DOCUMENT

AUGUST 2022 InTouch | 9 her son Ben in the Pike River mine explosion, Anna was instrumental in the Police re-opening their investigation into the explosion. “Sonya and I challenged judges’ decisions and got judge’s rulings overturned, having to go through every court in New Zealand to finally get our victories,”Anna says. “I could never forgive myself if I had not done everything in my power to either bring my darling husband’s body home or get those responsible to have their day in court.” Anna doesn’t find her voluntary work too taxing because because most of the work is done on the phone or holding meetings via Zoom. She still travels toWellington often to talk with MPs and the Public Service Commission, or can be found sending emails from her couch. “Surgery did help each time I had one done, but I have awful memories of having to go to school with both legs in plaster, in a wheelchair!” It wasn’t until a cousin was diagnosed with CMT that Anna started to realise her symptoms fitted into the CMT category. Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at age 34, Anna went through countless rounds of radiation and chemotherapy to fight the disease. In 2019, Anna’s cancer returned, and she was again treated with chemotherapy. “After each chemo session I became sicker and weaker. Every bone in my body hurt and ached. My jawbone was the worst, along with my feet that just gave up on me. I was barely able to walk,” Anna recalls. “Sonya and I challenged judges’ decisions and got judge’s rulings overturned, having to go through every court in New Zealand to finally get our victories.” Anna’s story “The FRG has a mandate from most of the Pike families to represent them while dealing with the Agency, Police and Government. It is a real pleasure to have so much support from them,” she says. Along with Anna’s work with the FRG, she is also secretary of her local volunteer Fire Brigade. She used to go on callouts but is unable to climb the steps into the fire truck now. Instead, she takes her own car to call outs where they need someone to help stop traffic or calm people down in an accident. “These tasks do not need you to be moving much and I can still use my crutch. That is how I have managed that one,” she tells us. Anna and Sonya’s tireless work for the FRG saw them appointed as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours list 2022. “It is a privilege and real honour to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. I was shocked and a little embarrassed by it,” Anna admits. Anna and Sonya, along with four other FRG members, Halfway through this treatment, Anna mentioned to her oncology nurse that her cousin thought she had CMT. Having not heard of the disease, the nurse did some research and realised many drugs were toxic to CMT sufferers and could potentially kill Anna. After taking blood samples and sending them to Scotland for testing (the only place that tested for CMT at the time), it took three weeks for Anna’s results to come back confirming she did in fact have CMT. Despite Anna’s condition, she doesn’t let it affect her and spends a considerable amount of time giving back to her community, especially those affected by the Pike River Mine disaster. Anna’s husband Milton Osborne was one of 29 men who died on November 19, 2010, in the Pike River Mine tragedy. She now chairs the Stand with Pike Families Reference Group (FRG). “I have always stayed keen on finding the truth about Pike River since my husband was killed there. I enjoy the people I have met since Pike and doing my bit to continue to help other family members wanting justice,” Anna says. She has always made her views on the management of the disaster clear. Along with Sonya Rockhouse, who lost Continued over...