SNN_August 2023 Issue_web3

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 28
Gone Too Soon
We look back on the life and achievements of Alan Pullar.
MILESTONE—Alan Pullar
celebrating his 21st birthday.
In 2017, the SNN published an article on Alan
Pullar. Alan was a firm believer that you
make your own luck in life, his was a life well
lived. He was the oldest surviving person
with a spinal cord impairment (SCI) in
New Zealand, having spent 57 years in a
wheelchair. Sadly, Alan passed away after a
short illness in April at the age of 77.
In 1966, he sustained his SCI following a rugby accident
when he was 20 years old. Alan’s injury occurred long
before ACC was established, however the Waimate
community rallied around him and raised enough money
to help with his return home following his rehabilitation
in ward 13C. While in 13C he passed his final exams and
became a qualified plumber.
While in the spinal unit, Alan met the late Graham Tapper
and was impressed with Graham’s car and the home made
hand controls. Alan had to sell his beloved Riley, but when
the Waimate Rugby Club offered him fundraising money,
he bought a Ford Cortina automatic and had hand controls
fitted. He also designed a hoist that he could use to get his
Alan’s injury occurred
long before ACC was
established, however the
Waimate community
rallied around him.
wheelchair in and out of his car. Alan’s father knew a local
engineer who made the hoist for him.
The car gave him independence and enabled him to move
to Canterbury university to study law. However, studying
at the university was problematic, this was in the days
before campuses were accessible with ramps, lifts and so
on. Alan asked the Dean for a dispensation to sit his final
exams but was refused, consequently he was unable to
finish his course. Instead, he left university and enrolled
for a diploma in business administration at Christchurch