DRAMATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS DRAMATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING DRAMATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING DRAMATIC CLASSICAL MUSIC BUILDS CLASSICAL MUSIC SOFTENS APPLAUSE, CHEERING Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. What a way to open the 2016 Attitude Awards. Big round of applause for our performers, all the way from China. But we're here for a very important and specific purpose ` to honour some very inspiring, incredible people doing amazing things in our community, making NZ a better place along the way. We're going to start the 2016 awards with the Spirit of Attitude, presented to a person who epitomises the positive spirit we seek to promote through the Attitude television series. Here to announce the finalists and present the award, Gay Barton from Drake Medox and Rio Paralympic gold medallist Mary Fisher. On behalf of Drake Medox, I'm delighted, for the seventh year running, to be part of the 2016 Attitude Awards. We see first-hand how the right attitude, self-belief and hard work can translate into achievement of goals irrespective of a disability. Kia ora, tatou. I hope you're all having a great evening, and it's an awesome pleasure for me to be able to help present this award, because it's the community aspect that is definitely more important. And these are the finalists. And the winner of the Spirit Award is... Ese Aumalesulu. CHEERING PERCUSSION MUSIC (PLAYS GUITAR) In the last 10 years, Ese Aumalesulu has fine-tuned his musical talents. (PLAYS DRUMS) Now, the blind musician is developing creativity in others. For me, my theory is if they're interested, then I've got a challenge. Um, their task is to make my head rise and to make the hairs on my head stand (CHUCKLES) extra... extra tall. (CHUCKLES) Ese came to NZ from Samoa after his mother died. His visual impairment had never been detected in Samoa. When he arrived, he couldn't speak English nor read or write. At high school, he discovered music. He completed a music diploma, but at first, no one would give him a job as a teacher. No one would` would take me, and that was when it was difficult. I had to try and make believe that I could change kids. Six years ago, he began working at Clayton Park School. Last year, Ese identified 10 students who had a love for music but no formal training. He taught them, then entered them in the BandQuest competition. They won the Auckland regional title and the national competition. I would hope that the kids that I have taught would use the skills that they have, just transform their own lives the way they transform mine. APPLAUSE, CHEERING As a finalist that was always taught to say no, and no was OK, tonight I'd like to dedicate this award to everybody that said yes in my life. CHEERING, APPLAUSE And to Clayton Park School, thank you guys so much, Paul, Jolene, for giving me the opportunity when no one else would take me on. So thank you guys. (CLEARS THROAT) But I'm ruining my make-up, sorry, guys. LAUGHTER (CHUCKLES) To my wife for being my rock and for saying yes to the most amazing ride that she's had of her life. Sorry, I didn't mean that in a dirty way. (LAUGHS) LAUGHTER Um, to my wonderful kids, um, Tara and Jayden, um, (SNIFFLES) for giving me the reason to go on every day and to do what I do. Thank you guys so much. CHEERING, APPLAUSE Ladies and gentlemen, the Attitude Artistic Award recognises a group or individual for their excellence in the arts. This award is sponsored by KPMG ` new to the Attitude family of sponsors ` and representing them is Souella Cumming. Joining her fresh ` or maybe not so fresh ` off his latest film set, legendary NZ actor Cliff Curtis. Good evening. I'm thrilled to be here on behalf of KPMG to present the 2016 Artistic Achievement Award. We're very excited about celebrating the incredible achievements of Kiwis living with disabilities. Ah, kia ora. And the, uh, finalists are... CHEERING CHEERING, APPLAUSE Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to announce the winner of the 2016 Artistic Achievement Award is... Rodney Bell. CHEERING, APPLAUSE ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC I want to keep pursuing dance. Yeah, I want to keep being that voice for, like, uh, the wider community of disabled artists. Rodney Bell has performed nationally and internationally as a professional dancer for 20 years. He was a founding member of Touch Compass, NZ's only professional inclusive dance company. A motorcycle accident in 1991 left Rodney paralysed from the chest down. Initially, he couldn't move his arms or even manage a wheelchair. I seek new opportunities and new ways of moving and relationship to, like, dance and my physicality and my Maoritanga. Rodney moved to America to join AXIS, renowned integrated dance company. Key for Rodney was the willingness to inject Maori culture into their dance. Rodney is Ngati Maniopoto. Maoritanga ` been my biggest support. Yeah, like I always say, I'm seed of chiefs, and I'll never forget that, and I carry them with me. Now back in his home town of Te Kuiti, Rodney