Darrel and Tracey from Hamilton took a 5-day trip recently to Port Macquarie, Australia, to reconnect with their mother and other whānau. They were supported to make this special journey by Team Leader Rattanjeet Khara, Fintu Raju, and Reuben Rawhiti-Newton (SDM).
The highlight was visiting their mum Margaret, who now lives with Alzheimer’s. Despite nearly a decade apart, Margaret recognised them both when they visited her at her nursing home. Darrel, Tracey and NZCL kaimahi also spent time with their sister Fiona, and met nieces, nephews, and extended family for the first time. It was a good opportunity to strengthen bonds and build new ones with their Australian whānau.
Outside of family time, they explored Port Macquarie, watching camel rides, visiting the zoo, shopping, and walking through the rainforest canopy. On the final day, they stopped in Sydney for a boat ride from Luna Park to the Opera House and had lunch by the harbour.
A lot of thought and planning went into this trip, and it came together as a great success. It’s a fantastic example of what can happen when we support people to pursue their goals. Let’s keep encouraging the people we support to dream big: because with the right support, anything is possible.
NZCL is dedicated to enabling disabled people to live good lives, with the support of a range of services. For more information about how NZCL can support you or a loved one, visit our full list of services.
