Disabled trailblazer mourned

Members of the Bay of Plenty and disabled communities throughout New Zealand are mourning the sudden loss of a 'real community livewire” who made a significant contribution to aiding the disabled.

Beverley May Grammer died on Monday surrounded by her family in her home town of Ohope, aged 34.

Bev Grammer died on Monday at her home in Ohope.

The health and disability advocate worked in the sector in a number of roles in the last 12 years including at the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ as part of the National Executive Committee in 2001 and president from 2011-2013.

In Whakatane, Bev worked as the information, advocacy and equipment services manager for the Disabilities Resource Centre Trust for more than three years before expanding her horizons.

She went on to establish the online consultancy service www.up2date.co.nz while juggling various other community-based roles including Ohope Beach Lions Club bulletin editor, Total Mobility Management committee member and Disability Commission Advisory council member.

UP2DATE was launched in 2009 as a response to the demand for up-to-date information, support services and news and reviews, as tried and tested by disabled people, for disabled people.

Disabled Persons Assembly NZ chief executive Rachel Noble says Bev was hugely influential – not only in her home region, but nationally throughout New Zealand.

She says Bev held a strong sense of social justice for disabled people and her life reflected this through both her work at home, her shop, and her involvement in advisory groups for the Health and Disability Commission, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development.

'Beverley was able to talk to the Minister of Disability Issues Tariana Turia to state how it is for disabled people in New Zealand in a way that was engaging,” says Rachel.

'This particular meeting led to a series of meetings where the government and disabled persons organisations began to work with one another in a way that had not been experienced before.”

Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne is completely shocked at the news saying a person of Bev's stature will be sorely missed throughout the community.

'She had been very much been a livewire in the community. When you have got somebody that is that enthusiastic for the community it is always a blow but it's just a blow to people that are close to her because she was such a positive person.

'If we have more of the Beverley Grammer type our community would be so much richer.”

Green Party disability issues spokesperson Mojo Mather is also saddened at the passing Bev.

'Bev was a staunch and effective advocate of disability rights, who made a significant contribution to disability issues in New Zealand,” says Mojo.

"Bev worked for many years in the Bay of Plenty as a leader on disability issues and rights until she became a national figure in the disability sector.”

Bev is described as being passionate about disabled people and their families having access to information and resources enabling them to manage their own lives and participate fully in the community.

Apart from her work in the sector, Bev lived for her family and friends and her greatest pride came from being labelled "Aunty Bev”.

Mojo says Bev was passionate about disabled people being able to participate fully in the community and developed and facilitated disability awareness workshops for a whole range of organisations.

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