SNN_August 2023 Issue_web3

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 6
—Julian Verkaaik
An artist can't help but leave
fingerprints on the work
that they give to the world.
Fellow supporter of Rihare's impressive work Julian
Verkaaik said about Mere at our function “Mere, an artist
can't help but leave fingerprints on the work that they give
to the world. Look around you. Your fingerprints are
everywhere. They exist in my own changed view of the
world and of the value of te ao Māori (the Māori world).
They show in the sculpted forms of Mataamua as he
stands guard over Burwood. They echo in the stories of
Rihare Welfare and the many others whose lives you
touched. Thank you for all you created through Ranga
Hauora and in the other communities you served.”
We owe a lot to Mere who unwittingly helped create our
team culture and we will always be grateful to her for her
lasting gift.
Twice a year our entire team gathers for what we call
‘Culture Club’ where we connect with each other, learn
something important and solve a problem together. Our
most recent culture club was facilitated by the impressive
Jemma Balmer of Barrer and Co where we reflected on our
‘Why, What, and How’ together to create the basis of a
documented Service Delivery Model. It is so important to
work together 'on' our organisation from time to time and
not be restricted to work 'in' the organisation.
Our two days together were punctuated by the funeral
service of Dr Richard Smaill who was a hugely important
person to us. I worked on Trust business with Rich for
over 11 years enjoying many, many hours with him as we
discussed how to support positive futures for individuals
and their whānau living with the effects of spinal cord
impairment.
SPECIAL STATUE—Mere Hibbs with her son Dallas stand next to Mataamua,
the statue that guards, welcomes and encourages healing of body and spirit.
Our work, our mentors and influencers past and present
all inspire me to live the most of every day that I am
blessed to have. Our team believe this emphatically too
and we do everything we can to have our positivity,
optimism and grit rub off on the new patients we have
the privilege of supporting and caring for.
Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui—be strong, be brave,
be steadfast.
Rich served on our board for 13 years and was a very
successful chairman for nine of those—we will be forever
grateful to Rich and his family for his dedication to NZST
and the hard work and constant support he always
delivered. Even after he left our board Rich held a keen
interest in our work and Andrew Hall and I would pop
over occasionally, with a quality Pinot of course, and talk
shop. I am sure you will enjoy our tribute to this great
man on page 22. We have had several other sad moments
this year with the passing of the indomitable Alan Pullar
whose 50 years in a chair was celebrated in our August
2017 SNN (see page 28) and also the passing of George
Scrimshaw’s beloved wife Kay.
George is another mover and shaker from our formative
days who still maintains a very keen interest in our work.
Our hearts go out to George, Barbra and Paulette as they
adjust to the loss of their life partner and look to a
different future.