Annual Report 2002
Obituaries
Two of our valued members passed away during the year. Each of them made a wonderful contribution to our organisation in their unique ways and we honour them and their families for that.
Elizabeth Cooper
Humour, compassion and "a very naughty laugh" are the characteristics about Elizabeth everyone who knew her must surely remember. Her sudden death saddened us deeply. Few superlatives would do Elizabeth justice and she enhanced the lives of all she touched.
Elizabeth's involvement with disability issues stretched back decades. In the 1970s she managed to escape institutionalised living and established herself in the community when that idea was a totally new concept. In the early 1980s she contributed to the International Year of Disabled People and became a foundation member of Manawatu DPA in 1984. Elected to DPA's national executive committee in 1992, she went on to serve in office for eight years, three of them as DPA national vice-president.
A deeply insightful person, Elizabeth had mana and a passion for the issues to do with disabled Maori, disabled women and the effects of poverty on disabled people. People with disabilities throughout New Zealand owe her our gratitude for what she was able to do.
Agnes Sneddon
It was tragic that Agnes who had such zest for life was taken from us prematurely, passing away during January 2002 after time in hospital. Agnes became involved in the disability community five years before after a spinal injury affected her mobility at Auckland University. She went on to contribute to the Disability Information North Shore (DINS), DPA North Shore and was elected to DPA's national executive committee in 1999 where she quickly made her mark.
Despite her spinal problem, diabetes, asthma and chornic fibromyalgia, Agnes, a "fortysomething" separated mother of two teenage boys, wanted to make a contribution to the lives of disabled people whose company she enjoyed. Being of Ngati Kuri and Ngapuhi descent, Agnes was also naturally drawn to Maori issues, for DPA, briefly for the Ministry of Education and as a member of an Auckland Maori reference group. She was a person who was great fun, who pushed the boundaries, who we were very sad to lose.
More from the 2002 Annual Report
Index
Vision, Mission, Philosophy
Acknowledgements
President's Report
Chief Executive's Report
National Executive
Goal 1: Lead
2001 AGM Photos
Relay Service Rally Photos
Goal 2: Advise
Goal 3: Empower
Goal 4: Monitor
Goal 5: Community
Obituaries
Financial Statements
For previous reports contact gen@dpa.org.nz.