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2007 Caroline Allbon (Hamilton)
2006 Beverley Wilson-Jones (Hawkes Bay)
2005 Roger McLeod (West Coast)
2004 Glennis Paxton (Dargaville)
2003 Tina French (Auckland)
2002 David Ashton (Auckland)
2007 Noel Fisher (Greymouth)
2006 Alix Scrivener (Rotorua)
2005 Leonie Munns (Hawkes Bay)
2004 Reg Lasham (Tauranga)
2003 Christina Harrison (Abbotsford)
2002 Terry Eastwood (Auckland)
Caroline is married, lives with Geoff her husband and two children in Hamilton. Diagnosed in 1998 with MS, she wanted to ensure support was available to others affected with MS and was co-opted onto the Waikato MS Trust Board in 2003.
In 2004 and again in 2005 she was elected Chairperson. In 2006 she chose not to restand as Chairperson, but still holds the position of Trustee on the Board.
Her vision has helped raise the professional profile of the Waikato MS Trust and Caroline is outstanding ambassador for the Trust. Many events have seen her take the floor and speak confidently and eloquently. More recently, she has spearheaded initiatives to find ways to improve the Trust’s efficiency and effectiveness through the use of information technology. This has been seen as a positive step forward.
During her years with MS, Caroline has followed a wellness diet and lifestyle and has actively worked to improve her health and lead by example.
Caroline is a registered nurse with a clinical background in acute medical and surgical nursing. She has been a nursing lecturer at various polytechnics and till last year was Research Associate with the Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health for Victoria University of Wellington, working from Hamilton.
During her time in this role Caroline had abstracts accepted for conference presentations, culminating in presenting to the 6th International Practice Development, Action Research and Reflective Practice Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.
She is till actively engaged with writing and presenting. Now she is working on developing her own Research Consultancy and continues to work part time for the Waiariki Institute of Technology, Health Studies Department.
Noel and Lisa have been married for 17 years and live in Greymouth. Lisa was diagnosed with MS 16 years ago. They have one son, Daniel, 8 years old.
Noel runs a family bus charter business and drives school buses. Noel cares for Lisa and his job allows him flexibility to attend to her needs. She was formerly a school bus driver before the onset of MS.
Lisa is now fully dependent on care, unable to talk, feed, dress, shower, toilet etc. Noel looks after all her daily personal care—even when she is hospitalised—as well as tending to the daily needs of their son and preparing all family meals. Home help is provided during the day while Noel has to work.
They have an annual holiday for a month each year at Christmas time—a huge undertaking, but ensures quality family time.
Noel brings Lisa to West Coast MS Society social functions regularly and looks out for other Society members as well as his elderly mother daily.
He chooses to care with love, dignity and compassion, is an amazing family man, caregiver, father and husband who seeks no praise for himself.
The story of Beverley and her development, her ups and downs through her journey with MS is heart rendering. Her recent achievements with her business venture has indeed proven that her disabilities are no obstacle to success.
Beverley was diagnosed with MS in 1978. She has gone from being fully able-bodied into a wheelchair now with severe physical disability. But Beverley has successfully conquered major personal and social hurdles and persisted with her personal development. She has been able to turn life around mentally.
Bev has accomplished huge achievements against huge odds in all aspects of her life. She has a strong drive to achieve and an insatiable appetite for learning, despite her disabilities. Her willingness to move from a victim with an “I can’t do that” attitude, to one of “Yes, I’ll try that” has heralded remarkable personal success. She has put in tremendous effort with developing her new business and with raising her daughter alone. She continues to support and care for others in a positive manner.
Bev has recently developed a small business called “CAPEabilities”. She has it all covered when it comes to rainwear for wheelchair users plus there are a variety of other garments and products for use depending on the weather or the occasion. Her range of products makes wheelchair users much more mobile. She has had good initial success in the market. Her next step is to market the product range on the Internet to the world.
Roger was diagnosed twenty years ago, although he believes his MS may have started as long ago as the late 1970s. In the years since then Roger has been involved in an astonishing amount of community activity, including the local volunteer fire brigade and the Westland District Council.
In his “spare” time Roger developed property at Blue Spur and was a member of the West Coast Society committee. His commitment to people with MS on the West Coast was such that, from 1993 to 1996, he personally flew the Field Officer from Hokitika to Haast to make sure those members in isolated communities had access to support.
Jean Adams, the Field Officer for the West Coast, supported Roger’s application for this awards as she considers him to be “a true ambassador for MS”, never declining an opportunity to raise either awareness or funds. Roger is often first in line to help with raffles and social evenings, and although he moved into full time care last year, Roger has remained interested and active in local Society events.
This award recognises the obstacles Roger has overcome, and is a reflection of the spirit and depth of Roger’s commitment to his local community, and to people with MS on the West Coast.
For over 15 years, Alix has given much of her time in a carer role to many persons with MS in her local community of Rotorua, in the heart of New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty. She has willingly given her love, compassion, empathy and unselfish assistance to those much less able than herself. Whenever someone is in need, she is always willing to assist in any way necessary.
Alix [together with her husband Cyril] are the backbone of the local Rotorua and Districts Multiple Sclerosis Society. The support appears to have no bounds – she is involved in all aspects of the Society – fundraising, support meetings, functions, providing transportation for MS people and practical support to them.
Alix has an innate sense about who needs help and in a calm and and greeting people attending Society functions, in helping with transportation [such as for people getting in and getting out of vehicles], mobility assistance and little services such as hand feeding and comfort requirements at group meetings - even if it is just wiping a mouth discreetly or better positioning a wheelchair.
All this is dedication, highly appreciated by those whom she willingly supports and cares for. Alix is a person who is highly thought of. She is always ready to help other people. She prefers not to walk in the spotlight, but works silently on in the background.
It can be truly said that this is commitment.
Leonie Munns is an astonishingly good carer. She has worked with June McNaught for over four years, and Leonie’s application clearly showed the depth of commitment and professionalism she has displayed in that time.
In an application supported by fifteen testimonials, Leonie’s dedication and friendship towards June was strongly established. Examples were obviously easy to find, and one that several referees mentioned was Leonie making extra dinner portions for June so she could eat as well as Leonie’s own family did.
June herself listed Leonie’s numerous special qualities, but two that stuck out for the judging panel were Leonie’s design and dressmaking of clothing suitable for June as a severely disabled woman, and her ongoing role as June’s hostess and secretary –both of which ensure June is able to live a full and social life in her community.
This award recognises Leonie’s dedication to her client and friend, and is given knowing the recipient is the truest embodiment of the title Carer.
