Jason's story: 'Make the most out of life'
Video transcript for Jason Eade
Audio:
Background music throughout
Visual:
The screen shows a man swinging a golf club at a golfing green. Screen changes to a close up shot of his prosthetic leg, followed by a mid shot of Jason Eade, holding his golf bag.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
Yes.
Visual:
The screen shows Jason, dressed in his work attire. Jason is standing in the penthouse hotel suite. Screen changes to show the exterior of InterContinental Hotel.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
My name is Jason Eade. I am the Chief Concierge at the InterContinental Hotel Wellington. I am currently the New Zealand Disabled Golf Champion.
Visual:
The screen shows Jason, standing on the golfing green. The screen changes to shots of Jason, hitting golf balls into different holes. The screen changes to a mid-shot of Jason looking through golf range binoculars.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
I’ve won that probably three times now in my life. But also I just play normal sport with everybody that's at the golf course. And so, you know, there's a handicap in system which is obviously not your disability.
It's the sport that you can put on the golf course. So it's a it's probably a fierce game for all with it's very inclusive 146 meters to the point.
Visual:
The screen shows Jason, picking up a ball from a hole. The screen changes to Jason walking around the green with his golf bag.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
ACC has been good. It's it's a journey very much assisted with my leg my leg is amazing is probably one of the one of the best that you can have out there. So I’m fortunate in that regard. So definitely supported me in terms of being independent.
Visual:
The screen shows a close up shot of a golf bag wheeling on the green. The screen changes to Jason, walking on the green holding his golf bag.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
Late March in 91, Sun was low in the sky, probably got a little bit too quick, maybe on the motorcycle and failed to make the corner and ended up looking at a lamp post and ducked and was really fortunate to do that because it probably saved my life. And here I am 32 years later. I'm enjoying life to the best of my possibly can. As my boxing trainer once said to me when I was a junior and not feeling it in the gym, you said, You're a long time dead son, so you've got to give it the best you possibly can.
Visual:
The screen shows Jason seated in the hotel room.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
I’ve twice been lucky enough to win the HM Concierge of the year for Australasia. It's been interesting journey, my journey here of 23 years this year I've had many years that I've known for the last 20 years that I might be just as frequently as last year or this year or the year before. You know, Jason, you've got a bit of a lump there. You know, you're right. And I said, Yeah, and like I said, I've got an above knee amputation.
Visual:
The screen shows Jason in standing in the hotel room.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
And I said, no. So yes, I mean, I guess that's true. Means I'm doing something well. And that happens a lot.
Visual:
The screen shows Jason, hitting a golf ball into a hole and then picking up a ball from a hole. The screen changes to a mid shot of Jason standing on the green.
Transcript:
VOICE OF JASON EADE
Yeah. My message to everybody is are new to disability or new to injury as you get through this period, this time will pass. So look to the future and it's going to be hard getting there, there’ll be a lot of pain and effort, but it'll be worth it.
Visual:
The screen shows another shot of Jason hitting a golf ball into a different hole and then picking up a ball from a hole. The screen changes to a mid shot of Jason standing on the green.
And I'm encouraging you all to get out there and, you know, go for a walk or go for a push or go for a bike ride or go out and have a cup of tea at a cafe. And you just got to really start to motivate yourself out of the house. And there's many ways that we can do that with, with assistance. So yeah, you, I just challenge everybody to live a full life.
Three decades ago, Jason Eade was preparing to represent New Zealand at the Barcelona Olympics. But a motorbike crash changed the course of his life forever. He has made a full recovery and is now a champion golfer.
Jason Eade is facing a downhill left-to-right putt to win the championship.
It’s a pressure moment, but truth be told the Wellington golfer has faced and overcome much tougher moments than this one in his life.
“Being a national champion means more to me now that I’m getting a bit older and I’m still able to beat the young fellas,” the 54-year-old says.
