Long IHC stint earns QSM
Neil Taylor’s biggest satisfaction in more than 40 years of working with people with disabilities was the closure of large institutions that locked them away.
Taylor, of Ha¯wera, has been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to people with intellectual disabilities and the community.
He first volunteered for IHC in 1978 and said seeing results is what keeps him coming back.
‘‘It’s seeing intellectually disabled people grow, live in houses in shared care, flatting together, trying to get a job – but more importantly living a life in the community and participating in the community – not locked away in an institution,’’ he said.
The closure of the large institutions was a highlight for Taylor.
‘‘In our case, it was Kimberley, which was based at Levin. ‘‘That was in 2006,’’ he said. ‘‘That was a significant change in direction bringing people back out to the community.’’
Quite a few people at Kimberley came from Ha¯ wera, he said.
‘‘We can see them now out and about, living their life.’’
At 73, Taylor said he had another couple of years before stepping back from IHC, and would like to see a greater acceptance of the need for intellectually disabled people to have an education.
A retired accountant, he’s also on the committee of Te Korowai o Nga¯ ruahine Trust and a keen gardener. Every Monday, the Friends of Ha¯ wera Parks meet at King Edward Park and garden for a couple of hours.
He has three daughters and second wife Vivien has two sons, and they have 10 grandchildren between them.
‘‘One of the nicest things about being involved in IHC is our children have grown up with an understanding of disability.’’
One granddaughter, Molly, has an intellectual disability and attends Salisbury School in Richmond, near Nelson, and she is ‘‘quite inspiring’’.
‘‘She’s just such a lovely girl.’’ Taylor said he’s known about the accolade since April 1, but wife Vivien has known for longer.
He was overwhelmed with the award: ‘‘I was made a life member a few years back and it’s the same sort of emotion – your peers acknowledging you. It is quite something.’’
A community initiative to connect people during lockdown has highlighted Taranaki’s creativity.
Taranaki APart Together invites people to make 20cm material squares that will become part of a quilt, organiser Glen Bennett said.
‘‘People have had to stop and think about what is important and what connects us to the community.’’
The theme for the quilt was ‘‘Taranaki APart Together – what connects me to the people and this place is...’’
Bennett suggested people use materials that were blue, white or green, to connect with Mt Taranaki, but people could use whatever they wanted, he said.
They have received about 20 squares so far and plan to keep collecting until the country gets to level 0 when they will be sewn into a quilt.
Some squares depict the mountain, one person sent four pieces of different materials of native plants and bird life, another has a wire balloon made with thin metal, and one has a Stratford grandmother’s tramping boots brooch, he said.
‘‘There’s lots of creativity. We said you can’t go to the craft shop, so use what you have at home, like old T-shirts or cut up jeans.’’
One day this will be history, so hopefully Puke Ariki will take it, Bennett said.
For more information check out Taranaki APart Together Facebook page.