Mako gesture best tonic for recovery
Gavin Dickson was one of 20,000 rugby fans at Trafalgar Park eagerly anticipating Nelson’s first All Black test.
But minutes after taking his seat on September 8, the occasion turned sour for the long-time rugby referee and teacher at Nayland College, when he suffered a stroke.
‘‘It probably didn’t help that Argentina scored right in front of me at the start – I tend to get right into it when I’m watching these games, but up until then there was no inkling that anything unusual was going on,’’ Dickson said. ‘‘All of a sudden I started to notice the floodlights blurring into one bright light and I could just make out a couple of players on the field, then everything started to go on my right side and there was pins and needles in my arm ... that’s when I thought I might be in a bit of trouble.’’
With the help of fellow spectators and ground security, Dickson was taken to a waiting ambulance and transported to Nelson Hospital.
Six weeks on, Dickson’s recovery has been boosted with a free trip back to Trafalgar Park to watch the Tasman Mako take on Canterbury for a place in the Mitre 10 Cup final.
On Tuesday he was presented with two tickets by Tasman rugby development officer Mark Cochrane, a former Nayland colleague of Dickson’s, Mako squad members Vernon Fredericks, Jamie Spowart and the recentlyretired Billy Guyton.
Dickson said he appreciated the gesture but only a Mako win over Canterbury would make up for his All Black disappointment.
Dickson had already been back to Trafalgar Park for Tasman’s match with Counties.
‘‘I’m not too bad now – every now and then I’ll be walking around and my brain will forget to connect where it should ... it’s the same as these guys with their concussion in that you’ve just got to take it easy. If I can get through all this, I think I can get through anything.’’