World Down Syndrome Day
National Achievement Awards

Hon Tariana Turia,
Associate Minister of Disability Issues

Caccia Birch House, Palmerston North
Friday 20 March 2009; 3pm

Two nights ago the nation watched a grieving widow speak of her love for her soul-mate, who had passed away just eight weeks ago.

The story told on television, of the love of Gordon and Christina Crawford, was a real tear-jerker. Christina spoke so tenderly of the man who loved the Liverpool Anthem – “you will never walk alone” – and we could all feel her pain that now, she was, indeed, alone.

Except there was a moment of hope – when she spoke of needing to be strong, that she must continue on without him.

For Gordon and Christina, it was not the disability that drew them together – it was a profound, and incredible love. That love would carry on, no matter what.

I thought of that story as we came to this T4T – the tea party to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.

It is a story we can all share – a love we can all admire – just as much as we can all enjoy a nice cup of tea and maybe even a biscuit or two.

The concept of a tea party is a brilliant way to raise awareness– it is like the great social leveller – the concept that whether it be in the staffroom, the marae kitchen, the boardroom, or the caravan – getting together for a cuppa is one of those great moments of the day.

And you know, it’s not about whether it’s gumboot tea or herbal – it’s all about the quality of the interaction we share.

It says too, that for families whose lives have been changed by Down Syndrome, that everyone needs the chance to sit together, to enjoy time with each other, to appreciate our differences, to lend a listening ear, just to be there.

But today’s T4T isn’t just a routine tea-break, oh no. Today we are experiencing a High Tea of the most distinguished form.

For today’s tea-party is to celebrate three outstanding award winners, who are being honoured with a National Achievement Award.

Bunty Mountford has been nominated for the wonderful success she has achieved in a five year mission to read and write.

In 2003, Bunty embarked on a journey of discovery which culminated in the huge project of writing her life story.

I want to congratulate Bunty not just for the significant feat of completing “My Life as I Remember it”, but also for the sheer endurance and commitment she has shown in persevering with such a big project.

Then there’s Ben Southern – our international ice figure skating star. The success that Ben has experienced in being selected to represent New Zealand for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Grames is really exciting, and reflects the complete commitment he has to ‘giving it a go’.

Not only did he do us all proud in Idaho at the World Games, but he displayed that same champion spirit in the months leading up to the Olympics – training five mornings a week whilst maintaining his job at the local bakery.

Fiona Strong has certainly lived up to her name. In the space of three short years, Fiona went from someone who had not been able to swim a full length of the pool, to a regional champion with three gold medals and two silver medals for her achievements in the Special Olympics in Tauranga last year.

The strength that she has shown in attending weekly training sessions at Pukekohe; at mastering the paddleboard, freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and diving is an inspiration to us all.

But it is not just in the pool that her strength has come through. During this time, Fiona stayed two nights with the team in Tauranga – an impressive effort from someone who prior to this had never had an overnight stay away from her caregivers.

Although we are profiling three winners here today, I don’t want in any way to take away the fact of the achievements of all the other winners nominated for these awards.

And of course, there’s all the winners in our world who may not have even made it to this awards ceremony list.

Back home in Whanganui I think of the young woman in the kohanga reo who constantly spreads joy with her enormous love of the children, and her bright and cheerful spirit.

Or there’s the woman who lives next to my son, and collects all my Beehive Chats.

Every time I go there, she rushes out to me and makes me feel a million dollars.

And I think of the little girl my friends have adopted who is such a beautiful, loving child, constantly filling us all with joy.

And I guess that’s the message that T4T is all about – that when we see people with Down Syndrome in our community, we see them for who they are – the authors, the swimming champions, the loving kohanga tutor, the neighbour. We feel the love.

And this is where I want to congratulate another winner – the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association – who do so much to provide support and information for anyone whose life has been changed by Down Syndrome.

When we think one or more babies are born every week with Down syndrome, and just over half of these children are born with a health issue, we know that the need for support and information is just as relevant today as it was in 1981 when the Association started up.

Your association is to be commended for the commitment you make to support the person with Down Syndrome, the family and to bring about public awareness. Critically, your work is especially important about educating for a non-disabling society.

And I absolutely admire the parents of children with Down Syndrome, who endure all the challenges, and who do so much to give their children the greatest gift, an ordinary life.

Our community is at its strongest when we open our arms to include all of us.

Just as my son’s neighbour thinks nothing of embracing me in the hugest of hugs imaginable, so too, our world will be better for spreading a positive attitude across our community, about the rights and realities of people with Down Syndrome.

And now – it must be time for a good cup of tea!

ENDS

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