Governor General presents awards to children with Downs

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday 18 October 2011

New Governor General presents awards to children with Down Syndrome

To celebrate the achievements of young people with Down Syndrome, the Governor General of New Zealand, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae, will this year host the annual Frances Clarke Memorial Awards at the newly renovated Government House in Wellington at 10am on Wednesday 26th October.

This will be the 21st year these awards have been presented by the Wellington Down Syndrome Association, in memory of a special little girl Frances Clarke who was born in 1985 with Down Syndrome and died four years later from Leukaemia.

"We're delighted to this year have as our guest speaker New Zealand's All White soccer coach and Wellington Phoenix coach Mr Ricki Herbert CNZM, an inspirational New Zealander who I'm sure all our guests will recognise" said Wellington Down Syndrome Association Treasurer Kate Young

These awards recognise and encourage special achievements of people born with Down Syndrome in the greater Wellington district. Special achievements need not be spectacular nor world first but they will have taken determination, application and perseverance. They demonstrate the ability of someone with Down Syndrome to overcome their difficulties by completing a task or by showing through their way of life and attitudes towards others that they lead full and rewarding lives.

"The Frances Clarke memorial awards are an opportunity to raise public awareness of people with Down syndrome within our community and to showcase their achievements. This is the 21st year these awards have been presented and we're very honoured to once again to have the ceremony hosted by the Governor General at Government House" said Wellington Down Syndrome Association Co-ordinator Helen Elliott

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(ENDS)

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