Teacher with no equal

Obituary

Waitoki has lost an innovative and passionate leader in the field of blindness education.

Gwen Nagel, a Queen’s Service Order holder for services to special education, died on October 17.

She will be remembered for her innovative leadership for advancement of educational services for vision impaired and blind students throughout New Zealand since 1983, says husband Chris.

Born in Grey Lynn in 1946, Gwen was the eldest of three girls growing up in Devonport. Educated on the North Shore, she developed great sporting ability, playing provincial netball and cricket for many years.

She is the only woman in New Zealand to have umpired a cricket test match – New Zealand against India in 1977, and a world cup tournament here in 1982.

Gwen taught at several primary schools before moving to senior teacher at Homai School for the Blind in Manurewa.

For more than a decade there she was a teacher, national adviser, deputy principal and involved in the establishment of the Inservice Advisory Research and Development Service in 1991.

In 1994 Gwen joined the Auckland College of Education as a senior lecturer in special education and was co-ordinator of the vision impairment post-graduate diploma programme, which qualified teachers to specialise in blindness education.

From 1999 to 2004 Gwen was chief executive of the Vision Education Agency, furthering education for blind and low vision students.

She was chief executive officer of the Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand, BLENNZ, a national school encompassing the services of Homai campus and 12 visual resource centres from Whangarei to Invercargill, providing educational services from birth to 21 years.

The formation of this network in 2005 has been described as a milestone for New Zealand special education, bringing 13 entities into one.

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind chairman Don McKenzie praises her dedication.

"Gwen is a pioneering teacher with no equal in this country. She will take her place among teachers who led blindness education into the 21st century."

One of Gwen’s highlights was writing Stories to Tell about 10 families of children with vision impairment. A can-do attitude and recognition of different and just as valid ways to achieve were important, she believed.

Gwen had an enormous sense of privilege and humility for the way people let her share their lives.

She retired from BLENNZ in July 2008 and received her service medal this year.

Gwen said she was humbled because she considered her work a privilege.

She said it reflected recognition of the striving and achievement of blind and low vision students and the values, expertise and passion of the educators she had worked with.

Gwen had attended conferences worldwide and was made a life member of South Pacific Educators of Visually Impaired.

She had published widely and contributed to blindness education papers and presentations.

During her brief retirement Gwen was involved with the Waitoki community church, organising coffee mornings, and helping the church return to the Whangaparaoa Methodist circuit. She also helped establish Mainly Music for preschoolers.

Gwen said she enjoyed a marvellous life of love, family, friends, fun and achievement.

She is survived by Chris, four children and three grandchildren.

- © Fairfax NZ News