta, won the Attitude
ACC Supreme Award for 2015 – the UN sanctioned
‘International Day of People with Disability’. The 16 year-
SUPREME ACC ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
A CHILDREN’S CHAMPION
old overcame strong competition as the champion for
social good took out the Youth Award category and was
then selected from the winners of eight award categories
to win the overall Attitude ACC Supreme Award. Muskan
has already been invited to speak to and inspire audiences
at the TEDx Conference in Auckland, the Festival for the
Future, and Zeal’s Tall Poppy conference, where her talk
focused on the importance of diversity in New Zealand.
Now she dreams of becoming an ambassador for children
with disabilities, promoting inclusiveness and empathy for
children who grow up like her – feeling different because
of their disability.
ATTITUDE AWARDS JUST KEEP ON
GROWING YEAR ON YEAR
In their eighth year, the national Attitude Awards
celebrate the excellence and achievements of Kiwis living
with a disability. Chief Executive of ACC, Scott Pickering,
says the awards shine a light on New Zealand’s unsung
heroes. “At ACC, we’re delighted to support the Awards,
and to acknowledge New Zealanders who live life to
the fullest, achieve their goals, and provide role models
to our community,” he said. Other Attitude Award
winners were Otis Horne (Courage in Sport), Nick
Chisholm (Spirit of Attitude), Rachel Callander (Making
a Difference), Michael Johnson (Sport Performer of the
Year), CQ Hotels Wellington (ACC Employer Award),
Nicholas Brockelbank (Junior), and Salem Foxx (Artistic
Achievement). Gary Williams was inducted into the
Attitude Hall of Fame, and Sean Prendeville won the
Attitude People’s Choice Award. Chair of the Attitude
Trust, Dan Buckingham, says the Awards are about
celebrating outstanding achievements across a broad and
diverse sector of society. “It is a privilege to be able to tell
their stories and celebrate their success.”
AUCKLAND SET TO HOST WORLD
MASTERS GAMES
Auckland is set to host the largest ever Para-Sport
programme in the history of the World Masters Games
when the event comes to New Zealand in 2017. A total
of 11 Para-Sport options for athletes with a disability will
be available when the Games take place in April 2017,
including archery, athletics, badminton, canoe, cycling,
lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, table tennis, tennis and
triathlon. All Para-Sport options will have a classification
system in place to ensure fair and equitable competition.
Paralympics NZ, Fiona Allan, says it’s fantastic to see so
many options available to competitors travelling to the
country for the Games. “There is no doubt Para-Sport
has seen a huge growth in terms of public interest and
competing athletes since the London 2012 Paralympic
Games,” Allan said. “We hope the performances of
Kiwi Paralympians on the world stage will both inspire
potential athletes and engage supporters even further as
we head towards the World Masters Games 2017, just
six months later.” The World Masters Games is expected
to attract about 25,000 competitors, and will be the
largest event New Zealand has hosted since the 2011
Rugby World Cup, and the largest the country will see in
the next decade.
| 15

16 |

PAUL FRANKLIN’S
WONDERFUL ADVENTURE
NZST Life Member Cycles His Way Around the Globe
Paul Franklin is determined to live life to the full. The
57 year-old, who has been the Aviation Security Officer
at Queenstown International Airport since 2009, took
one year of extended leave without pay, to explore
the world. Franklin, and his partner, Elizabeth, went
on a totally independent, self-supported cycle tour,
which included seven weeks in Japan, then flying on to
Istanbul and cycling throughout Turkey; Greece; Bulgaria;
Romania; Serbia; Croatia; Hungary; Slovakia; Austria;
Germany; The Netherlands; and England. What makes
the adventure even more remarkable, is that Franklin is
disabled through spinal cord injuries (SCI).
He fractured his neck at C3 level on a school playing
field in November, 1971, at the age of thirteen.
A further 29 years later, in 2000, he underwent a
corpectomy (C4-6 fusion with C5 corpectomy) with an
H-plate and four screws, due to complications he was
experiencing with his neck. He also had another major
spinal surgery in April, 2014: a bilateral discectomy of
L5/S1; L4/L5 facetectomy with eight screws, two plates,
and two rods. He also had his right knee operated on
in 2000, and both shoulders, in 2002. He calls himself
an “HD” (Hidden Disability) as he can continue to live a
“normal” life with his injuries. Just one of those injuries
would be enough to lay most people low, but the lifemember
of the NZ Spinal Trust is not the sort of person
who likes to make excuses. He wants to get on with his
life and look back on a life less ordinary. We caught up
with Paul about his wonderful adventure.
What inspired the recent cycle tour around Japan and
Europe?
At my age, I wanted to do something much bigger than
I’d ever done before and, before I met Elizabeth, I had
been contemplating cycling around New Zealand. I had
done a few solo micro-tours before, and had done two,
one-month long solo cycle tours of the South Island, in
2012, and 2013. The 2012 tour was to raise money and
awareness for the Cancer Society Otago, and Cure Kids
New Zealand. My mother died of cancer in 2011, and
that trip was in memory of her. My next plan was to
do something bigger. Little did I know, that within a few
months of meeting Elizabeth, we would be off to cycle
seven weeks around Japan, and then across Europe, from
Istanbul to London.
Were you nervous before you went on the tour?
I had not done much travelling overseas prior to this, so
I was nervous. I had never cycled on the right before,
and the possibility of falling off my bike, or some form
of accident, was my greater worry, especially concerning
| 17

my neck and back. For the past few years, Elizabeth has
been cycle-touring, mostly solo, through 18 countries in
Europe and Asia, parts of Australia, and the full length
of New Zealand, which is where we met. So she helped
me. She is a very special, inspiring woman.
How hard is it to bike with your injuries?
Very, very hard. I have good-ish days and bad days. Every
single day is a pain day. But I can do a lot more and cover
more cycling, than I can walking. I can’t walk a great
deal, especially after my lower back operation. But the
challenges I faced, are nothing compared to what others
who have spinal cord injuries go through.
You have a great attitude; how do you remain so
positive?
I could’ve been paralysed from the neck down and in a
wheelchair in 1971, but from that moment forward, I
have always been so thankful for what I can do. There is
always someone worse off than you. I call Elizabeth “my
teacher”, and, after cycling with her for over two years,
she is such an amazing person to glean from. Mark Twain
once said, “Twenty years from now, you will be more
disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the
ones that you did do”.
Also, the amazing history of Europe! We cycled through
a total of nine capitals: Wellington, Tokyo, Belgrade, Sofia,
Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Amsterdam, and London.
We cycled up to the highest bike-able point on Mt. Fuji
in Japan: 2,380 metres. We cycled to the most northern
point in Japan – Cape Soya – which was one of the most
amazing days of my life. We cycled 65% of the length of
the river Danube – 1,863km cycled; the Altmühl River
from mouth to source; and, part of the Tauber River.
One standout memory was the concentration camp in
Mauthausen in Austria. We had planned to cycle through
Mauthausen not knowing of its history. We gave a day to
visit; a very special time indeed.
The people you met along the way on your travels
would have made this adventure rather special?
Yes; Elizabeth and I met such amazing people along the
way. In Passau, Germany, for example, we met an elderly
couple who welcomed us into a motel they were staying
in. Within minutes, we were sat down and fed at their
table. It was like we were being adopted into their family.
The love they showed us – you didn’t need to speak
the same language, and we now keep in contact. Also,
meeting a New Zealand couple by chance in Bulgaria.
We ended up spending three hours talking to them and
have made a great friendship.
What were some of the challenges?
Every single day was a challenge. Elizabeth and I had
not cycle-toured with each other before this, and when
you have been doing things “solo” for most of your life,
this was new. But we discussed things prior to travelling
together, such as the distance expected of each other;
money issues; various decisions. It went amazingly well. In
How does your spinal cord injury affect your mobility in
daily life?
My mobility is greatly restricted; you adapt your life
accordingly, to your specific “disability”, and concentrate
on things you can do, rather than things you can’t.
What were some of the highlights of the tour?
Working together as a unit was a highlight; we clicked
together from day one. For me, working together;
discussing important decisions together; and thinking of
the bigger picture were priorities. Austria in the autumn,
along the Danube - there were amazing colours. Walking
tours are a must. Elizabeth and I did them in Plovdiv –
one of the world’s oldest cities – Belgrade, Budapest, and
Bratislava.
Japan, July and August are very hot and humid months,
especially in Honshu; it was very challenging at times.
I’ve never experienced heat and humidity like it before.
Also, navigation through many major cities, plus finding
accommodation along the way, were just some of the
challenges.
18 |

