Award for Chch man

Press, 24 July 1984, Page 9

Award for Chch man

Mr Patrick Boyle with the award presented to him by Fletcher Challenge, Ltd, for his contribution towards the employment of disabled persons. Mr Boyle, who is disabled, is the administrator of the Christchurch Disabled Persons Centre. He won the individual section of the Fletcher Challenge National Awards for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities. He created the Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied Association in Christchurch which works towards the integration of disabled persons into the community by recreational and social activities. He is a committee member of both the Crippled Children Society and the Coordinating Council. Mr Boyle was formerly employed by a life insurance company as a new business officer. He gave up

in 1980 to work on behalf of the disabled because he decided it was time for a change. The opportunity at the Disabled Persons Centre was there, and so he had taken the job. Mr Boyle said he was “rather bowled over” when he heard that he had been given the award, which was presented to him last Friday by the vice-president ( of the Federation of Labour, Ms Sonja Davies. Fletcher Challenge has given the awards for the last three years. Mr Hugh Fletcher, managing director of Fletcher Challenge, said the firm was pleased to be able to contribute to the promotion of public awareness of the needs of the disabled. The award for the individual employer who had identified or created em-

ployment opportunities for the disabled was given to Zip Industries, of Upper Hutt. The firm employs eight disabled persons in a total staff of 80.