Falling for Arma del Amor The duo knocked the socks off the audience when they supported Kora last Sunday night. PAGE 7
Local stars shine at Games Kiwis picked up one gold and three silver medals at the Winter Games NZ, with Adam Hall, Janina Kuzma, Andy Pohl and Corey Peters the stars of the 10-day event.
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Bowled over Zephyr Lovelock (10) tests out the new bowl at the Wanaka Skatepark after it was officially opened last Saturday. For more photos see page 5.
New grebe chicks hatch PAGE 2
PHOTO: NAOISE WOLSEY
Horsing around PAGE 3
Climber’s long road to recovery
Wanaka adventurer Dave Vass tells of life after serious fall
Caroline Harker Wanaka Sun
A
Finn’s one to watch PAGE 9
sunviews PAGE 11 EDITION: 729
lbert Town adventurer and canyoning business owner Dave Vass is back in Wanaka after nearly eight months in hospital. He was seriously injured in a fall returning from a climbing trip in Fiordland’s Darran Mountains in January. “I’m officially tetraplegic but I’m still progressing,” Dave told The Wanaka Sun. For the first two months Dave had no movement in his legs and arms, except for in his left bicep.
Now he can walk with assistance using a Zimmer frame for about 10 minutes at a time. “I’m staggering back and forth,” he said. “My progress is glacial but it’s relatively consistent. I’m luckier than many of the people I was in Burwood [Hospital] with.” Dave’s latest improvement is he can lift the big toe of his right foot, which is important for his walking. “No-one can tell me how long I might continue to improve,” he said. “My spinal cord injury is ‘incomplete’ so neural regeneration is possible. I hope to be up on my feet in a year or so.”
Meanwhile Dave has an electric wheelchair, a van with a hoist for the chair, and 24-hour care, all provided by the Accident Corporation Commission (ACC). Dave currently has three people looking after him, who he describes as ‘one hairy Australian rock climber and two young groovy types’ who he found through mutual friends. “I like to call them my wonderful assistants, not carers,” he said. “I’m still looking for a couple more. They need to be capable and fun to be around. A good time is guaranteed.” While ACC has agreed to pay
for alterations to the Albert Town home Dave shares with his partner Ros Goulding, this work hasn’t started yet. Meanwhile they are hiring a house which is suitable for Dave’s electric wheelchair, and need to find another one before December as the one they are in has been sold. A warm singlestory place with wide doors and a concrete floor would be ideal. Dave said he has received wonderful support from the wider community, “right from the moment we pushed the EPIRB” (emergency position-indicatStory continues ing radio beacon). page 3...