SNN_July 2021 Issue_web low res

July 2021
Volume 24 / Issue 2
SNNSpinal Network News
ANDREW LESLIE
BACK ON TOP OF HIS
MAUNGA
DI AND FLOYD
WE PAY TRIBUTE TO
TWO ASRU LEGENDS
ANDREW HALL
“YOU WILL STILL HAVE
AN OUTSTANDING LIFE”
Amazing
Effort
These four lads raised almost $20,000
for the NZ Spinal Trust when they
completed the Tour of New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 2
Contents
3
5
7
11
14
17
19
Don't Practice Giving Up
Editorial
2021 Supporting Positive Futures
Hans Wouters—CEO NZ Spinal Trust
Bodies on the Line
Four lads take on the Tour of New Zealand
Back on Top of His Maunga (Mountain)
Andrew Leslie’s incredible comeback
A Rewarding and Demanding Journey
Supporting Andrew Leslie back to work
A Lifetime of Service
Di and Floyd retire from the ASRU
The Need for Speed
Ripping it up at the Highlands Motorsport Park
22
24
27
28
30
32
34
Bringing up a Special Milestone
20 35
A local legend overcomes a broken back
Getting Behind the Crusaders
A big first step out of the Spinal Unit
Sharing Hope
Andrew Hall on going full circle to help others
That’s a Good Question
Living with and caring for people with an SCI
Teina Boyd
Telling it Like it is
Resource Centre
New additions
Burwood Academy Trust Update
The Emerging Researcher First Grant
A New Look for the Future
Dr B introduces the new website
Funders and Sponsors
EDITORIAL TEAM
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.
Bernadette Cassidy
Kia ora, my name is Bernadette Cassidy, this issue
is full of great stories about living life with an SCI!
Patrons of the New
Zealand Spinal Trust,
Sir Tim Wallis (left) and
Trevor Harrison (right).
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Peter Thornton
Dr Bernadette Cassidy
Teina Boyd
Su Marshall
THANKS FOR THE IMAGES
ACC – Shane Boulton
Andrew Leslie
Brett Ladbrook
John Rau
Su Marshall
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 9484
Email:
peter.thornton@nzspinaltrust.org.nz
Web:
www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz
Brett Ladbrook
Noretta Boland
Shona McGraph-Proctor
Steven Grant
Dianne Cottle
BW Media / Simon Watts
Andrew Hall
Teina Boyd
Scott Thompson
Copy Proofing: Bernadette Cassidy
Cover Photo: TONZ—Iconic team
shot Arrowtown—photo credit
Scott Thompson, official TONZ
photographer.
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.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 3
Don’t Practice
Giving Up
Peter Thornton
Editorial
Peter Fowler might not be the best-known
professional golfer Australia has ever
produced but there’s no doubt the man known
as “Chook” should be regarded as a legend.
The 61-year-old from New South Wales, who now calls
New Zealand home, has won 20 times as a professional all
around the world and competed with household names in
the golf world.
His first victory came in 1983 when he defeated Ian
Baker-Finch to win the Australian Open and his last was
on the European Seniors Tour in 2009. That is 26 years of
winning on the world stage. Remarkable. As they say,
there is no substitute for experience.
A few years ago, I was invited to an afternoon tea with
Pete where he reflected on his life and career, and offered
advice to the best up-and-coming golfers from around
New Zealand.
As one of the nicest professional sportsmen you’re ever
likely to meet, Pete delivered a fascinating session.
One thing stayed with me. He talked about the fact that
he would prepare for a one day pro-am tournament in
somewhere like Eketāhuna the same as he would if he was
teeing it up with the world watching at the British Open
Championship at St Andrews.
Throughout his golfing career, Peter Fowler never wanted
to practice giving up. Photo credit: BW Media
Wait … What?
He explained that every time he signed up to compete, he
had to give it his all, otherwise what is the point? No
half-measures. No half-heartedness. All in.
He said that every time he slacked off in a competition and
did not worry about making a careless bogey, then he
dropped his standards and he became OK with mediocrity.
Worse still, every time he played poorly and accepted
being average, he thought about and practiced quitting.
You see it’s the same with life. And even more so living
with a spinal cord impairment (SCI).
Every day we have the opportunity to take life on with a
positive, ambitious, focused and hopeful mindset or we
can drag our feet, wallow in regret and mull on all the
things we wished we had done better or not said, or could
have said to people who did us wrong.
I’ve spent too much of my life in the second camp.
In the immortal words of former All Blacks coach Steve
Hansen, sometimes you just have to flush the dunny and
move on. Everything we do is either building a good habit
or introducing a bad one.
... every time he signed up to
compete, he had to give it his all,
otherwise what is the point?
Pete talked about when no one was watching, everyone
was watching. In other words, when he was teeing it up in
a lowly event in the middle of nowhere in front of five
spectators, he set his own standards. People were
watching him and expecting to see Peter Fowler.
And anytime he was paid an appearance fee to be a ‘name
player’ in a tournament, that internal pressure to deliver
only amplified. “If I’m being paid for people to come and
watch me, then I would train my butt off to be at my best
that week. I didn’t want to let people down.”
Disciplined. Focused. Committed. Organised. All qualities
that led to his ongoing success. He set his own standards.

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 4
Andrew Leslie showed me a huge amount about resilience and leaning into fear and the unknown—photo credit Shane Boulton / ACC.
A moment I’ll never forget
On 19 March I had the privilege of spending the day with
Andrew Leslie. Twelve months ago, to the day, Andrew’s
life changed in a moment. He was mountain-biking over
Mākara Peak when he crashed and broke his neck,
becoming a tetraplegic.
He has made a miraculous recovery and on this day, he
walked up to the spot of his crash to put it to bed. He
negotiated the trails with ease and arrived at the
rock-drop where he had his accident.
At first, he stood there just taking it in. Then the enormity
of the moment hit him like a punch in the guts and he was
overcome with emotion. It was a moment that I will never
forget.
Andrew, who I now consider myself fortunate to call a
‘mate’, taught me a great deal that day about resilience
and leaning into fear and the unknown. That is the
mantra that he has lived by since he arrived at Burwood
Spinal Unit.
Over a pint later that afternoon in Karori we reflect on a
remarkable day. We played golf (man it was awesome
seeing the smile on his face after hitting a golf ball down
the middle), hung out and just chatted about the highs
and lows of life, and did some media interviews about his
journey back to this place. It was a great day.
Today—and whatever happens next for Andrew—is
possible because he has chosen to never give up. In the
proverbial game of poker that is life, Andrew has pushed
all of his chips into the centre of the table. He’s all in and
he has been every day of his rehab.
Enjoying every sip of an ice cold Hazy IPA, Andrew’s a
proud man and he should be.
No matter how hard it gets, never stop
When I was living in Auckland, I attended a running club
every week in Newmarket. It was awesome. There is
nothing like being part of a group to keep you accountable
and on track. Even when it was raining (it even snowed one
time!) we all turned up to race. No excuses.
One week, one of our coaches asked what is the most
important part of our training to reach our goals on race day?
Now most of us came up with ideas like working to a plan,
managing your body, getting your splits right etc. But the
best answer came from a female psychologist whose
answer went something like this.
“The most important part of our training each week is our
mind and building resilience. Every time we compete and
complete a run you are achieving something special. You
are pushing your body to the limit and you are training
your mind to never give up.
“No matter how hard it gets, never stop. And by doing that—
even in the most testing conditions—you are building belief
that whatever happens on race day, you can handle it.”
Many years on I am out on a fine morning running around
the hills of Wellington and that advice comes back to me. I
am knackered. Sure, I could stop and walk. It’s been a big
week, I haven’t slept well, no-one is watching … I know in
that moment it’s a test. I can practice never giving up or I
can practice quitting and that moment will stay with me
until race day.
The advice from a seasoned pro golfer, a psychologistweekend
warrior runner or a man who has battled to be at
his best with an SCI, are one and the same. Never give up.
We only get one shot at life. Are you practising quitting or
are you all in?

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 5
Supporting
Positive Futures
Hans Wouters
CEO’s Column
Hans, Brenda and Bernadette in the Resource Centre.
I have been in hospital a lot this year.
Thankfully not as a patient and no, it is not that I work in
a hospital either. In December one of the most important
people in my life was rushed into emergency surgery with
a burst gall bladder. It was a life-threatening moment and
she spent a lot of time in hospital recovering from that.
Just a couple of months ago she fell and broke her
hip—another emergency surgery. Then nine days later
she had another tumble and broke her other hip—more
surgery. I love my mother in law like my own mother and
have spent a lot of time supporting her and my family. In
just a few short months her life direction has taken a
significant and unexpected turn. The family has faced
this head on, it is difficult and there have been some
tough days.
A spinal impairment or injury almost always comes as a
surprise, be it by infection or illness or accident and
produces tough days too. It can turn a family upside down
and the effects on an individual will last days, weeks,
months and in many cases the rest of one’s life. There are
umpteen hard days and the future can look very bleak.
I would love to have $1 for every time someone has said to
me “Yours must be difficult, sad work”. My answer, which
is surprising to some, does not confirm their perspective.
We support positive futures and our team believes with all
Hans presenting at ‘Show Your Ability’.
—Hans Wouters
My heart leapt with joy as we
walked towards each other
and I gave her a huge hug.
of our hearts that every new patient has the opportunity to
find one. Yes, your life may be very different looking ahead
however the new path can be just as fulfilling and rewarding
as the last, perhaps even more so. The Spinal Network
News Magazine has been full of stories over the years that
prove that. We have had many joyful moments as
individuals come to terms with their spinal impairment and
then begin to build hope and even excitement and
enthusiasm for their future. Here is one of mine.
I shall remember for a long time the feeling I had as I
rounded the corner to enter one of our monthly ward
barbeques at Burwood Spinal Unit. For quite a few
months I had seen Brenda a recent patient returning to
volunteer at this popular event. Brenda would wheel
around the dining room helping and encouraging new
patients and showing them that things do get better that

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 6
they will have a positive life. To my complete surprise, on
this occasion she was standing. My heart leapt with joy as
we walked towards each other and I gave her a huge hug.
Seeing people progress, keeping at it, working hard,
finding their new path, is what spins my wheels. Knowing
a positive future awaits means my job is not difficult or
sad. As I write this column Brenda will have had her first
day as a volunteer library assistant. Brenda is one of
thousands of people we have had the pleasure of helping
who have risen like a phoenix from the ashes following
perhaps the worst and most traumatic day of their lives.
One thing I know deep in my heart is to live every day
fully, live it well and don’t take things for granted. You
just never know when change is coming. Eleanor
Roosevelt famously said “The purpose of life, after all, is
to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out
eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience”.
Every human being has the opportunity to do this
regardless of their situation. Yes, that applies to every new
patient that arrives at the spinal units. Everyone at some
point gets back on track, finds their new future and has
the opportunity to make the most of it. To each one of
—Hans Wouters
One thing I know deep in
my heart is to live every day
fully, live it well and don’t
take things for granted.
them I say Kia kaha, Kia māia, Kia manawanui—Be
strong, be brave, be steadfast.
As I conclude this column my focus shifts again.
Yesterday my father had spinal surgery on his L4/5 to
deal with many years of persistent pain caused by
spinal stenosis. The operation went well and I will visit
him in hospital. I have been in hospital a lot this year.
Life, eh?

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 7
Tour of Duty
Four likeable lads put their bodies on the line for the NZ Spinal Trust
All smiles: Dominic van Berlo, Hans Wouters, Su Marshall, Brendon Vercoe and Hayden Wilson
enjoying one of the best views in New Zealand after Day Two finished in Queenstown.
In April, the Permobil NZ Spinal Trust team
competed in the bi-annual Tour of New
Zealand Cycle event. Su Marshall, NZST
Fundraising Manager, was on hand to witness
the competition, the camaraderie, and the
chaos. It was nine days she will never forget.
The Tour of New Zealand is a charity cycling race/ride
(you choose whether to go hard out or cruise) that involves
up to 250 riders riding 550km over eight days for seven
selected charities. It’s a logistical nightmare, even in a
non-Covid environment! And yet the organising team
managed to pull off their sixth successful tour in April,
and I was lucky enough to be part of it … in a purely
support-type role you understand … this body’s not built
for cycling!
As a non-cyclist this was my first experience of a big
cycling event, and I had no idea what to expect. I was
about to spend nine days travelling the South Island, with
a quick detour to Wellington at the end of it, with four
blokes—Brendon Vercoe, Dominic van Berlo, Hayden
Wilson and Hans Wouters—who were fizzing at the bung
at the thought of this trip … luckily, I share a home with
my husband and two teenaged sons so was not to be put
off! Here’s a brief diary of the trip from my perspective.
Day One: Travel to Queenstown
— Su Marshall
The warm and friendly
atmosphere from the start of
the race was amplified with
plenty of banter, advice, goodnatured
ribbing and hyperbole.
We had a beautiful day for travelling. We met up with
Brendon’s Mum and step-Dad in Fairlie for a pie—they
were on their way back to Blenheim. Meeting up with
family and friends across the Tour was to be a feature of
our trip—and highlighted the grassroots support our wee
team had.
Safely arrived at Queenstown and registered, we then
went to our accommodation. The guys were all in the one
room, so that looked like a bombsite before we even left
for dinner! Over some of the best burgers ever, there were
lots of nervous jokes (Dom is king of the Dad joke! With
Hans not far behind …) and conjecture about the route
and competition.

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 8
Day Two: Glenorchy to Queenstown time trial
As we drove out to the starting point, I had my first taste of
how everyone prepared for racing. One was uber focused;
one was like an excited puppy; one was so laid back as to
be almost horizontal; one was the living embodiment of
the Scout motto (Be Prepared) … for himself and everyone
within his orbit. The drive was used to recce the route.
The weather was cold and miserable, with bouts of rain
and a nasty wind. The atmosphere at the start line,
however, was warm and friendly.
Word came through that support vehicles had to go, so I
callously threw the guys out of the van and into the rain
and I was off to the finish point. I sat in the van, on the
lake front, eyes trained on the one teeny part of the race I
could see … Waiting for a glimpse of the Yellow and Blue …
and there it was! And then again. And again. And again.
Whew! Everyone back safely. And straight to the van to
change out of wet riding kit and hoe into the snacks … this
was to become the end of ride routine. That and the
competition to see who scored the fastest downhill speed.
The day finished with the first Peloton Party. The warm
and friendly atmosphere from the start of the race was
amplified with plenty of banter, advice, good-natured
ribbing and hyperbole.
"Window of opportunity"
Day Four: Lake Hawea to Haast … actually Makarora
to Haast due to roadworks …
This was one of the longest days. And the wettest. The
weather forecast was for West Coast rain! But the guys
reckoned they had a ‘window of opportunity’ when the
rain wouldn’t be too heavy. And they almost made it too!
The last 20 minutes was through a thunderstorm that felt
like it was happening at ground level—the rain was nearly
enough to wash you off your bike. It was a huge relief when
all four came in safe and sound, albeit soaked to the skin!
That night at the Peloton Party, Hans gave an inspiring and
uplifting talk about the NZST’s ‘why’ and these people—
who were all there riding to raise money for their charity—
responded generously. Our fundraising doubled overnight!
That night Haast laid on a storm to remember … I woke up
several times during the night because the thunder had
literally shaken the house (my first thought each time was
“earthquake” … took me right back to 2011) and it sounded
like a canon had gone off in the driveway! Can’t say I was
sad to leave that behind.
Day Five: Haast to Fox Glacier … Cancelled due to the
weather forecast
Day 3: Arrowtown
Day Three: Arrowtown to Wanaka … the Crown Range
This one made me nervous … the guys were excited
(okay—maybe they were a little nervous too). At the finish
line I waited with the NZST Patron, Sir Tim Wallis and his
nurse—how fabulous! Even more fabulous … our Yellow
and Blue was in the first group to finish! In fact, all four
finished in the Top 20 and under TWO HOURS! Hans was
disappointed that there was too much traffic for him to
‘let loose’ on the downhill … he thought he could’ve
clipped 80km … boys!
Everyone was gutted, but after the storm we understood
the call. We met up in Fox Glacier with long-time
supporters of NZST—Mike and Carrol—for some Coast
hospitality and a homemade lunch. This is such a
beautiful part of the country with incredibly warm and
generous people.
Day Six: Ross to Greymouth
We spent the night in Franz Josef—the Tour was doing its
best to sprinkle some tourism dollars along the Coast …
160 riders plus an equal number of supporters … the Coast
baristas were left exhausted in our wake!
This stage was an all-out sprint … almost flat for 60km.
Brendon’s Dad was at the finish line to cheer them on, and
once again the Yellow and Blue were in the first group
over the line.
Today the main bunch took the train across to
Christchurch, but we hightailed it in the van. Nearly lost a
bike on the way … conniptions were had when Hans
spotted a dragging bike in the wing mirror. Thank
goodness a spare bike could be collected in Christchurch
and the Tour carried on with our team intact. We all
agreed it was lovely to have a night back in our own beds.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 9
My turn for conniptions when Brendon came riding into
Picton and went straight to first aid—he’d taken a tumble
off his bike on loose gravel and he still managed to win
the stage! What a way to end the road racing.
Day 7: Kaikoura
Day Seven: Rotherham to Kaikoura (inland route)
An early morning to get to the start line on time. Last time
Hans and Brendon biked this route, it snowed but the
weather played ball today.
I had a personal highlight on the coastal route as
instructed. I witnessed a whale breaching while waiting
at roadworks near Peketa … what an awesome sight!
The boys were happy to complete another stage once
again in the Top 20! After a feast of (quite possibly) the
world’s best and freshest fish and chips, we headed on to
Blenheim to stay with Brendon’s Mum.
Day 9: Wellington
Day Nine: Criterium, Parliament Grounds, Wellington
Today was all about the sheer fun of sprints! Hayden’s
wife and son joined us to cheer everyone on, as did friends
of Brendon’s and rellies of Hans’.
The prizegiving took place in the Grand Hall. It was so
exciting to see Brendon awarded first in the Open Men’s,
and Dom first in the Veteran Men’s section. Hayden came
in 14th overall and Hans 19th … so all in the Top 20 ‘til the
end … woo hoo! I couldn’t have been more excited about
the final result if I’d won the Tour myself!
This has been a terrific experience … I wasn’t sure how I’d
go on a cycling adventure, but I’ve loved it and I can’t wait
for the next one in 2023! I’m hoping our ace team of
Brendon, Dominic, Hayden and Hans will be there. We’ve
already had others put their hands up to join the mighty
Yellow and Blue.
I need to thank the families of the guys. It wouldn’t have
been possible for the guys to give it their all if those at
home hadn’t given their full support.
Day 8: Picton
And a huge thank you to our sponsors—because of their
generosity we had ALL our expenses covered, and then some.
Day Eight: Blenheim to Picton, via the Queen
Charlotte Drive
The start point today was the Allan Scott Winery—it felt
more like the Tour de France! I set away early around the
scenic Queen Charlotte Drive.
And of course, to everyone who donated—our team of
four raised almost $20,000 because we had such generous
support from our wider community—thank you!
To (mis)quote Shakespeare … “Though we be but little we
are fierce”.
Dom’s Dad and his partner were at the finish line.
They provided showers and a cuppa before we headed to
the ferry.

