| 2010 Variety Gold Heart Scholarship Recipients - Year One |
 | Emma Hazelwood 16 year old Emma Hazelwood from Upper Hutt does not let her asthma get in the way of her artistic roller skating dreams – she is ranked 13th in the world for solo dance and needs financial assistance to keep competing on the international stage after sucess at the 2009 World Roller Skating championships in Germany. She started skating at 5 years of age to help with her fitness and her asthma condition and her goal is to be number one in the World for Figures and Dance. Emma and her parents do lots of their own fundraising during the year to assist with costs. She is passionate about her sport and on the occasion when she has missed competitions due to her asthma being too bad, the disappointment is there for all to see. At 16 she is registered with Drug Free Sport of NZ so her medications are all noted before competitions. Her club president comments that Emma has been recognized within the club as a determined player who does not let her bad asthma get in the way of success, and who has inspired many to follow her example. Emma's scholarship is funded by the George Denton Trust. |
 | Barney Koneferenisi 16 year old Barney Koneferenisi has been included in the wider Wheel Black training squad for Wheelchair rugby and is considered a potential star of the future –meningococcal disease as a baby resulted in amputations to both legs, one arm and five digits on the other hand but that doesn’t stop Barney! His goal has been to get to the World Champs in Canada ever since he started playing Wheelchair Rugby. He is a motivated teenager who, despite physical, financial and transport difficulties, gets to all practices that run late into the night. He says "I want to make my mum really proud by going to the World Champs and bringing the trophy home. She has been behind me all the way and I don’t want to let her down”. He must attend all domestic tournaments to be eligible for the Wheel Blacks and this scholarship will help him immensely with his goal to get to Canada. Barney's scholarship is funded by CMC Markets. |
 | Matthew Roets 13 year old triathlete Matthew Roets from Auckland ’s North Shore will finally have his own brand new bike, thanks to a Variety Scholarship. A grant of an insulin pump from Variety has already made a massive difference to his training increasing his rides over three days from 50kms to 200kms. His immediate goal is to come in the top 3 at the North Islands and Nationals Cycling in September. Matthew’s coach talks of his past achievements being a reflection of his sheer determination and focus, and he displays a positive attitude to life generally, plus his outgoing personality endears him to others. Now he has better control of his diabetes by having the pump, his coach is sure Matthew will achieve his dream of being a medal contender this year. |
 | Mark Wilson Tauranga’s Mark Wilson is a 15 year old with cerebral palsy and a dream of representing New Zealand at the 2012 Paralympics in table tennis. Despite only recently taking up the sport, he has already achieved excellent results at the Australian Athletes with a Disability Table Tennis Championship. He was named as the Most Promising Table Tennis Player in the Paralympics tournament. Mark’s school principal talks of his great sense of humour and a very positive outlook on life – he doesn’t use his disability as an excuse. His Paediatrician says Mark is a self motivated and intelligent young lad who does need assistance in his activities of daily living and learning at school. Mark's mentor is longtime Variety supporter Mark Hellyer |
 | Natasha Boon At only ten, Natasha Boon of Rangiora has already been selected by NZ Gymnastics as a member of the National 2016 Olympic Games Talent Squad and passed her Royal Academy of Dance Ballet exams with exceptionally high Distinction results. Her Variety Scholarship will ease the financial burden on her family. In dance she has placed first in acrobatics, jazz and lyrical and received the 5th highest score of all competition in all ages and styles at the Hollywood Dance Competition 2009. With gymnastics she trains in excess of 20 hours per week – her coach says she is committed to her sport and has an excellent work ethic and achieves the results. Her results speak for themselves - in 2009 NZ National Gymnastics Championships, she won four gold medals and placed 7th overall at the 2009 Australian Gymnastics National Finals at Level 5. Natasha’s dream is to both dance in the NZ Royal Ballet and to go to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games in the future. She says she loves to challenge herself and works very hard to achieve her fine results. Natasha's scholarship is funded by the Estate of George Sevicke Jones and her
mentor is Nerida
Cortese. |
 | George Hewitt At 14, George Hewitt, who has cerebral palsy, has a promising athletic career ahead of him after success at the Australian and New Zealand Paralympic competitions. In the NZ Paralympic Nationals, he won two silver and one bronze medal and competed in the Open comptition, even though he was only 13. He also won three gold medals at the New Zealand Secondary School Athletic Chamiponships (as the only physical disabled athlete in the Athletes With Disabilities races) and two gold and one bronze at the 2009 Australian Paralympic Youth Games. His school principal says he has a tenacity seldom seen in people of his age and it is a pleasure to be associated with a young man whose feats are an inspiration to all around him. His coach also speaks of the inspiration George gives other athletes and how he never gives up, works on his weaknesses and prospers his strengths. He believes George will represent NZ in athletics in the future. This Pahiatua teen has dreams of representing New Zealand in the future and seems well on the way to achieving that goal. |
