Sally Holbrook (right) says daughter Wendy (left) inspired her work. Photo / Alan Gibson
Sally Holbrook (right) says daughter Wendy (left) inspired her work. Photo / Alan Gibson
To nominate an Unsung Hero for their community service and for terms and conditions go to: www.unsungheroes.org.nz
Sally Holbrook savours the quiet moments in the evening when she has completed her jobs for the day. Spare time is rare, and she hasn't had a holiday in 18 years.
Since moving to Tauranga in 1991, the 52 year-old has spent nearly every waking minute working with disabled children.
Mrs Holbrook struggles to list the non-profit organisations she has held positions with - Tauranga Special Olympics, IHC, Girl Guides, Puppet Vision Charitable Trust and others have all benefited from her leadership.
When her second daughter, Wendy, was born was a brain defect, Mrs Holbrook found special-needs children were kept separate from their community, often locked in institutions.
Through her tireless work with IHC and Special Olympics she has ensured her daughter, now 22, and other disabled youngsters can participate fully in their community.
"I had one daughter who was talented and another at the other end of the spectrum. We had to ask what [Wendy] could do ... and sports gave her a sense of purpose," she said.
After busy weeks volunteering and working part-time as a legal executive, she spent every Saturday and Sunday coaching basketball and indoor bowls.
Her most rewarding moment came last year when five out of six of her B-grade bowling teams won medals at the National Special Olympics in Palmerston North.
"When I saw their smiles of satisfaction it made it all worthwhile."
Her daughter Stacey says that at the beginning of every week, Mrs Holbrook writes down exhaustive lists of everything she wants to achieve.
"It ends up being three A4 pages. There are days when I think, 'how the hell do you do all this?"'
Her mother says she might consider a rest when she reaches "60, or maybe 65".
She says the families of adults with special needs have often died or moved to a different city, leaving them without proper support systems.
"If I'm not there to [support] them, who will be? If I can keep busy helping people all my life I know I will have made the most of it."
The Unsung Community Heroes series is run annually in the The Herald and on nzherald.co.nz in partnership with P&O Cruises. We invited nominations from readers to recognise people who selflessly work to make a difference in their local communities.
Some will be selected to feature in the paper and on nzherald.co.nz. Five will be chosen to join a P&O winter cruise.