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SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 11
Back on Top of His Maunga
The incredible comeback story of Andrew Leslie
A smile of satisfaction: Andrew Leslie on top of Mt Kaukau in Wellington.
Andrew Leslie is standing atop of Mt Kaukau
in Wellington with a wry smile on his face.
He feels like crying.
He drops his walking sticks, falls back onto the grass and
soaks up the unbelievable and endless views of
Wellington Harbour as he reflects on what he has just
achieved. The painful step-by-step journey (with
assistance), a climb of 445m to the summit, is a fitting
metaphor of what Andrew has endured and overcome.
“That was hard work,” Andrew says, short of breath. “I’m so
thankful that I can still do this. I have focused on the goal
to get back up here everyday. I always hoped that I’d be
able to but after what I’ve been through, you never know.”
Andrew knew that the job was only half-done. With his
injury, the descent was the hardest part and he took great
satisfaction in successfully getting to the bottom.
“I wish I’d taken the other route”
One year ago, Andrew’s life changed forever when he was
mountain biking at Mākara Peak.
A week out from New Zealand’s first lockdown, the CEO of
Recreation Aotearoa was riding down a Grade 4 track.
There was a fork in the track where riders veer right to go
over a drop or left to avoid it.
—Andrew Leslie
There are so many times
when I’ve thought about
that moment and wished I’d
taken the other route.
“It was a split-second decision; I’d been over it before, so I
guess it was instinctive to veer right,” he says.
“There are so many times where I’ve thought about that
moment and wished I’d taken the other route. How life
could have been so different.”
At the edge of the drop, Andrew’s balance was off and his
front wheel not in line. He went over the handlebars and
landed on his head on a rock. His body went numb
instantly.
Andrew drew breath to make the loudest noise he could to
alert the next person coming down the track so they
wouldn’t land on top of him.

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 12
Andrew wants to make a difference for New Zealanders living with a disability.
Soon after Andrew was surrounded by paramedics and he
heard a helicopter overhead.
“I knew what it meant when they told me I was going
straight to Christchurch, something was seriously wrong
with my spine,” he says.
The Life Flight Trust helicopter landed in Hagley Park,
and Andrew was taken straight into hospital for scans and
then surgery. It is all one big blur.
Andrew was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
and was fighting for his life.
“When I woke up, three weeks later, the world had
changed,” he says.
The long road to recovery
Andrew had injured his neck between the C4 and C5
vertebrae. A disc shot forward and crushed his spinal
cord. There were also fractures and snapped ligaments.
They removed the disc, took a bone graft from his hip, put
that in between the vertebrae, bolted it together with a
metal plate and left it to stitch together.
Andrew was told he was now tetraplegic.
“That term is quite scary,” he says. “My family was hearing
that term, and what they were seeing was scary too. I was
lying in an induced coma with tubes coming out of my
mouth and nose. They were being prepared by doctors
that I’d likely be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.”
It was a fate that he never accepted.
From the outside Andrew looked completely asleep, but
he was far from it. “My brain was going crazy with
dreams, hallucinations and visions,” he says. “Talk of
this crazy new pandemic world was coming through into
my dreams.”
In the second week Andrew started to wake up and wanted
to tick off his first milestone of breathing by himself.
“I set the goal to walk out of this place”
In Andrew’s post ICU assessment, the doctor noticed a
flicker of movement starting to happen in his legs.
“I allowed myself to think, ‘maybe I’ll walk again’. And off
I went to Burwood Hospital to start my rehab.”
Andrew says the awakening of his muscles was “hugely
positive” and the days were filling up as rehab started.
“But there were dark times too. I didn’t sleep much, and
my mind started to wander to; ‘What’s going to become of
me … what if … why didn’t I take that bail out rather than
turning right?’ I was frustrated with the feeding tube in
my nose, necessary due to the damage done to my throat
during the operation,” he says.
Andrew is a visualiser. He set to work visualising a
particular muscle engaging, over and over for hours.
He reached milestones like scratching his head and
brushing his teeth and set bigger goals.
“I wanted to walk out of this place, and I wanted to walk
well—well enough to walk in the bush. I wanted to play
chords on the guitar and play the piano again,” he says.
Andrew achieved his goal of walking out of Burwood
Hospital which was an emotional moment.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, to learn to walk
again. I’m immensely proud of that.”
“Incredible recovery beyond expectations”
Andrew’s ACC Recovery Partner Sharon Smith says
Andrew, ever since he regained consciousness, has been
totally committed to his recovery.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 13
“I found a quote from his medical notes which sums him
up to a tee, ‘Andrew has been a model rehab patient at
Burwood, always achieving beyond early expectations’.”
Sharon says it is “an amazing recovery” story of mind over
matter, which is all about Andrew’s resilience and positivity.
“Despite having suffered a very serious spinal injury,
Andrew managed to return to his pre-injury role, working
full-time barely eight months after being on life support
in ICU. That’s incredible.” She says Andrew’s story is a
great example of mind over matter.
ACC has played a leading role in Andrew’s rehabilitation.
“ACC have been an incredible support in my recovery,”
says Andrew. “It is a huge relief to know that all of your
expenses and rehab is taken care of so you can focus on
getting back to work and living independently.”
Andrew’s return to work was supported by the NZ
Spinal Trust Vocational Consultant Deb Le Cren (see
following article).
Getting back to reality
Back to the real world and it was overwhelming. Andrew
had his family, his job and his recovery to juggle. He went
from having physio twice a day in hospital to twice a week.
“It has been a reset time, and a time to set and reach new
goals. My goals are always aspirational, I couldn’t wait to
give Mt Kaukau a go.
Leslis says he is seeing the world differently now. He has
started formulating how his new view on the world will
influence his work with Recreation Aotearoa. One in four
New Zealanders have a disability and Andrew wants to
work with the Department of Conservation to make tracks
more accessible all over Aotearoa.
“The day I spent at Kura Tāwhiti—Castle Hill during my
rehab was magical for the whole of me. Recreation is the
fundamental thing that is healing me and I want to make
that easier for others with a disability.
“I still grieve for the things that I used to do be able to
do—I would love more than anything to go mountain
biking with my daughter—but I refuse to wallow in that.
“There are potential upsides. I’m the type of person who
will use my influence to amplify this. I am now, and
always will be a C4/C5 ASIA D tetraplegic, but I am still
me. I’m the same, but a little bit different and I want to
make a difference.”
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NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 14
A Demanding and
Rewarding Journey
Q and A with Deb Le Cren on how the
NZST helped Andrew get back to work
Deb Le Cren
Vocational Consultant
Andrew is proud to have made a full recovery and returned to his role as CEO of Recreation Aotearoa—credit Shane Boulton / ACC.
When Andrew Leslie first arrived at the
Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch, he
wrote down a number of goals for his
rehabilitation. He focused on what he could
do physically, how he would get back to work
and how he would return home to play an
active role in his family’s life.
Andrew was paralysed from his mountain-biking
accident so they all felt like pipe dreams. But he chipped
away at them one day at a time and never gave up. He has
achieved everything he set his mind to.
The NZ Spinal Trust (NZST) team played a leading role in
Andrew’s rehabilitation. We caught up with NZST
Vocational Consultant Deb Le Cren on how the Trust
helped Andrew get back on his feet and get his head
around returning to work and home. It was a demanding
and rewarding journey.
Today Andrew is back working full-time as the Chief
Executive of Recreation Aotearoa.
—Deb Le Cren
It’s impressive how quickly
Andrew returned to work
which is a testament to his
determination and drive.
What was Andrew like to work with? What were some
of his goals when he first arrived at the Burwood
Spinal Unit with a broken neck?
Andrew was really good to work with because he had such
a positive attitude to his rehabilitation. He is a goal
focused person in his life, work, sport and family. His
initial goals were to walk and to get more function in his
hands. I met Andrew first via phone as he had his accident
during lockdown and after only three weeks of rehab, he
was already starting to walk using aids.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 15
How has the NZ Spinal Trust supported Andrew in his
rehabilitation?
The Trust provided Andrew with a range of support along
his journey. For me specifically in vocational
rehabilitation, we supported him by being there for
regular discussions with him about his return-to-work
goals and supporting his thinking.
During his recovery, how big was his motivation to get
back to work?
It was massive. Andrew was always focused on returning
to work and he was in regular contact with his team
during his inpatient stay. The support offered through the
vocational service was to provide a sounding board for
him to talk through his return-to-work ideas and to assist
him with creating a timetable so he could begin doing
some work during his stay in Transitional Rehab (TR). We
also discussed managing his energy levels, taking heed of
fatigue and adopting a flexible attitude to move work to
another part of the day or week to compensate if needed.
Andrew talked through the set-up in his home office,
using voice-activated software and the ongoing support
that ACC can provide with return-to-work planning.
Andrew’s success is not the case for everyone, why
was he so successful in his rehab?
It’s impressive how quickly Andrew returned to work
which is a testament to his determination and drive and
possibly also his sense of responsibility to his team and
more importantly, his family.
Andrew commented that: “Being back at home is very
different than being in the hospital and highlights how
valuable TR is and the advice/support from Deb Le Cren
and the Spinal Trust. It requires a lot of self-motivation
and organisation to continue to progress recovery from
the injury and return to a normal life, including work. I
have self-motivation, but it would be difficult for those
that don’t”.
We are proud that we have been able to make a difference
in his recovery and it was awesome to see Andrew back to
work and living independently less than one year after his
accident.
How does returning to work help an individual from a
mindset point of view?
Getting back to work is usually important for people’s
self-esteem, independence and part of their returning to
life as ‘normal’. For those not on ACC funding, getting
back to work is often a financial imperative.
What advice do you offer to others who have sustained
an SCI and are looking at getting back into work?
It’s useful for people who are looking to get back into the
workforce to get support from a vocational consultant
who can help them identify their transferrable skills,
values and motivators before they start to look for work
and also review their CV and give them coaching in
interview skills and job search. It is scary at first but
talking to someone can really help and the benefits of
getting back into the workforce and being independent
once again are huge for the person and their family.
Andrew says it was scary being told by the doctors that he was a tetraplegic.
“It’s never too late to be what you
might have been.” George Elliot.
The guiding principles for the NZST’s Vocational
Rehabilitation Service 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
What is Vocational Rehabilitation?
The vocational rehabilitation programme is an early
intervention and restorative vocational rehabilitation
program that provides detailed career advice and
planning, educational support and works to reduce the fear
of work and remove barriers. The vocational rehab team
are dedicated to getting 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.
The NZ Spinal Trust’s specialist vocational rehabilitation
programme is based at the Burwood and Auckland
Spinal units and also provides services at Middlemore
Hospital.
For more information visit
https://www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz/new-to-sci/
vocational-rehabilitation-service/

