21/02/2023
PNZ Order of Merit Member and Paralympian #14, Jim Savage MBE passed away on 20 February 2023, aged 86.
Jim represented New Zealand in our very first Paralympic Team in 1968, going on to win medals at two of the following three Paralympic Games, as well as taking on the role of team captain. Jim represented New Zealand in a phenomenal 8 different Para sport events – within Para athletics this included shot put, discus, javelin, pentathlon. As well as those he competed in Para lawn bowls, Para table tennis and Para archery.
Jim has also been a lifelong volunteer and community servant: he taught St John’s in Kawerau, raised money for cancer charities, served as a town councillor, he was the first life member of Parafed Bay of Plenty and founded the Kawerau Paraplegic Association and the Friendly Games. Jim was awarded a Paralympics New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 for his outstanding services to Paralympic sport.
A service for Jim will be held at at the Town Hall, Kawerau at 11am on Friday 24 February 2023.
