Tessa from Room 4 has a very special Great Uncle.

Graeme Marett

Graeme Marett was my great uncle. When Graeme was 21 he was on holiday in Arrowtown and was involved in a car accident. Due to this accident Graeme was now facing life as a paraplegic.

In 1964 Graeme met Father Leo Close, an Irish priest who arrived in New Zealand after competing in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Together they helped to establish the Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Association of Otago and Southland. The organisation was effectively the beginning of paraplegic sport in New Zealand.

Graeme started to play paraplegic sports from his wheelchair in 1965. Graeme excelled in field events and archery. He competed in Archery, Discus, Swimming, Shot Put, Table Tennis, Javelin, Snooker, Weightlifting, Indoor Bowls, Club Throw, Basketball and Pentathlon.

He went to three Paralympics :

1968 Tel Aviv - Israel

1972 Heidelberg - Germany

1976 Toronto - Canada

And he went to two Para Commonwealth Games:

1970 Stoke Mandeville - United Kingdom

1974 Dunedin - New Zealand

During Graeme's career he won a loooooooooooooot of medals and trophies. He even made the suitcases that he kept his trophies and medals in. 

Our family wants Graeme to be remembered. If it weren't for him the Paralympians you see today may not have been Paralympians. 

Graeme had a huge impact on New Zealand and so did Father Leo Close. Let's not forget about them. 

By Tessa Struthers