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NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 16
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SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 17
Woman’s Best Friend
Di and Floyd—the dynamic duo leave the Auckland Spinal
Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU)
Di, you have been employed at ASRU for many years,
so what are some of your memories of your time there?
I was employed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant at
ASRU 22 years ago. Quite an achievement for a country
girl from Tokoroa—coming up to the big smoke to work in
Otara. I was met by a barefooted male physiotherapist
who became the person to greet me each morning on my
arrival at work with fresh plunger coffee to start my day.
The staff were very devoted to their work, and throughout
the years, I have realised the staff were the “glue people”
who held the unit together with their commitment and
experience, and I have always felt very proud to be part of
such an amazing team. My fondest memories are
definitely around the patients—to see how I have been
able to help them in their rehabilitation and sometimes
make a difference to how they move forward in their
journey after their injury. I was always amazed and
humbled when they would seek me out when they came
back to the unit, just to say thank you and show me what
they had achieved.
What did you enjoy about your work in
Occupational Therapy?
Di and Floyd have been mainstays at the ASRU.
March 1 this year marked the end of an era.
Diane (Di) Cottle and her dog Floyd had their
final day at the Auckland Spinal
Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU).
For the past 22 years, Di has been an integral part of the
ASRU rehabilitation team. She would often take the
patients for cooking lessons, for hand therapy and on
community outings, and she had a talent for
demonstrating wheelchair skills. Floyd has been at the
ASRU for the past 10 years and he has made a huge
difference to patients’ morale. It was an emotional
farewell. We sat down with Di to reflect on a lifetime of
service of helping others and her great mate Floyd.
Working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant is a very
satisfying job that is full of a variety of duties, so no day is
the same. The job is busy and sometimes quite taxing,
both emotionally and physically, but very gratifying.
Knowing you can contribute to the patient’s journey and
know you are not alone in delivering the service as you
are working alongside a committed and professional
team. The unit has been ever changing throughout the
years, and I think the biggest challenge is to not be
resistant to change.
What advice do you offer to others who work with
people who have disabilities?
I have learnt so much and gained so much experience
working at the unit. My advice to others working with
people with disabilities is to remind their patients or
clients that the only thing that has changed about them is
their injury. It is not what happens to you but what you do
about it. Always press forward and make the changes
necessary to keep moving forward.
It must be with mixed emotions retiring after so
many years at ASRU, is it hard to see it all come to
an end?
The decision to retire did not come easily. It took me a few
years to make the decision and then I kept changing my
mind, until I finally submitted my resignation and then
there was no turning back. Retirement has been very
hectic so far as I decided to sell my home in Auckland and

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 18
My advice is to remind
patients that the only thing
that has changed about
them is their injury.
—Di Cottle
with a bit of attention and a Floyd cuddle whenever they
needed one. He regularly accompanied patients on
community outings and he provided companionship for
patients who were missing their own animals at home …
even letting patients groom him (as part of their therapy).
Patients would often come looking for Floyd so that they
could introduce him to their families … and the children
loved him.
How is he taking his retirement?
Di has been an integral part of the ASRU rehabilitation team for 22 years.
that alone has become the biggest project in my life. After
the sale is completed, I am sure I will be able to
experience what retirement is really like. Yahoo!
Floyd has been working as a Mobility / Therapy Dog
at the ASRU for the past 10 years, how did that
come about?
Floyd was an important part of the ASRU, not only for the
patients but also the staff, and he took his job very
seriously. The adjustment to his new life has been difficult
for him to understand and I feel he sometimes wonders
why we are not getting up to go to work anymore. When
we visit the unit now, the bounce and excitement return
in his step and he goes around trying to say hello to
everyone. I watch the new patients looking on at this
crazy dog wondering who he thinks he is. He's Floyd and
the ASRU is still his home and the staff are his family.
Floyd had been officially trained as a Mobility Dog but he
didn’t quite reach the height that was expected and the
organisation was looking for somewhere to place him so
that he could be an Ambassador for their service. I had
recently lost my own dog, Bear, and I was approached to
become his carer so that he could come in to work with me
at ASRU. Floyd is a Retro Doodle, with a beautiful face and
soulful eyes, and anyone who has met Floyd would know
that there was no other choice but to take him home with
me … and our working relationship started from there.
What type of personality does Floyd have?
Floyd has a calm and quiet nature, with the only
exception being his obsession for food … any food (apart
from raw vegetables and salad)—the way to his heart is
definitely through his stomach! He is also very tolerant
and accommodating, which was demonstrated on the
many occasions that staff would dress him up in various
outfits for special days, such as Easter, St Patrick’s Day,
Christmas, etc. Floyd had his own dress up wardrobe at
ASRU … however I am very sure that this is one part of his
job that he will not miss.
How did Floyd become such an integral part of the
team at ASRU?
The staff would dress up Floyd in various outfits for special days.
Floyd gives so much love to everyone he comes in contact
with, which helped the patients and staff to get through
their daily challenges … always willing to provide anyone

