Parafed Bay of Plenty has presented its first-ever Life Membership to four time Paralympian Jim Savage.

The 79-year-old Kawerau native, who now lives in Tauranga, has been honoured by Parafed for his many decades of dedication, support and hard work to grow physical disability sport in our region.

Parafed Bay of Plenty board chair Bryce McFall, life member Jim Savage, and vice-chair Neil Cudby. Photo: Supplied.

Jim says he's both humbled and surprised by the accolade, which was presented to him at the end of February.

'I'm honoured to receive the first Life Membership from Parafed, it was a great surprise and being unwell at the moment, it lifted my spirits a lot.

'I'd never expected this, there are many people who work so hard to help the disabled these days, so to be honoured like this is really amazing.”

Jim contracted polio at the age of 22, a disease he confess to knowing nothing about when first diagnosed.

He took up wheelchair sports in 1964 and went on to represent New Zealand in archery, athletics and table tennis at the 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980 Paralympic Games, winning 20 medals at both the Paralympic and Commonwealth Paraplegic Games during his career.

While in 1974, along with being named team captain, Jim also read the Athletes Oath at the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games held in Dunedin that year.

Off the field, Jim has also inspired generations of local athletes to reach their potential, was a huge supporter of the Eve Rimmer Games and was also the driving force behind Kawerau wheelchair basketball.

For his unwavering commitment and enthusiasm for wheelchair sports, Jim was awarded an MBE in 1974 for Services to Paraplegic Sport.

Parafed Bay of Plenty board chair Bryce McFall says Jim also played an active role in the merger of the three regional Parafeds back in 2010 and was one of the inaugural board members.

'It is a real privilege to award this Life Membership to Jim,” says Bryce.

'Parafed Bay of Plenty would also like to acknowledge his wife, Madeline Savage and their three children for supporting Jim in his goals and achievements.”

Jim says it has always been his philosophy to help other disabled people wherever and whenever possible.

'If I had any words of wisdom, it'd be there's no such word as can't. When you think about it, at least you can try,” says Jim.