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PlaNet News & Views

Posted on 17-11-2004

Mad Pride

 
Arnold Brooker died this weekend. Organisers of Mad Pride T have decided
to dedicate their concert event to his work and life. Arnold was a
tireless crusader for the rights of mental health patients continuing to
campaign till the eve of his death.
 
PERFORMERS INCLUDE: Shona Laing, Mahinarangi Tocker, And Arana Pearson -
All mad and proud!
 
Arnold Brooker died this weekend. Organisers of Mad Pride T have decided
to dedicate their concert event to his work and life. Arnold was a
tireless crusader for the rights of mental health patients continuing to
campaign till the eve of his death.
 
Arana Pearson, organiser and spokesperson for Mad PrideT says: "I was
deeply humbled and privileged when Arnold made the effort to speak at our
Fringe Festival show in March this year. Although he was noticeably frail
then, he made sure he attended and sat at the front seat right through to
the end of the show."
 
"Arnold was also key performer at the inaugural Mad Pride concert in 2002
where he energetically performed poetry, music and whistle all the way
through to the end of the show. Arnold would take every opportunity to
communicate about his vision for humanised psychiatric services and for
the spiritual life of all people to be acknowledged by psychiatry.
 
"Arnold lit a torch for the rights and lives of people who have had
experiences in the Psychiatric system, having been incarcerated himself in
the 1950's. Long before the mental health system acknowledged the
importance of consumer involvement in services, or funded advocacy -
Arnold led the way, riding his bike for mental health from cape to the
bluff in the 1970's and he was well known to politicians and the general
public.
 
"The torch he lit passes to the Mad Pride initiative on Sunday 28th
November where we will honour the life of Arnold Brooker. This concert
will do Arnold proud, with artists like Shona Laing, Arana Pearson and
Mahinarangi Tocker performing. MAD PrideT is not about political
correctness. It's about reclaiming the identity of mad people from
caricatures of us as dangerous or hopeless people. Rather than hiding our
experiences and gifts - we want to celebrate who we are and invite others
to help create a world where people don't fear difference" says Arana
Pearson, founder of Mad PrideT in Australasia and driver of this concert
event.
 
Concert to be held on Sunday November 28th at the Illot theatre in the
Wellington Convention Centre. Tickets available through all Ticketek
outlets (booking charges will apply)
 
For more information Phone Arana Pearson 021 898 468. Photos of Arnold
performing this year available on request.