 | Talor Gilmer 17 year old Upper Hutt resident Talor Gilmer’s goal is to qualify for the 2013 Deaflympic Games in Athens and he is well on the way after qualifying for the finals at the 2009 NZ Track and Field Championships Talor’s coach of school athletics and cross country says he is a thoroughly dedicated athlete who has always strived for improvement in training and competition. There is “no fuss, no procrastinating” with Talor. The president of his harrier club says Talor is an endearing young man with plenty of potential. |
 | Lee Taniwha 18 year old Lee Taniwha became a quadriplegic as a result of a diving accident in 2006. Despite being new to the sport of shooting, he placed 6th in the Auckland Regional Championships. The Variety Scholarship will allow the Manukau resident to purchase his own shooting equipment and help him towards his goal of participating in the Australian and European Championships over the next three years. Those supporting Lee’s scholarship application talk of a dedicated sportsman who shows considerable potential in the sport. Although fairly new to the sport, he has had results that have surprised many. He is considerate, patient and always keen to help in way possible. Lee says he wants to pursue shooting as his future sport and has set clear goals for the next three years including participating in Australian and European Championships. However he needs to have his own equipment to achieve these goals and he intends using the scholarship funds to purchase new equipment. Lee is mentored by Paralympic Gold Medalist and World Champion shooter Michael Johnson |
 | Colleen Vickers Recovering anorexic Colleen Vickers is one of 20 selected for the NZ Junior kickboxing squad to go to Serbia this year. The Te Awamutu teen’s love of kickboxing has helped her overcome her health issues and she is using her own savings to fund part of the trip. Colleen’s coach says her commitment and performance, taking into account her health issues, is a credit to all teenagers. Her mum tells of Colleen’s determination to do well and her love of kickboxing that has assisted her to overcome her health issues. Colleen's mentor is seven-time Ironman New Zealand champion Jo Lawn. |
 | Alex Wood 17 year old Alex Wood from Whakatane does not let diabetes, celiac disease and compartment syndrome get in the way of her success on the soccer field. Her dream is to make the NZ U17 Women’s team and compete at the World Cup in Trinidad & Tobago. Alex’s coach says she is an extremely versatile player who takes on a leadership role in her position on the field as a central defender. She displays clear, calm decision making under pressure and shows initiative, looking for opportunities to counter attack. The coach concludes by saying “what Alex has achieved whilst dealing with the challenges her diabetes presents is truly amazing and is an inspiration to everyone around her”. |
 | Tyla Kingi At only eleven, Tyla Kingi from Opotiki has been selected to represent New Zealand at the Junior Golf World Championships in July. She has also won the NZ Maori Golf Nationals for Under 13s and the U13 Girls at the NZ Mixed Age Group Tournament and was a member of the BPO Under 25's Booth Shielf Team and the highest ranked player in the BPO Junior Under 19 team. The Variety Scholarship will ease the financial burden on her parents and allow her to continue to succeed. Tyla’s ultimate dream is to become “World No 1”. Her coach has been involved from the time she took up golf, and “she has proved that she has what it takes to compete with the best”. He says her technique is exceptional and best of all, her drive to succeed is very motivating to see in an 11 year old kid”. Tyla loves golf, and says “best of all I like it when I win”! Tyla's scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and she is mentored by Susan Farron |
 | Jesse Reynolds Jesse Reynolds from Hamilton received his first prosthetic leg at 17 months of age – 12 years on, this competitive swimmer dreams of representing New Zealand at the Olympics or Paralympics and is already a Paralympics NZ record holder. 2009 was a busy year for Jessie - he competed in the Paralympic Youth Games in Melbourne winning a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke; won three medals at the NZ Paralympic National Championships and has been selected for Paralympics NZ Accelerate programme. He was born with a proximal focal femoral deficiency and has no thigh bone and a malformed hip socket. He has had several operations over the years, but none of this stops this competitive swimmer to succeed. His school principals says Jesse had to swim at primary school with the able bodied students on completely equal terms and did so with confidence and an extreme determination to do well. His success was a reflection of his “can do” attitude. Jesse always sets big goals for himself, the biggest one is to represent NZ at the Olympics or Paralymics in the near future. Jesse is mentored by former Paralympic swimmer Josh South , who has won medals at World Championship level. |
