Town turns out to welcome hero home

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 533, 26 April 1994, Page 1

Town turns out to welcome hero home

A college hall full of people, messages of welcome in shop windows around the town, shouts from shoppers and shopkeepers, a pie and a can of Lemon and Paeroa, and an early fall of Ruapehu snow welcomed Patrick Cooper home last Thursday. A small group supporters of the Lillehamer Paralympics gold medal winning skier organised the hero's welcome. Ruapehu mayor Garrick Workman, Ruapehu College principal Harry Cast, ex-Turoa Tumblers leader Glynn Hubbard (also representing the Waimarino Sports Development and Education Trust), and Turoa Alpine Ski Club Incorporated representative Dave Scott spoke to those gathered. All spoke of Patrick's courage and determination in achieving his goals, saying he was a great role model for anyone in the Waimarino who wanted to achieve greatness. "I ask the students here today to think about what Patrick has achieved with one leg. And think what you can achieve with two legs if you put your mind to it." Mr Hubbard told of Patrick's days at gymnastics with ■ Turoa Tumblers. He described incidents where his false leg caused problems, usually for other people who got in the way of it while Patrick was performing. "I've never had any sympathy for Patrick. He's never seemed to deserve sympathy. Only admiration," said Mr Hubbard. "He has inspired me and others." Mr Hubbard put in a plug for gymnastics and its role in Patrick's success, saying "the downhill is for weightlifters, the slalom is for gymnasts". Mr Hubbard said Patrick could be considered Waimarino's sportsman of the decade. He was ehosen as sportsman of the year in the late 1980s. Mr Scott said Patrick deserved recognition not only for his success on the snow but getting himself to events around the world. He said Patrick had received the support the town could afford, but that he had to make huge financial effort and sacriflce over the years to get himself to the events. Later, Patrick said he was now considering his future. He said he had achieved his goals in skiing and that retirement was now a possibility.