“My drive is for the next generation to see someone like me with a disability. I’ve had my challenges, but I’ve also had some great experiences. I want them to see the opportunities and make the most out of life.”
Jason won the New Zealand Disability Golf Championship in 2022. He recently competed at the New Zealand All Abilities Championship and says it’s great to see a pathway for golfers with a disability.
“I love this event,” says Jason, who has played competitive golf all over the world.
“To play against other golfers who have a disability or special needs has been incredible.
“I’ll support it for as long as I can. It’s shown the wider community that there are so many more people who can play golf and that it’s a game for everyone.”
“Of course, we all want to win and it’s a great battle. But after we’ve competed, it’s great to meet people and hear their stories.”
'A split-second decision saved my life'
Jason has an amazing story to share himself.
Back in 1991, he was riding his motorbike near Kaiapoi, north of Canterbury. It was a cool, early Autumn afternoon and the sun was low in the sky. He came around a corner and was blinded by sunstrike.
When his vision came clear, he was heading straight for a lamppost.
“I had to make a split-second decision and I used my boxing skills to duck,” he says.
“If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be here to tell the story.”
Jason hit the lamppost with incredible force. His left leg came off at the knee.
The 22-year-old was lying on the side of the road in a state of shock. A bystander made a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
“They saved my life,” he says.
Twenty minutes later, Jason was on his way to Christchurch Hospital in an ambulance.
That night, he was told his leg would be removed from above the knee because the crash had caused too much damage.
Jason had an amputated left leg and his right leg was badly broken, but he didn’t have any internal damage.
“I remember lying in the hospital bed and thinking, ‘Man, I’m lucky to be alive’.”
Jason was a national rep in boxing and was preparing to compete at the 1992 Olympic Games.
“It was a big change in my life. At the time I was pretty despondent,” he says.
“I had no idea what life would hold for me. I had to learn what life was like with a physical disability. I had to start again.”
Not looking back
Jason had a long road to recovery and he fully committed to his rehab.
He learned how to walk again – and also had to overcome some mental battles.
“I had concerns, like ‘How are people going to perceive me? What are they going to think of me as a person with a disability?’. As you get older, you realise all of that stuff doesn’t matter.”
Jason says ACC has been at the heart of his recovery.
“ACC has been on the journey the whole way with me,” he says. “They have supported me in every way, and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
We've covered his medical costs, home and vehicle modifications, rehab and transport, as well as providing a state-of-the-art prosthetic leg which helps him play golf.
He tried wheelchair tennis and rugby but neither suited him.
“I found it unusual taking my leg off and sitting in a wheelchair to play sport,” he says.
He moved to Wellington in 1999 and attended a work golf tournament eight years later. It proved to be a turning point.
“I hit a couple of really good shots and thought to myself, ‘I can do this’. I went away and taught myself how to play.”
Jason is the chief concierge at The InterContinental Hotel Wellington.
Finding a new passion
Jason now plays off a 10 handicap at the Royal Wellington Golf Club. He plays both days every weekend.
His best score is an even par 72 at the Manor Park Golf Club, where he was a member for many years and had a hole in one.
“I love golf because you’ll never master it. But that’s the same with life, isn’t it?”
Away from the course, Jason has worked at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington for 23 years.
He started as a porter and is now the chief concierge, managing a team of 12 people. He has been recognised internationally, twice winning awards for hotel and accommodation excellence.
“My desire is to be the best concierge team in New Zealand. My young team are coming with me along the way,” he says.
Jason says it was always important for him to work and be part of his community.
“The team here have been very supportive of me,” he says.
“It’s a tough industry to work in with a disability. You’re on your feet all day. But I never want to make excuses.”
He has simple advice for others who have sustained a life-changing injury.
“You have a personal responsibility to yourself to keep living. You only get one shot at this thing called life and you’ve got to give it the best you can,” he says.
“When you get older like me, you don’t want to look back on any lost years and think, ‘What a waste’.
“So make the most of every day and enjoy it.”
