Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand

We know her as Nessie
	Two long standing members of the Cerebral Palsy Society Nessie Thomson and Ross Flood celebrated their birthday on the same day last month (22nd February.) Everyone’s heard enough about Floody’s escapades over the years but it was very interesting to sit down to talk to our dear friend Nessie. For those of you who have not met this remarkable woman, Nessie is a very fit and agile “80 something” octogenarian who has been wonderfully supportive of the boccia scene. She also had strong connections with the Carlson school in the 1950’s and 60’s where her daughter Margaret attended. The first real surprise is that her real name is Harriet. “I’m not exactly sure where I picked up the name Nessie from” she said. “It could have been connected to my middle name Agnes but I have a sneaking suspicion that it might have been a family nickname passed down through the generations.” However it’s no surprise where her fitness and agility comes from as she is a “Farm girl” raised in rural Dunedin. Nessie describes her childhood lifestyle, rather poetically, as living on a farm on the seaward side of Saddle hill. She remembers the lifestyle being tough but always happy.
Nessie remembers the early morning breakfast of porridge cooked on a coal range, haymaking with a pitch fork and daily milking twelve cows by hand. To amuse themselves they used to squirt the cows’ teats in the direction of their pet cats so they would get a free feed. Two of her favourite memories was horse racing with her sister who always seemed to pick the fastest animal and an early drive in their first car where her father shouted “whoa” in a desperate plea to stop this new, horse powered, piece of machinery. “We may not have been wealthy but we were never in rags and we never starved,” said Nessie with a glint in her eye. During her lifetime Nessie has raised three kids, been active for thirty-four years in cubs, scouts and other social groups and has become an accomplished lawn bowler. Because of her bowling knowledge she has become a valuable member of our boccia association in the coaching and umpiring area. Long may you contribute Nessie because quite frankly we can’t do without you.
Ross Flood- Editor 55 Hillside Road Papatoetoe Auckland Phone/Fax (including answer phone) (09) 278-7106 Email Ross Flood