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 19
Mustang V8 Experience
Brett Ladbrook and Stephen Grant sum up the Highlands driving
experience
For most people this was their first experience on a
racetrack and for some the first time in a V8. It was
entertaining to see everyone from the start of the drive
with a slight look of nerves on their faces to excited smiles
at the end of their laps. Everyone really enjoyed it and
those smiles didn’t go away for quite some time.
Thanks to the super crew at Highlands Motorsport,
Melrose Wheelchairs and all the people that came with
their support people to make the day an absolute success.
Here is Steven Grant’s account of the day.
Having successfully raced at Highlands Motorsport Park
previously and going back after my accident plus being
hosted by them for a weekend, I was excited to have the
opportunity to drive there once again. The track itself is
superb with a wide variety of challenging corners, bridge,
and camber changes, leaving scant time to take your
attention off the track. The clockwork organisation of
events led by Josie Spillane, Chief Operating Officer is a
benchmark for other clubs to work to, all delivered in a
professional friendly manner, and contributing to the
enjoyment of being there.
Brett Ladbrook says the chance to visit the Highlands
Motorsport Park in Cromwell is always a highlight.
On 10 October Brett Ladbrook, NZ Spinal
Trust Senior Peer Support Coordinator,
organised a group of 14 people to head down to
Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell,
where they hired the Mustang V8 for the day to
give everyone an opportunity to have a drive.
As many of you will know the crew at Highlands
Motorsport Park in Cromwell, have a hotted up, race
kitted Ford Mustang, adapted with push-pull hand
controls and a Spinner on the steering wheel.
Now this thing is seriously wild. Fully stripped out, full
race roll-cage, race seats, big brakes, semi slick tyres and
of course a rowdy exhaust, to help the 5 Litre V8 breathe.
Yet again, Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs in Christchurch,
made a generous donation per person to get the price
down. Highlands Motorsport Park discounted the price
per person as well which made for an affordable fun day.
First driver was on the track at 9am and the last was at
4.30pm. People came from as far away as Canterbury,
Otago, and Southland.
I have and still do, harbour the idea of driving on the track
again and have been researching driving a 130i BMW for
that purpose. I have found two women tetras that race, one
in Australia the other in England, both driving Porsche
Cayman Clubman GT4’s. Both the BMW and Porsche are
able to be driven in auto mode. While I drive every day, I
wanted to be sure I could manage the loads on my body
particularly through corners and my ability to steer
through all corners safely using the grip attachment on the
steering wheel. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of not
taking time to adjust my seating position which severely
reduced a decent drive as I was unable to see the inside of
the track while turning left. Regardless, I was able to
tick-off the lateral load and range of steering movement
concerns. You are left wanting more, five laps just flash by.
Despite the issue with my seating position, the day was an
absolute joy, as was getting out of town and visiting my
childhood home area. Driving at Highlands in a mildly
modified Mustang, in the company of many happy
wheelchair chaps was a definite highlight. Catching up with
Brett, Josie, Nick and Kate, my son and daughter in-law and
Revell an old Queenstown friend, aided by my excellent
carer, Shelley. Along the way we had a great meal at Kika in
Wanaka, lots of chatting and sight-seeing with the odd
decent Central Otago wine. Perfect. If there is a next time,
memo to self; adjust the seating and stay an extra night.
Find the full interview at tvnz.co.nz/one-news
To see the interview with TV1 news in 2017, visit
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news and search “race car”.

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 20
Bouncing Back
The recovery of a local legend to achieve a lifetime goal
Running out for his 200th game. It was a special moment for Rhys Bennett—photo credit John Rau.
Rhys Bennett looks up at his name on the
Honours Board of the East Coast Bays RFC,
and feels proud.
The list of Premier appearances at the club on Auckland's
North Shore is topped by Ian Coley (248 games), Mark
Anscombe (220), Slade McFarland (217), Wayne Hill (203)
and Rhys Bennett (203).
"It felt pretty special to put my name on a list that not
many players have achieved," said the 40-year-old.
The North Harbour club has produced five All Blacks in
its history. At the grassroots level, Rhys has made big
sacrifices since his debut for the Bays Prems as a lanky
20-year-old back in 2000.
Eighteen years later Rhys was sitting in the Bays
changing rooms with a beer as one of the 'old boys'. He
had bucked the club rugby trend of retiring early and
played more than 200 games.
But his career wasn't without injury, including broken
collar bones (twice), broken ankle (surgery), concussions,
hamstring tears and many more.
"I didn't know what life was going to be like"
The injury of most significance came in 2000 when he
broke his back playing for North Harbour in the COBRA
10s tournament in Kuala Lumpur. Harbour was playing
the British Combined Forces team and Rhys climbed high
—Rhys Bennett
It felt pretty special to put my
name on a list that not many
players have achieved.
to catch an up-and-under, the defender took out his legs
and he was catapulted onto his back.
"It felt like someone had jabbed a sharp knife into my
spine," he says. "I couldn't move. I was buggered."
Rhys remembers lying in hospital with an overwhelming
sense of fear.
"I was in a world of pain, not able to walk and only in my
early 20s, I was pretty scared," he says. "I was thinking I
might not be able to walk again, and I thought of my
daughter. I didn't know what life was going to be like."
He flew home and the long road to recovery began. It took
him 12 months to get back on his feet.
"It was a really tough time. I couldn't run around and play
with my daughter, who was still quite young. I couldn't do
anything. I was flat on my back for three months and then
another nine months of recovery."

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 21
—Rhys Bennett
I didn't want it to be the end,
I desperately wanted to play
again so I was focused on
getting it right.
Rhys worked closely with former All Blacks doctor John
Mayhew and followed his rehabilitation programme
precisely. He didn't cut corners or overdo it.
"I didn't want it to be the end, I desperately wanted to play
again so I was focused on getting it right. I didn't want to
be in my early 20s and having to retire from a back injury."
Rhys says his standout memory from his recovery was
just how easy it was to get support from ACC.
"It's an amazing system and the support of ACC has been
massive for my career and also my life. It has given me
huge peace of mind."
Everything he needed – the back braces, the swiss balls
and a back protector for the car – was dropped to his home
so he could focus on his rehabilitation.
Rhys, who works for a building company as a commercial
manager, said the financial support got him through a
difficult period.
"I was in a really bad way," he says. "Because of a serious
rugby injury, I couldn't work and I was trying to look after
my daughter, sort out child support and pay the mortgage.
It wasn't easy. I simply wouldn't have been able to afford to
go to the doctor or physio without that support."
Rhys says the renewal of the RugbySmart partnership in
2020 with NZ Rugby and ACC, to continue to put player
welfare first, is 'awesome news' for the next generation
of players.
The impact of RugbySmart
RugbySmart, which is recognised internationally as a
world-leading rugby injury prevention programme, was
first introduced in 2001 and over the past four years has
prevented an estimated 25,000 claims and limited the
number of serious injury claims (including spinal cord
impairments) to less than one per annum.
The increased investment of $9.3m over the next five years
will build on injury prevention and also strengthen the
focus on creating positive social change in communities.
This focus recognises that sport is a powerful enabler of
hauora (physical, mental, social, and spiritual health)
and wellbeing.
"This investment will enable a significant expansion of
the RugbySmart programme," says Isaac Carlson, the
Head of Injury Prevention at ACC.
Rhys Bennett celebrates scoring a try in his 200th
game—photo credit John Rau.
"While the primary focus will continue to be preventing
injuries to rugby players at all levels, we'll also be
supporting NZ Rugby's desire to create positive social
change in our communities by addressing off-field
behaviour and using the power that rugby has to
positively influence communities."
New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Mark Robinson says
the investment in rugby safety was more than injury
prevention on the field.
"Rugby is at the heart of many New Zealand communities
and plays a significant role in the lives of many of us.
Through rugby, we believe we have an opportunity to help
make positive social change, and our partnership with
ACC helps us to do this.
"Our goal for RugbySmart is for everyone involved in our
game to be safer, healthier, and more active. We're
committed to achieving that outcome."
Being part of a community
Rhys says being part of a rugby club is much more than
just playing the game. It's a family. It's a home away from
home. It's where I belong.
"Rugby was always a good getaway for me," he says. "You
had your mates there and it took away the stress and
pressure of everyday life."
As Rhys watches today's Premier players, he has no
regrets. "I remember when I was younger, one of the old
boys said to me 'You're a long time retired' and I took that
literally. I thought to myself 'I'm going to play as long as I
can' and I’m pleased I did."

