Last week, Health Minister Andrew Little announced the recipients of the 2022 Minister of Health Volunteer Award. Nigel Winter was crowned runner-up for the Community or NGO Health Service Individual Award during the ceremony at Parliament.
The award came as a surprise to Mr Winter, who was nominated by Central Otago Living Options, an organization that supports his 24-year-old son Logan, who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome, autism, dyspraxia and mild intellectual disability.
“I feel quite humbled to be honest. It’s one of those things you do and do not expect anything in return.
“I’m very happy with ‘runner-up’ in these awards, especially since there are always incredible people nominated every year. It’s very humble to be nominated and recognized.”
The Living Options Charitable Trust was established in Alexandra in 2001 to provide support services in Central Otago for people with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities, enabling them to live independently in their own community.
Over the past five years, Mr. Winter has dedicated more than 800 hours of volunteer work to the organization, traveling every three weeks from Invercargill to Alexandra, where he looks after the garden, lawns and maintenance at two properties where people with disabilities live.
He completely repainted one of Living Options’ houses, used his annual leave to do the work and paid for the rental of equipment and paint himself.
Mr Winter said the best thing for him was to work with his son on those tasks and to contribute to and enrich the lives of people with disabilities.
“Raising a child with disabilities has its challenges and after 20 years I can finally see how my son has a little life and his freedom. It’s great.
“People there are amazing and to see my son encouraged to take control of his life is everything to me. If it were not for them, life would have been pretty difficult.”
Last weekend, Mr Winter traveled to Alexandra to celebrate the award with his son – a moment he will never forget.
“I received a message saying he is really proud of his father.
“It’s a very special one and I feel good to be able to share this moment with him.”