A wild and ‘Woollies’ adventure

Great friends and Woolworths fans Pam McLeod and Val Johnson pose for a photo outside Woolworths Taupō South on Friday.

When Taupō’s Pam McLeod wants to go to Woolworths nothing stops her, not even her wheelchair.

Last Friday, the great grandmother and her good friend Val Johnson completed a 9.6km return trip to the southern end of town.

“I’ve been training Val and helping her to use her wheelchair. When I told her I was going she wanted to come too,” Pam says.

The pair set off after lunch, returning three hours later.

“We had a lot of fun. We talked to a lot of strangers and had a lot of laughs. We ended up talking to a young man who we asked to take our photo next to the Woolworths sign,” Pam laughs.

While the trip was more about sightseeing and socialising (this time), Val says she’s a huge fan of the store’s delicatessen, often buying cheese.

In their 80s and residents at St Johns Wood Care Centre, the women's bond continues to grow thanks to their electric wheelchairs.

“We’ve gone on short rides, but our trip to Woolworths was the furthest we’ve been together,” Pam says.

For Val, her friendship with Pam is a special one.

“She is amazing and I have so much respect for her.”

Helping people comes naturally to both women, who have contributed in many ways to the local Taupō community over the years.

Pam was the manager of the Taupō Women's Refuge for more than 30 years and helped many vulnerable women and children in their time of need.

It was a job she loved and allowed her to meet many people, former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who she considers a friend.

Pam’s outgoing and friendly nature is second only to her determination. Born prematurely at 25 weeks in 1945, Pam weighed just one pound (0.45kg).

“I spent the first few months of my life in Wellington Hospital and the Karitane unit wrapped in cotton wool as there were no incubators back then.

“But I survived.”

Suffering a stroke in 2020, Pam was told she was unlikely to walk or talk again.

“I had to train myself to walk and talk and now I can walk for about 30 minutes on a walking frame.”

But it’s in the wheelchair she feels the most confident exploring and looks forward to her adventures with Val.

‘I probably get myself into a bit of trouble,” she laughs, “but I’m not ready to die yet”.

With the opening of Woolworths new Taupō Central supermarket on Thursday 4 September on Spa Road, Val says she is excited to see it and test out how wheelchair friendly it is.

Pam, who has no qualms about calling herself the “ringleader” of them both, is equally excited.

“I still remember shopping at the old Woolworths in 1969 but the prices have changed a bit,” she laughs...I can’t wait to see the brand-new store.”

Woolworths New Zealand has invited both women to the official opening of the new central Taupō soon.