Stolen wheelchair van replaced by public generosity

Bernard Cockery and his mother Muriel check out the replacement wheelchair van.

Bernard Cockery is “very happy” that within a month or so, he will be back on the road with his father Ted.

Trips to Rotorua and Feilding are high on his list of priorities, the first for respite care and the second to visit an uncle with whom he gets on well.

Bernard, 48, contracted pneumococcal spinal meningitis at just 5 days old and can only get around in a wheelchair. However, his quality of life was boosted by regular road trips with Ted – until 18 months ago, when the Cockery’s mobility van, his link to the outside world, was stolen.

Ted and his wife Muriel have since been fundraising to add to the modest insurance payout for their stolen 29-year-old van, and have found a suitable second-hand van online.

“We got enough funding to buy a vehicle,” said Ted, now back home after a knee replacement operation in early December.

“We just wanted to thank everybody for their generosity, especially local businesses and individuals, and the newspaper for telling our story.

The replacement wheelchair van will be similar to this one.

“This one is fitted with an electric hoist, so we’re really grateful. It’s got a few scrapes and a seat needs repairing, but I’ll take it to the upholsterer’s and get that sorted. People all over the country donated. We’re still waiting for some money to come in, but there’s enough to service the van and get it up to scratch.”

In a couple of weeks, once Ted’s knee has recovered a little more, he and a friend will head south to Christchurch, where the van is being dropped from Invercargill, and then make the long drive back to an expectant Bernard.

Then, the father-and-son pair are planning on making some in person visits to local businesses to say thank you before heading further afield.