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 22
Crusaders Experience
Shona McGrath-Proctor writes about attending her first Crusaders game
The Crusaders are great supporters of the NZ Spinal Trust.
Having always loved and enjoyed sport to a
high level, I was devastated when a mountain
bike manoeuvre went wrong and I became a
complete T5 paraplegic.
I was so excited when Brett Ladbrook offered me tickets to
see the Crusaders play live. This would be a first for me;
usually I watch rugby only on television. Luckily my son
had come up from Queenstown for the weekend, so he
was able to join me.
The rugby outing was also my first trip out of the Burwood
Spinal Unit, while I was excited, I was also a tad nervous.
Brett and Meika Reid from the NZ Spinal Trust Peer
—Shona McGraph-Proctor
The whole opportunity of
going to see a Crusaders
game live is something I will
remember for a long time.
Support Team were just awesome and kept checking up on
us. I managed to wheel myself through all the car parks,
entrances and people—it was such a confidence booster!
The rugby game was amazing—being so close to the
action was an awesome opportunity to see the skills and
power of the players. It was a bit teeth-clenching at times
hearing the impact of the tackles made by the players and
it made me appreciate how strong rugby players are.
The whole opportunity of going to see a Crusaders game
live is something I will remember for a long time. From
the music, those beautiful horses and mid game action all
made for a fantastic entertainment package.
Shona says attending the Crusaders rugby game
was great for her confidence.
I would like to thank the Crusaders franchise for their
generosity in providing the Burwood Spinal Unit donated
seats. It was such a boost to my mental health whilst
going through the start of my rehabilitation journey. In
fact, I was so hooked, I returned for a second game, a
couple of weeks later.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 23

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 24
Sharing Hope
The story of how Andrew Hall fought back from tragedy to help others
Andrew Hall, a natural leader at the NZ Spinal Trust.
Skiing standing (just), Andrew at the NZ
Disabled Skiing Nationals in Cardrona 1987.
It’s the middle of winter and Andrew Hall is
lying in the shallows of Lake Wakatipu,
freezing, in agony and petrified by what he’s
just done.
It was August 1983, Andrew a 19-year-old student at
Massey University, was in Queenstown at the Universities
Winter Tournament where he competed as a skier.
That night, he had been named in the NZ Universities Ski
Team to compete in the upcoming northern hemisphere
winter in Bulgaria.
The day before he had landed his “dream job”, securing a
two-year contract to work with the Coronet Peak Ski Patrol
Team. Then disaster hit and his dreams were dashed.
Andrew was out celebrating with his university ski mates
and they decided to have a midnight swim in the lake in
the arctic winter conditions.
“I dived in too deep and hit the bottom with a mighty
blow. I broke my neck,” he says, in a matter of fact manner.
—Andrew Hall
I was so cold and there was a
lot of concern about that. That I
might not make it.
Unable to move, Andrew lay in the water in a state of
shock. The biggest immediate risk to his health
was hypothermia.
“It was about a minute just lying there before my mates
realised what had happened and pulled me out. I was so
cold and there was a lot of concern about that. That I
might not make it.”
Andrew has replayed that night in his mind many times
over the past 38 years.
“We had all been partying and a lot of alcohol had been

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 25
consumed by all. It was just a stupid moment where I made
a poor decision and it had big consequences,” he says.
“Everyone sobered up pretty quickly that’s for sure.”
The long road to recovery
Andrew knows he was lucky to survive.
He was picked up by an ambulance and taken to
Queenstown Hospital. He spent a day there before being
flown to Christchurch Hospital where he was transferred
to the Burwood Spinal Unit.
It was a different world in those days. At Burwood he
spent the next seven weeks in traction. Andrew had
sustained a crush fracture of his C6 vertebrae. At the time
it was incomplete ASIA B. A few years later he was
reclassified as ASIA C.
“I was lying flat on my back for seven weeks in traction
with weights dangling off my head while the bone injury
healed as there wasn’t any surgical fixation in those
days,” he says. “It was a tough time.”
After that the rehab began. He says it was overwhelming
to have his life change in a moment.
“We were all so excited to make the team and be heading
to Bulgaria and I was even more excited about the
upcoming job with the Coronet Peak ski patrol,” he says.
“That was a dream of mine. I was probably more upset
about the loss of that job opportunity than anything
else really.”
He said the thing he remembers most about his
rehabilitation at the Burwood Spinal Unit was the time
spent with other seasoned wheelies.
Spending time with gentlemen such as Nigel
Buckingham, Muir Templeton, Peter O’Flaherty and
Richard Smaill gave him hope.
Andrew was inspired by those men. They were fully
employed, complete tetraplegics and were “just damn
good blokes”.
“They showed me what was possible which was
inspirational for a young fella who didn’t know what he
was going to do with his life,” he says.
“All of those guys showed incredible resilience. They had
health problems and issues to overcome but they all
showed that life was there to be lived. It wasn’t an easy
life, but it was a life. It certainly wasn’t over.”
It is an example that Andrew has followed every day.
A natural leader, Andrew has made a difference to
many people’s lives through his positivity and huge
life experience.
Andrew says it wasn’t just the work aspect of what his role
models in the Unit were doing either, it was they had their
life again.
“Some of those gentlemen were married and had kids and
all that other stuff that goes with it as well,” he says. “It
was important for all of the newbies coming into the unit
that life wasn’t over, there was still plenty of hope and life
to look forward to.”
Andrew says it never crossed his mind that he wouldn’t get back to work
following his accident.
—Andrew Hall
They showed me what
was possible which was
inspirational for a young fella
who didn’t know what he was
going to do with his life.
They were great examples for Andrew who says he’ll never
forget the events of his injury.
“I have thought about that night many times,” he says.
“I’ve gone over the what-ifs and everything … in the end,
looking back didn’t do me any good. I decided I needed to
look forward and I just got on with it.”
Starting again
Andrew has gone on to live a life less ordinary.
He says the key thing for him was once he got out of
hospital, he had some really good mates and he moved
into a student flat as soon as he got out of hospital.
“Partying, misbehaving and all sorts of carry on and that
was just about as normal as possible,” he says.

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 26
Family ties—Andrew’s first Christmas back home with his wider family five days after discharge in 1983.
“It was the best thing for me. My mates never let me get
away with anything. They wouldn’t let me wallow.” It was
also during this time that he managed to improve a bit
and get up on crutches so he could cover short distances
and climb a few steps.
Andrew went on to complete a degree in agricultural
economics and he started work as a computer
programmer in 1987.
“It never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t get back to
work,” he says. “I was injured when I was a student so if I
wanted to get any money, I had to make it myself and that
has always been the case.”
He got his first job as a computer programmer through a
mate because as he says, it’s definitely all about who you
know not what you know, because he had no idea how to
program computers. Andrew remembers winging it and
just hoping that no-one noticed he didn’t know what he
was doing.
“I didn’t have a clue and I told my mate this, but he said
‘you’ll be fine’. I had a blind panic attack and then I read
the manual. I learned on the job—I had no choice—and it
set up my career in IT for 30 years. I never looked back.”
Back to where it all began
And now Andrew has gone full circle.
Following his recovery in the Burwood Spinal unit, where
he got his life back on track, he has been the CEO of the
NZ Spinal Trust, the Chairman of the Board and is now
the Manager of Peer Support and National Programme
Manager for the Vocational Rehabilitation team. Andrew
is also a Director of the NZ Rugby Foundation, supporting
seriously injured rugby players. He joined the foundation
in July 2018 providing IT and governance expertise. Last
year he received the Canterbury Road Trauma Award for
Community Service.
—Andrew Hall
We get the chance to talk
about life and how they can
get back on track.
Andrew has been in the patients shoes. He knows how
they are feeling on day one in the Spinal Unit and he has
sound advice to help people adjust to their new life.
“Everybody’s journey is different,” he says. “I was a bit of a
sponge on the ward. I tried to soak up all of the
information that was given to me. You are lying there
acute and your world gets pretty small.
“That is why we want to fill that vacuum with Vocational
Rehabilitation and Peer Support. We want to fill people’s
minds with the right information and help them with
their progress.”
“I have a privileged job,” he says. “Me and my team are
dealing with people who have had a decent amount of bad
news, and we are lucky enough to be able to give them
good news. We are sharing hope.
“That life goes on and there is hope—bearing in mind that
none of it is easy—but it is all achievable. We get the chance
to talk about life and how they can get back on track. That
is a real privilege. It is great to be able to give back.”
Andrew Hall is a living example that you can make a world
of difference to the lives of others if you never give up.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 27
“You Will Still Have an
Outstanding Life”
Q and A with Andrew Hall on winning the mental battle
It has been almost 40 years since your accident, what
are some of the ways you have won the mental battle
and remained positive?
I have found that you have got to have little wins along the
journey. Whether that is getting up into your chair
without chundering. Or making it the length of the gym
in your chair. Other bigger ones like building up to getting
out of hospital and getting your first vehicle. Getting
mobilised and your first journey into town. The small
wins along the way are important and then before you
know it, you have some semblance of a normal life again.
That kept me going.
It is normal to have negative moments or down days,
how do you manage that?
Every now and then it’s ok to get on the ‘pity bus’ and go
for a wee ride. It is like the orbiter bus in town that goes
around in a circle. You see the bus going past every day as
you are working hard and carrying on with your life. And
then one day you think “you know what, today I’m going
to get on the pity bus”. And you go for a wee ride. Take a
bit of time out and think about what is going on with your
life, and dwell in that pity and then you get off again.
The secret is you are allowed to get on the pity bus from
time to time. You just don’t stay on it for too long. It is
perfectly natural and part of life but just don’t stay there.
What advice would you have offered to a 19-year-old
Andrew Hall who arrived at Burwood scared and
unsure what the rest of his life would look like?
Andrew receiving the Canterbury Road Trauma Award for
Community Service.
What advice do you offer to people who are helping
others with a spinal cord impairment?
I say to people who are looking after people here, everyone
has their own story. It is not my story. We are all spinal
injured but not one of us is the same. Everything about us
is slightly different, our social situations, our coping
strategies, our relationships, our level of injuries and pain,
and fatigue. You need to recognise that in everything you
do, so the best thing to do at first is just listen.
I would say things are going to get a whole lot better. You
will still have an outstanding life. You will still do
fascinating and great things and you will meet some great
people. You will fall in love, have kids and all of that stuff
that you always wanted to do, you will still do. It will just
be different.
There is an art to finding out what is concerning people
and then find what it is that they need to address that
concern. Or sometimes it is best just to listen and show
that you understand. You can’t solve it or make it better,
but you are just there to listen and appreciate that their
journey is their journey.

