When Stu Brown was dealing with brain cancer in 2003, he made an interesting scientific discovery. He noticed that despite the gruelling physical and mental demands of dealing with his illness, there was something that gave him peace.
Actual medical evidence to support his finding was patchy, and it certainly wasn't curative, but Brown was convinced that his therapy was worth trying on others. So he assembled a group of fellow cancer sufferers, and a group of his friends to help them, and they spent a weekend trying it out. That therapy was fly-fishing.
The weekend was a tremendous success, and as well as the relief it provided to the patients, it turned out that the Buddies - the helpers who assisted the would-be anglers - got almost as much out of it, too.
This was in the United States, and although Brown later died, his legacy has grown such that Reel Recovery, as these restorative fishing weekends came to be known, spread not only across America but also to Australia and New Zealand. The slogan "Be Well! Fish on!", scrawled by Brown in the dirt on his car window, was adopted on that first weekend and has been used ever since.
As I grapple with an incurable fishing bug as well as advanced prostate cancer, I felt as if this weekend was made for me. I applied as soon as I heard about it and found myself heading down to one of Reel Recovery's fishing weekends - this one held on the rivers and streams around Raetihi, near Ruapehu.
It was a long drive down from north of Auckland, and I really didn't know what to expect other than that it involved fishing and therefore couldn't go far wrong. When I first arrived, there was the normal awkwardness of walking into a setting where everybody except me seemed to know each other.
Bu hikaye New Zealand Listener dergisinin May 06 - 12 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye New Zealand Listener dergisinin May 06 - 12 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.