Ewen Lee was nine months old, and his mother Keryn sensed there was something not right.
He was not meeting the usual milestones and unlike others his age was barely moving on the floor.
Cambridge’s Ewen Lee, left, with his mother Keryn at McKenzie Centre’s 40th anniversary in Hamilton. Ewen, now 40, attended from the age of nine months until he started school at Cambridge Primary School. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The Child Development Centre at Waikato Hospital checked him out and referred Keryn to a newly opened centre down the road which provided early intervention services for children with developmental needs.
That was nearly 40 years ago and on Saturday Ewen, who turned 40 in June, was back at McKenzie Centre in Hamilton celebrating its ruby anniversary.
Today he is a well-known figure around Cambridge at the Woolworths supermarket where he gathers up errant supermarket trollies and at Cambridge Raceway where he helps out in the stables.
He is also a regular on the regional bus service when he heads into Community Living Trust in Collingwood Street to take part in its day services activities.
Celebrating at the McKenzie Centre 40th anniversary celebrations are, from left: Enrich Group interim chief executive Janne Nottage, Claire van der Most – current trustee, Tuscany Davis Havill – past attendee and her mother Merran Davis – a past trustee, Trisha Benge – previous centre director, Rae Hooper- Ministry of Education staffer who issued the centre’s first licence and Suzanne Kok current service manager. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The trust itself was founded in April 1989 to support people with intellectual disabilities to leave Tokanui Hospital and live in the community.
Ewen was never at Tokanui; instead, he stayed at home with Keryn in Cambridge attending Cambridge Primary School and benefiting from then principal Denis Raines’ innovative mainstream approach to children with intellectual disabilities.
From there it was onto the then Cambridge Intermediate – now Middle School – before he finished up at Melville High School.
Keryn, a former security officer who retired from Woolworths (then Countdown) five years ago after 13 years on the checkouts and around the store, says her son’s disability has never held him back.
Ewen once blitzed the competition in a poker tournament using his unique brain power to maximum advantage.
And it is worth asking him about the horses at Cambridge Raceway; he knows them and their form.
Going back to the centre where it all started was a real highlight for him and his mother.
McKenzie Centre Trust was established in 1982 with donations from the McKenzie Education Foundation and the Telethon Trust and started in 1984.
Sir Roy McKenzie was patron for many years. Today the centre is now part of Enrich Group, a Te Awamutu-based disability provider, but still retains its focus on early intervention for children from birth to school age.
Its 40th birthday was held at its neighbours – Hamilton West School – where guest speakers included long-time trustee Ken Williamson and now retired centre director Trisha Benge.
Happy 40th McKenzie Centre
Long-serving McKenzie Centre director Trisha Benge teared up as she reflected on the 27 years, she had worked at the Waikato early intervention facility.
Former McKenzie Centre director Trisha Benge speaking at the 40th anniversary celebrations. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Speaking at the centre’s 40th anniversary celebrations at Hamilton West School in Hamilton on Saturday, Benge said it had always been a place for family.
“We have always involved families and parents and thought of the whānau as experts on their children. Our jobs have been to add what we know to the family, so they have the skills and the support necessary to realise their child’s potential.”
Benge, who recently retired, was one of four speakers who talked of the impact McKenzie Centre had made on families since it opened in 1984 for children with developmental delays and disabilities within a 50km radius of Hamilton.
Ken Williamson, a trustee for 30 years, and recently appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal, said of all the organisations he had been involved with, McKenzie Centre was the closest to his heart.
Cutting the McKenzie Centre 40th anniversary cake is Tuscany Davis Hall with Ismail Mohamud, left, and mother Felicia Wood. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“I’ve witnessed the profound impact we’ve had on countless children and their families and together we’ve built this very special place where lives are transformed and futures reimagined.”
Rae Hooper, who was the Ministry of Education official who issued the centre’s first licence, said Waikato was fortunate to have such a wonderful service.
“None of this would happen without good governance and management.”
Claire van der Most, the newest trustee, talked about why McKenzie Centre merged in 2018 with Te Awamutu-based Enrich Group, a family of organisations that supports people with disabilities and those living with autism and neurodiversities.
“(It was) in line with the person centred approach and they complemented each other.”
Long time supporter and McKenzie Centre trustee Ken Williamson speaking at the 40th anniversary celebrations.
McKenzie Centre supports children in the early years and Enrich Group supports people from their late teens until old age. The group was able to provide more back room expertise in finance, information technology and give McKenzie Centre access to more sophisticated systems and processes allowing it to add value and provide greater workplace effectiveness and efficiencies.
“We recognise that there is a gap supporting children and their teenage years and we are currently exploring that,” she said.
“The aspiration is to grow the organisation to meet the demand for (wrap around) services,” she said to support all children with disabilities.
About 200 people attended the celebrations with families from today mingling with those from yesterday including Ewen Lee from Cambridge who first attended the centre in 1985 and is now 40 himself.
Cutting the McKenzie Centre 40th anniversary cake is Tuscany Davis Havill watched by from left: Archer MacDonald, Holly Jones, Ismail Mohamud and his mother Felicia Wood, Sam Morrison and Aaron Douglas. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
McKenzie Centre staff sing a waiata at the 40th anniversary celebrations. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Rae Hooper, who gave McKenzie Centre its first licence when she was at the Ministry of Education, speaks at the anniversary celebrations. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Part of the crowd who attended McKenzie Centre’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
