I grew up in Pōranhahau, a small farming community in coastal Hawke’s Bay. I lived and breathed farming. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work on the farm, so it was no surprise when I went on to become an expert shearer. I could shear 300-350 sheep in a day.

I was also a keen rugby player. I was in my high school’s First XV rugby team, and once I’d finished school, I immersed myself in my local rugby club. I lived a lifestyle of working hard and playing hard. But one Saturday in 1995, I was getting ready for a game of club rugby, my team was low on numbers and the regular captain was away, so I was asked to lead the team. It was a great honour and opportunity. I also had a friend, who I’d met overseas, visiting. So the ego in me wanted to impress my mate. It was a tough game, and I wanted to win, so I took the ball into a ruck (a phase of play where one or more players from each team, who are on their feet, in physical contact, close around the ball on the ground, and it can get pretty rough).

My mentality was always that no one was going to beat me. I put myself in danger for a mere moment and ended up dislocating my neck…it was like a hot poker straight in the neck. I couldn’t breathe. In that brief moment I became a C4-5 tetraplegic. I was taken to hospital and was in and out of consciousness and I felt helpless. When I did wake up, I wasn’t able to move and there was shame that went with that.