Walking alongside those who came before us

A personal reflection from Judy Small, RNZFB Board director, on the occasion of her father Terry Small’s 100th anniversary of his birth on 26 April. Judy’s story spans three generations. It is about leadership, advocacy and determination, beginning with a blind community leader and continuing through to a granddaughter preparing to walk the London Marathon.

Walking alongside those who came before us, by Judy Small

My father, Terry Small, was born blind.

From an early age, he stood out as a leader in his community.

He worked for the Foundation for the Blind for his entire career. Much of his time was spent in the Library and in the Transcription Service, now known as Accessible Formats. He was a Braille teacher and a Braille transcriber, sharing knowledge that opened doors for so many people.

In 1976, he received a Winston Churchill Memorial Scholarship. This took him to Washington, where he spent six months learning more about Braille music. He brought that learning home with him, for the benefit of others.

He was deeply involved in the Dominion Association of the Blind, now Blind Citizens New Zealand, and later served as a Board member of the Foundation for the Blind through the 1980s and 1990s. Even in his senior years, he remained curious and engaged. He embraced new technology, using a laptop and Keynote when many people of his generation chose not to.

Supporting people with the greatest need mattered to him. His involvement with the Pearson Fund was part of a lifelong commitment to fairness and to ensuring that support reached where it was most needed. Above all, he was a mentor, a good friend, and a role model. In 1987, Terry was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for his service to the blind community. He was also a father of five, with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren.

Growing up alongside him shaped who I am. I followed some of his interests in advocacy, governance and leadership, and I share his belief that equality matters. Some people simply need a little more support to achieve their goals. There is nothing wrong with that.

That belief now lives on through my own daughter, Theresa Pooley.

Theresa is a client of Blind Low Vision NZ and has a learning impairment. Over the past eight years, she has completed several 21-kilometre events and two full marathons, guided by her friend Mary Rogerson. They are both members of Achilles New Zealand.

On 26 April, Theresa will walk the London Marathon. That date is also what would have been her grandfather Terry Small’s 100th birthday.

Theresa was eleven when my father died, but she feels a strong connection to him. She believes he would be very proud of her. She is not known for her speed, but she is known for her determination. Theresa and Mary have walked together most Sundays for the past eight months, often covering up to 30 kilometres over five hours around Hamilton streets and the Waikato River walkways.

Her London Marathon will take around seven hours. She is excited, focused, and ready.

In 2024, Theresa and Mary completed the New York Marathon together, finishing just 18 seconds under seven hours.

When I think about Theresa’s walk, I think about my father. I see the same persistence, the same quiet strength, and the same belief that progress comes from showing up, step by step. Across generations, the path continues.

In 1987, Judy’s father Terry Small was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for his service to the blind community. Seen in this photo on the left is Sir Paul Reeves awarding the Medal to Terry.