RNZFB congratulates award-winning members
The blindness sector has been well-represented at a number of awards recently, as 2011 wraps up.
The 2011 Attitude Awards, held last week in Auckland, went off in style, with several RNZFB members up for awards and showing great artistic ability.
The Attitude Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of New Zealanders living with a disability and have grown out of the Attitude TV series, which screens on TV ONE on Sundays and TVNZ 7 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Kiwi music legend Eddie Low won the Attitude Artistic Achievement Award; despite his music teacher at the Parnell School for the Blind saying he had "no musical talent" on his report card. Mary Schnackenberg was inducted into the prestigious Attitude Hall of Fame for her significant achievements and long-standing contribution to the disability sector.
Picture above: Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae, with Mary Schnackenberg and Phil Holden from the Lion Foundation at the Attitude Awards.
RNZFB members Natalie Te Paa and Sarah Houbolt were also finalists in the Artistic Achievement category, while Jayne Parsons was up for the Sport Performer Award, and Pam MacNeill made it to the top three for Making a Difference. Eddie, Natalie and Sarah all performed throughout the night, along with RNZFB member Caitlin Smith.
Picture above: Natalie Te Paa performs with Eddie Low at the Attitude Awards.
RNZFB member and former staff member Genevieve McLachlan was acknowledged in another prestigious group of awards – the HER Greater Wellington Businesswoman Awards.
Genevieve won the Most Inspirational Role Model awards for her business, Adaptive Technology Solutions NZ. Her business venture is about helping people with disabilities access assistive technology and has involved her in her local Library in Upper Hutt, Wellington, where there is now a hot desk where people can come and ask questions and seek advice on a range of topics.
Finally, member and tandem cyclist Jayne Parsons picked up a string of awards at the Maori Sports Awards including a Maori World Champion Award, a Maori World Champion in Teams Award and the Disabled Maori Sportsperson Award.
In March this year Jane became a world champion at the paracycling world track champs in Italy after securing gold and the rainbow jersey for 12 months for her unbeatable time in the women's 3klm pursuit. She is currently training for the 2012 Paralympics with the dream of winning gold at this supreme event, which would make her the only blind tandem cyclist in the world to achieve this remarkable feat.
Congratulations to all of these members for their outstanding performances!