10 Facts About Alexia Pickering

Alexia Pickering was born with spina bifida in Petone in 1930.

Alexia Pickering was head girl at Patea School and won a scholarship to St Mary's School in Stratford, but they would not take her because of her disability.

The couple adopted three children before having one of their own, having believed that Alexia Pickering was unable to bear children.

Alexia Pickering was appointed as a justice of the peace in 1990.

Alexia Pickering served as a member of the national executive of the New Zealand Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Federation, a member of both the Rehabilitation International's Social Commission and ICTA Commission, and president of the New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres.

Alexia Pickering was appointed to the New Zealand Council for Recreation and Sport, and the New Zealand Building Industry Authority, and chaired the access advisory panel for the Department of Building and Housing.

Alexia Pickering was involved in the establishment of the Barrier Free New Zealand Trust, the Laura Fergusson Trust, and the Hamilton Volunteer Centre Trust.

Alexia Pickering was a recipient of the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

Alexia Pickering was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to people with disabilities, in the 2005 New Year Honours.

Alexia Pickering died on 27 April 2017, aged 86, and was buried with her first husband at Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch.