SNN August 2019 online

AUGUST 2019 VOL 22 ISSUE 2 

WE CELEBRATE 

YEARS OF THE 

NEW ZEALAND 

SPINAL TRUST 

LEGENDS 

Bradley Watson talks about 

getting back to work 

TOUR OF DUTY 

Hans Wouters reflects on 

Tour of New Zealand 

50 YEARS ON 

Mark Thompson – 50 

years in a wheelchair

NATIONAL MAGAZINE 

CONTENTS 

EDITORIAL TEAM 

3. EDITORIAL 

5. HANS WOUTERS – 

FINDING FUTURES 

7. PROFILE ON BRADLEY WATSON – 

NEVER GIVE UP 

12. ON TOP OF THE WORLD – 

THE RISE AND RISE OF ADAM HALL 

14. MARK THOMPSON – 

50 YEARS ON OR TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET 

19 EXPLORING CHINA – 

MIKE BROWN 

21. A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES – 

25 YEARS OF THE NZST 

26. LIBRARY NEW ADDITIONS 

28. WELCOME BACKPACKS MAKE 

POSITIVE IMPACT 

30. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME 

32. THE MAGIC OF THE TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND 

35. FUNDERS AND SPONSORS 

PETER THORNTON 

Hi my name is Peter Thornton, I am 

so proud to be the editor of this great 

magazine. I believe it is a publication 

that has the power to change lives. 

It is even more of a privilege to be 

the editor as we celebrate 25 years 

of the NZST. Thanks to everyone 

for their support of the SNN. 

BERNADETTE CASSIDY 

Kia ora, my name is Bernadette 

Cassidy, I am delighted to be a 

member of the Editorial Team. 

Part of my role involves collating 

interesting content for the magazine, 

making sure the final product gets to 

the printers on time, and organising the 

mail out so you all receive your copies! 

This year the New Zealand Spinal 

Trust celebrates 25 years, no mean 

feat for a charitable trust! After 

starting with the Trust in 2002, I am 

honoured to have been a part of this 

incredible journey and I am looking 

forward to a trip down memory 

lane. I hope you enjoy our story and 

seeing how far the Trust has come! 

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: Cube Design, Christchurch 

COPY PROOFING: Jackie Grimshaw 

COVER PHOTO: 25 years of the New Zealand Spinal Trust 

is a huge milestone for the organisation. 

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 

Peter Thornton 

Bernadette Cassidy 

Hans Wouters 

Andrew Hall 

THANKS for the images 

Mike Brown 

Mark Thompson 

Getty Images / Paralympics NZ 

Hans Wouters 

Patrons of the 

New Zealand 

Spinal Trust, 

Sir Tim Wallis 

(left) and Trevor 

Harrison (right). 

Mark Thompson 

Mike Brown 

Zahra Shahtahmasebi 

Bernadette Cassidy 


Bradley Watson 

ISN 1175-4573 

2

The Impact of 

a Mentor 


Editorial 

It was great to come down to 

Christchurch recently and connect 

with the NZ Spinal Trust family. I 

work remotely for this magazine, 

and there is nothing like meeting 

people face-to-face and having a bit 

of banter. We have a great team. We 

started our day together with some 

painting at Paint and Sip, and created 

a masterpiece - the kind that is never 

likely to be made again. Never. 

You may have seen it. It is the iconic 

photo on our website of the man 

in a wheelchair at a rock concert, 

surrounded by 1000s of people. He is 

lifted high above the masses, in clear 

air watching the show. They say a 

picture is worth a thousand words and, 

if there was ever an image to personify 

our philosophy of “It’s great to be alive”, 

then this is it. And, put in the amateur 

hands (with the greatest level of respect 

to my colleagues) of our own team, 

the image did come alive on this 

cold, grey Christchurch morning. 

The collage of this image will hang 

proudly on the walls of the New 

Zealand Spinal Trust and leave a lasting 

memory, but the painting wasn’t just 

an exercise in escapism or creativity. 

It was a perfect way to bring us all 

together. Teams - no matter what their 

shape or size - need to work on their 

culture, communication and dynamic. 

Ours is no different. It was time well 

spent and, if there was one takeaway 

for me, it was the culture work we 

went through with Richard Smith. 

In the afternoon session, we were 

asked to look back to a person who 

had made a difference in our lives. 

What did they do for us? How did 

they talk to us? How did they make 

us feel? It was a good exercise. Of 

course there are hundreds of people 

who have made a difference to my 

life - my parents being the leading 

example - but the person who first 

came to mind was Mr Eddie Hudson. 

“Huddy”, as he was affectionately 

known, was a local legend at my 

school - Rangitoto College. He was 

my PE Teacher, my Maori teacher and 

the coach of my rugby teams for three 

years. I was a long-haired, scruffy, 

lanky 14-year-old when I first met him, 

and he left an indelible mark in some 

of the formative years of my life. 

It is hard to sum up what he did for 

me, and he would probably feel like 

he didn’t do much, in typical low-key 

Kiwi fashion, but he made the world 

of difference. Huddy was the ultimate 

encourager. He believed in me before 

I believed in myself. I still remember 

my fifth form parent/ teachers’ meeting 

where Huddy said to my parents: “Pete 

is a great kid. When I have my own 

children, I hope to have a boy like him.” 

Amazing words and a real affirmation 

of who I was and that I should be 

proud. Of course, my parents had 

told me similar words during my 

upbringing, but that was their job. 

Words from someone outside the 

family hold much more weight. 

I remember being in two minds about 

trialling for the First XV at the start of 

the sixth form. The details for the 

trials were read out in the morning 

notes by the teacher, and I said in front 

of my classmates that I was keen to 

give it a go. A few of the senior lads 

in the team who were walking by at 

the time, piped up and said: “Good 

luck - you’re going to get smashed,” 

which was met by a chorus of laughs. 

Huddy came up to me after that, 

put a hand on my shoulder and told 

me I was ready. I was. That year I 

played every game for the First XV 

at lock. We made the semi-finals of 

the North Harbour competition and 

should have won it. Then we went 

on tour to Australia and I was named 

“ So much about life is 

feeling comfortable. If 

you feel accepted and 

that you belong, then 

anything is possible 


the Most Promising Player in the 

squad. It was the start of something. 

The belief that I was good enough at 

rugby gave me confidence around 

school, and it also helped me hugely 

in the classroom. So much about 

life is feeling comfortable. If you feel 

accepted and that you belong, then 

anything is possible. I was a shy boy 

and those years, when I found my 

feet, were a turning point in my life. 

So why I am telling you about my old 

teacher, Mr Eddie Hudson? Good 

question. All of us have the ability to be 

that mentor. All of us have the ability 

to change the course of someone’s 

life. And all of the New Zealand Spinal 

Trust team do this day-in and day-out, 

year after year. They make a massive 

difference, and it is hard to put a value 

on that. It is good to reflect on your 

moments growing up and on the 

people who have guided you along 

the way. What did they do for me all 

those years ago? What am I doing 

right now for the people who need 

encouragement? What more can I do? 

Since those words of encouragement 

from Huddy, I have gone on to have a 

career I am proud of; I have a young 

family whom I love to bits, have had 

some incredible life experiences and, 

most importantly, I have a strong selfesteem 

and I love who I am. Would 

that have been possible without the 

quiet words of Huddy? Possibly, but 

3

EDITORIAL 

you never know. So many of my mates 

in those early rugby teams dropped 

out of school soon after and went 

down a different path… Little moments 

change the course of a person’s life. 

If you have the opportunity to 

encourage someone, lift them up, 

let them know they are really good 

at something or can do what they 

think they can’t, then don’t hesitate. 

Do it. Do it now. Our CEO, Hans 

Wouters, is great at this. At our session, 

he paused to praise Brett Ladbrook 

for being a person who can always 

be counted on. It is a genuine 

moment, where a good person is 

praised for doing the right thing. We, 

as Kiwis, don’t do that enough. 

Life has a funny way of coming back 

to meet you in the places you would 

least expect. Only a few months ago, 

I was back at my local rugby club for 

an evening of touch rugby. Lo and 

Behold. Who was on the opposition 

team - my old teacher, Huddy. It had 

been 20+ years since I had seen 

him and he is still a legend. We had 

a lot of fun during the game that 

night - banter you can only have with 

someone you have known for what 

feels like a lifetime - and, afterwards, 

we had a couple of beers in the 

clubrooms to catch up. He asked 

me about my neck - after breaking it 

during a rugby game in 1997 – and my 

recovery - I told him that I was lucky. 

I told him where my career had 

taken me – to the hallowed turf 

of Augusta National, the revered 

corridors of the Lord’s Cricket Club, 

and the Black Caps changing room 

after that win over South Africa in 

the World Cup, or the hype and 

hysteria of an Olympic Games. 

We talked about my family. My 

lovely wife and daughters who are 

adorable. All unforgettable moments 

in a lifetime of memories. All of it 

made possible by someone who 

believed in me. We polished off a 

couple of jugs of beer and I was 

feeling content. I gave my old mentor 

a big hug and, as I left, said “Thanks 

Huddy, for all you did for me, you were 

awesome…” He shrugged and said 

“No problem” as though it was no big 

deal, nothing special. If only he knew. 

“ All of us have the ability 

to be that mentor. All 

of us have the ability 

to change the course 

of someone’s life 


The team building day in Christchurch, including 

the Paint and Sip activity, was a great experience 

for all of the NZST staff. 

4 

NZ Zpinal Trust staff at Paint and Sip 

Rach Henderson enjoying painting

Finding Futures 

Hans Wouters 

CEO’s Column 

The Hope Switch 

“We don’t actually give anyone hope” 

- I often say this when I speak about 

what we do, which invariably grabs 

a listener’s attention. What is hope 

anyway? Very simply, hope is an 

optimistic state of mind which comes 

from an expectation that something 

good is coming. My point is, I am 

not so sure you can give a person 

hope. What you can do, is give 

someone information they will receive 

in one of two ways - optimistically 

or pessimistically. You can give it 

positively and with enthusiasm, but 

how they receive it is entirely up to 

them. The way I like to say it is that 

we help people find their hope switch. 

Once someone finds a hope switch, 

it is always turned on - sometimes 

instantly. A friend of mine is a very 

keen outdoors person and skiing was 

a great love, giving joy, excitement and 

freedom, amongst many other things. 

Following a vehicle accident which 

resulted in complete paraplegia, my 

friend was now faced with the prospect 

of never skiing again. This was 

devastating for him. While still in the 

Spinal Unit, a friend played a video of 

Paralympic skier, Josh Dueck, carving 

up a mountain slope with powder snow 

flying in every direction at each turn of 

his sit-ski. BOOM! The hope switch 

- like an electric bolt - was instantly 

and permanently turned on. My friend 

skis again now and absolutely loves it! 

Everything we do at NZST is all about 

hope. Spinal cord impairment is not 

a fate worse than death, and we have 

endless examples and stories like Josh 

Deuck’s which can lead someone to 

a hope-filled feeling about their new 

future. 

As you will read in this issue of SNN, we 

are celebrating 25 years since Professor 

Clarke began our great organisation. 

The custodians of our mission and 

vision - the current board and staff - are 

focussing on the next 25 years, which 

will no doubt bring other challenges 

and memorable events. We have 

“ 

We don’t actually give 

anyone hope. 

Hans Wouters 

been working on what our now-mature 

brand is and what it should look like 

for the future. We will be sharing 

that with you all in the next issue of 

SNN. Hannah McKnight of Ngātahi 

Communications has been leading us 

in this process, and I want to share a 

little of our mahi (work) with you here. 

Firstly, I want to say how very grateful 

I am to those who helped us with this 

work - your insights have been very 

powerful, affirming and challenging 

all at once. You know who you are - 

thank you! 

A full-day workshop was held with the 

entire NZST team from Christchurch 

and Auckland. Together we reflected 

on what makes NZ Spinal Trust special 

and unique. One task was to determine 

our brand, voice and personality, who 

we are and how we korero (talk) and 

behave as an organisation - upbeat, 

accessible, caring, experienced, 

inclusive and real. I think we nailed it, 

as there is no doubt this is who we are. 

The personal vision I have for my 

tenure as CEO is to be able to say 

that every person in New Zealand 

who has an SCI knows we are here 

to help them, and we are able to do 

that should they reach out in a time of 

need - be it five days or five decades 

after an SCI has impacted their life and 

their family’s. We are a long way off that 

today, but we have a plan, are working 

on it - and it won’t take 25 years! 

In the December issue, I wrote about 

beloved Patron, Sir Tim Wallis, and 

Prue, Lady Wallis, and the tragedy that 

had befallen the Wallis Family and 

Wanaka community. I recently had the 

great pleasure of their support at our 

Tour Of New Zealand cycle race, which 

you will read about. I was very pleased 

to report to my staff and board that 

they were both in fine spirits, as they 

represented us at the Wanaka finish 

line and prize giving. I again marvelled 

at the capacity we have to overcome 

life- changing tragedy, and realised one 

key component is, of course, hope. 

For Tim and Prue, I have no doubt their 

hope revolves around the rest of their 

whānau and the life still ahead of them 

all. If you are in a desperate place, let 

me reassure you that you have ‘hope 

switches’ inside you waiting to be 

flicked on, and I trust you find 

them soon. 

Finally, we have the great privilege and 

pleasure to be having a party with the 

Burwood Spinal Unit. This year we 

celebrate 25 years since Professor Alan 

Clarke began the NZ Spinal Trust and 

the Burwood Spinal Unit celebrates 

their 40th anniversary. 

We are having a celebration together – 

a reunion of sorts and we are expecting 

patients and staff, past and present to 

party with us. It is to be on the evening 

of Saturday 19 October this year at 

Quality Hotel Elms 456 Papanui Rd 

Christchurch. I really hope to see 

you there. 

Tim, Jono and Hans at Wanaka Race Prize Giving. 

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Bouncing Back from a 

Freak Accident 

Bradley Watson On Not Looking Back 

On 13 September last year, Bradley Watson’s life 

changed forever. He was at a bar with some mates 

on Ponsonby Road, and called it a night after 

only one drink. He ordered an Uber to go home 

and it had arrived. The last thing he remembers 

is saying ‘goodbye’ to his friends at the bar. 

“This part I do not remember but, apparently, I tripped 

over the wheel of a wheelie bin. This threw me 

head-on into a post with such force that I was then 

thrown back into another post,” remembered the 

61-year-old, who was born and raised in Auckland. 

Bradley lay there fitting on the ground, so his 

colleagues immediately called an ambulance. 

He was resuscitated twice on Ponsonby Road 

before he was rushed to Auckland Hospital. 

“When I woke up, I had tubes down my throat so I 

could not speak. However, I was grateful to see my 

two best male friends, Greg and Simon, there for 

me,” he said. “The only way I could 

communicate with Simon and Greg 

was by having to improvise by 

either shaking or nodding my 

head. For example, telling them 

I was hot and needed the fan 

on me.” When the tubes were 

finally taken out of his throat, 

Bradley told everyone he could 

not feel his body. “It felt as if I had been sleeping 

on my body all night and it had become numb, like 

sleeping on a hand,” he remembered. “Apparently 

that is the first sign of a spinal injury, despite the fact 

my initial X-ray showed my spinal cord undamaged.” 

His initial visit to Auckland Hospital was followed 

by two further surgeons checking him over. He 

was sent for an MRI scan and then transferred 

to Middlemore Hospital, where he stayed for 

about three weeks, as he also had a chest 

infection. Once the chest infection had cleared, 

he was transferred to the Spinal Unit at Otara. 

“I recall that, when I woke up at Auckland Hospital, 

my subconscious was telling me something was 

terribly wrong. Notwithstanding this, I felt at peace 

and did not feel any fear. In between saying ‘goodbye’ 

to my colleagues at the bar on Ponsonby Road 

and waking up the next day in Auckland Hospital, 

I do not remember anything. Despite 

this ordeal, I did feel at peace and my 

subconscious started telling me that 

my life had changed forever. I 

didn’t feel scared; rather, I felt a 

form of excitement at having 

to start my life all over again 

under different circumstances.” 

“ 

I didn’t feel scared; 

rather, I felt a form of 

excitement at having 

to start my life all over 

again under different 

circumstances. 

Bradley Watson 

Bradley Watson has always 

been a glass half-full kind of guy. 

7

BRADLEY WATSON 

Bradley had sustained a C4 traumatic 

spinal cord injury (SCI), which meant 

he was a tetraplegic and, at this stage, 

was incapable of using 75 percent 

of his body. Despite this, Bradley’s 

sub-conscious (having accepted 

that something was seriously wrong 

from the moment he had woken 

up at Auckland Hospital) allowed 

him to be at peace knowing he was 

being looked after. So, by the time 

he arrived at Middlemore Hospital, 

despite being seriously ill with his spinal 

injuries and his chest infection, he was 

incredibly positive and formed a special 

relationship with his physiotherapists. 

Bradley was determined to be able 

to leave his bed, have showers and 

sit in a wheelchair so he could go 

for walks with his friends around the 

gardens. In simple words and, at 

this early stage, despite his serious 

injuries, Bradley was determined 

that nothing was going to stop him 

achieving what he wanted to do. 

Fast forward the clock almost 

one year, and Bradley has done a 

remarkable job adapting to his new 

life. Through his rehabilitation, he 

has shown great dedication and 

commitment to his physical work. 

“Physical rehabilitation is my number 

one priority,” he said in a matter-offact 

manner. Bradley attends Les 

Mills gym three times a week with 

his physiotherapist, and works out 

to increase the strength of his upper 

body. “My main reason for this is to 

enable me to eventually transfer.” He 

also has caregivers who massage 

him and work his limbs, including his 

fingers, with which he has limited use. 

“I love all the physical rehabilitation 

I do as I know it is helping me and 

leading me towards independence.” 

Bradley, who went to Kings College 

and completed a law degree at 

university, said the biggest challenge 

for him in sustaining an SCI had been 

losing his sense of independence. 

Before his accident, he had been 

extremely active with the gym, 

running, working on building up his 

business, socialising with friends 

and family, and enjoying his own 

company. Since his accident and 

being home, he has required 24/7 care 

which has been a difficult transition. 

“Although I absolutely love my team 

and we have all become good friends, 

it is still very difficult for me to organise 

“Brad Time”, to go out on the patio 

alone, to be able to open doors and 

go outside alone, being able to catch 

up with friends and family on a whim. 

Being somewhat vain, not having any 

chest or stomach muscles has resulted 

in my looking somewhat fat! I cannot 

eat without orthopaedic assistance; 

I cannot wash myself, take a shower 

or clean my ears without the help of 

my caregivers. That’s now my life 

and I accept that, but I don’t let it 

stop me from making my life fulfilled 

by believing and allowing myself to 

socialise and to build up my business.” 

Bradley had been living in his apartment 

on Princes Wharf in Auckland for 

more than three years before his 

accident. He has commissioned 

builders to make some alterations 

to the apartment, so it will be more 

wheelchair-friendly, and he cannot 

wait for the work to be completed. 

“I am very fortunate that my apartment 

overlooks the sea from every room. I 

absolutely love living here. I am also 

fortunate that, if I suffer a little from 

cabin fever, I can go downstairs to 

one of the many bars or restaurants.” 

Bradley is not one to be idle. While he 

was in the Spinal Unit, he helped a lot 

of other patients with their problems, 

such as organising court adjournments 

for drink driving charges hearings they 

had coming up, which were related 

to them sustaining spinal injuries. 

He loves making a difference, and it has 

meant the world to him to continue 

working, developing and expanding 

his business. As Bradley keeps telling 

everybody “I refuse to let my injury stop 

me from being a successful person”. 

“I am a passionate person by nature 

and therefore passionate about my 

business. As soon as I returned, 

which means when I returned to 

my apartment, I advised my clients 

that ‘offices are open’. I have been 

fortunate that work has come in. 

This is important for me, as I have 

to fund myself. For the year prior 

to my accident, I had not filed any 

tax returns, so ACC were unable to 

pay me 80 percent of my normal 

monthly income. I confess this has 

proved very hard at times, with me 

starting up a new business and with 

clients not in a rush to pay me!” 

The New Zealand Spinal Trust, through 

the Kaleidoscope Programme, 

played an important role in 

getting Bradley back into work. 

“Kaleidoscope has been an integral part 

of my rehabilitation,” he said. “Lesley 

[Jones NZST Vocational Consultant] 

was an incredible help to me when 

I was at the Spinal Unit. Although 

being positive and accepting my injury 

and the life-time changes, I was still 

scared about returning to the real 

world. This is where Lesley helped 

me. We talked about my goals and 

what I wanted to achieve, and she 

helped implement them. For example, 

as I so loved everything about the 

Spinal Unit, Lesley arranged for me 

to become part of Spinal Support 

NZ, and I am now a member of its 

Board. Lesley also believed I could 

continue the business I had just 

started and that I could build it up.” 

Lesley Jones said “Bradley was always 

very committed to his rehabilitation 

and has shown great resolve and 

determination. His positive outlook 

has certainly helped him to visualise a 

meaningful future in all areas of his life.” 

Another problem for Bradley to 

overcome has been the lack of 

function in his hands. He said he 

has been very fortunate that ACC 

have funded two different types of 

software - Dragon Naturally Speaking 

8

and Automio – which have helped 

overcome his inability to work 

the keyboard on his computer. 

“Dragon Naturally Speaking is 

incredible,” he said. “It enables me 

to talk to my computer, dictate 

letters, follow through with functions 

and basically everything I would 

otherwise not be able to do. I was set 

up with Dragon Naturally Speaking 

when I was in the spinal unit.” 

“Automio enables me to carry out 

online interviews with clients. They 

are sent a link relating to what they 

want me to do. This link has questions 

for them to answer. Once they 

have answered those questions, the 

documents they require, incorporating 

all their answers, are immediately 

created and appear in my inbox. I 

am then able to check them over 

and make amendments, where 

required, and send my client a nonprintable 

copy of the documents. If 

they are happy, I can ask for payment 

immediately, which will be paid 

online. Once paid, I send them the 

documents. Normally I would go and 

see my clients,; however, with Automio 

I can deal with them online, including 

video-conferencing, which I have just 

received and am in the process of 

training. Once this is completed and 

all my precedents ready to go, there 

will be no looking back for me!” 

Bradley is also giving his time to 

Spinal Support NZ and helping clients 

with similar injuries. Spinal Support 

NZ, originally TASC, was founded in 

1991 by a group of high-level spinalinjured 

people as a support group, 

which has gradually evolved into the 

present organization. Since 2008, 

TASC became a registered charity 

and has now built up a vast network 

of volunteers who, with their various 

experiences, are able to offer moral 

support, advice and information to 

the new patients in the Spinal Unit. 

“I very much enjoy giving back,” said 

Bradley, who is a Committee Member 

of Spinal Support NZ. “I was blown 

away by the Otara Spinal Unit, and, to 

be honest, I had a wee weep when 

I left to return to my apartment. 

“I have arranged with Lesley that, 

whenever there are patients 

who need help with any sort of 

paperwork (e.g. ACC or WINZ), 

she should contact me, so I can 

come to the unit and help them. 

Bradley Watson says he accepted his new life as soon as he sustained an SCI. 

“As far as Spinal Support NZ is 

concerned, I love being part of 

this. My background in law is clearly 

going to be invaluable. Already 

I’ve assisted them with organising 

trademark protection. I have also 

“enrolled” my nephew, Matthew 

Watson, a fishing celebrity on 

television, as an ambassador.” 

Bradley is an ideal person for this role 

with Spinal Support NZ, as he has 

shown great mental strength and a 

positive frame of mind during the 

most challenging year of his life. 

“I am incredibly lucky and fortunate 

that, from the moment I woke up at 

Auckland Hospital, I have accepted 

what has happened to me and how 

dramatically my life has changed. 

Rather than this making me depressed, 

it has made me excited about 

beginning an entirely different life as 

a tetraplegic and being as happy as I 

possibly can. I am excited thinking 

about the future rather than what has 

happened to me. Having said that, I 

am passionate about teaching others 

with spinal injuries how to let go of the 

past and look forward to the future.” 

He has simple advice for others 

who have sustained an SCI and are 

looking to return to work and life: 

“Do not dwell on your injury!” he said. 

“It has happened and it is with you for 

the rest of your life. Rather than being 

miserable about what happened, be 

excited about what lies ahead and 

the challenges you will overcome. 

“Do not become a hermit. In the big 

bad world, there is so much fun to 

be had for those of us in wheelchairs. 

It is exciting to go out and breathe 

the fresh air, exercise and socialise. 

“And finally, love yourself even more 

than you did prior to the accident.” 

Great advice from a man who had 

his life flipped upside down by a 

freak accident but has come out 

the other side. Bradley Watson is 

determined to live a full life and 

to help others along the way. 

New Zealand Spinal 

Trust – Kaleidoscope 

Kaleidoscope is an early intervention 

and restorative vocational rehabilitation 

programme that provides detailed 

career advice and planning, educational 

support, and works to reduce the fear 

of work and remove barriers. We are 

dedicated to placing people, who 

have a spinal cord injury or acquired 

illness, into meaningful and sustainable 

employment. Services delivered are 

specialist work support, both to acute 

patients and community clients. 

• Kaleidoscope is a Not-For- 

Profit organization where our 

guiding principles are: 

• Everyone can have a great job 

• It’s healthy to be working 

• The sooner the better 

• There are thousands of 

work opportunities 

• Personal networks are the key 

• The process for getting a job 

is the same as before 

• You can do it yourself – 

Whatever it takes! 

• Your life experiences give 

you unique qualifications 

9

Low-Key Kiwi Champion 

Adam Hall On Overcoming Challenges To Take On The World 

Two-time Paralympic Gold Medallist, Adam Hall, has 

taken on the world and won. The 31-year-old, who 

was born with spina bifida, says he’s “he is lucky” 

because he is mobile and able to walk. The Dunedinborn 

ski champion admits to being a snowboarder 

at heart, but returned to skiing in order to compete 

in the Paralympic Winter Games in 2006. He hasn’t 

looked back. Earlier this year, he was recognised 

at the Halberg Awards as the Para Athlete of 2018. 

Winning awards has become commonplace for Adam, 

who has spent a lifetime pushing the boundaries 

of what is possible for someone with a disability. 

Take us back to the start. You were born 

with spina bifida. How hard was it growing 

up and how has it affected your life? 

Well, I was born with spina bifida so I don’t know 

any different. I have lived with it my whole life, 

compared to someone who may have lived an 

able life and then had to overcome the mental 

barrier of a tragic injury or overcome something 

that has drastically changed their life. 

I was reasonably lucky with my upbringing. I was 

treated just like anyone else. You hear about the 

cotton wool syndrome where people who have a 

spinal cord injury are treated differently. At the end 

of the day, we are just trying to do our best. We are 

not more prone to getting hurt than our able-bodied 

peers - we are just out there and doing it. We want 

to push the limits and see what is possible. That is 

the great thing about Adaptive Sport. It is what it is 

all about. There are no limitations or boundaries. 

The way I describe disability and the perception of that, if 

I was going to take on someone in a running race, then 

I would be the one with the disability but, if we were to 

go up the mountain and ski the slopes, then they would 

be the one with the so-called disability. I was lucky 

to get into sport at a young age. Sport has the ability 

to change people’s lives whether you have a disability 

or not. To get out there and get active is important. 

My time in sport has taught me a lot of life lessons. 

Sure, you always have your ups and downs. Whether 

that is going through school or going through different 

procedures, but you have to just get through it. I 

always look to focus on the positives and focus on the 

stuff what you can do rather than the stuff you can’t. 

“ 

We want to push the limits and see 

what is possible. That is the great thing 

about Adaptive Sport. It is what 

it is all about. There are no 

limitations or boundaries. 

Paralympian Adam Hall 

Adam Hall won Gold in the Men’s Slalom Standing at the 2018 

PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games. Credit: Getty Images. 

10

When you get it all right on a run after 

all the hard work, and overcoming the 

challenges I have with my body, it is 

an amazing feeling. It has changed 

and pushed my limitations. When I 

first started, I didn’t know if I would 

be still standing or on a sit-ski, but 

training has been really beneficial for 

my body, which has been excellent. 

Adam Hall has earned the respect of his peers (Getty Images). 

How did you first get into 

the sport of skiing? 

I was into all sports at school and 

played a lot of cricket. Then I was 

introduced to skiing. One of my 

Mum’s friends had a child with the 

same disability and they would spend 

weeks in Central Otago going up and 

down the slopes. They suggested 

I give it a go as well. I wasn’t very 

independent at the start and I was 

pretty hopeless. That lasted about 

three years. Soon after that until I 

changed over to snowboarding, and 

that is when I found the independence 

and the freedom that I was looking 

for. Everything started from there. 

Snowboarding wasn’t a para sport 

then so, a few years later, I changed 

back to skiing to try and represent 

NZ. My first campaign was in 2006 

in Torino, when I had just turned 18. 

You have had some amazing success 

on the slopes, both at Paralympics 

and also the World Cups – what 

stands out as your highlight? 

For me being back on top of the 

podium of the Paralympics after 

an eight year gap. I went to Korea 

with a plan and a process, and I was 

committed to working really hard. As 

you get older, it is all about training 

smarter but not harder. To be able 

to be back on the top of the podium 

eight years later was a moment I will 

never forget. But also the number of 

awards - the Halberg Awards and the 

Otago Sports Awards. It means a huge 

amount to be recognised with my 

abled-bodied peers. Not all of them 

have been for just adaptive awards, 

but to be recognised as Sportsman 

of the Year. It has left a great feeling 

of being judged and looked at on a 

level playing field. At the end of the 

day after all, we are all just athletes 

looking to achieve our own goals 

and make New Zealand proud. 

“ 

You need to have patience 

and resilience to stick 

to your dream. Trust 

the people around you 

and don’t give up. You 

will surprise yourself by 

what you can do and 

are capable of. Your 

disability is not the 

end that is for sure.” 

Paralympian Adam Hall 

What do you love about skiing? 

I love all of it. When you have a 

disability – the body is such a puzzle 

– some things work and some things 

don’t. I love the process of coming 

up with a plan, and training really hard, 

and then trying to translate that on to 

the snow in competition. It is all about 

seeking the hard work, and putting 

that in and seeing the rewards. I love 

the freedom of it all. To be able to be 

up there – it is the greatest office in 

the world – each day is completely 

different and it is mentally challenging. 

Beijing is in 2022. What is the 

mind-set around that? 

We are a year post PyeongChang, so 

time does go pretty damn quick. In the 

meantime, we have World Champs, not 

this season coming but the one after, 

so we are getting ready for that. We 

know that we have everyone chasing 

at our heels, so we want to stay ahead. 

It has been an amazing career to date, 

so we will see what happens however, 

to be in a position, where I am heading 

to Beijing with a chance to defend 

my title, is a pretty unique situation. 

Tell me what it was like to be 

awarded the Whang Youn Dai 

Achievement Award (for being 

the best to exemplify the spirit 

of the Paralympic Games)? 

That is almost better than being on top 

of the Podium at the Paralympics. To 

have that sort of recognition on the 

world stage as a Kiwi is such a rare, rare 

thing. There are less of them in the 

world than there are knighthoods, so 

it is a special thing. I am humbled by 

that award and honoured to represent 

all of the people who have supported 

me from the get-go. To be the only 

one from New Zealand, I am the 

lucky one, but I represent so many. 

What did it mean to be named 

the Para athlete of the year 

at the Halberg Awards? 

First and foremost, to be in a room of 

so much talent from all around New 

Zealand. Those athletes represented 

their own sports with so much 

diversity. I think, 2018, was the most 

amount of applications they have ever 

had for the Halberg Awards. To be 

nominated as a Finalist is a huge feat 

in itself but, to finish the night with 

such an amazing award, which stands 

for and represents so much, was an 

awesome moment. To be there for 

the first time – because, normally at 

that time of the year, I am away – it was 

outstanding. To get that recognition 

in front of my peers showcased to 

the rest of the country that, no matter 

11

ADAM HALL 

Adam Hall – Major 

International Results 

2018 PyeongChang 

Paralympic Winter Games 

Gold Men’s Slalom Standing 

Bronze Men’s Super 

Combined Standing 

5th Men’s Downhill Standing 

10th Men’s Super G Standing 

2018 World Para Alpine Skiing 

Cup (USA) 

2 Gold Men’s Super-G Standing 

2017 World Para Alpine 

Skiing Championships 

Bronze Men’s Slalom Standing 

Getty Images (Paralympics NZ). 

what your obstacle is, disability or not, 

you can still have dreams and goals 

to work towards. If you have the 

patience, time and the commitment, 

you can go out there and surprise 

yourself. Whatever your goals and 

dreams are, you can make it happen. 

Of course you have already been 

recognised for your Services 

to Sport and you are a Member 

of the NZ Order of Merit – 

and that is pretty special. 

Yeah, that was a few years ago now. 

To be recognised like that with such 

a high distinction award, from such 

powers to be the Governor-General, 

representing the Queen. To be at 

a ceremony like that it was quite 

surreal and, for me, it showed again 

that you get out of life what you put 

in. To get that recognition over time 

is important. Many years ago there 

wasn’t the same coverage for para 

sport – it just wasn’t around. But, 

now, the profile of para and adaptive 

sport has grown significantly, and 

help raise the awareness of living 

with a disability or if you have had 

an injury. We all have challenges 

that have to be faced… to overcome 

raising that awareness to show the 

rest of New Zealand that, even with 

some limitations, you can achieve 

some amazing things. It doesn’t have 

to be on the national level or a high 

level. When you are recognised, 

you are showing that there is light at 

the end of the tunnel. You can still 

live your life at your full potential. 

What advice do you offer to 

others who have sustained an 

SCI and are looking to achieve? 

The main thing is having a dream 

or a goal to work towards, and then 

have a plan or a pathway to make that 

happen. Also know there are going to 

be ups and downs. It is never going 

to be perfect or the way you would 

like it to be. But, when you look back, 

on it, it will be all about the journey. 

You need to have that patience and 

resilience to stick to it. Trust the 

people around you and don’t give 

up. You will surprise yourself by what 

you can do and are capable of. Your 

disability is not the end that is for sure. 

2016 Para Alpine SkiingRace Series 

1st Men’s Slalom Standing 

1st Men’s Super-G Standing 

2015 IPC Alpine SkiingWorld Cup 

(La Molina) 

2nd and 3rd Men’s Slalom Standing 

Europa Cup (Austria) 

3rd Men’s Slalom and Super 

Combined Standing 

2014 Sochi Paralympic 

Winter Games 

4th Men’s Super-Combined Standing 

7th Men’s Slalom Standing 

2010 Vancouver Paralympic 

Winter Games 

Gold Men’s Slalom Standing 

World Rankings (as at April 2018) 

Men’s Slalom Standing 1= 

Men’s Downhill Standing 6 

Men’s Super-Combined Standing 7 

Men’s Super-Giant Slalom Standing 15 

12

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50 Years on or to Hell 

in a Handbasket 

Mark Thompson’s Story 

My second life began late on 

Easter Monday, 7 April 1969 in 

a hot water pool at De Brett’s 

Hotel, Taupo. I remember that 

night as if it were last night. 

I had driven by car with two friends, 

Russell and Raylene, from Middlemarch 

and Dunedin, to Masterton a week or 

so before attending another friend’s 

wedding to be held the weekend 

after Easter. The first night was 

spent on the overnight ferry from 

Lyttelton and the next at Eketahuna. 

On that last fateful day of my first 

life, we’d had a few beers, having 

left Waipukurau in the morning after 

staying at the Tavistock. We travelled 

through Hawke’s Bay (I had worked 

there for a while so knew my way 

around) and on to Taupo. We called 

into De Brett’s, as I’d been there the 

previous year, and had told Russell 

and Raylene about the hot pools. 

I recently returned there and found 

many changes had been made, with 

most done to make the operation 

safer and less likely to be the scene of 

accidents. But, in 1969, the premises 

were fairly basic. I had been in one 

pool for quite a while before sliding 

over a wall into another one. After 

a time, I climbed out and spotted 

14 

another mate (Bob) who had turned 

up and he was in the first pool I had 

been in, so I dived in beside him. 

Alas, management had decided to 

drain the pool for the night. There 

was insufficient water remaining to 

accommodate the depth of my dive. 

As soon as my head touched the 

bottom I knew what I had done—I had 

had quite a lot to do with a mate from 

home who was C5/6 after a car crash 

so, for some reason, I immediately 

thought of Phil (Phil Read 1948-2018). 

Initially I was lying there face-down 

happily drowning and Bob thought 

I was just fooling around. After a 

while, he thought I was taking too 

long to come up for air and rolled 

me over. Being heard, even when 

shouting, after breaking one’s neck is 

not easy—no one heard me say “don’t 

move me”. Anyway, I was eventually 

pushed to the steps at the side of the 

pool and lay on the bottom step. 

“ 

My family were very 

supportive, once they 

realised I wasn’t going 

to just give up and go 

away…. it does take a little 

encouragement during the 

adjustment stage of a new 

life, starting from scratch. 

Mark Thompson 

Someone ran and phoned for help. 

The good Dr Haldane asked if I was 

moving and, when told I was not, 

suggested I be brought into town to 

his surgery. So I was picked up and 

manfully seated upright in the back seat 

of a car and driven to town. During this 

journey, I passed out for some time, 

only to be awakened by pain coming 

from the top of my head — not to 

worry, it was just the doctor sewing 

up the gash there. I was transferred 

by ambulance to Rotorua, where I 

spent five days before my brother, 

Graeme, with the help of Mr Bill Liddell 

of 13B Christchurch Hospital Spinal 

Ward, secured a flight on a small 

plane from Rotorua to Christchurch. 

Ironically, in Rotorua, I was admitted 

to the bed where a day or two 

before, Rob Porter had been for six 

months or so and had been totally 

mistreated. He was a great guy, who 

had been working for the Department 

of Agriculture. On a farm one day he 

stepped backwards over a one-metre 

bank and broke his neck. Sadly - mainly 

due to his early treatment at Rotorua 

- he did not live many more years. 

When I awoke in hospital the following 

morning, I felt as though I had been 

buried in concrete. If I had been able 

to reach the window and jump, I would 

have. Strangely and, thankfully, that was 

the only time I felt that way. I knew 

what I had done and that a wheelchair 

would be my lot. I would have to make 

the most of it — just get on with it. 

When I was discharged in November 

The De Brett’s Hot Pool Taupo, 2018

1969, the Specialists, Messrs Bill Liddell, 

Bill Uttley and Jake Cunningham, 

gave me 20 years to live — that was 

the extent of knowledge of spinal 

injuries back then. My family must 

have thought I would have an even 

shorter life — when I arrived home, 

all my rugby (ball and all) and cricket 

gear and my collections of bits and 

pieces were gone, 10 years of diaries, 

fishing rod, work clothes, the lot. 

Nothing was discussed — there was 

no talk of the future until well into 

the following year. My family were 

very supportive, once they realised I 

wasn’t going to just give up and go 

away. While my two brothers, sister 

and I were all brought up to stand 

on our own two feet so to speak, 

it does take a little encouragement 

during the adjustment stage of a 

new life, starting from scratch. 

In my first life - I was born in 1946 and 

brought up at Middlemarch, Central 

Otago, on the family farm - I had never 

planned to do anything but return to 

farming. Nothing had been discussed 

as far as I can remember, but my 

two brothers and I just assumed we 

would be farming when we finished 

our education. We had all taken the 

Agriculture Course at secondary school 

and have Diplomas in Agriculture 

from Lincoln College. They were two 

great years (or parts thereof Feb–Aug 

‘67–68) with more parties than study. 

I was lucky when I was in hospital in 

Christchurch in 1969, as many Lincoln 

mates were still about, visited most 

days, and always brought a few beers. 

Many a good party was held, much to 

“ 

Many a good party was 

held, much to the distress 

of Mr Hopkins - the 

Head Nurse. One of the 

patients, Geoff Sharp, had 

an electric wheelchair 

and he would reverse it 

behind the room door so 

it couldn’t be opened. 

Mark Thompson 

the distress of Mr Hopkins - the Head 

Nurse. One of the patients, Geoff 

Sharp, had an electric wheelchair 

and he would reverse it behind the 

room door so it couldn’t be opened. 

When I was able to get up and about 

in my own wheelchair — the old heavy 

Everest and Jennings — the nurses 

would push Dave Barry and me over 

to the Grenadier pub for the afternoon 

and return. That was our main rehab. 

I remember Dave falling into a flower 

garden when coming home one 

day. It was hilarious and the girls had 

much trouble lifting him back in the 

chair, mainly because of the laughter. 

Eventually, Dave was able to walk 

again. The problem had been he was 

unable to feel his feet or legs, with the 

result he fell over if he didn’t watch 

where his feet were. It was brilliant 

watching him play tennis as, every time 

he changed direction, he fell flat on 

his face. We had some great laughs. 

My brother, Graeme, brought Sam, my 

dog, in to see me—through the window 

of the gym. All the physios made a 

fuss of Sam, and he was pleased to see 

me. When I was deemed fit enough 

to go home after six months, I was 

lucky that Elspeth Kong, nee Fraser, 

had decided to retire from nursing 

and came home with me to train 

my mother on how to assist me. 

Back home on the farm was a 

frustrating time, not just because I was 

unable to do the work I was used to 

doing but, also, by not being able to 

do much at all. With little arm and 

no hand movement, it was a struggle 

even to push the wheelchair around 

the house. I was given an electric 

typewriter which worked all right 

and I used that in a limited way for a 

few years. However, it was essential 

for me to be able to write again, 

somehow holding a pen. At hospital, 

I had been given various attachments 

for the forefinger of my left hand, but 

I learned to hold a pen without an 

aid and, finally, settled on a felt pen 

which worked okay. I wrote with that 

for several years until changing to a 

longer pen, which I hold with both 

hands and it is neater and faster. 

The big question to be decided upon 

was “What to do?” Many thought I 

should go to University, and friends 

who visited from Dunedin from time 

to time talked me into it. One friend 

was a professor and two were students, 

one doing Law. The choice of what 

I wanted to do and what I could do 

were limited, but I decided on Law 

as the best option. Mum, Dad and 

I moved to Dunedin early in 1971 to 

a house just a few blocks from the 

Varsity. They and new friends Evan, 

Driving the mighty V8 Regal, Tekapo, 1976-77 (all underwater now). Setting up Discs in tandem with family and mechanics, 1969. 

15

MARK THOMPSON 

Jeff, Geoff, Tim, Devon and others 

did a great job pushing me to and 

from lectures for the next six years, 

until I graduated with a Bachelor of 

Law degree and was admitted to the 

Bar. It was with some satisfaction and 

a great deal of relief that the test of 

attaining a qualification had been met. 

In those days the University buildings 

(and many other public buildings) were 

not set up for wheelchairs and, as one 

of the first to attend Varsity in a chair, 

many lectures had to be transferred so 

I could attend them without needing to 

have the chair pulled up stairs to totally 

inaccessible places. I was allowed an 

extra half hour in exams because of my 

slower writing. Now there is a whole 

department dedicated to helping all 

sorts of disabled people attend and 

pass exams, including someone to 

write one’s exam answers—obviously 

told what to write by the examinee! 

I figured that Law was going to be 

difficult, mainly due to access—all 

the Law offices in those days were 

upstairs and, while many buildings had 

lifts, one usually had to climb some 

steps at the entrance to the building. I 

phoned Bill Christie, who had met me 

a couple of times, when he’d been at 

home seeing Dad. I just thought he 

might know someone who could use 

my skills. However, he said “Come 

along and see me” so someone 

pushed me up the road—about a 

kilometre—and, after an interview, Bill 

said “Can you start on Monday?” 

That sorted that and I had a job 

from mid-November 1976 at J & T 

Christies, which lasted 10 years. We 

made plumbing fittings and did sheet 

metal work, including making garden 

sheds and glasshouses. The bank 

called in the receivers, who sold off 

the sheet metal department, where 

I was mainly involved, and about 

a dozen of us were out of a job. I 

had recently been married to Mary 

Ann, so it was not great timing. 

I met some good people working 

there and, at week’s end, the Friday 

night sessions at the Gardens Tavern 

were something to behold. I’m not 

sure how we got home sometimes. 

Brian Olsen and Ross Black were and 

are still good mates and helped me 

get around, bearing in mind I was still 

Dawn rainbow above Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 1985 

in the manual chair. For the previous 

five years I had been travelling to and 

from work with the aid of a Chairporter—a 

three- wheeled machine, 

which had a tray at the back attached 

to handlebars and a battery-powered 

motor mounted above the front wheel. 

It worked well—the manual chair was 

pushed on to the tray and a flap was 

pulled up behind the chair. So I didn’t 

need anyone to push or transport 

me to and from work. A little more 

independence. It was the first job I 

had had where I worked set hours 

and I gradually understood why most 

workers looked forward to week-ends. 

Another friend, Ralph Gill, heard about 

my predicament and asked me if I was 

interested in running a pub he had just 

bought. I was keen, so travelled each 

day from my George Street home to 

the St Kilda in South Dunedin, having 

to be collected by car. For a couple of 

years, Bill Fleming was very good to me 

in the travel department. He worked 

a Fish ’n’ Chip shop, so it was very 

good of him to go out of his way as he 

did. We had a lot of fun after work! I 

worked with Ralph for four years and, 

during that time, I had sold George 

Street and bought a small house in 

South Dunedin. I was single again, so it 

suited me fine to be in a smaller place 

close to work at the St Kilda. It was also 

during this time that I was given my first 

Powerchair to try. I had thought I might 

use it sometimes, but soon realised 

the extra independence was huge, so 

never went back to the manual chair 

unless absolutely necessary. Now I 

don’t even have a manual chair! Of 

“ 

Some things really bug 

me: for example, people 

with two perfectly good 

legs standing beside me 

waiting for the lift when 

there’s a staircase nearby— 

born lazy? Or kids saying, 

“I wish I had one of those,” 

referring to the wheelchair— 

do they think its fun? 

Mark Thompson 

course, having had my accident in 

1969 I never qualified for ACC—it came 

into effect on 1 April 1974 - so I had 

to work to survive. It had benefits, 

though, getting out and being involved 

in the community, for example. 

After the four years at the St Kilda, I 

began working from home, which was 

good, but demanded more discipline 

to get the work done. I still did a fair 

bit of pub work for Ralph and picked 

up other jobs to complement that. I 

bought my first computer about this 

time and, with many struggles, learned 

enough to make its use worthwhile, 

and would continue to do so (but I 

would still rather drive a tractor!). 

Also during the days at the St Kilda, 

I became involved with running 

Gaming Machines (pokies). A Trust 

had been set up about 1991—The 

St Kilda Community Sports Society. 

When the Department of Internal 

Affairs became aware of how they 

16

intending to return and see more 

next time. Maybe. The main purpose 

of the trip was to see Scotland from 

where my forebears came — Father’s 

and Mother’s sides of the family — 

and I felt an odd déjà vu sensation, 

as though I had been there before. 

After I acquired my first house in 

Dunedin in 1976 during my last year 

studying Law, I had to find and pay 

for carers but, usually, arranged for 

young women to help for free board 

and lodging. One year, three Aussie 

nurses turned up on my doorstep, after 

they had seen an advert I had placed 

in the paper. That was an interesting 

year to say the least—big party time, as 

young people are wont to do, when 

away from home. When, in the mid 

‘80s, carers were provided, things were 

a lot easier and many good carers 

have come and gone over time. 

Mark Thompson holding the prized Log O’ Wood (Ranfurly Shield). 

thought the industry should be run, 

the increase in paperwork meant it 

required someone to be dedicated to 

run each of the many Trusts springing 

up all over the country. For a while, 

my Trustees and I were operating three 

Trusts based on several pubs. That 

business kept me busy for 25 years or 

so. It was interesting, especially as it 

meant being in touch with most sports 

clubs and many other community 

organisations and schools in the city. 

As a result, I knew many good people 

and still meet a few of them for a beer 

now and then. I had moved house 

again, firstly, because of the neighbours 

and, secondly, I needed more space 

for all the paper storage and an office 

where I could see people more easily. 

Since 1976, when I bought a 

Standardbred mare, I have been 

breeding and racing horses. At first, 

it was pacers and trotters; then I 

purchased a thoroughbred mare with 

foal at foot but, in recent years, it has 

just been greyhounds. The horses 

were a moderate success, but were 

expensive to own and graze, and the 

times they did race were limited. The 

dogs are a different proposition and, 

while it is still difficult to make a profit 

without a champion in the kennel, 

at least you can see them race. I 

have quite a few dogs now and have 

imported a number from Australia. 

Most dogs are held in partnerships or 

syndicates, which spreads the risk. I 

am breeding from a few of the best 

bitches I have raced and, as usual, 

hope for that elusive champion. 

Over the years I have travelled a bit, 

usually to watch sport: Wales in 

1980 for the Welsh Rugby Centenary; 

Australia in 1982 during the Falklands 

War; South Africa in 1985 for the 

Clayton’s All Black Tour (if you 

remember, that tour was cancelled 

in Court) — but we went anyway, the 

highlight being the Victoria Falls in 

Zimbabwe. Groups of friends have 

been to many Bledisloe Cup matches 

over the Tasman and, more recently, 

with Keith Jarvie to the Aussie tennis 

(Stick Tours, almost world famous 

at the tennis!). In 2010 three of us 

went on tour to the UK, France and 

Thailand. Seven weeks was just long 

enough for us to see what we wanted, 

Some things really bug me; for 

example, people with two perfectly 

good legs standing beside me waiting 

for the lift when there’s a staircase 

nearby—born lazy? Or kids saying, 

“I wish I had one of those,” referring 

to the wheelchair—do they think 

it’s fun? But times and attitudes to 

chairs have changed, with greatly 

improved acceptance. I remember in 

the early ‘70s being pushed around in 

Dunedin and everyone would stare. I 

didn’t mind but, now, the public only 

get upset if I try to run them over!! 

People are even becoming used to 

me driving down the middle of the 

road—even the police don’t appear 

to mind! The new cycle lanes are 

good for chairs too. Many say I’m 

just a grumpy old man - and that is 

probably true - but in this game the 

patience of a man is tried every day. 

I reckon I still have some good years 

left in me; my health is okay; at least 

I don’t have any major problems; 

although, having said that, I am 

reasonably disciplined and try to 

take care of mind, body and soul— 

well, not sure about the last part. 

I’ve lived, I’ve loved, I’ve worked, I’ve 

travelled—I’ve outlived everyone’s 

expectations by decades. I still 

have many things I want to do and 

achieve, and can only hope The Grim 

Reaper does not call too soon. 

17

China Calling 

Mike Brown travels to the People’s Republic 

Mike Brown loved the adventure of exploring China 

Adaptdefying in China 

I’d always been fearful of China - 1.4 

billion people, strange food, ghastly 

pollution, an overbearing government, 

human rights abuses…the list goes 

on. But what would it really be like 

and, what’s more, what would it be 

like travelling there, to visit factories, 

as a manual wheelchair user? 

The Flight 

My business partner, Tim Cox, and 

I started the adventure with a 4am 

wake-up to catch our first flight to 

Australia, then a connecting flight 

to our first Chinese destination – 

Shenzhen, a city of 12 million people. 

The décor in the plane was like 

something out of a 1970’s Bond movie, 

and the flight attendants looked the 

part too. There were no major inflight 

dramas, a couple of pees into a bottle 

under the cover of a blanket, and 

one trip to the bathroom with the 

help of the Bond Girls and a rickety 

aisle chair. The food was fabulous, 

the in-flight entertainment awesome, 

once I figured out how to change 

the default language from Chinese to 

English and, overall, I felt as rested as 

one can be after flying for 16 hours. 

We landed into what seemed liked 

a vast circuit board of flashing lights, 

endless microchips and towering 

capacitors which pierced the humid 

grey air. I watched as the other 

passengers walked down a set of 

portable stairs on to the tarmac and 

into a waiting mega bus. Where was 

my wheelchair and how was I going 

to get off this 70’s relic, I pondered? 

A giant truck with a makeshift 

platform appeared and, with the 

help of a nervous-looking crew 

member, I transferred into a clunker 

of a wheelchair before being 

manhandled on to the platform, 

then down and across into the 

arms of the crowded transporter. 

Tim and I were escorted through 

immigration and, on the other side, 

looking rather culture-shocked, 

was my faithful wheelchair. With 

baggage in hand and, after a quick 

stop to an accessible toilet, we made 

our way out into the steamy night. 

The bilingual signage pointed the 

way to the taxi stand, where we were 

ushered into one of the hundreds on 

the production line. I flung myself 

on to the back seat, while Tim stuffed 

my disassembled wheelchair into the 

18

ack of the taxi after me. Now began 

the first of many games of Chinglish 

charades to try and match the Google 

maps location we had for our hotel 

into something which made any 

sense to our increasingly impatient 

driver. The urgency intensified when 

a gruff official waving a light sabre 

forced the driver to take off into the 

maelstrom that was Shenzhen traffic. 

Hotel #1 

The first of our four hotels on this trip 

was lush, newly built and accessible 

- except for the bathroom. Not ideal, 

but Adaptdefying is my game and, 

blessed with a strong upper body, 

I was able to perform some funky 

twister-like transfers on to a circuslike 

metal chair that I shuffled into 

various locations. The poor chair got 

decidedly wet every time I showered 

and, by the time we left, had developed 

some rusty wounds. Oh well! 

I should note there were apparently 

two dedicated accessible rooms, 

but they both had king- size beds. 

Now I like Tim, but not that much 

so, substituting twin beds for poor 

bathroom access, was fine by me. 

The first of our buffet breakfasts was 

western and delicious, and we then 

went out into the tropical chaos for 

the first of our 10 factory visits on the 

trip. We taxied to the nearest Metro 

station, sweating in the contrasting blur 

of electric scooters, communist, grey 

apartment blocks, and luxury cars. 

The Metro 

After a little searching, we found 

the elevator, descended into the 

subway’s bowels, and fumbled 

about for a long time trying to buy 

a ticket. It was comical, but we 

eventually sussed it out or, more 

accurately, a helpful passer-by did. 

As is often the case, being a wheelchair 

user has its perks. When the turnstiles 

into the station were too narrow for 

a wheelchair, which was 90 percent 

of the time, a bland-looking official 

would let us through a side gate, which 

by-passed the need to scan our tickets. 

As long as Tim stayed close behind 

me, it was a free ride for him too. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the 

metro system in Shenzhen. It runs 

like a precision clock, transports 

over four million people daily, has 

English and universal accessibility 

signage, a scattering of accessible 

toilets, and one elevator per station 

to assist your vertical transition. 

Tim and I were in China to finalise 

our manufacturing partners for 

the LapStacker - the first of many 

inventions our start-up company 

Adaptdefy is developing to increase 

freedom for the adaptive community. 

I was about to find out how I’d be 

treated as a wheelchair user, and how 

accessible the factories would be. 

The Janitor’s Closet 

Emerging from the subway an hour 

later on the outskirts of the city, our 

factory contact “David” was waiting 

for us at street level. But, first, I had 

to pee. Unable to find an accessible 

toilet or a private hideaway, and with 

cameras and people everywhere, 

I was getting desperate. Then I 

spotted a woman emerge from 

what looked like a janitor’s closet. I 

gestured and, in desperation, forced 

my way in, much to her confusion 

and annoyance. I did my thing and 

vowed, right then and there, to buy a 

nylon poncho to use as a makeshift 

privacy tent for future emergencies. 

Factory #1 

Arriving at the factory in a late model 

BMW, we were ushered to a service 

elevator which took us up to a board 

room where we discussed design 

and capability. Next, was a tour of 

the factory with row upon row of 

expensive machinery. No access issues 

around the factory although, once 

again, the toilet was a challenge. With 

narrow doorways and steps up to a 

squatting platform, I was again forced 

to find an alternative room to do my 

thing. Our host - partly, I’m guessing, 

because of our language barrier - 

didn’t ask any mechanical questions. 

Lunch 

With the factory tour and design 

discussion finished, we were invited 

to lunch with the factory owner. The 

footpath on the way there was uneven 

and pot-holed, and there were steps 

up to most shops, including the 

restaurant. A quick lift up the steps 

and I was in. I imagine this would 

be very tricky for a power-chair user, 

if you didn’t have portable ramps. 

We were ushered to a round table. 

Mike hopes the rise of the middle-class in 

China will also increase the confidence and 

resources available to those with disabilities. 

19

MIKE BROWN 

A steaming wok, heated by a potbelly 

fire beneath the table, was in 

the centre. It was all very feng shui. 

Chopped chicken pieces (bones and 

all), an assortment of spices, chillies, 

broths and vegetables were soon 

added, and beer and green tea were 

served. The meal was delicious and 

the conversation friendly, but difficult, 

given the language difference. I 

resorted to sharing photos of recent 

adventures in the outdoors, which must 

have seemed as contrasting to the 

factory owner as China was for me. 

Rinse & Repeat 

The 10 days that followed were 

variations on the first day, but 

with ever-increasing intensity. 

From Shenzhen, we caught the bullet 

train to Xiamen for more factory 

visits, hairy taxi rides, engineering 

chit chat, buffet feasts, heat and 

food-induced comas, 12-hour travel 

days and makeshift toilet stops. 

From Xiamen, we flew to Shanghai, 

a heaving hive of 26 million 

people. The scale and intensity 

was overbearing. More metros, 

two more “accessible” hotels, a little 

sightseeing, a lost visa card, a train 

inland to an ageing automotive factory, 

and ever increasing weariness and 

approaching flu. The pace of the trip 

was starting to take its toll on Tim 

and me, and home was calling. 

Factory Success 

Despite the packed schedule and 

intense logistics, it was an oriental 

success. We visited every factory 

on our list, and strengthened those 

relationships. The factory contacts 

were incredibly hospitable, generous, 

and respectful. China’s capability is 

impressive, if not a little frightening. 

Uncomfortable Lessons 

We discovered that, if you don’t have 

your passport you can’t purchase 

long-distance train tickets, but that 

Tim could get away with looking 

like me. Bullet train tickets sell out 

on public holidays, and third-class 

standing-only train tickets should be 

avoided at all costs, unless you like 

being jammed in an elevator-sized 

space with a group of chain smokers. 

I also learnt that Chinese hospitals, 

or at the least the one I found myself 

in to get stitches in my elbow, are 

efficient, crude and very public. 

Lasting Impression 

Accessibility at major public facilities 

was better than I imagined but, 

elsewhere, had plenty of the usual 

challenges. I was mesmerised by 

the kaleidoscopic mass of electric 

bikes, mopeds and scooters carrying 

an equally varied assortment of 

people and goods. I was surprised 

and concerned by the prevalence 

of luxury cars and consumer brands 

that are screaming out to those with 

aspirations to ascend upwards in 

status, despite the environmental and 

social consequences. Of course this is 

not limited to China. I also now fully 

understand how powerful the mobile 

phone and technology industry is, as I 

witnessed every man woman and child 

with a mobile, hooked into the matrix. 

However, perhaps the most profound 

memory was the distinct lack of 

wheelchair users that I saw - only 

one to be precise. Are all the others 

in hiding? I’m hoping the rise of the 

middle class in China will also increase 

the confidence and resources available 

to those with disabilities. I’m sure the 

people I met there now have a new 

appreciation and reference point for 

how a wheelchair user like me can 

adapt, defy and hold their head up high. 

If you would like to see the vlogs of 

the trip, check them out on YouTube 

by searching for adaptdefy or find 

the link from adaptdefy.com. 

20

Rugby Therapy 

By Mike Brown 

Former rugby player and 

World Champion sumo 

wrestler Mark Tanu 

Former rugby player and World 

Champion sumo wrestler, Mark Tanu, 

was left with a severe spinal cord injury 

after a horrific car crash. Not only has 

Mark had to learn how to eat, write his 

name, dress himself and use his hands 

again, but he’s also had to contend 

with the physical and psychological 

pain of using a wheelchair. 

Knowing Mark and his partner 

Pauline love rugby, our Peer and 

Family Support Team, led by Brett 

Ladbrook, made sure they had an 

opportunity to go to a live game. 

During the rugby season, patients 

are taken to see live rugby games 

in Christchurch. We co-ordinate 

the outings, arrange transport, enlist 

the help of volunteers and ensure 

patients are dressed and prepared 

emotionally for the outing. 

Part therapy, part entertainment and 

part education, a trip to the rugby is 

a great opportunity for a new patient 

to experience navigating through 

a large crowd with the support 

from our Peer Support Team. And 

the smiles make it all worth it! 

Special thanks to Canterbury Rugby 

and BNZ Crusaders for providing 

tickets and for playing great rugby! 

To see a short video of Mark’s 

experience, visit our website or search 

for it on our YouTube channel. 

“ 

A trip to the rugby is a 

great opportunity for a 

new patient to experience 

navigating through a large 

crowd with the support from 

our Peer Support Team. 

Mike Brown 

21

“ 

He didn’t suffer fools, so was slightly 

intimidating in that respect. Alan 

was always a busy guy so, if you were 

going to occupy his time, you had 

better have a good reason for it. 

Andrew Hall, NZST 

Prof. Alan Clarke established the 

New Zealand Spinal Trust in 1994. 

A Lifetime of Memories 

The NZ Spinal Trust reflects on 25 years of Highs and Lows 

In 1991, Professor Alan Clarke, Dean of the Christchurch 

School of Medicine, fell off his roof and became paralysed. 

During his 10 weeks in the Burwood Spinal Unit, he 

discovered rehabilitation as he had never understood it 

before…that the severely under-resourced rehabilitation 

process was a low priority within the health sector. 

In 1994, with some persuasion from Christine Smith, 

General Manager of Burwood Hospital, Professor 

Clarke gave up his Deanship to become Director of the 

Burwood Spinal Unit and, that same year, established 

the New Zealand Spinal Trust. Christine was the first 

Chair of the Trust; Alan, the first Executive Director. 

The Allan Bean Centre (ABC) for Research and Learning 

- the home of the New Zealand Spinal Trust - stood as 

a testament to a man who believed that rehabilitation 

and independent living should be controlled by those 

recovering rather than by the health sector. 

It is 25 years since the establishment of the NZ Spinal Trust 

and Professor Alan Clarke’s vision has come to life. The 

Trust has evolved and now lives with the mantra of “It’s great 

to be alive”. To mark the milestone, we look back on six of 

the key moments of the NZ Spinal Trust over the past 25 

years with Andrew Hall (AH) and Bernadette Cassidy (BC). 

Andrew, a former CEO and Chairman of the Board, 

has done it all. He recently returned to the Trust to run 

Kaleidoscope and the Peer Support Programme, and 

Bernadette has been a key member of the NZST for 17 

years. They took a walk down memory lane to record 

how far the Trust has come from its humble beginnings. 

22

1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 

AND PROFESSOR ALAN 

CLARKE’S VISION IN 1994 

What was Professor Alan Clarke like 

as a person and also professionally? 

AH: I first met Alan in 1999 when he 

was running the Burwood Spinal Unit. 

He was one of those very vigorous, 

older gentlemen. He didn’t suffer 

fools, so was slightly intimidating in 

that respect. Alan was always a busy 

guy so, if you were going to occupy 

his time, you had better have a good 

reason for it. He involved me in a 

seminar that he had organised about 

how the return- to-work rate for SCI 

people could be improved, and I got 

to see another side of him where he 

was much easier to talk to. There 

was once an article in the North and 

South Magazine which profiled Alan. 

The journalist who wrote the article 

had a phrase which described him 

very well. He said “He was a man who 

spoke in exclamation marks.” Alan 

didn’t so much converse but exclaim. 

BC: Alan was one of a kind, a legend, 

highly intelligent and a visionary. He 

was a great advocate for libraries and 

how having an information tool-kit 

would assist people with SCI to ask the 

important questions. I had the privilege 

of setting up and implementing a 

client-centred resource which is 

inclusive and provides tailor-made 

resources and services. Alan was 

formidable and never took “No” for an 

answer, which didn’t always sit well with 

people, but he got things done. After 

all these years, I still miss his wonderful 

booming voice and distinctive laugh. 

A patient enjoying the library with a good mate. 

The earthquake that rocked Christchurch in 2011 changed the Garden City forever. 

What was his vision for the 

NZ Spinal Trust when he first 

started it up? And how did he set 

about achieving that vision? 

AH: His fundamental point was that 

people going through rehabilitation, 

in particular spinal injuries, needed 

to be in charge of their own journey. 

They should be encouraged to 

manage the people around them. The 

whole power dynamic - whereby a 

patient is admitted into hospital and 

doctors, and physios and nurses work 

on them - needed to change. He 

wanted people to be encouraged to 

be in charge of that right from the 

start and, for all of those professions 

who were working with the patient, 

to understand that they were also 

working for that patient. Because he 

came from a medical background, 

and from quite a senior role in his 

profession, he expected that is how his 

rehabilitation would go that way, and 

there was no reason why it couldn’t be 

that way for everybody. Whether they 

were a professor of surgery or not. 

What do you think Professor Clarke 

would make of the NZST today? 

AH: I hope he would see it as 

having developed to the next stage 

of his vision. He died in 2007 and, 

at that time, we did not have Peer 

Support operational. The basis for 

the way Peer Support deals with 

patients is for them to be in charge 

of their own destiny, which was - 

exactly what Alan’s vision was and 

so entirely consistent with what he 

wanted to achieve way back then. 

BC: I think that Prof would be 

immensely proud of the Trust and 

how we, as staff, have helped to fulfil 

his vision. A vision which lives on and 

will continue to grow and evolve. Prof 

came to my mind when our beloved 

building, the Allan Bean Centre (ABC), 

was demolished in 2015. He had put 

so much blood, sweat and tears into 

raising money and building partnerships 

in order to realise his vision. I think, 

in some respects, if he had been alive 

to witness the demolition of the ABC, 

his heart would have been a little 

broken. However, Prof was a force 

to be reckoned with, he had a lot of 

‘mana and respect’, and would have 

done his utmost to find a solution. He 

died 12 years ago and has left a huge 

legacy which as staff of the NZST, 

we are committed to fulfilling. But 

I’d like to think we are continuing 

to expand on his vision, such as: 

• Development of the 

Connecting People Family and Peer 

Support service and the way this 

service is delivered at the Burwood 

and Auckland Spinal Units 

• Making the NZST truly 

national through the Kaleidoscope 

and Connecting People services 

and a national library service 

23

MEMORIES 

The Allan Bean Centre of the NZST. 

• Raising the profile of the 

NZST through more active marketing, 

events, PR and a bigger presence 

in the social media space, e.g. 

Connecting People Facebook page, 

Wheelie Good Tips, Dr. B etc. 

• More advocacy and 

lobbying at government level, with 

both local councils and national 

government and ministries 

• Continued international 

promotion of excellence in patientcentred 

rehabilitation at conferences 

and with travelling fellowships 

• Expanding computer and 

IT support not just to spinal patients 

but patients in other wards 

2. OPENING OF THE ALLAN BEAN 

CENTRE AND THE LIBRARY IN 2001 

What did the opening of the Allan 

Bean Centre mean for the NZST? 

BC: The establishment of the Allan 

Bean Centre and the development 

of the library was a very big step for 

the New Zealand Spinal Trust. The 

library service underpins the work 

of all the programmes we provide: 

vocational rehabilitation, family and 

peer support and designing patientrelevant 

resources. For patients 

to be in the driving seat of their 

rehabilitation, they must have access 

to quality information. Alan was a 

librarian’s dream, because he was a 

great advocate for libraries and the 

important role that information plays in 

empowering people to make decisions 

about their recovery. It may sound 

clichéd but it’s true! The Library 

supports and provides initiatives that 

tackle the challenges faced by people 

with disabilities, enabling them to have 

independent, confident and productive 

lives. We believe that successful 

reintegration into the community is a 

learning process, and that independent 

living and full self-determination are 

the ultimate goals of reintegration. 

AH: The opening of the Allan Bean 

Centre changed the Spinal Trust from 

being a small group doing projects 

to something much more significant. 

Once we had that building, we had a 

home for the library, and it was also 

the basis for ongoing programmes of 

work. It enabled us to go from being 

a project-focussed organisation to one 

delivering real programmes of work. 

The Library is a massive part of 

the Allan Bean Centre. How 

has the library impacted the 

community down there? 

BC: The Allan Bean Centre is a 

unique resource centre and library; 

it is client-centred, inclusive and 

delivers a visionary approach towards 

information provision for people with 

an SCI (in-patients and SCI people 

in the Community), their families/ 

whānau, and other rehab patients 

on the Burwood campus, as well 

as staff, researchers and students. 

The Library provides tailor-made 

resources and services for its clients 

and has a comprehensive collection 

of resources on disability and 

rehabilitation; produces and develops 

world-class publications, provides 

computer skills training, literacy 

support and a range of multimedia for 

SCI and brain injury rehabilitation. 

AH: Professor Clarke was an academic, 

a surgeon / scientist, so he understood 

the importance of good information. 

He would say “To be able to take 

charge of your own rehabilitation, you 

need the right information, and only 

so much information is available out 

of a person’s mouth.” The information 

you often need is in books or on the 

internet so, in that respect, a library - 

which is so much more than just books 

in the modern sense - is all about 

empowering people to be in charge 

of their own journey. And we may be 

talking about people who haven’t been 

inside a library since they left primary 

school. Again it was about giving 

people the tools to be in charge of 

their own rehabilitation. The Library’s 

collection is now available all over 

New Zealand through the inter-loan 

service, specialising in rehabilitation 

material, such that the library has the 

largest collection of rehab materials 

available to the public of any library 

in the country. It was a significant 

step forward for the Spinal Trust. 

3. START OF KALEIDOSCOPE IN 2002 

What was Kaleidoscope like 

when it was first created and 

what was it hoping to achieve? 

AH: Kaleidoscope was born out of a 

seminar that Prof. Clarke organised 

involving employers and employees. It 

was designed to answer the question of 

why so few people who sustain spinal 

cord injuries or illnesses return to work. 

As a function of that, he employed 

me to design a service to address that 

issue, and to get it funded. We got it 

going with initial start-up funding from 

ACC and the Department of Labour. 

We made good use of volunteers at the 

start. We had Julian Verkaaik and Rob 

Macdonald as our first Kaleidoscope 

team members and then Arron Perriam 

joined the team. Then, after about 18 

months, we received MSD (Ministry of 

Social Development) funding as well. 

It has obviously grown significantly 

over time. How has it grown 

to achieve its vision? 

AH: Kaleidoscope has now become 

well established at both spinal units and 

is seen as a key part of the rehabilitation 

process in both units. It is no longer 

funded by MSD, unfortunately so 

is currently only funded for ACC 

claimants. But our commitment 

to work with all in-patients who 

want to get back to work remains, 

regardless of their funding status. 

4. SERVICES OF THE NZST 

EXTENDED IN ESTABLISHMENT 

OF THE AUCKLAND SPINAL 

REHABILITATION UNIT IN 2006 

The extension to include 

Auckland was a big move… 

how did that come about? 

24

AH: It was always the vision for 

the Spinal Trust to be serving all of 

New Zealand. Once we were better 

established, we wanted to expand 

into Auckland. We knew that Spinal 

Support NZ (formerly TASC) were 

already doing a good job there, but 

they were providing different sorts of 

things to what we were proposing. 

With their support we managed to 

establish a Kaleidoscope programme 

in Auckland. The demand for the 

service, with Auckland being a much 

larger centre, was even greater than 

what it was down here so, with 

that demand, we really needed to 

be operating out of Auckland. 

In terms of the size of the Kaleidoscope 

programme, Auckland is currently 

two-thirds of our workload. Currently 

the next step is to see how the other 

aspects of what we do can also be 

deployed in Auckland. To that end, 

we are looking at the Harrison Centre 

development and how that can be 

grown as a resource for the Auckland 

Spinal Unit. Also, we are co-operating 

with Spinal Support NZ with their 

delivery of Peer Support in Auckland. 

5. START OF PEER 

SUPPORT IN 2009 

AH: We had wanted to deliver Peer 

Support for a long time. However, 

we never had the money to commit 

the people to do it. In 2009 we 

managed to get some money to begin 

the programme. Debz Edmonds 

(nee Mitchell) was employed to get 

it started, and she led it for 10 years 

right up until very recently. The vision 

at the beginning was to have a single 

co-ordinator running the volunteers 

all over New Zealand. We quickly 

realised that the demand for the 

service in hospital at Burwood was 

such that we needed to focus on 

there first. Debz then brought Jazz 

Calder and Brett Ladbrook on board 

and, later, Josh Caldwell, although 

she was still running a large group of 

volunteers. One of Debz’s first regional 

trips to establish the network was to 

Palmerston North. There she met a 

fellow by the name of Pat Edmonds, 

whom she later married. When he 

moved south, he also became a key 

volunteer. They were a great team. 

6. CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE 

IN 2011 AND THE ON-GOING 

IMPACT ON THE NZST 

What was it like when that 

earthquake hit and how did it 

affect the NZ Spinal Trust? 

BC: The 2011 Christchurch earthquakes 

have had a huge impact on the Allan 

Bean Centre and, in particular, the 

library. On Tuesday, 22 February, 

2011 just before 1 pm, I was working 

in the library when the earthquake 

struck. It was completely different 

from the 7.1 quake that had struck the 

previous September. It felt ferocious 

and I knew it was bad because I saw 

the huge concrete walls in the library 

shake and move. It was frightening! 

I remember thinking I should get 

under my desk, but was thrown from 

my chair onto the floor. Along with 

other staff, I helped to clear the Allan 

Bean Centre and we all went outside 

where it felt safer. We had accounted 

for all the staff except the CEO at the 

time, Andrew Hall, who was in the 

café. Much to our relief, he eventually 

arrived. Then we all frantically tried to 

get hold of our loved ones to check 

they were safe. We closed the building, 

but were able to return the following 

The Allan Bean Centre has evolved to be a life-changing resource for people of all ages. 

The Allan Bean Centre of the NZST. 

Monday to tidy up and, subsequently, 

open for business. However, two years 

later, a building assessment showed up 

safety concerns, and we were given 

15 minutes to vacate the building! A 

year later, the Allan Bean Centre was 

demolished. During this upheaval, 

the library was without a home until 

late 2014, when I set up a ‘pop up’ 

library in the lounge of the Burwood 

Spinal Unit. In 2016 we moved to a 

small room in a portacom, where we 

still are. Despite these difficulties, the 

New Zealand Spinal Trust has risen 

to the challenges through innovative 

ideas. We are looking forward and 

planning for a new building. 

AH: On the day of the Christchurch 

2011 earthquake, I was in the staff 

cafeteria. The earthquake itself was so 

severe – there were four of us there 

in wheelchairs along with everyone 

else – everybody else ran out the doors 

except for us, because we couldn’t 

get down the steps. We were stuck 

in the cafeteria holding on to the 

table. Otherwise we would have been 

thrown out of our chairs. Once the 

shaking stopped, there were various 

alarms going off. So I headed down 

the corridor of the hospital, which 

was subsequently closed because it 

was deemed unsafe, back to the Allan 

Bean Centre to see the carnage. All 

the shelves had been thrown over, 

books were everywhere, and the filing 

cabinets had all been tipped over, and 

there were large cracks in the floor. It 

was a pretty bizarre experience. From 

there, the story was for everyone to 

get home to make sure their families 

were OK and to check out their homes. 

Over the next couple of days there was 

no power, so we kept the building shut, 

and opened up the following Monday 

to tidy up and get things going again. 

25

Library 

Allan Bean Centre New additions- August 2019 

Check out the Library’s new resources! 

New Information Service! 

Enter our super hero, Dr. B! 

We’ve created a new video series 

to share the information and 

multimedia resources we have 

available in the Library. The Dr. 

B online service is also a forum 

where people can post questions 

on anything and everything! 

You can view the first three 

episodes on our website https:// 

nzspinaltrust.org.nz/resources/ 

ask-dr-b/ and you’ll also find 

how to contact Dr.B. with any 

questions you may have. 

The Good Doctor: Breaking the 

rules, making a difference, 

by Lance O’Sullivan, 2015. 

Lance O’Sullivan is a man on a mission. 

Raised in Auckland by a solo mother, 

he had a modest upbringing typical 

of the time. After being expelled from 

two schools, Lance could have gone 

off the rails. Instead, he found his way 

at Hato Petera College, connecting 

with his Maori ancestry, and going on 

to study medicine. After a brief but 

outstanding career working as a GP in 

the public health system, Lance and 

his wife Tracy quit their day jobs to set 

up a ground-breaking practice in the 

Far North that offers free healthcare 

to the many who can’t afford it. 

The Good Doctor charts his 

inspirational, one-of-a-kind life 

story, while relaying an overarching 

hope for a better New Zealand. 

Atomic Habits: An easy and 

proven way to build good 

habits and break bad ones, 

by James Clear, 2018. 

If you’re having trouble changing 

your habits, the problem isn’t you. 

The problem is your system. Bad 

habits repeat themselves again and 

again not because you don’t want to 

change, but because you have the 

wrong system for change. Atomic 

Habits offers a proven framework for 

improving - every day. James Clear, 

one of the world’s leading experts 

on habit formation, reveals practical 

strategies that will teach you exactly 

how to form good habits, break bad 

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26

JOURNALS 

Dynamics of Human Health 

Vol 6. Issue 1 March 2019 

Topics in Spinal Cord Injury 

Rehabilitation 

Vol. 25 no. 1 Winter 2019 

Topics in Spinal Cord Injury 

Rehabilitation 

Vol. 25 no. 2 Spring 2019 

The 5-Minute Clinical Consult 

2019, 27th edition edited by 

Frank J Domino et al, 

by Frank J Domino et al, 2018. 

Make the most effective diagnostic 

and therapeutic decisions quickly 

and efficiently! The 5-Minute Clinical 

Consult 2019 is a practical, highly 

organized resource for clinicians 

in primary care, family medicine, 

emergency medicine, nursing, and 

paediatrics. It provides rapid access 

to guidance on diagnosis, treatment, 

medications, follow-up, and associated 

factors for more than 540 diseases 

and conditions. The 5-Minute Clinical 

Consult 2019 is designed to deliver 

maximum clinical confidence as 

efficiently as possible...allowing you 

to focus your valuable time on giving 

your patients the best possible care. 

The World I Fell Out of, 

by Melanie Reid, 2019 

In 2010, aged 52, journalist Melanie 

Reid fell off her horse, breaking her 

neck and fracturing her lower back. 

The World I Fell Out Of recounts her 

recovery, from the first, disorienting 

year spent in hospital, through a 

stoical determination to regain as 

much mobility as possible, to writing 

her award-winning column about 

living with disability. Reid reveals with 

insight, candour and courage what 

it’s like to find yourself suddenly 

inhabiting a world that was previously 

unknown to you. The result is a 

powerful, life-affirming memoir. 

MAGAZINES 

Forward magazine 

Issue 150 April 2019 

Nadia 

April/May 2019 

New Mobility for active wheelchair users 

Issue 306 March 2019 


Issue 307 April 2019 


Issue 308 May 2019 

Spinal Network News 

Vol. 22 issue 1 April 2019 

Sports’n Spokes 

Vol. 45 no. 3 May 2019 

All the listed items are available to loan 

from the Temporary Library, Room 

7, Portacom A, Burwood Hospital. 

Opening Hours: 1.00 pm - 4.30 pm 

(Monday-Friday). 

The Library is available to everyone: 

patients, families/whanau, caregivers, and 

all hospital staff. We have a wide range of 

information and resources both print and 

digital; plus Tablets, Portable DVD players, 

audio books, journals, magazines, 

DVDs etc. 

Contact Bernadette Cassidy for more information 

bernadette.cassidy@nzspinaltrust.org.nz; 99484/ 03 383 9484. 

27

A Home Away From Home 

By Zahra Shahtahmasebi 

“ 

But what created that 

amazing atmosphere? 

Hands down, it was the 

staff. The NZST team are 

an absolute credit to the 

organisation, and Prof 

Clarke’s legacy would 

never live on if not for 

each and every one of 

these amazing individuals. 


Zahra Shahtahmasebi grew up in the happy environment of the NZST, alongside her Mum Bernadette Cassidy. 

an absolute testament to the staff’s 

integrity and dedication that they are 

still running that same successful 

and inclusive service out of two 

small portacoms – no small feat. 

People often talk about having a 

second home, whether that be a 

relative’s or friend’s house, or just 

somewhere dear to their heart. 

For me, that place has always 

been my mum’s work place. 

Granted, this might seem a bit 

unusual, but I can explain. 

My mum started work with the New 

Zealand Spinal Trust as the Library 

Manager in 2002, not long after my 

family and I moved to New Zealand 

from the U.K. I was five at the time. 

I can’t even really remember 

the first time I went to the 

Allan Bean Centre (ABC). 

But the one thing that sticks with 

me is what a wonderful organisation 

the New Zealand Spinal Trust is. 

Simply put, the NZST is an incredibly 

inclusive, dynamic and respectful 

organisation, somewhere I’ve always 

felt welcome. Even as a child I was 

never considered a nuisance (that 

I know of!), and the ABC had this 

comfortable and inviting atmosphere. 

There was Meesa, Claire’s lovely dog, 

and Alfie the cat, who would roam 

around the Spinal Unit and often pop 

his head into the ABC for a pat. 

This in itself amazed me - 

animals in the workplace? Sign 

me up for a job right now! 

But what created that 

amazing atmosphere? 

Hands down, it was the staff. The NZST 

team are an absolute credit to the 

organisation, and Prof Clarke’s legacy 

would never live on if not for each and 

every one of these amazing individuals. 

I often like to remark that there was 

a period of time where I pretty much 

‘lived’ at the Allan Bean Centre. My dad 

was overseas for work, which meant 

during the latter part of my primary 

schooling and early high school 

years, I was in and out a lot. From 

after school to school holidays, you 

name it, you’d likely find me here. 

In 2014 the Allan Bean Centre was 

closed down, and later demolished. 

This event was absolutely devastating 

to the team, and was a loss I felt keenly. 

However, the most amazing thing is 

that despite the turmoil and uncertainty 

they have faced in the last five years, 

the organisation has not changed a 

bit. The NZST is still fighting, and it is 

That’s what it boils down to, I guess. 

Every single person at the NZST is so 

invested in achieving the organisation’s 

goals. There is so much respect, and 

love and each member is valued for 

the work and services they provide. 

They care about their work, but 

most of all they care about people. 

This was shown in the way my 

mum’s colleagues have always 

invested in me. Never could I have 

imagined a group of adults to be so 

interested in a child like myself. 

At age 12, the introduction of a 

Nintendo Wii in the library saw Arron 

Perriam, former Kaleidoscope manager, 

become my tennis rival. We had a 

much anticipated showdown in which 

everyone gathered around to watch. 

Not boasting at all, but I kicked butt. 

