Auckland’s Cerebral Palsy members proved that they are a hardy bunch, as they ignored ominous weather forecasts to enjoy a scrumptious mid winter Christmas lunch, at Cornwall Park’s Sorrento Restaurant, last Sunday (June 22nd).

These lunches are certainly proving popular, as 157 members enjoyed an afternoon of quality companionship and a strong sense of belonging quickly evolved.

“It’s great to see so many new faces at these events,” enthused Kaylene Dobson, who is a regular diner.
Before appetites were satisfied the “NZ Relay Service” joined us for lunch and gave a very informative presentation. As they explained NZ Relay is a telecommunications service for people who are Deaf, hearing-impaired, deaf-blind, or speech-impaired. You can use NZ Relay to make telephone calls to family, businesses, government ministries, in fact to anyone who has a phone.

When using the Speech-To-Speech service a person with a speech impairment has support when using the telephone to ensure clear understanding. A specially trained Relay Assistant will listen and will repeat as needed the speech impaired person's conversation to the standard phone user. The assistant can also voice typed messages to the standard phone user.

These options were something to chew over lunch and indeed, after the food was elegantly blessed by Reuben Ngata, chewing became the main occupation of the diners, along with drinking, talking and frequent outbursts of laughter.

Towards the end of the occasion CP General Manager, Harvey Brunt, spoke briefly of the upcoming mid Christmas lunch in Christchurch – details are yet to be finalised, the success of current projects and hinted at several more exciting projects in the pipeline. He also announced half a dozen or more door prizes which consisted of chocolate, wine and CP taxi vouchers.
All too soon the taxis arrived, which signalled the end of the festivities.

Well, until next time, anyway

Ross Flood- Editor
55 Hillside Road
Papatoetoe
Auckland
Phone/Fax (including answer phone) (09) 278-7106
Email Ross Flood