| “Everything is possible” was the message Jocelyn
Burgess conveyed when she was elected “life member”,
at the Cerebral Palsy Society’s AGM last Sunday, (19th October.)
Jocelyn and her family came up from New Plymouth and joined
the Society in 1962. The move to Auckland enabled her son, Bruce,
to attend the Carlson school for Cerebral Palsy children. She
became secretary of the Society in 1981 and held the position
for four or five years. Jocelyn was a hard working committee member
throughout the decade, at the helm of many major changes of the
times. For example she helped set up the Independent Living Centre
which is now the Disability Resource Centre. She also helped form
the parents group who put an infinite number of socials and raised
endless amounts of money for the Society. On one occasion Jocelyn
slept overnight in her van, in the car park at one of Auckland’s
flea markets, to ensure the society had a good position at 6am
in the morning, to sell the Society's wares.
Jocelyn was behind her son's wonderful achievements in the late
70’s and early 80’s when Bruce climbed Mt Ruapehu
and biked from Auckland to Wellington. Not only were these wonderful
personal achievements but they also gave the Cerebral Palsy Society
much needed publicity and raised awareness.
Congratulations Jocelyn. Because of your pioneering spirit the
Society is in great health, boasting 423 financial members, with
numbers increasing rapidly.
A life membership is thoroughly deserved.
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