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Trust Media
5 October 2005 New Zealand's first purpose built education centre for people with dyslexia will be called the John Britten Centre in recognition of his achievements and his spirit of courage, enterprise and invention. The centre will be built by the Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust and will be based in Christchurch. It will be open to children from all over New Zealand and will provide professional development for teachers. The centre has the blessing of his widow Kirsteen who says she hopes that it serves as an inspiration to New Zealanders with dyslexia. "John struggled with dyslexia as a child and slogged away for years before his creative and technical genius was recognised. If a centre like this had existed when he was growing up it would have helped to fast track his achievements. He really did achieve against the odds and it would be great if others did not have such a struggle. I'm proud of his legacy and the way it is being recognised in the development of this centre," she says. The new centre will house the Davis Dyslexia Association which provides internationally recognised courses to assist people with dyslexia. Fundraising for the centre has begun and is being driven by the Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust. Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust announced the plans for the new centre at the first official fundraising activity - an exhibition by international artist Mackenzie Thorpe which will be exhibited at the Fishers Fine Arts galleries in Auckland and Christchurch throughout October. As part of the exhibition two large sculptures are being painted by Mackenzie Thorpe and groups of children in Auckland and Christchurch. The artist, who is himself dyslexic, will work with the children to paint his sculpture, Life, which is a childlike figure carrying a love heart. The sculpture will then be used for a number of fundraising initiatives to raise money for the Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust who will donate all proceeds to help New Zealand children with dyslexia. People interested in viewing the two ' Life ' sculptures and supporting the charity's fundraising efforts can visit the Fishers Fine Arts Galleries in Auckland and Christchurch where they will be on display until October 15 alongside other pieces from the Mackenzie Thorpe exhibition. Fishers Fine Arts Director Simon Fisher says Mackenzie Thorpe has a proud history of helping children around the world. "Mackenzie has struggled against the odds and knows what it is like to face poverty, dyslexia and misunderstanding. He is a real inspiration for adults and children alike." He says the Mackenzie Thorpe workshop is a serious opportunity for the chosen Auckland and Christchurch children to learn more about art and their own potential. In Christchurch the sculpture painting is happening today (5th October) from 1pm to 3pm at the Fishers Fine Arts Gallery in Riccarton. A charity auction will also take place on the opening night of each exhibition and will allow people to bid for the sculpture. The auction can be viewed online ( www.fishersfinearts.co.nz ) and includes an item donated by Richard Taylor from the Weta Workshop, who also has dyslexia. Fishers Fine Arts will donate a portion of each sale from the Mackenzie Thorpe exhibition to the Cookie Munchers Charitable Trust. Mackenzie Thorpe works with children's charities all over the world telling his own story of "triumph over adversity" to learning disabled and disadvantaged children. Through his art enrichment programs, Thorpe works one-on-one with children to inspire them to pursue their dreams. #ends# |
NZ's First Dyslexia Education Centre Fitting Tribute to Engineering Pioneer
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