SNN_April 2023 Issue_web

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 28
In His Own Words—
the End of an Era
Brendan Tourelle reflects on his tenure as President of Spinal Support NZ.
LOVE—“Anyone who knows me, knows that sailing is one of my biggest passions”.
Brendan Tourelle has been involved with
Spinal Support New Zealand (SSNZ) on and off
for almost quarter of a century.
In 2023, his five-year tenure as President comes to an end.
In this issue’s edition of ‘In their own words’, Brendan takes
us on a walk down memory lane recalling his spinal cord
impairment, his passion for sailing and his drive to make a
difference for others.
I first started at SSNZ which was then known as TASC
(The Association of Spinal Concerns) in 2000 because I
was at a loose end. I was a newly injured person at home,
looking for something to do.
I had never been on a committee before, so at the time it
was a steep learning curve to understand the committee
format and structure. Since that time, I have been on and
off the committee two or three times.
I first became President of SSNZ in 2018. I had previously
been Vice President during Gavin Parish’s term as
President. Each President has a five-year term. Gavin had
—Brendan Tourelle
I have mixed emotions when
I think about my term as
President coming to an end.
become president when Murray Cohen, who was the
elected president at the time suddenly passed away, and I
became Vice President (VP).
I have enjoyed being involved with SSNZ because it’s
whole reason for being is to help anyone who has
sustained a spinal cord injury, to help lessen the impact
that injury may be causing in their personal lives.
The biggest achievement we have been able to manage
to date is getting the ACC contract to provide Peer and
Whānau Support for the spinal cord impairment
(SCI) population.