Job helped restore purpose to paraplegic's life

Andy Phillips is devoted to his job as Gate Pa School's attendance officer. Photo/Andrew Warner.

Andy Phillips' job at Gate Pa School has become a hugely important part of his life after he crashed his mountain bike on Guy Fawkes Day 2005.

He spent 102 nights in hospital before he was discharged to start life afresh in a wheelchair.

"It feels like a lifetime," he said reflecting on the huge changes since the November 5 crash that broke seven bones in his neck and back.

The crash coincided with his divorce, which added an extra dimension to the challenges faced by Mr Phillips when he re-emerged into the community in February, 2006. He was left with the use of his hands and arms.

"Supportive friends made a big difference," he said reflecting on the very difficult first few months back in Tauranga.

The job breakthrough came at the end of 2006 when Gate Pa School principal Richard Inder had a chat with the man in the wheelchair.

"I was in and out of the school, picking up and dropping off the kids," Mr Phillips said.

He applied for and won the job for the school's attendance officer, and started work early in 2007.

The job, plus his involvement in wheelchair rugby and basketball, gave him a new lease on life. "Richard and the teachers are very caring people."

Mr Phillips said that regardless of people's circumstances, it was a big thing to have stability in your life.

"The stability of the job was a huge thing for me...it comes back to having a purpose in life and the need to be busy and doing things."

He said the school was a hugely important part of his life, with his duties including helping to manage the school's website and Facebook page.

The job meant he saw himself as a role model for his own children and other kids at the school. "I had a purpose to get up and face the world every day."