Kiwi battler Peter Taylor dies after long fight

Peter Taylor (1953-2013)

Talented New Zealand equestrian in addition to eventing bus Peter Taylor has died at the historic current of sixty after a long battle amongst both HIV in addition to the rare parasitic infection Leishmania. 

Taylor, who died at Mercy Hospice inwards Auckland on Sunday, September xv at 11.11pm, had undergone 922 doses of chemotherapy over the past times xv years, resulting inwards farther wellness complications.

Tributes accept flowed for the highly visible fellow member of the Auckland gay community. He was i of the showtime “poster boys” for the NZ Aids Foundation’s condom sexual practice campaign, in addition to was on the NZAF’s  Board of Trustees inwards 2007.

He made the conclusion inwards mid August to cease treatment, which he received until August 31, when he was invitee of honor at a dinner for the Cartier Bereavement Trust, which raises funds to bury HIV patients who accept been abandoned past times their families.

After the event, he said: “I sat similar a stunned mullet trying to absorb that this entire trial to heighten coin is centred on the celebration of my life. Often choked amongst emotion in addition to visibly inwards tears of joy, I fished difficult to notice to a greater extent than gratitude in addition to humility to appreciate such an honour.

“The fountain of love in addition to abide by , the truth in addition to sincerity of the speakers from overseas in addition to local is a privilege to hear earlier y'all exceed over.

“What a way to travel out this world. Knowing how many people I accept touched has been the virtually revealing effect of the tributes equally I actually had no sentiment of how my writing in addition to philosophy of Don’t Postpone Joy has captivated a mindset. Also knowing that I cannot contribute whatever farther agency it’s fourth dimension to footstep aside in addition to allow someone else accept a go.”

At the evening, Taylor thanked in addition to acknowledged “all those who accept shared, added to or been a meaning constituent of my life”.

“Firstly, the extensive medical squad of specialists who accept worked tirelessly to come about me upright. The friends who choose Sushi for lunch, the shoppers, visitors, helpers, cleaners, in addition to all the talent that has been offered to me unconditionally from experts when I sought education. Then at that topographic point are the old friends of reliability in addition to shared memories, my contemplations in addition to reflections in addition to the passion from my horses moved to my writing, without planning it this way. Hence living became my trouble organisation in addition to my trouble organisation became inspiration without invention or expectation.

“Then at that topographic point is y'all the readers who brand this transition of crafts possible in addition to fun. Without y'all at that topographic point is no argue or purpose. So all together amongst love, peace harmony in addition to no fear, I facial expression frontward to my adjacent journeying in addition to give cheers y'all all for the constituent y'all accept played.”

Taylor grew upwardly on a dairy farm close Whangarei. Before his equestrian career he co-owned in addition to operated the successful eating theater Le Brie, inwards Chancery Street, Auckland, in addition to inwards afterward years owned in addition to operated the iconic Surrender Dorothy bar inwards Ponsonby Road.

He showtime competed for New Zealand inwards Kingdom of the Netherlands inwards qualifying events earlier the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He was forced to withdraw when his horse, Fez, contracted osteomyelitis. Fez died 3 weeks later. “I had to pose downward my honey Equus caballus in addition to my dream in addition to acquire the difficult lesson that grief is non a goal but a process,” Taylor said later.

In 1991 he co-coached in addition to managed Canadian eventer Nick Holmes Smith to win a golden medal at the Pan American Games inwards grooming for the Barcelona Olympics inwards 1992.  He was also Assistant Team Manager at Barcelona in addition to Assistant Coach in addition to Team Manager at the World Equestrian Championships inwards 1994.

“When I was teaching Olympic riders, I wasn’t teaching them how to ride… I was teaching them to believe they could win,” Taylor’s obituary on GayNZ said. “I was teaching them confidence in addition to self-belief … amongst self-awareness comes power, enormous power. Absolutely beyond what y'all would unremarkably live able to produce … in addition to that simply comes from life experience, self-examination, instruction in addition to self-critique.”

Taylor was the executive manager at the Auckland International Three Day trial inwards 1993, in addition to staged the Manukau Show jumping Festival inwards 1994.

Taylor was the solely someone inwards the Blue Planet to live both HIV positive in addition to accept Leishmania (visceral Leishmaniasis Donavanni), contracted when bitten past times a sandfly after patting a Canis familiaris at the Barcelona Olympics.  Doctors did non await him to survive: “No i usually lives past times 3 to twenty months,” Taylor said.

“What began equally a surprise amongst a sand wing seize amongst teeth at the meridian of my dream career turned into a state of war of years that none of us expected, to the lowest degree of all me. We fought, my squad in addition to I to the depths of the trenches amongst the squirts equally the trunk turned within out in addition to amongst the pocket-size steps frontward giving promise in addition to shining a ray of light, i of self awareness. What a roller coaster ride in addition to i I’d never wishing upon a soul.”

In the past times few years, Taylor has been inwards need equally a motivational speaker, in addition to has likewise been blogging for the past times 2 years.

At the August 31 function, Taylor said sales of his latest book, Past my Expiry Date, had been doing well.

“My philosophy of giving, sharing in addition to kindness changes a remove heed to abide by in addition to gratitude. With these words equally my cornerstone, I enjoin goodbye in addition to cheers for every piffling thing. See y'all on the other side.”

Peter Taylor (18.3.53 – 15.9.13) is survived past times his mother, Joan, his partner Rodney Coleman, 2 sisters, Yvonne in addition to Katie, in addition to several  nieces in addition to nephews.

A individual menage unit of measurement cremation has been held, in addition to a memorial celebration is beingness held at St Mathews inwards the City, 187 Federal Street,  Auckland, on Monday, September 23 at 3 pm to v pm. At Pete’s request, the wearing clothing code is “no black, coloring textile befitting a party”.

Pete requested no flowers but asked for an equivalent donation to the Cartier Bereavement Trust. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 collection box volition live available at the memorial.

 

 

Bagikan Artikel ini