Kerrin attended that great little school Opotiki College and when he left he took up a farm cadetship.This was followed by time in the bush dealing to possums and goats with fishing and diving for variation. When he emerged all this changed in the late 1980s when the combined weight of 2 forward packs dislocated his C4,5 vertebrae.
Time in the hospital and the Otara spinal unit followed then a return home to adjust to his disability.
The rugby community got behind him with charity matches but it was a difficult time as only 35 hrs of care were provided.
He now has full-time carers-- a result of being involved with a group of claimants taking court action against ACC.
He was introduced to mouth painting while at the Otara unit and pursued that interest through to where he is now an Official Mouth and Foot artist. He was one of 3 kiwis attending the 50th anniversary of Mouth and Foot artists in Barcelona.
Throughout his talk, Kerrin supported it with really interesting photos.
Today he lives on his lifestyle block, runs some stock and grows avocadoes and still finds time to get his kontiki out in the water.
We got the impression he doesn’t stay still very long