Do you have any funny stories to share?
We were “wild camping” in Austria. Daylight hours
were getting fewer and fewer and, as darkness fell, we
both heard this loud screech not far from the tent. This
continued throughout the night. I fell asleep not long
after while Elizabeth was awake most of the night. It
turned out to be wild boars. In Vukovar, Croatia, we
went looking for wine, but it turned out to be a national
holiday and everywhere was closed. A gentleman came
up to us and started talking; he got on his phone to a
vineyard owner who lived up the road. We arrived at the
house, which was next door to the local police station,
and welcomed us as if the owner knew us.
Has achieving something like this inspired you - that you
are capable of extraordinary things?
I would not call this extraordinary by any means. There
is still so much more to do in this life and so many other
people are doing so much more daily. You don’t have
to climb Mt. Everest or sail solo around the world.
There are so many people out there who think they are
incapable of doing anything outside of the box. There
is a saying that goes, “I would rather attempt something
great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed”. You
can do more than what you think you can.
What advice do you offer to other people who have a
spinal cord injury and who may struggle with day-to-day
life?
Every spinal injury is so different. You could have 100
people with similar spinal injuries to me, and yet you
could have 100 different outcomes. The advice I would
give is, do something that you have never tried before.
plf.inukshuk.soulo@gmail.com
| 19

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NEW ADDITIONS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
CHECK OUT THESE GREAT BOOKS!
These items, and much more, are available to borrow for free! Not a member? It’s free to join; just phone the
library on: 03 383 9484 (Ext. 99484) or email us at: abclibrary@burwood.org.nz
SNOW ON THE LINDIS: MY LIFE AT MORVEN HILLS STATION, BY MADGE SNOW
Snow on the Lindis is Madge Snow’s story of living at Morven Hills Station in the Lindis Pass.
Morven Hills is one of New Zealand’s most well-known high-country stations – once an enormous
400,000 acres. The great stone woolshed is one of New Zealand’s instantly recognisable farm
buildings, and is one of the largest shearing sheds in the country.
Madge describes domestic station life, how the times have changed, and fond memories that will
never fade.
FRAZZLED: A MINDFULNESS GUIDE FOR THE FRAZZLED, BY RUBY WAZ
Outrageously witty, smart, and accessible, Ruby Wax shows ordinary people how and why to change
for good. With mindfulness advice for relationships; parents; children and teenagers; plus a six-week
course based on her studies of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy with Mark Williams at Oxford
University, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled is the only guide you need for a healthier, happier
life.
THE LADY IN THE VAN, BY ALAN BENNETT
Adapted by the author from his autobiographical memoir, The Lady in the Van tells the story of Miss
Mary Shepherd, whom Alan Bennett first came across when she was living in the street near his
home in Camden Town.
Bennett recounts Miss Shepherd’s bizarre escapades in his inimitable style, from her letter to the
Argentinean Embassy at the height of the Falklands War, to her attempts to stand for Parliament
and to wangle an electric wheelchair out of the Social Services.
BROOKLYN, BY COLM TOIBIN
Eilis Lacey has come of age in small-town Ireland in the hard years following the second World War.
When an Irish priest from Brooklyn offers to sponsor Eilis to America to live and work in a Brooklyn
neighbourhood “just like Ireland”, she decides she must go, leaving her fragile mother and her
charismatic sister behind.
Eilis finds work in a department store on Fulton Street and, when she least expects it, finds love.
Tony, who loves the Dodgers and his big Italian family, slowly wins her over with patient charm. But
just as Eilis begins to fall in love with Tony, devastating news from Ireland threatens the promise of
her future.
If you have any suggestions for books, magazines/journals, etc., please let us know. You can do this by calling into the
library; by emailing: bernadette.cassidy@nzspinaltrust.org.nz ; by phoning 03 383 9484 or, via internal mail/phone at:
99484.
MAGAZINES
Australian Women’s Weekly January, 2016; February, 2016
Fish and Game New Zealand Issue 91, January, 2016
New Zealand Fitness Issue 137, February/March, 2016
Your Home and Garden January, 2016; February, 2016
| 21

