Graduating in style – Class of 2019

The ACOD and Optiblocks New Zealand 2019 optical dispensing graduation ceremony was a well-attended and warm affair with lots of laughter and a few tears.

Guest of honour Clive Marchant, president of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) gave the keynote address welcoming the graduates to the world of optics. With registration comes responsibilities, he said. “It is your duty as registered dispensing opticians to help shape the future of the profession and always do your best by your patients.” Marchant encouraged the class to never stop learning, embrace change and take every opportunity for further education.

Jayesh Chouhan, Optometry and Dispensing Opticians Board (ODOB) chair, congratulated the class and said graduation is all about celebrating success. With success comes opportunity, he said, leaving the class with a Muhammed Ali quote: “I hated every second of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your lives as champions.”

Awards

Top student Richard Moore was awarded The David Wilson Memorial Award for his outstanding academic results and interpersonal skills. The award is in memory of the late Dr David Wilson, optical dispensing stalwart and ADONZ life member, presented by his wife Jan Wilson.

The ACOD/Optiblocks Special Achievement Award was awarded to Gina Stevens, presented by ADONZ life member Steve Stenersen. Not a single eye was dry among the audience whilst listening to ACOD director James Gibbins read the motivation for the special achievement award.

Gina Stevens enrolled in the ACOD course in June 2017, having already done 11 years working in optical dispensing. Gina said returning to the classroom “raised her anxiety levels through the roof”, not knowing that 2018-2019 were going to be the most challenging years in her life yet.
Gina lost her father suddenly due to terminal prostate cancer in 2018. The grief took its toll and Gina fell ill with pneumonia. She pushed on with her studies and said she was determined that 2019 was going to be a better year but ended up suffering a sudden and unexpected ischemic stroke (blood clot on the left side of her brain) back in March.

“Thanks to the fast reaction of my colleagues at Matthews Eyewear Eyecare in Nelson, I was fortunate to be seen and treated in the golden hour when emergency treatment is most likely to be successful and, in my case, it’s the reason I’m here today,” she said.

“It’s been a long, frustrating and challenging road to recovery with ongoing chronic fatigue post-stroke, physiotherapy and medical appointments, but I was determined to get the course completed.” Gina achieved this just two years after she enrolled, and despite all the challenges, she said it’s been one of her most rewarding experiences in optics.

Course IV in Optical Dispensing graduates: