PRESS RELEASE
Thursday 24 October 2013
The Governor General presents awards to children with Down Syndrome
To celebrate the achievements of young people with Down Syndrome, the Governor General of New Zealand, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir
Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae, will be hosting the annual Frances Clarke Memorial Awards at the Government
House, Wellington at 10am on Wednesday 30th October.
This will be the 23rd year these awards have been presented by the Wellington Down Syndrome Association, in memory of a
special little girl Frances Clarke who was born in 1985 with Down Syndrome and died four years later from Leukaemia.
“We’re delighted to this year have as our guest speaker Wellington Phoenix Captain Andrew Durante a motivating player
who has achieved much both nationally and internationally in his football career, someone who I'm sure all our guests
and recipients will admire” said Wellington Down Syndrome Association Treasurer Kate Young
These awards recognise and encourage special achievements of people born with Down Syndrome in the greater Wellington
district. Special achievements need not be spectacular nor world first but they will have taken determination,
application and perseverance. They demonstrate the ability of someone with Down Syndrome to overcome their difficulties
by completing a task or by showing through their way of life and attitudes towards others that they lead full and
rewarding lives.
“The Frances Clarke memorial awards are an opportunity to raise public awareness of people with Down Syndrome within our
community and to showcase their achievements. This is the 23rd year these awards have been presented and we’re very
honoured to once again to have the ceremony hosted by the Governor General of New Zealand at Government House” said
Wellington Down Syndrome Association Co-ordinator Helen Elliott
ENDS