 |
Visiting Rimutaka Prison
and the comments by the Prison official that recidivism by inmates
is high, although would not or could not give us any figures, bought
to mind the unfortunate fate of a very good NZ table tennis player.
Wayne Adamson
was a very good junior and then senior player, but regrettably his
life fell to pieces after a fracas, not entirely his fault but it
led to his downfall. He was a great guy, helped other players, had a
wonderful family and was popular among his many tt friends.
He always warmly greeted Jean & me when we met at NZ Championships
etc and he helped and encouraged our son as he was climbing to be
top junior.
Getting involved in the drug scene was disastrous
and finally led to his incarceration in Paremoremo. His loyal
friends and mates in TT visited him there and at one point put on a
demonstration in TT for the inmates.
After his release he
moved to Christchurch to turn his life around but alas it did not
work out. He died in 2014, aged 59.
Such is the curse of
drugs.
Whilst he was detained we corresponded briefly, when
Wayne wrote me an outstanding letter and with his permission I
published it in the TT magazine TTINFO I was producing at the time.
It is sad, encouraging and humorous.
It can be read here.
Robin |
