Paul’s story: LevelUp helping fuel Para archery dreams

Resilient Paul Wallace, in tandem with the innovative coaching input of Garry Porter, has made some big progress in his first year as a Para archer and the pair have now set their sights on some lofty ambitions in the future.  
 
Paul suffered a stroke triggered by a blood clot, following a skiing accident seven years ago. He developed aphasia, a language disorder caused by damage in the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension.

Also paralysed on his right side, he has the use of only one arm.  

After a five-year rehabilitation, he later transitioned to the Community Care Trust Team – which supports people with intellectual disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders – to give life more meaning.

Expressing an interest in archery, he reached out to the Dunedin Archery Club, where he first met Garry, a coach for more than 20 years. 

The pair instantly connected, although it’s required some agile thinking from Garry to make sure Paul is equipped to best shoot arrows. 

“When I first met Paul and I realised he only had one arm in which he could shoot the bow, it was something I hadn’t encountered before,” Garry says.

“So I went on YouTube and found out how to make a mouth tab for him. Paul uses a stand to help load the bow and his back teeth are used to draw the bowstring before releasing the arrow to the target. 

“But because he uses the mouth tab attached to a string, I had to learn a lot. This meant the bow needed to be tuned completely differently – it’s been a huge learning curve for me. 
 
“I also quickly became aware Paul gets tired very quickly because of his condition, so I had to start him off with a low poundage bow and increased the draw weight as he got fitter.” 

Paul Wallace posing for a photo with coach Garry Porter.

ACC offers support through LevelUp

Garry’s interest in coaching Para archery was sparked by a friendship with Paralympian Graham Maratt, an archer. Garry had previously coached athletes with cerebral palsy and brain injuries, so wasn’t fazed when introduced to Paul. 

To help understand more about coaching athletes with a disability, Garry has completed the Paralympics New Zealand LevelUp programme. Supported by ACC, LevelUp is a series of free online modules for coaching disabled athletes, no matter whether you’re just starting out or want to grow your skills.

“At ACC, we see first-hand the value of active recreation in rehabilitation after a life-changing injury,” our CEO Megan Main says.

“That’s why we’re excited about the impact LevelUp is going to have for disabled New Zealanders.”

Garry says the LevelUp programme has helped him gain confidence, knowledge and capability as a coach to support Para athletes. 

“It gave me a real insight into disabled people,” Garry says.

“Paul understands everything but struggles to verbalise his thoughts. Sometimes he uses one-word sentences, so I spend some time with his speech therapist. 

“We use a lot of drawings and images about how we shoot a bow and aim, and this is then converted into text on to his iPad. If he ever has difficulty, he presses one of those phrases to help communication.”  

Sport provides new lease on life

For Paul, being introduced to Para archery and having the support of Garry has played a huge part in improving his overall wellbeing. 

Paul, who previously worked as a supermarket store manager, recently made his competitive debut at the Rookie Invasion 2024 event at Christchurch Archery Club.

“Before his stroke, Paul was a workaholic, often working long hours and driven by his determination to succeed,” says Paul’s wife, Janne. 

“He approached his rehabilitation with the same determination, working hard for five years. When that phase ended, we were concerned about what the next step would be for Paul. Living with aphasia can be isolating, making it a challenging journey. 

“Archery has given him a new lease on life. He’s met new people and found himself in situations where he needs to communicate independently, which has boosted his confidence. He’s happier and much more motivated at home.” 

Pair set sights on Paralympics 

A key component in his Para archery journey has been coach Garry. 
 
“I cannot speak highly enough of Garry,” says Paul, 51. 

“He’s passionate about archery and has shared that enthusiasm with me. Whenever a challenge has come along with my disability, he’s come up with a solution. I’m very grateful for all Garry has done.” 

Since taking up Para archery as part of the Dunedin Archery Club and training three-and-a-half hours a week, the sport has given him a renewed sense of purpose.
 
Also adding two-to-three gym sessions a week to build strength and endurance, Paul has gradually improved his shooting distance from 10m to 40m – but that is not the limit of his ambition.  

“I’d like to continue to increase my shooting distance to get to 70m and represent New Zealand internationally,” Paul says. 

“My ultimate goal would be to win selection in Para archery at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.” 

With Garry in his corner, anything is possible.