teaches with Touch Compass and mentors others as part of the government's Enabling Good Lives project. His latest work ` Meremere ` tells Rodney's own story. I feel it's a great sense of accomplishment to be, um, acknowledged as an artist, especially an artist with a disability or uniqueness. CHEERING, APPLAUSE Rodney Bell. Thank you, everybody. APPLAUSE Thank you. I'm from Ngati Maniapoto, so I've gotta pay respect to my rangatira, first and foremost. And then after I acquired my` this unique body, I have to thank the people like Grant Sharman and the Tony Howes and my special friend Pamela, um, Anita O'Connor. And thank you so much. And you know what, everybody that was in this category? There's enough in here to share, so come and see me after ` we'll break it into three, OK? Love youse all. LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE Dance everything. CHEERING 1 It's time to recognise some young people. The Youth Spirit Award was created to acknowledge the tremendous number of young disabled Kiwis who display great fortitude. Yeah, I know it's an old-fashioned word, but it's very apt. This award is for a person up to the age of 20 who's embraced their disability and challenged themselves in a significant way. Here to announce the finalists, our passionate sponsor, Peter Thompson of Barfoot & Thompson, accompanied by long-time Attitude supporter, television host Erin Simpson. Good evening, and it's a pleasure on behalf of Barfoot & Thompson to be here. Can I congratulate everyone that is here tonight, whether abled or disabled, because you are all winners by having this wonderful evening. The finalists are... APPLAUSE The 2016 Attitude Youth Spirit Award goes to... Eilish Wilkes. APPLAUSE, CHEERING PERCUSSIVE MUSIC I'm a person who loves to be busy, and I always have been. I love having lots to do, and, um, being involved with lots of different organisations. Busy takes on a whole new meaning when you understand all that 20-year-old Eilish Wilkes does to support others. Eilish makes cards, scrapbooks and quilts for cancer patients and their families. She serves on the Auckland CanTeen committee and is part of a national advocacy group to improve the standards of care for children living with cancer. I've been a part of CanTeen for about, um, three years now. I also ran a support group for cancer survivors who are suffering from late effects and disabilities as a result of cancer. Eilish was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour at the age of 2. Despite neurosurgery and 18 months of chemotherapy, the tumour regrew. This time it rendered her legally blind. Last year she was diagnosed with a syndrome that causes migraine attacks after radiation therapy. She also deals with chronic fatigue and pain. Her book Hospital Happenings, published under a young authors' project, talks children through the daunting experience of going to hospital. I just love being a part of something that I know will improve the lives of a lot of other young people in the future. It's just what I do. (CHUCKLES) APPLAUSE Hi, everyone. Um, I'm so honoured and humbled to receive this award. I'd like to thank my parents, Kathie and Pat Wilkes, and my dear friend Andre, who is with my tonight, and my wonderful guide dog Loie here. APPLAUSE, CHEERING Thank you so very much. APPLAUSE CONTINUES Would you please welcome to the stage now sponsor Marsha Marshall from Manawanui inCharge, along with two new national heroes and household names, medallists Liam Malone and Holly Robinson, here to present the Attitude Emerging Athlete Award. APPLAUSE, CHEERING Tena koutou katoa. This is Manawanui's first time sponsoring an Attitude Award. We're particularly thrilled to sponsor this category because Manawanui is passionate about supporting people to have complete choice and control over their lives, to fulfil their real potential and to follow their dreams. The three young athletes up for this award tonight have all shown a huge commitment to their sport at such a young age. Their achievements are really a reflection of their attitude in life, and I have no doubt that you all have a very bright future ahead of you. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I do not believe that we are celebrating people with disabilities. I believe that we are celebrating people expressing humanity's greatest quality, our ability to adapt. I was told and believed that I would never be as fast as my friends. Now, if we were to measure all of tonight's guests on their ability to run relative to me, you'd all be disabled. LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE And the winner of the Best Emerging Athlete Award is... Tupou Seini Neiufi. APPLAUSE, CHEERING I wish I could swim for the rest of my life. TANYA BLACK: In 2016, 15-year-old Tupou Seini Neiufi represented NZ at the Rio Paralympic Games. But this was just the first step of what many recognise as a promising swimming career. I really want to be on that podium one day and really happy to make my family proud. Everything they've done for me, not only the beginning of my swimming career, but since the accident as well. Tupou