November 30, 2016
Rolleston shows attitude at disability awards
Boy and Dark Horse star James Rolleston has made his first public appearance since a major car crash, turning out for the Attitude Awards for New Zealanders living with a disability.
In July the 19-year-old was cut out of a car after it hit a bridge near Opotiki and he was in Waikato Hospital until the end of August when he was transferred to an Auckland rehabilitation facility.
Last night he presented the supreme award to Debra Lampshire who has used her own experience of mental illness to drive attitudinal change in New Zealand’s mental health system.
Ms Lampshire, who spent 18 years in Kingseat Psychiatric Hospital, now teaches at the University of Auckland and manages a project for the Auckland District Health Board developing psychological interventions for enduring mental illness.
She also chairs the New Zealand branch of the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis.
Paraplegic dancer Rodney Bell of Ngati Maniapoto won the artistic achievement category.
Other Attitude winners included another paraplegic, coffee bean importer John Burton, children’s book author Eilish Wilkes, athletes Tupou Seini Neiufi and Graeme Porter, visually impaired musician Ese Aumalesulu, and biosecurity company Genera Ltd in the best employer category.
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