Needless to say Arron took losing to 

a pre-teen pretty bad – he put salt 

in my tea! Later making it up to me 

by buying me lunch. Despite this, 

we have managed to put our rivalry 

aside to become great friends. It was 

a sad time for me and the rest of the 

team when he decided to leave the 

Trust just a couple of years later. 

Rivalries and competitions seem to 

be a recurring theme as I later took 

28

on Paul Stafford and Nancy Todd in a 

cake baking competition. This time, I 

must admit, Nancy rightfully won. This 

competition then kicked off the start 

of a series of cooking competitions 

from soup to quiche that would run 

over the next few years. Despite being 

a teenager and not a member of staff, 

I was frequently allowed to join in. 

Paul has become a close family 

friend, only more so when we 

became neighbours in 2012, 

almost like a second parent. He 

always looked out for me, always 

asking me about my sport, my 

schooling, and my general life. 

One of my best and fondest memories 

was the lead up to Christmas one year. 

I was in the library on a Wednesday 

after school (Wednesday’s were 

always my favourite, because that’s 

when Nancy works) and Nancy 

kindly asked me to help her set 

up the library Christmas tree. 

We spent an afternoon laughing, 

talking and decorating a wonderful 

tree and this kicked off what would 

become a great friendship. 

Then there’s Hans, the wise-cracking, 

friendly and kind CEO, who makes 

sure every single member of his team 

feels cared for. Last year, Hans was 

instrumental in helping me plan a 

secret surprise party for my mum’s 

birthday, which involved me requesting 

time off work on my mother’s 

behalf – I don’t know many bosses 

who would be as accommodating, 

as willing to get involved and have 

some fun along the way as Hans! 

In all honesty, I could go on forever 

about the ways the people at the NZST 

have touched my life, from former 

CEOs Andrew Hall, and Ben Lucas, to 

Mel Kelly, Deb Le Cren, Debz Edmonds, 

Josh Caldwell, and Meika Reid and 

the rest of the staff. I can’t thank you 

all enough for the positive and lasting 

impact you’ve all had on my life. 

Not only was I constantly frequenting 

the halls of the ABC and later the 

portacoms, but also managed to 

wrangle my way into many a Christmas 

dinner. I always remember at age 

16 attending one event, with both 

parents in tow. Another guest turned 

to me and asked, “So do you like 

hanging out with mum and dad?” 

“Hell yeah!” was my response - I 

loved being a part of this wonderful 

world where i was treated like an 

equal and my opinions valued. 

I use to tell my mum I would love 

to work for the Spinal Trust one 

day, and was lucky enough to 

have already achieved this to some 

degree, by working as a research 

assistant for BAIL after finishing high 

school and starting at university. 

With both BAIL and the NZST now 

sharing portacoms, in my role I was in 

constant contact with all staff, often 

having to use mum’s mini library for my 

work. A slightly dangerous arrangement 

as Nancy and I would spend many a 

Wednesday afternoon chatting away! 

Here’s to 25 years of the most 

wonderful organisation, and what 

will always be my second home, 

and here’s to 25 more years. 

29

Tour of Duty 

Healthcare NZ Spinal Trust Team Conquers The Tour of NZ 

Hans Wouters said it was a funny feeling when 

the Tour of New Zealand had finished. 

After eight days of riding 550km over some seriously 

beautiful and challenging terrain, the Tour came to 

a stop at the steps of the Beehive in Wellington. 

“We were all sorry it was over,” said Hans, 

the CEO of the NZ Spinal Trust, reflecting 

on a special experience in April. 

“It was thrilling for our team to win a stage on the last 

day. I went so hard and fast on the last day that I was 

treated by St John’s. I could not stop coughing!” 

Hans came right and, to cap it all off, their team was 

the only one standing with the Honourable Trevor 

Mallard, wearing their shirt, on the steps of Parliament, 

signing off the Tour on the SKY TV Programme. 

For the previous eight days they had ridden from 

Glenorchy to Queenstown, from Arrowtown 

to Wanaka, from Wanaka to Omarama, from 

Mount Cook to Tekapo, flew from Christchurch 

to Rotorua, had a rest day in Rotorua on day five, 

and then sat on the bike from Te Kuiti to The 

Chateau, from The Chateau to Whanganui, and, 

finally, the Wellington Criterium on the last day. 

The nine stages included a 37km Prologue Time 

Trial, 12km Hill Climb to the Chateau, 5km Beehive 

Criterium. The average daily ride time was three 

hours covering on average about 90km each stage. 

Participating in the Tour of New Zealand came about 

by Hans - well - being cheeky. He approached the 

organiser of the Tour, Peter Yarrell, and asked if NZST 

could be part of the event. Peter said “Yes, of course”. 

The Trust was included as one of the seven charities. 

The Trust had seven riders, with Mike Brown as 

Tour Manager - five able-bodied cyclists plus Mark 

Inglis (Amputee/Paralympian/Mt Everest Climber) 

and Jono Nelson (spina bifida wheelchair user). 

With the number of SCIs from cycling accidents 

in the country, it made sense for the New Zealand 

Spinal Trust to be aligned with the Tour of New 

Hans Wouters: “The camaraderie and 

the banter amongst all the riders was 

a huge part of the experience.” 

30

“ 

I had to get fit for the Tour 

of New Zealand. I finished 

the eight days fitter 

than when I started and 

wished it went for another 

week. We enjoyed some 

epic days of magnificent 

riding and sharing with 

surprised competitors 

that there is life after a 

spinal cord impairment. 

Hans Wouters, NZST CEO 

Zealand. “It was a no-brainer that we 

were involved,” said Hans. “Cycling 

contributes the most sports spinal 

injuries in NZ – two to one!” 

Hans was up for the physical challenge. 

He had been riding since he turned 

40 and had competed in a number of 

Christchurch to Akaroa Races (Le Race) 

and Round the Lake races in Taupo. 

“I had to get fit for the Tour of 

New Zealand. I finished the eight 

days fitter than when I started and 

wished it went for another week. 

We enjoyed some epic days of 

magnificent riding and sharing with 

surprised competitors that there is 

life after a spinal cord impairment. 

Jono made a huge impact on his 

recumbent hand-cycle.” He said he 

was used to riding in a large pack of 

cyclists, and it was a huge thrill to 

be part of making a difference with 

so many other like-minded Kiwis. 

“The camaraderie and the banter 

amongst all the riders was a huge 

part of the experience,” said Hans. 

“Everyone was very friendly – there was, 

of course, a healthy competitive tone 

– but we made tons of new friends, 

enjoyed great conversations about our 

charities, and the joy of raising funds 

for them and making a difference.” 

There were so many highlights over 

the eight days that Hans found it 

difficult to sum up the experience, 

but Conquering the Crown Range 

with Jono and Sir Tim and meeting 

them at the end; Riding Mt Cook 

with Mark Inglis (Past Paralympian) 

and Jono (future Paralympian); 

The Healthcare NZST team turned some heads in the Tour of New Zealand. 

31

TOUR OF DUTY 

Having one of the team win one of 

the Criterium Stages at Parliament; 

and enjoying the rare treat of riding 

through the Lindis Pass (Wanaka to 

Omarama) which was just a “wonderful 

stage” are some of the magical 

moments he will always remember. 

Hans explained the week-long 

fundraising cycle tour held in 

April was a great success and, 

should it happen again, the New 

Zealand Spinal Trust would no 

doubt be invited to participate. 

The NZST team conquering the Crown Range in Central Otago. 

“We added a lot of value to the 

event. It is fair to say that we had 

the highest profile of all the charities 

with the tour,” said Hans proudly. 

“What with our stand-out Healthcare/ 

NZ Spinal Trust Cycle kit, Mike Brown 

rolling around interviewing riders 

with ‘Pete the paralysed Pukeko’, the 

remarkable National Hand-cycling 

Champion, Jono Nelson, crushing the 

Crown Range stage, and Paralympian 

and Mount Everest summiteer, Mark 

Inglis, in our team, plus a surprise 

visit to the finish line in the morning 

and Peloton Party in the evening by 

Sir Tim and Lady Prue Wallis. We 

were front and centre every day.” 

The seven riders from the NZST raised 

a total of $8,500 and, with help from 

Platinum Sponsor Healthcare NZ, they 

raised a net total of over $21,000. 

Celebrating a job well done at the Beehive in Wellington. 

“We demonstrated powerfully to 

all who experienced our team 

that there is fulfilling, rewarding, 

confident and independent life 

available to all who have a spinal 

injury – it is yours for the taking.” 

Hans urged others with an interest 

in the Tour of New Zealand 

to get fit and give it a go. 

“It is not as hard as one might think, if 

you are reasonably fit,” he said. “There 

were all shapes and sizes there, and 

we all had a great adventure. Many 

have done the tour multiple times – 

it’s an awesome fantastic event and 

one I would thoroughly recommend. 

We felt privileged to be part of it.” 

The team became great mates during the Tour of New Zealand. 

“The last shout out goes to our friends 

at Healthcare NZ, whose sponsorship 

made this event possible for us – 

“Thank you Healthcare NZ, we could 

not have done it without you”.” 

32

New Partners Help Bring Welcome 

Backpacks to New Zealand Spinal Units 

Tineke Haitsma and her husband 

were parked on the roadside, when 

another vehicle crashed into the 

back of them. Next thing Tineke 

knew, she was in the spinal unit, 

paralysed from the waist down. 

Nathaniel Tairi was playing on a 

trampoline trying a few flips, when 

he landed awkwardly on his shoulder 

and neck. When the medics came 

he knew it was serious. The next 

thing he remembers is waking 

up in ICU with a broken neck. 

With support from Permobil and 

Healthcare New Zealand (HNZ), we 

are able to give a special backpack 

to every new patient who, like Tineke 

and Nathaniel, find themselves in 

either the Auckland or Burwood Spinal 

Units facing an uncertain future. 

The backpacks contain helpful 

resources, products and information 

to support patients in their recovery. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and the 

companies which provided goods to 

supply in the packs. Together, we are 

making a positive impact on the lives of 

people who are facing a tough time. 

Nathaniel Tairi Tineke Haitsman Mavis and Lex Moodie Tony Schlaepfer 

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33

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34

Thank You To Our 

FUNDERS & SPONSORS 

The New Zealand Spinal Trust appreciates the generous support of the following 

funders. without their kind support, the trust would not be able to deliver the 

variety of services to assist clients to live independent lives right now. 

NZ COMMUNITY TRUST 

RATA FOUNDATION 

MAINLAND FOUNDATION 

CHRISTCHURCH CITY 

COUNCIL 

NZ PUB CHARITY 

CENTRAL HEATING 

NEW ZEALAND 

FOUR WINDS FOUNDATION 

THE LION FOUNDATION 

LOTTERY GRANTS BOARD 

HEALTHCARE NZ 

THE SOUTHERN TRUST 

CANTERBURY DISTRICT 

HEALTH BOARD 

HEALTHVISION NZ 

FOUNDATION NORTH 

UMBRELLAR 

PUKEKOHE PARK COUNTIES 

RACING CLUB 

AMP CAPITAL 

FRESHCHOICE PARKLANDS 

FREEDOM MOBILITY 

HAPPY MONDAY 

COUNTIES MANUKAU 

DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD 

CANTERBURY 

RUGBY UNION 

NATURAL 

MECHANICS 

PERMOBIL NZ 

DRAKE MEDOX 

NATURAL MECHANICS 

DELUXE BOX 

CRUSADERS 

ANZ STAFF 

FOUNDATION 

THE REHABILITATION 

WELFARE TRUST 

THE ELIZABETH 

BALL CHARITABLE 

TRUST 

DRAGON 

COMMUNITY TRUST 

LTD 

SIR JOHN LOGAN 

CAMPBELL 

RESIDUARY ESTATE 

ARE YOU A MEMBER? 

It’s easy to join the New Zealand Spinal Trust and it 

only costs $30 a year. Your membership fee helps with 

the printing of the Spinal Network News magazine 

and supports the work we do assisting people with 

spinal cord impairment find their future. 

Go to our website home page and click the 

green Membership Button www.nzst.org.nz 

35

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SNN August 2019 online

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