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 28
Telling it Like it is
Teina Boyd, a former patient of the Burwood Spinal Unit,
describes the pressures of a too busy life.
Man I’m getting fat. My belly is huuuuuuge. I wonder how
my family are. I wonder if they care how I am and think of
me as well. Covid has really pulled us apart. Oh well. 380
emails, I wonder how many of those are important.
I really wish I could use my hands, I just feel like seeing
my own handwriting again. Speaking of … I should really
book my next hand surgery. What trainings do I need to
organise for my care team? I’m sick of being limited on
certain shifts. Hey I learn how to drive this year! I hope I
don’t cause any crashes. Can’t help thinking I might with
all of my spasms.
All Smiles—Teina Boyd and her son William share a special bond.
Goddamn. Sometimes I just don’t know
where to start.
I need to find an architect. Hopefully one with experience
building accessible. Jesus, I REALLY need to organise
thank you gifts for my lawyers and accountants … I
should have done that weeks ago.
I haven’t heard from the builder in six weeks either …
Might be time to just turn up at his house. Oh no … Am I
too late to apply for my rates rebate? Is the dog’s
registration due? I wonder where my new manual chair
has gone to … We finished scripting that thing months
ago. My butt's going to be too big for it by the time it gets
here. I need to do my German lesson for the day … Should
I do that quickly before I run the dog? The dog … Gosh I
really need to check when her registration is due. I wonder
if I should start offering to train people’s dogs to help
them with disability? My pup being able to pick up my
phone for me when I drop it is a huge help. Maybe that
will be helpful for other people as well.
I wonder if Bradley and I will actually get this business
idea of mine off the ground. He’s so busy and I’m so
disabled, I can’t do it on my own and I know he’s time
poor. Gosh I miss my mum. I wish I could find time to sit
down and write my book. What appointments do I have
today? I think I’ve gone way overdue on my catheter
changes … Jesus how’s Willie doing? He’s so busy running
around between his sports, school and mates I feel like
I’ve hardly seen him lately. I need to get more meat and
veggies into him.
I wonder how my sister is, I’ve really been dropping the
ball on keeping in contact with people lately. I hope life
calms down soon … But then I kind of don’t because then
I'll have to address my weight gain and how much I miss
everyone overseas. My wedding … What kind of dress will
I wear? I hope I look nice. The person in the mirror doesn’t
really look like me anymore, I need to find me again. That
thing looks like a lump with eyes. At least my ponytail is
nice and long, there is that.
Oh no … My column's due at the end of the week and I
haven’t even started. No regrets though, I’m glad I’m
putting Aunty Barb and her injuries first. Visiting her for
wheelchair aerobics every day has been fun. Man … I
haven’t read a school email in months. I hope I’m not
missing anything important. I really need to cut down
that nectarine tree in the front yard before it gives curly
leaf to all of the other fruit trees.
I wonder if William and I can go a couple of weeks living
off our fruit trees and the pantry, would be cool to see how
much money we could save. Have I paid the water rates?
Nope, I better jump online and do that. Phone is ringing …
No caller ID. It could be my case manager, one of the
carpet companies I’m waiting on quotes from, my nurse
or Greenpeace. I’ll let It go to voicemail.
... looking up from my phone I think, ‘What was I doing
again?’
———
Anybody else’s days start with mental rambling like this?
I really do find my disability and care team are a full-time
job on top of my full-time job, on top of my part time jobs,
on top of parenting on top of study. Not to mention all the
family, running the house and social side of life.
Can get a little crazy sometimes … but I hope you’re all out
there keeping warm and handling it all as well as you can.
(And taking lots of breaks for croissants, friends and
puppy hugging Xx)
Nga mihi, Teina Boyd

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 29
ic Ergonomic Radial Radial
Control. Hand Control.
diel Italiana
By Fadiel Italiana
Lever Grip Palm Grip
Lever Grip
ty.com.au
totalability.com.au

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 30
New
Additions
July 2021
The Resource Centre has a
selection of resources
specific for children whose
parents have a spinal cord
impairment (SCI).
The books are inspirational and show
that parenting is the same whether
you are a wheelchair user or not.
Having an SCI can forge a special
bond with parent and child. Check
out these great books!
Mama Zooms
by Jane Cowen-Fletcher, 1995
In this remarkable book, a little boy
makes the world a place full of
excitement. After all, his mother's
wheelchair as he sees it, is a
"zooming machine," a vehicle capable
of carrying him and his mother as far
as his imagination will allow. Every
morning his father sets him in his
mother's lap, and with her strong
arms pushing away, the two of them
are off on their latest adventure. Jane
Cowen-Fletcher's book was inspired
by her sister, a wheelchair mum and
practicing veterinarian, who was left
a paraplegic after a 1987 accident.
Dad had a spinal cord injury, and
what happened next
written by Diane Turner, and
illustrated by Scott Wrigg
When a person sustains a spinal cord
injury great pressure is placed on the
person and their family, whanau, and
friends. Their children undergo
enormous changes to their lives. ‘Dad
had a spinal cord injury, and what
happened next’, is Melissa’s story of
her father’s spinal cord injury. It
outlines milestones from his injury to
his return home. Also available as a
PDF. http://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.
au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/155287/
dad_had_a_sci_Oct2406.pdf
Arni and the wheelchair guy
story by Michael Franklin,
illustrations by Albina Koldasova,
2021
A new friendship is made in a seaside
village when an adventurous dog
chases a man in a wheelchair. Their
friendship grows strong as the world
around them continues to change.
A gentle story of friendship between
Arni and the Wheelchair Guy, and
the many other people they meet on
their daily seaside adventures,
during the extraordinary events
of 2020.
We can go anywhere: my
adventures on Daddy’s chair
by Dick Glen, illustrated by
Linda McManus, 2016
In this beautiful example of a child's
innocence, we are taught that a little
imagination can take us a long way.
What the rest of the world sees as a
limitation becomes a great source of
adventure and freedom. Little Elaina
shows her dad there is much more to
him than meets the eye, and in the
process proves that love knows
no limitations.
Grandad Wheels
by Brian Abram, illustrated by Lynne
Hickin, 2019
The Adventures of Grandad Wheels!’
is a series of beautifully illustrated
books for children about the crazy
adventures of a wheelchair user
Grandad and his Grandson Charlie.
Each story tells the reader a little bit
about what it is like to use a
wheelchair … but more importantly,
the stories will make the reader laugh
out loud at the silly things Grandad
Wheels and Charlie get up to!