was hit by a speeding car at the age of 2 that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and left-side hemiplegia, or paralysis. Her family was warned she may never gain any mobility. Swimming was suggested as a type of therapy to build her strength. I'm disabled, but I'm able to express myself through swimming. At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Tupou competed in the S9 freestyle and backstroke, outperforming all expectations by making it to the final of the 100m backstroke. Just being here makes me, um, a bit more hungry for the next Games as well. Hopefully I can do way better and, um, even get to the top sometime. APPLAUSE Phew. Um,... before I start off, I'd just like to thank, um, Heavenly Father for the many blessings. I'd also like to congratulate Chris and Guy Harrison. You guys are amazing and talented athletes. I'd also like to thank my parents. I really appreciate what you guys have done for me over the past couple of years, although I drive you guys nuts probably 75% of the time, but, yeah, I really appreciate it. Um, and also to my coach, Sheldon Kemp, and his family as well. I know that without him and his family's support then I wouldn't be where I am today. (CHUCKLES) The Virtuoso Strings Orchestra has travelled from Porirua to perform for us this evening. Now, the group embraces and celebrates NZ's cultural diversity and is led by Julian McLaren, a young man diagnosed as autistic savant, who only started to learn the piano a mere four years ago. Ladies and gentlemen, the Virtuoso Strings Orchestra. RHYTHMIC PACIFIC DRUMMING ORCHESTRA PLAYS UPTEMPO STRING MUSIC PIANO ACCOMPANIES ORCHESTRA MUSIC SLOWS MUSIC RESUMES FAST PACE MUSIC SLOWS MUSIC RESUMES FAST PACE MUSIC BUILDS, CRESCENDOES ORCHESTRA STOPS PLAYING APPLAUSE, CHEERING 1 Well, ladies and gentlemen, fresh for 2016, we've introduced the Sporting Spirit Award. All of our finalists have represented NZ at the Special Olympics World Games. Our sponsor of this award tonight is HealthCare NZ Holdings Limited, represented by Jaimes Wood. Ladies and gentlemen, your full attention, please, because we have a very special guest presenter joining our sponsor. In June this year, NZer Robert Martin was appointed to the United Nations Committee charged with upholding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability. Would you please welcome Robert to the stage, and joining Robert, another Kiwi hero who needs no introduction, Sonny Bill Williams. APPLAUSE, CHEERING Good evening. HealthCare NZ is delighted to be sponsoring the Attitude Sporting Spirit category of the 2016 awards. We are one of NZ's most experienced rehabilitation and disability-support providers, and we pride ourselves on supporting people to live their lives the way they want to. And the nominees are Graeme Porter, Grant McKenzie... ...and the Special Olympics basketball team. I'd just like to mention Robert Martin. Um, he's joining the UNICEF this year, and, uh, it's a special story, and I'd just like to say a great night. So... APPLAUSE The winner of the 2016 Attitude Sporting Spirit Award goes to... Graeme Porter. APPLAUSE, CHEERING PERCUSSION MUSIC Graeme Porter had challenges with speech and writing all through school. Sport provided his opportunity to shine. At high school and that, the most I wanted to achieve was to represent my country. He was selected to travel to Shanghai for the Special Olympics World Summer Games and won a gold medal. Back home and full of confidence, he launched his coaching career, no longer scared to communicate. So, I have trouble reading English, and mainly my speech is my disability, so... Graeme has challenged himself by becoming a global messenger, an ambassador for the Special Olympics movement. The most satisfying thing I see from them is a smile, when they're happy no matter what the score was. APPLAUSE Well done to everyone that's been nominated and to the finalists that have been here today. Um, I'd like to thank my family, um, my wife, Nyssa, that's been with me pretty much all the time. Um, I especially wanna mention Nelson and NZ and basically everyone that has said to me, 'Give everything a go no matter if you don't achieve. Just try for your best.' So everything might be a challenge to everyone, but everyone's got a disability one way or another. So thanks. APPLAUSE, CHEERING, WHISTLING Congratulations, Graeme, and well spoken. And ladies and gentlemen, keep your eyes out for a film project involving Robert Martin and Attitude Trust coming up next year. But each year, we single out someone for special recognition, inducting them into the Attitude Hall of Fame. The 2016 inductee is a woman who's not a household name ` yet. That all changes tonight for Anne Hawker. Would you please welcome her to the stage, along with Anne's daughter, Aimee. CHEERING, APPLAUSE And reading the citation to acknowledge Anne is ACC board chair, Dame Paula Rebstock. Good evening, everyone. It's a great privilege to be here tonight to read you the citation for this year's inductee to the Hall of Fame. Anne is a tireless human right's campaigner who has spent the past 40 