 | Yaniv Janson 18 year old Yaniv Janson has dedicated the last two years of his life to raising awareness of climate change. The Variety scholarship will allow the Hamiltonian who has epilepsy, aspergers syndrome and autism to create an art mural to raise awareness of climate change and provide supporting documentation for teachers to use with school students. Yaniv is a talented artist who has featured in 23 art exhibitions, 6 of these as a solo artist and has sold over 70 paintings around the world. He was selected for the finals of the Wallace Trust Art Awards and is the youngest artist to reach the finals of two of the most prestigious art awards in New Zealand in the same year. His Psychiatrist says his dedication to his art and taking all in his stride and overcoming all difficulties, Yaniv is an example to us all. Yaniv has been given an invitation to submit design proposals for artwork on the theme of ‘clean energy’ by Antanas Procuta Architects in Hamilton. Yaniv’s mentor speaks of his “passion and outstanding ability to connect with his audience at an emotional level through his art, draw the viewer and make them engage with his art. Yaniv's scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and he is mentored by Leafe Wilson , Curator for Visual Arts, Waikato Museum. |
 | Lynn Chen 17 year old Lynn Chen was New Zealand ’s first representative at the USA International Space Camp for Deaf Students, courtesy of a Gold Heart Scholarship. She is a talented student who dreams of graduating as a Veterinarian. This camp runs Space Camp and Aviation Challenge programmes specifically designed for blind, visually impaired, deaf and/or hand of hearing students from around the world. NZ has never been represented at this camp before. The Space Camp provides students the opportunity to actually fly on a realistic, simulated shuttle mission, experience weightlessness and train as real astronauts train. After achieving NCEA level 1 and 2 with merit endorsement, she is now studying all three sciences (Biology, Physics and Chemistry), Statistics and Modelling, and Economics at NCEA Level 3. She has received Credits and Distinctions in recent International Chemistry, Science and Economic papers. In November 2009, Lynn was awarded the Academic Excellence Award by the New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children in recognition of her outstanding achievements. In January 2010 she was selected to attend the Hands-On Science Week at Otago University , an event organized for secondary students of exceptional ability. Lynn's scholarship is funded by CMC Markets |
| 2010 Variety Gold Heart Scholarship Recipients - Year Two |
 | Aine Kelly-Costello Aine Kelly-Costello hails from Warkworth - she is 15 and has been blind since birth. She excels in academia, playing the piano and flute and swimming, achieveing outstanding results in all areas in 2009 and has been included in the Paralympics NZ Talent Development Group for swimming in 2010. She is highly motivated, always striving to achieve her best. Her piano teacher says she is consistent, determined, imaginative, highly intelligent with excellent memory skills – along with a good sense of humour!She was the highest Grade 6 performer inNew Zealand in 2008, which when coupled with a similar success in her piano exam, was an astonishing result! Aine’s inclusion in the Paralympics NZ Talent Development Group for 2010 will mean even more swimming success (following her NZ Paralympic records) and the possibility to represent NZ at the Paralympics in 2012 and 2016. However with such talent in music and academic subjects as well, she will need to prioritise her commitments! Aine's scholarship is funded by Ansvar Insurance. Aine's mentor is New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's principal flautist Bridget Douglas |
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Photo credit - Eastern Bay News | Talitha Pongi Despite a tough year in 2009 with sickness and family problems, Talitha Ponga’s dedication to Waka Ama never wavered. Her teams won 5 golds and 2 bronze medals at the 2010 NZ Nationals and she competed in the Junior 19, Junior 23 and open grade. She was the only paddler this year to race three grades and two single finals Her coach talks of her natural ability as a team player and leader which gave her an unexpected role as caller in the Junior 23’s over several older Gold Medalist World paddlers. She was the only paddler this year to race 3 grades and 2 single finals – what an achievement! She always has to borrow racing canoes at every regatta but she is always there. |
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Photo credit - The Times PJ Taylor | Chelsea Seagar Chelsea is a person who never lets her mild celebral palsy set her back - she has already qualified for the 2011 World Champs in Christchurch and has her eyes set on the London Paralympic Games in 2012. At the 2009 Australian Youth Paralympic Games, the 16 year old won two bronze medals to go with the five gold medals she won at the 2009 NZ Secondary School Championships. She is part of Paralympics NZ’s Xccelerate 2 Xcellence Talent Search Programme and that Athlete Development Manager says Chelsea has demonstrated some great talent and is very committed to her training and competition. T his will be Chelsea ’s second year as a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship Recipient and her solo mum expects extraordinary results from her this year as she is totally committed to achieving her goals. |
| 2008 Variety Gold Heart Scholarship Recipients - Year Three |