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 31
Other new books...
Cognition, occupation, and
participation across the lifespan
4th edition. Edited by Noomi Katz and
Joan Toglia, 2018
Wild at heart: the dangers &
delights of a nomadic life
by Miriam Lancewood, 2020
Miriam and Peter Lancewood left
New Zealand to explore wild places.
They walked 2000 km through the
forests of Europe and along the coast
of Turkey, mostly camping under
trees and cooking by fire. They lived
on the edge, embracing insecurity,
and found the unexpected:
sometimes it was pure bliss,
sometimes it was terrifying. But
when they moved on to the
Australian desert, they met with
disaster. This gripping story is about
life and death, courage and the
power of love.
Occupational therapy clinicians have
the knowledge and skills to address
the consequences of cognitive,
neurological, and executive
dysfunctions that can result from
aging, illness, brain injury, stroke, or
neurodevelopmental disorder.
Practitioners can guide people facing
neurological dysfunction to gain the
skills they need to participate in
family, work, and community life.
Providing intervention models
grounded in neuroscience and
occupation, this comprehensive new
edition of the best-seller examines
current evidence and best practices
for working with clients across
the lifespan.
Where will we live in the future?
Research into the unmet housing
needs of people with disabilities, their
family and whānau by Disability
Connect, 2021
Disabled people need housing in
communities close to work, schools
and medical centres. Houses on
popular routes are either unaffordable
or inappropriate for their needs.
This report and the results of the
research are intended to be used by
the authors to advocate for greater
planning for and provision of
appropriate housing opportunities
for people living with disabilities.
Journals/magazines
Dynamics for Human Health
Vol. 8 issue 2 July 2021
Forward UK SCI magazine
Issue 163 June 2021
New Mobility: Camping & Glamping
Issue 330 Apr 2021
Spinal Network News
Vol 24 no. 1 Apr 2021
All the listed items are available to
loan from the Resource Centre.
We are located on the way to the
spinal gym, call in and see us!
For all enquiries contact
Bernadette Cassidy
bernadette.cassidy@nzspinaltrust.org.nz
or phone: 022 600 6630

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 32
Burwood Academy
Trust Update
We shine a spotlight on the Emerging Researcher First Grant
Te Ao Marama, Rachelle Martin and Cate Grace
Dr Rachelle Martin is one of nine recipients
of this year’s Emerging Researcher First
Grant’s offered by the Health Research
Council (HRC).
Rachelle will receive $249,000 over three years to fund
her project, Flourishing together: including tāngata
whaikaha in health policy development.
The research project emerged from Burwood Academy’s
Flourishing scoping study she conducted with Cate Grace,
in which they interviewed 40 people living with the
experience of illness, injury or long-term health conditions.
“It became really clear that many of the things that
needed to change to allow them to flourish, were about
societal changes,” says Rachelle.
It’s more than people having a voice. “It’s about allowing
them to decide the focus and scope of discussions—
allowing them to talk about the issues that most matter to
them rather than just responding to policy that has
already been developed,” she explains.
While the application process centred around her skills
and achievements as a researcher, for Rachelle, this
project is all about others. “I want to research a way that
makes space for disabled people—tāngata whaikaha.”
Rachelle uses this Māori phrase as it aligns with a
strengths-based approach to disability and lines up with
the affirmative language that New Zealand disabled-led
organisations and strategy documents use. “People in
search of empowerment rather than people with deficits,
difficulties and problems,” she adds.
This study aims to develop strategies and tools to allow
tāngata whaikaha to equitably contribute to policy
discussions and planning. To do this, issues related to
housing and home (kāinga) will be used as the exemplar
for the project.
“Kāinga in the broader sense of housing—a home that
allows play and recreation and relationships and
connections with the community, is a fundamental issue
for people,” says Rachelle.
In her many discussions with disability advocacy group
representatives, Māori health providers, and policy
advisors within governmental departments, kāinga was
a priority. Challenges with genuinely and meaningfully
including the voices of tāngata whaikaha were
also highlighted.
“It’s a really significant space to work in, and I feel very
privileged—part of my role will be creating the space but
not determining the direction,” says Rachelle.
Rachelle has conceptualised the projects to explicitly
improve health outcomes for Māori – directly in terms of
housing policies, and in the long term, by ensuring
tāngata whaikaha Māori are empowered to participate in
and influence the planning of other health-related policy.
Her consultation and collaboration with tāngata
whaikaha Māori, and Māori researchers and
organisations have contributed significantly to the
development of this research.

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 33
The grant enables her to employ a lived-experience
research assistant as well as two summer students. One of
these students will complete a scoping review of Māori
models that can feed into how best to include tāngata
whaikaha Māori in health policy development. Another
student will work on disability advocacy engagement
models in general, internationally.
The long-term goal is to produce data and recommendations
that can directly impact social determinants of health
through the development of housing policies that better
address the needs and aspirations of tāngata whaikaha.
In the short term, the research team will produce
resources that will support tāngata whaikaha to articulate
their concerns and recommendations, ensuring the voices
are meaningfully included in future health-related policy
and programme development.
Rachelle has developed the research around two
‘co-production teams’. The first team comprising tāngata
whaikaha Māori, will focus on Kaupapa Māori methods
and will be led by Dr Kristen Smiler (Victoria University)
in collaboration with Burwood Academy’s Te Ao Marama
Apiata and Cate Grace. Rachelle will lead the second,
non-Māori tāngata whaikaha team, which will also
include the research assistant and Burwood Academy
Director, Jo Nunnerley.
—Dr Rachelle Martin
I want to research a way that
makes space for disabled
people—tāngata whaikaha.
Dr Lesley Middleton, Professor Jean Hay-Smith, and
Professor Nic Kayes will provide additional research
support and expertise.
The project reflects the various spaces that Rachelle
occupies within the disability and rehabilitation space.
Funding was applied for through the University of Otago,
Wellington where Rachelle works as a lecturer with the
Department of Medicine.
The Burwood Academy team will do a large portion of
the work, and the Academy will mainly sponsor her time.
We congratulate Rachelle on receiving this
prestigious grant, the culmination of 12 months of
work, and look forward to the next three years as the
project flourishes.
The 27th Australian and New Zealand Spinal Cord Society Annual Scientific Meeting
will be held as a virtual meeting from 27 – 29 October 2021 and we are excited to be
able to connect safely online.
The 2021 Program will include Pre-Conference Workshops, Expert Keynote
Speakers, Industry Sessions, a Virtual Exhibition and Networking Hub.
REGISTER NOW to hear from Keynote Speakers including:
Dr Richard Acland, Prof Michael Fehlings, Prof Lisa Harvey,
Grant Sharman (Mouth Artist), Andrew Slorance
Register before 6 October 2021 to access EarlyBird Registration Rates.
For more information visit the ANZSCoS 2021 website: https://www.dcconferences.com.au/ANZSCoS2021

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 34
A New Look for the Future
The NZ Spinal Trust website gets an upgrade!
The New Zealand Spinal Trust (NZST) is
excited to announce the launch of our new
website! The website is the front door to our
four key services: Vocational Rehabilitation,
Peer and Whānau support, the Resource
Centre and the Volunteer service.
As part of the rebranding in 2019 the website needed to be
upgraded, as feedback and analytics showed that the
website was slow, and that people visited the site once and
did not return. The new site incorporates the new
branding as well as maximises our potential as a one stop
resource for spinal cord impairment needs
A working group consisting of four staff members and a
website designer was established in February 2020 to
brainstorm how visually we wanted the site to look and
better emphasise/promote our services to our clients. As
well as reflect the core functions of the Trust and
anticipate information needs. The goal with the new site
is to provide our clients access to services, resources and
information which is user friendly, focused, and easy to
find, and guide clients to where they need to be.
One aspect that is unique to the new site is the four
portals, see image above. The four portals consist of the
following: ‘New to SCI’, ‘I want to help’, ‘I need
information’, and ‘How do I’? will help guide and focus
users to the relevant information providing clarity and
easiness of use.
After several months, Covid-19 and other challenges the
website was launched in May 2021. However, there is still
content to be added and we will be constantly updating
the site with helpful information,
It has definitely been a team effort and thanks go to the
amazing working group who donated their time and
energy to make this site what it is, and web designer
Bathgate Design.
Visit the site at nzspinaltrust.org.nz
Let us know your thoughts (good and bad!) as well as
any ideas and suggestions.
Email Bernadette.cassidy@nzspinaltrust.org.nz

SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 35
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.
Permobil is a global leader with over 50 years experience in
providing advanced medical technology and state-of-the-art
healthcare solutions. Today, those solutions include the sale and
rental of power wheel chairs, manual wheelchairs, power assist
and seating & positioning products.
Access Community Health has been at the forefront of keeping
people healthy and safe in their homes since 1927. Today our
nationwide team of skilled nurses and 3,000 support workers make
over three million visits per year, ensuring people can remain
active and independent in their own homes and community.
Rehabilitation
Welfare Trust
The Elizabeth Ball
Charitable Trust
Air Rescue Services Ltd
Deluxe Box
Riccarton Rotary
Charitable Trust
Crusaders
Canterbury Masonic
Charitable Trust
Cube Design
Healthcare NZ
A F W and J M Jones
Foundation
Fresh Choice Parklands
Rotary Club
of Christchurch
Hyman Marks
Charitable Trust
Burwood
Volunteers Trust
Are you a subscriber?
It’s easy to subscribe to the NZST and it only costs $30 a year. Your subscription
helps with the printing of the Spinal Network News magazine and helps us
support the positive futures of people with spinal cord impairment.
Go to our website and click
on the red ‘Donate’ button
www.nzst.org.nz

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