Paddy Gower: Blair Vining was an 'out-and-out hero'
“A lot of people said; ‘what are you doing Paddy?’. But it all comes back to you can’t say no to Missy Vining, and over and above that the legacy of Blair.”
Paddy Gower says Melissa Vining is hard to say no to when she calls asking for a favour.
Vining touched base late last year asking if the prominent journalist would line up in a festival rugby game called Pack the Park.
The game will be played in Invercargill on Saturday as a thank you to the wider public who has helped raise the needed funds to get a charity hospital built in Southland.
It was sparked by cancer advocate Blair Vining and that work has been continued by his wife Melissa following Blair’s death in 2019.
“Every bone in my body wanted to say no,” Gower says about being asked to play rugby.
“I’m 46 years old mate, and I haven’t played a game of rugby since I was in my 20s. That wasn’t of a high standard, it was under 85kg rugby.
“But Missy [Melissa] is very persuasive.”
“A lot of people said; ‘what are you doing Paddy?’. But it all comes back to you can’t say no to Missy Vining, and over and above that the legacy of Blair.”
The true reality of what Gower signed up for hit home this month when he saw the two teams on paper.
Gower will captain the Blair Vining XV - a team stacked with a list of star-studded rugby players of yesteryear.
He will lock the scrum alongside former All Black Jason Eaton. Gower likes to point out that it is an all-Taranaki second row given he is a Taranaki boy and that’s where Eaton played his NPC rugby.
He’s grown a mullet over summer and hopes Eaton also turns up with the trademark mullet he had during his playing days.
The remainder of the forward pack that Gower will lead is scattered with other former All Blacks.
“I am in a forward pack with Kees Mueews and Whopper [Jamie Mackintosh], I’m locking a scrum with Jason Eaton, and Kieran Read is going to be pushing, hopefully not too hard, behind me [at No 8].”
That’s not to mention All Blacks Jimmy Cowan, Pita Alatini, and Mils Muliaina in the backline.
Gower says he’s probably the fittest he’s ever been following two years being alcohol-free, plenty of time riding his bike, and a newfound love for yoga.
He’s also a big fan of Taranaki’s version of the modern-day Bronco fitness test - which is running one lamp post and walking the next.
But he adds that increased fitness probably means little if a 110-plus kg former professional rugby player runs straight at his 88kg frame come Saturday afternoon.
Gower admits to some anxiety at the moment. So much so that he made a call to former All Black Corey Flynn on Monday night.
Flynn will lineup on the blindside flank alongside Paddy Gower in the Blair Vining XV.
But more importantly Flynn is the person who has put the two teams together for the game.
“I called Corey last night because reality was setting in, the fear was setting in. I’ve never met the guy, but I’ve watched him play rugby on TV.
“So, I called him up and used his nickname saying, ‘hey Flynny’; what I was trying to get at is wondering if anyone is going to tackle me. Is there going to be some sort of special rule for me? But I didn’t want to say it out loud to him.
“But of course, that sort of special rule wasn’t brought up, it’s not in existence. He told me pretty clearly that I’m going to have to tackle and be tackled.
“I was looking for a bit of reassurance from him and I ended up with that classic Kiwi version of reassurance which was; ‘you’ll be right mate’.”
While he’s daunted about the prospect of playing amongst some of his rugby idols, Gower’s hopeful he will have some protectors within the team he is captaining to get him through.
Other than that, there might be a bit of hiding going on the field.
While there’s a lot of nerves starting to take over, Gower is delighted to be part of what will be a special occasion on Saturday.
It’s an occasion that will celebrate the work that has been done with the Southland Charity Hospital, which will open in March, as well as Blair Vining’s legacy.
Gower built a connection with Vining when the Southlander battled both cancer and the health system during his final days.
Vining was vocal in his criticism of New Zealand’s health system after he was told he had about three weeks to live but the wait time was eight to 10 weeks to see a specialist in the public system.
That connection for Gower was both professional and personal.
“Before I met Blair my mother had died of cancer as well. Without getting into too much detail, Taranaki has got really crap healthcare, when it comes to cancer, and people have got to travel outside the province to get treatment, including my mum.
“So, when I saw Blair Vining and Missy starting to raise awareness in Southland I was interested, not just as a journo but as a person.
“And being of a similar age to him and Missy, and having a similar upbringing in the regions and around rugby, I had an instant affinity with the guy.
“He felt like he was just one of my mates, that’s how I would look at him.”
Before Vining’s death, Gower travelled to Winton to visit him and put together a television story.
Through Gower’s many years as a journalist, including his time working in the gallery at parliament, he’s become aware of just how difficult it is to get matters on the national agenda and for Governments to take note.
But he says Vining and his wife Melissa were able to get cut through with their calls for better cancer care.
“That was really inspiring. Long story short, the guy was just an out-and-out hero for me before I had even shook his hand.
“To get down to Winton and meet him and do a story was just awesome. Over and above that he was just a good [bugger] who you wanted to have a yarn with.”
Vining spent much of his final days in life fighting for change for those he would leave behind.
Gower says that is what is inspirational.
“There are also sorts of ways in dealing with cancer. Some people really like to retreat and put up the barricades, and that is how a lot of Kiwi families get through it.
“Having been in that situation with my mum, it is the hardest time for a family. And then to see someone campaigning for something much bigger, not just for his province but in the end Blair was getting cut through for the whole of New Zealand, which has a problem with cancer care.
“I honestly look at him and Missy in awe of what they have achieved. The fact Missy has been able to keep the momentum and achieve the hospital and other things is really inspiring as well.”
Saturday’s Pack the Park fixture is a free event for the community although people still need to sort a ticket to attend.
You can do so by heading to Pack the Park 2024 – The Final tickets | Rugby Park Stadium | Ticketek New Zealand
Kick-off on Saturday is 2.30pm.
Although Gates will open at 12noon with an opportunity to meet the players from 12.30 to 1.30pm.
A sold out Aftermatch function will also be held at ILT Stadium Southland on Saturday night.
THE TEAMS
AB Lime Blair Vining XV: Jamie Mackintosh, Ben McHugh, Kees Meeuws, Paddy Gower (captain), Jason Eaton, Corey Flynn, Hale T-Pole, Kieran Read, Jimmy Cowan, Greg Dyer, Daniel Pinn, Hayden Gentle, Pita Alatini, Brendan Laney, Mils Muliaina. Reserves; Jason Rutledge, Tere Cummings, Quinn Robins, Damian Pulley, Paul Miller, Te Hura Wilson, Piri Weepu, Phil Robinson. Doctor, Doc Finlayson, physio Craig McColl, ball runner Lilly Vining.
ITM Invitational XV: Peter Thomson, David Hall, John Afoa, Chris Menzies, Brendon Mitchell, Mose Tuiali’i, Scott Waldrom, Thomas Waldrom, Matt Watson (captain), James Wilson, Al Jones, Gregor Laughton, Mana Harrison, Steve McKay, Willie Walker. Reserves; Davin Heaps, Ben McMaster, Jackson Hunter, Chris Masoe, Scott Cowan. Hydration specialist Brad Anderson, physio Liv Hutton.