 | Mary Fisher 17 year old talented Mary Fisher from Upper Hutt know no bounds – she won two swimming bronze medals at the IPC World Short Course Championships in Brazil and four gold and three silver medals at the Blind Sports World Youth Games in the USA. Her visual impairment does not impede her music or math abilities Mary has been a previous recipient of the Variety Gold Heart scholarship and has been a great ambassador. With a goal to be at the 2012 Paralympics in London, she works hard at training and “is an exceptional example to the other swimmers in her club with her outstanding commitment to her sport” according to her coach. She coaches younger swimmers and her warm and friendly manner enables her to help keeping the younger swimmers on task and benefiting from their training programmes. The National team coach says Mary is certainly one to watch for in London 2012. Mary's scholarship is funded by AMP Capital. |
 | Rebecca Dubber 17 year old Rebecca Dubber from Auckland’s North Shore is patiently waiting on ratification for her world record in the 800m freestyle! International success and medals at the Paralympic World Short Course Championships and the British International Disability demonstrate Rebecca is well on track to represent New Zealand at the 2012 Paralympics. Rebecca has minimal use of her lower limbs and is a dedicated and talented swimmer who was awarded the ‘Best Performing Swimmer’ at the Paralympics New Zealand National Championships. Her coach says Rebecca has a great deal of potential and finishing fourth at the World Champs will help her target of racing for NZ at the 2012 Paralympics. He thinks she has the ability to beat the rest of the world. With so many records and medals to her name, this is one name we should hear a lot about in the next few years. Being a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship recipient in the last two years has made a big difference to Rebecca and her family, and she is extremely grateful for the support given. Rebecca is mentored by swimmer Liz Coster and her scholarship is funded by CMC Markets. |
 | Daniel Holt 17 year old Daniel Holt brought home a bronze medal from the IPC World Short Course Championships in Brazil in the open class to add to the swag he picked up at the British Disability Championships and the Blind Sports World Youth Games. His albinism might affects his eyesight but nothing affects his attitude! Of qualifying for the 2012 Paralympic Games, he says “nobody said it was going to be easy but it is going to be worth it! He was nominated for various awards in 2009 including a Halberg Sportsman of the Year, NZ Disabled Swimmer of the Year, Blindsport Sportsperson of the Year and Long Bay College Senior Sportsman of the Year. He won the Currie Cup at Long Bay College for the most outstanding sporting achievement of the year at an International level. Daniel’s Albinism affects his eyesight and is classed as a B3 competitor. This will be the third time Daniel has been a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship recipient. Daniel's scholarship is funded by SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust Daniel's mentor is 3-time Olympic swimmer Helen Norfolk. (pictured here with Daniel) |
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Photo credit - The Gisborne Herald | Akayshia Williams Gisborne’s Akayshia Williams can’t wear her cochlear ear implant on the water but that didn’t stop her from winning two gold and one silver medal at the 2010 NZ National Waka Ama Championships and was selected for the NZ Junior 16s girl’s team, aged only 13. Akayshia is unable to wear her cochlear implant on the water but despite this, she has proven that she is able to compete at the highest level which highlights her exceptional talent in Waka Ama. She got attention from TV3 who filmed a feature on her at this year’s Nationals due to being such an aspiring youngster. This is the third year Akayshia has been a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship recipient and her family note that her success would not have been possible without Variety’s help. Akayshia's scholarship is funded by CMC Markets and she is mentored by Vesna Radonich, a fellow Waka Ama paddler. |
 | Kyra Thomson Diabetic Kyra Thomson continues to succeed in artistic rollerskating – she has qualified for the Oceania competition and won every solo dance event she entered in 2009 including the national title and gold medal for the Cadet Solo Dance. The 13 year old Upper Hutt resident aims to be on the podium at the Oceanias in 2011. In 2009 Kyra’s goal was to be selected for Oceanias and she has done that, and more. Her 2010 goal is to increase her level of ability further to compete at Oceanias although is not expected to be on the podium first time in. However she aims to be on the podium in 2011. Occasionally her diabetes lets her down at competitions but she never gives up. Her Diabetes Clinical Nurse commends Kyra on her great attitude and the disciplined approach she continues to demonstrate towards her diabetes management and life in general. Her Mum says Kyra never lets her diabetes deter her - she manages her own pricking and injecting and is very disciplined in her self management of her condition. Kyra’s dream is to be an Oceania skater and the Variety scholarships enables her to get the best coaching and achieve all of the steps on the way to her goal. Kyra's Gold Heart Scholarship will provide funding for coaching and equipment including roller skates. |
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