"The World in Focus" finally premiered at MAU Theatre on Saturday, 29th November to a capacity audience. The event coincided with the "International Day of the Disabled Person" on the 3rd of December.
It was a fantastic evening. Great food and company in a wonderful environment. The atmosphere was electric as the cast waited in the wings to go on.
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Attila's video provided a brilliant introduction and helped to steady nerves. Then the stage was empty and Sam's guitar cued the players in. The show began. It was an intensely vibrant journey through tears and joy, humour and laughter, wonderful paintings and rousing songs. The whole production ran like clockwork with a consummately professional feel, ably assisted by an army of support staff who helped people on and off stage, provided props and held brightly coloured banners high.
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Well done everyone involved in pulling it off. Hopefully we will see you again ....
28 October 2008
The following group of people - Lynette, CJ, Yung, Allyson, Anthony, Damon, Marilyn, Noeline and Marie, all Focus clients, have been meeting weekly at Sandringham Community Centre to develop an original piece of performance art with Paula Crimmens our drama therapist, with help from Interacting, a disabled arts theatre company.
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The theatre piece melds art work done at Spark Studio with music and peoples own stories and experiences. The process which started from early discussions, through practices with Sam the music man, through Marie having flying dance lessons with Linda Parker from Touch Compass has been documented by Attila and provides fascinating watching.
We share ideas, nut out practical problems, laugh, drink coffee and experiment to see what works.
We are coming into our final 5 weeks before the performance at Mau Theatre on November 29th and the process has become very intense with extra rehearsals at Owairaka School in Mt Albert.
We are able assisted by support staff both in rehearsal and by getting us to practices as far away as Papakura.
Everyone is working hard to get the best result possible and we are very much looking forward to showing you what we have been working on.
So join us on Saturday, 29th November at Mau Theatre.
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20 August 2008
Thrills and Spills at Boccia tournament
As appeared in Without Limits in August 2008
It may have been an extremely cold and wet Auckland weekend but the heat was on at an annual boccia tournament held in early July.
More than 40 people with disabilities from all over New Zealand came to Auckland to take part in a tournament of a Paralympic sport. The players were competing to win the Focus Cup, the prized award of the annual tournament organised by Focus 2000, a health and disability provider.
The eventual overall winner of the coveted Best & Fairest trophy after 2 days of intense competition was Mark Grantham from Auckland.
Other winners over the 2 days of competition included Annie Wihongi from Whangarei who was awarded the Most Improved prize and Yung Chen from Auckland was awarded the trophy for the Focus on Commitment.
In the Open Class Neale Batchelor and Bryan Robinson from Whangarei took the gold and silver medals and Scott Needham from Auckland the bronze.
In a gripping final in the Kiwi Class, Kirsten Williams from Auckland beat flat mate Danny Chamberlain for the gold after Danny was penalised in extra time.
Rodney Arts from Auckland took the bronze, and in another gripping final in the BC1 & 2 Class, Red Nicholson beat Liam Sanders who is going to the Paralympic Games in Beijing, for the gold in what was Liam’s first game of boccia for over a year. The bronze went to Khi Chen , also from Auckland.
Another Beijing bound player, Auckland’s Mandy Slade won gold in the BC3 Class, ahead of Tom Simeon and Annie Wihongi .
Boccia - pronounced Botcha - is a cross between petanque and indoor bowls, and requires players to land their six balls closer to a target ball than their opponents’. The game dates back to ancient Greece and was successfully adapted for people with disabilities, and particularly those affecting motor skills, in the 20 th century, eventually making its first appearance as a Paralympic sport in 1992.
Focus 2000’s Margaret Moylan says the game is one of the fastest growing international and Paralympic sports, with more than 50 countries organising local or international competitions.
“Boccia can be enjoyed by people of all ages and a wide variety of disabilities. It requires planning and strategy in trying to place balls for maximum scoring and helps develop a high degree of muscle control, accuracy, concentration and tactical awareness. Because it can be played by individuals, pairs or teams it is extremely versatile and the special classification system makes sure there’s a level playing field so disabled athletes can compete against others with similar abilities.”
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Yung Chen |
Red Nicholson |
Mark Grantham |
The Focus Cup, now in its eleventh year, is one of the largest Boccia tournaments in New Zealand and continues to grow every year, attracting 40 – 60 competitors every year. In addition to the players, more than 30 volunteers gave up their time over two days to referee, time-keep and support the event at the Unitec Gym, Carrington Road, Mt Albert. Participants came from as far afield as Christchurch and Whangerei.
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8 July 2008
Focus Cup 2008
More than 40 people with disabilities from all over New Zealand came to Auckland to take part in a tournament of the Paralympic sport, Boccia, at the week-end.
The players were competing to win the Focus Cup, the prized award of the annual tournament organised by Focus 2000.
After two days of intense competition the eventual overall winner of the coveted Best & Fairest trophy was Mark Grantham from Three Kings, Auckland.
Congratulation!
And the winners are:
Trophies:
Most improved |
Annie Wihangi Whangarei |
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Focus on Commitment Trophy |
Yung Chen Pt. Chev, Auckland |
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The Best and Fairest Focus Cup Trophy |
Mark Grantham Three Kings, Auckland |
| Open Class: | ||||
Gold |
Neale Batchelor Whangarei |
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Silver |
Bryan Robinson Whangarei |
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Bronze |
Scott Needham Penmure |
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| Kiwi Class | ||||
Gold |
Kirsten Williams Sunnynook, Auckland |
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Silver |
Danny Chamerlain Botany Downs, Auckland |
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Bronze |
Rodney Arts Mangere Bridge, Auckland |
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| BC1 & BC2 Class | ||||
Gold |
Red Nicholson Kingsland, Auckland |
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Silver |
Liam Sanders Auckland City |
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Bronze |
Khi Chen Three Kings, Auckland |
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| BC3 | ||||
Gold |
Mandy Slade Glendene, Auckland |
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Silver |
Tom Simeon Pt. Chev, Auckland |
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Bronze |
Annie Wihongi Whangarei |
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1 July 2008
Focus Cup 2008
When: 5 - 6 July
Time:
Saturday,
8:30 am - 6:30 pm;
Sunday, 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
Where: Unitec Gymnasium, Carrington Road, Mt. Albert
Info:
Final draw for Saturday [PDF]
Final draw for Sunday [PDF]
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12 March 2008
The Focus Cup is here again!
It will be held at the Unitec Gymnasium, Mt Albert on 5-6 July.
You can download the Event Information and the Registration Form here.
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26 October 2007
Focus 2000 Mobility Rehabilitation has got some great new equipment, which consists of a multi-gym (as pictured), treadmill etc.The multi-gym can work almost all the muscles in the body and will help to increase strength and tone up.
We have a new set of Parnell bars to assists with walking and a new treadmill for those that can walk without assistance.
We also have a brilliant new hoist and double therapy bed for those clients that need a good stretch etc.
So if you think you could benefit from coming to the mobility rehabilitation department please send an e-mail or
call Margaret on 09 8466295 ext 831. for an appointment. We again would like to thank to the Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand for their kind donation.
More about the society...