years striving to improve the lives of disabled people. In 1979, Anne's life changed course. When her first child was seven months old, Anne had the first attack of what was originally diagnosed as MS but was later explained as a general neurological condition. Her first neurologist told Anne she might not be able to care for her child as she was now disabled. He handed her a form to have her 'tubes tied'. Anne ripped it up. She's also had a second child. The first woman with MS or a similar condition to have a baby. Anne's daughter Amy, a qualified doctor, is here as we honour her mother tonight. In 1989, Anne was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for community services. DPA members recognised the need for a strong and unifying voice to lead them, and in 1993, Anne was elected president of DPA NZ, serving as its leader until 1997. Anne led the fight for the 1996 census to understand the make-up of NZ's disability community. There was a need to deeply consider the needs of this very significant population group. This would lead to Anne's next role in 2004, helping draft the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. In 2008 Anne became the first woman president of Rehabilitation International ` a post she held until 2014. Anne Hawker, you need to know your work is deeply valued by everyone in this room and all NZers who are touched by disability. I must admit that I'm deeply overwhelmed but extremely grateful for the support and the acknowledgement. I'd also like to take the opportunity of saying thank you to my parents and my siblings, who instilled in us important social justice values, humility and the belief in the potential of all. And it is pleasing to see the government come to the party in recognising that disabled people are an important part of human society. However, it is but a beginning. We have much to do before we are truly an inclusive society. We are proud that we are disabled people. It is nothing to be ashamed of. We see today young leaders who are emerging. I call on all of you to assist in driving that, but I particularly call on the young disabled women to be part of that journey in making a different NZ. So thank you very much. CHEERING, APPLAUSE 1 We heard earlier, ladies and gentlemen, Ese told us how he struggled to find employment as a music teacher originally. Ese's story reminds us that too few employers recognise the tremendous skills of Kiwis like Ese who live with disability. ACC sponsors the Attitude Employer Award to acknowledge those employers who provide outstanding recruitment and retention opportunities for people with disabilities. Here to present the award now on behalf of ACC is board member Professor Des Gorman, and sharing the stage with him tonight, a woman who left enormous shoes to fill as anchor of 1 NEWS and the inaugural host of these Attitude Awards, Judy Bailey. CHEERING, APPLAUSE Kia ora, tatou. ACC is very proud to once again sponsor the Attitude Employer Award. Success depends upon a whole host of factors, but the most important of these is that wonderful thing that we refer to as the human spirit, not only the spirit of those who overcome challenges to be successful but also those that enable them to do so. Kia ora tatou. It gives me real pleasure to introduce the finalists in the ACC Employers Award. And they are... CHEERING, APPLAUSE It gives me great pleasure to announce the 2016 Attitude ACC Employer Award to Genera Ltd of Napier. CHEERING, APPLAUSE PERCUSSIVE MUSIC Cos I have Tourette's, I hadn't worked for a while. I didn't have very good self-esteem, didn't have a lot of confidence in a lot of things. Yeah, I mean, since landing this` this job, it's been brilliant. When Napier-based biosecurity company Genera needed new staff, operations manager Gavin Smales contacted employment agency Workbridge, which supports disabled workers. I wasn't quite sure what disabled meant at the time. They do have their disability, but, um, we're looking to work them in their strongest areas. The company now employs 11 disabled workers and ensures they receive on-the-job training to grow their skills. Yeah, he's one of the few bosses that, you know` He's very open-minded towards, you know, a lot of things. He's always willing to give anything a go, you know, and he allows us to give it a go as well. They've got a point to prove to everyone else that they can do it, and I suppose they've got a point to prove to themself. APPLAUSE I wasn't expecting this. Just a big thank you to Workbridge ladies ` Lynne, Chrissy, you know who you are. Thank you very much for all your support and help. And to all my guys, well, working for me and who have worked with me in the past, thanks for putting up with all my hell. And I'll get in big trouble if I don't mention my wife for supporting me through this. LAUGHTER So thank you very much. Have a good evening. It's now time for the award chosen by you ` the People's Choice Award. Through attitudelive.com, people have been voting for their favourite pick from our 24 finalists. Dan Buckingham, Attitude's general manager and chair of the Attitude Trust, and he's