JOURNALS
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine Vol. 47 no. 10, November, 2015
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine (Abstracts of
the 9th World Congress of International Society
of Physical and Rehabilitation medicine.) Supplement no. 54, November, 2015
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine Vol. 48 no. 1, January, 2016
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinics of
North America - This issue: Stroke Rehabilitation. Vol. 26 no. 4 November 2015
CONNECTING PEOPLE
FROM THE CONNECTING PEOPLE PROGRAMME
MANAGER’S DESK
Just a wee reminder about Connecting People and
how you can use us to your best advantage… we are
here to help in any way that we can; we can answer
questions about practically anything at all that is relevant
to life with or around Spinal Cord Impairment, we can
share, support, and provide understanding, about life’s
challenges and triumphs from people who understand
because of lived-experience.
We do this by a variety of methods: Facebook Groups
and Chat; Email; Skype; group and individual Outings;
Meals; Coffee groups; interest-based activities; Women’s
and Men’s groups; one-on-one connections - whatever
works for you! So please let us know what you would
like… no matter where you live, we will endeavour to
do what we can.
Debz Edmonds
debz.edmonds@nzspinaltrust.org.nz
CONNECTING PEOPLE WOMEN’S GET TOGETHER
For our women’s outing this month, we decided to have
a Sunday afternoon outing to one of the city’s Summer
Times free concerts.
On Sunday, 21 February, a few of us gathered at St
Albans Park to hear a free concert given by Fiona Pears
and her Gypsy Trio of keyboards, double base and guitar.
The weather was glorious, the venue was glorious,
the company was glorious and the music was out of
this world!! Fiona Pears is a very talented violinist and
composer. She has a wide style of playing – from gypsy,
tango, celtic, Stefan Grapelli, to traditional classical. She
and her band played non-stop for at least an hour and
a half and the quality never wavered. Fiona writes a
lot of her own pieces and the quality of her writing is
in keeping with the quality of her playing. She uses her
whole body to play her violin – she danced and twirled
and beat time to the music – she just draws you in to the
feel of the music.
It was another successful day of coming together with
our Women’s Connecting People outings – a time of
sharing and caring for each other. Thank you for your
company, and thank you to Suzanne for suggesting we
have an outing to coincide with one of the Summertimes
Programme’s events such as a concert.
Mary Miller (Women’s Group Volunteer)
BRETT’S CORNER!
The new year has come and gone, and here at
Connecting People, we are back into full swing.
I started the year with a trip down South to catch up
with people who have come through the unit to see
how they are getting on, and introduce people in their
area to each other for a bit of support.
It started with basing myself in Queenstown (wow that
town has changed!), and traveling to Wanaka, Cromwell,
and Clyde. The weather was amazingly hot, so the aircon
got a good workout. Mid-week it was off to Invercargill
via Gore. A stop in at Gore, and then a catch up in
Invercargill for two days.
The following week it was Kaitangata, Waihola, and
Dunedin, with Oamaru on the last day.
It was great to catch up with everyone, and I was
impressed with how some of the newbies are getting
on. Met some new people, and had some enlightened
discussions, from health issues, to equipment and
accessibility-alterations.
If I didn’t get to meet up with you, please send me an
email, as I’d love to have a catch up with you. I know
from talking to contacts, that there are quite a few
people not on our database, and we also have some
incorrect contact details, etc., so if this applies to you, or
you know anyone who would benefit from being part of
Connecting People, then please let me know.
Brett Ladbrook
Brett.ladbrook@nzspinaltrust.org.nz
22 |

Thank you to our
FUNDERS & SPONSORS
THE NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST APPRECIATES THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING
FUNDERS OF THE ORGANISATION. WITHOUT THEIR KIND SUPPORT, THE TRUST WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO DELIVER THE VARIETY OF SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS TO THE HIGH LEVEL THAT WE DEMAND.
AIR RESCUE TRUST
AUCKLAND SKY CITY
COMMUNITY TRUST
RATA FOUNDATION
MAINLAND FOUNDATION
CHRISTCHURCH CITY
COUNCIL
DOVE ELECTRONICS
INFINITY FOUNDATION
THE LION FOUNDATION
OSTLER VINEYARD
NZ PUB CHARITY
NORTH & SOUTH TRUST
THE LION FOUNDATION
CANTERBURY DISTRICT
HEALTH BOARD
NZ LOTTERIES GRANT
BOARD
HARCOURTS
FOUNDATION
UMBRELLAR
CENTRAL HEATING
NEW ZEALAND
| 23

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