joined by People's Choice sponsor, Nicola Wood of Air NZ. Kia ora, good evening, everybody. Air NZ has been a proud sponsor of the Attitude Awards since its inception in 2008. This partnership is one we treasure because at Air NZ, embracing diversity and inclusion is not only essential for our employee well-being, it also sets the foundation for a truly great business. Not so long ago, we created attitudelive.com as a place to share stories but also to build connections and communities. Three years ago, soon after we launched, we had our first People's Choice Award, where there were 16,000 votes cast. Tonight, three years later, there have been 79,000 votes cast for the 2016 People's Choice Award. The winner of the 2016 People's Choice Award is Guy Harrison. PERCUSSIVE MUSIC UPLIFTING MUSIC 15-year-old Guy Harrison is a middle-distance runner with dreams of competing at the Paralympics. Guy already holds the NZ men's open Paralympics 1500m and 800m records. My dreams are to become a professional golfer and try and get on to a PGA Tour, and my other dream is to get to the Tokyo Paralympics. Guy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 3. A febrile convulsion left him with reduced balance and mobility. He didn't learn to speak until he was 5, but his parents got him into sport, believing it would strengthen his mobility. I tried pretty much all sports, from rugby to netball to hockey. I reckon I'd be in a wheelchair now if I didn't do those sports. His golf handicap is 11. Guy won the NZ Ames junior event. He trains under the Hawke's Bay Junior Golf Academy and represents Hawke's Bay at national competitions, including the under-16 Eagles Golf Tournament. On the track, well, he is current NZ para cross-country champion, NZ secondary schools junior para 400m and 2km road race champion, and he's won the Halberg Junior Disability Games triathlon three years in a row. APPLAUSE I'd like to thank all the people who voted for me from all the schools, like Napier Boys, Napier Girls, Tamatea High School... LAUGHTER, CHEERING getting behind me. I'd like to thank all of my golf friends, running friends and all the people who helped me get all of those votes. Thanks. CHEERING It's the Making a Difference Award. This award promotes the efforts of an individual with or without a disability who's made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Sponsoring the Making a Difference Award is the Ministry of Health, represented tonight by director of service commissioning Jill Lane and the minister himself, the Honourable Dr Jonathan Coleman. Kia ora, and good evening. Look, this is my first ever Attitude Awards, and I tell you, I'm just blown away with the stories we've heard here tonight. Uh, this is called the Making a Difference Award. Well, actually, all these people are making a difference on a daily basis. It's not just the nominees for this award tonight. Kia ora. It is my great pleasure to announce the finalists. APPLAUSE And the winner is Debra Lampshire. CHEERING PERCUSSIVE MUSIC Debra Lampshire spent 18 years at the now closed Kingseat Psychiatric Hospital. She empowers other people experiencing mental health issues to shape their own recovery. I spent 18 years at Kingseat. I've never been back since I left. This is it. This is the first time I've even driven past the place. Oh God. Oh God. (SOBS) You know, I can hear 100 voices. I feel a huge burden. (SNIFFS) I have a huge responsibility to those that never got to leave here. I owe them so much. Debra started hearing voices when she was 6 years old. She was committed at the age of 17, and it wasn't until she was 35 that she left Kingseat. Even after leaving the facility, she languished in boarding houses and psychiatric facilities until she decided to take action and reclaim her life. It was just that notion that one person can make a difference, and I put myself in a position where I could do that. What I found was that there was so many other people like me. There were people who were at the same stage as me that had got through it. There were people who were just starting their journey. There were people who were midway, and that we all have something to share and we all have something to give each other. Today, Debra is an internationally recognised academic who presents at conferences, nationally and internationally. Through her roles as a professional teaching fellow at the University of Auckland and an educator for the Auckland District Health Board, she advocates the practice of compassionate care. APPLAUSE Oh my God! I'm up here! LAUGHTER Oh, this is for me! Show me down! LAUGHTER Sorry. Sorry. Just a bit too crazy. I'd like to thank the Attitude programme for ensuring that we are not invisible and we are always heard; for the families who rightfully relentlessly pursued the very best for their loved ones. To my peers who perform the unheralded acts of heroism on a daily basis, I salute you for your resilience, your personal resourcefulness, your strength, your unconquerable spirit. I thank you for the privilege of allowing me to witness the unleashing of the great volts of courage and potential that lays inside you all. You inspire and motivate me constantly. I have been labelled many things over my life but never a winner. Thank you. APPLAUSE VOICEOVER: You brush your teeth twice a day, right? Mm-hm. But 80% of bacteria aren't even on teeth. (RECORD SCRATCHES) 80%?! Colgate Total fights bacteria on teeth, tongue, cheeks and gums, protecting 100% of your mouth's surfaces. Colgate Total - for whole mouth health. 5 Our next award is sponsored by Westpac Bank. A founding sponsor of these awards, Westpac wants to encourage Kiwis to go one step further in their career paths and develop their own businesses. Tonight, they're supporting the Attitude Entrepreneur Award. Here to announce the finalists for the 2016 awards, Westpac Bank's Head of Specialists, Steve Atkinson, along with entrepreneur, the deputy chair of Sport NZ and High Performance Sport NZ and chairman of the KidsCan Charitable Trust, Bill Birnie. Kia ora. On behalf of Westpac, it's great to be here tonight. Without all your support of these awards and the entrants and the finalists, tonight would not happen. Good luck to all the finalists in this entrepreneur award category. Thank you. Without entrepreneurship and innovation, the world stands still. But as our three finalists have proven, entrepreneurship is more than just about an idea. It's about successfully implementing and executing a business plan. And the finalists are... APPLAUSE And the winner of the Attitude Entrepreneur Award is John Burton. APPLAUSE John Burton established his coffee and tea business in an era when few disabled people managed their own businesses and coffee was barely on our collective radar. 21 years ago, John was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder. It affects the body's connective tissue. The same year, he underwent heart surgery. Complications after a second heart operation left him paralysed. When I woke up paralysed... I had no idea this was going to happen to me as all of us don't. And I had a family. A 5- and a 3-year-old. A wife. My business was all going well. So I just decided then I've just got to get on and get going on this and not look back. Look forward. John boxed on with a fresh venture ` launching a coffee brand, Columbus Coffee. The first one opened just after I got out of the spinal unit. And we got another shareholder, and he's just, uh, taken us from three cafes to 62 cafes now. APPLAUSE Thank you very much. I'm very honoured. I mean, how could you imagine this brand would start in my garage down in Great South Rd. The Attitude programme is just an inspiration for disabled people, encouraging them to fulfil their dreams. We disabled people are defined not by our disability but by our personality. So thank you. APPLAUSE Now is the hard part because it's time for the grand finale, time to announce the judges' choice for the Attitude ACC Supreme Award. Thanks to ACC and presenting the award is CEO Scott Pickering. Sharing the stage with Scott tonight is a young man who this year received support from ACC after sustaining a significant traumatic brain injury in a car accident. Making his first public appearance since that accident, a big welcome, please, for James Rolleston. APPLAUSE Kia ora tatou. I really do take my hat off to tonight's finalists. The achievements and contributions that you have made are simply awesome. It's all about helping create the change in the way that people think of disability. I'd like now to just pass briefly over to James. APPLAUSE So, July this year I was in a life-changing car accident, crushing my lower body from the waist down and suffering from a traumatic brain injury which has affected my speech, my coordination skills, my decision-making and my personality characteristics. Sorry. (CLEARS THROAT) It has been and will be... and will continue to be a long and challenging road to full recovery, but with all the love and support that I have received and having my family and friends by my side all the way, I have made a rapid recovery so far. APPLAUSE And the winner for the Attitude ACC Supreme Award goes to Debra Lampshire. RAUCOUS APPLAUSE AUDIENCE WHOOP Oh! Oh my God. I've used all my best material on the other one! LAUGHTER How on earth did you make this decision? I feel like Donald Trump. LAUGHTER I devoted a lot of my life to living in fantasy... and to madness. I surrendered my future and I lost a lot of wonderful people along the way, and gave up a lot of wonderful relationships because I believed that I was something I wasn't. I had to hold that belief to give me a reason to stay. And now what better bloody reason than this?! LAUGHTER, CHEERS Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your part in celebrating the achievements of these outstanding individuals. To our finalists, we salute you all and we celebrate all of your achievements. There is no show without a proper finale, so would you please welcome back our talented guests from China. From me, goodnight. APPLAUSE SPANISH MUSIC PLAYS SPANISH MUSIC CONTINUES Captions by Desney Shaw, Pippa Jefferies and Anne Langford. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2016