MRS VIV JONES

Viv arrived in New Zealand accompanying her husband, Allan, in 1979. Prior to this she had a very successful professional career as Personal Assistant to respective Managing Directors at Courtaulds in London; Partridge & Love in Bristol; Moore Stephens & Co. in Bermuda and Nestle in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

From 1979 until 1997 Viv followed a similar career path as Personal Assistant to John Todd of Todd Motors; Neil Tolerton of Fletcher Concrete, Laurie Margrain of Masport and Geoff Fletcher of BMW New Zealand. From 1997 until 2003 Viv travelled extensively with her husband throughout the Middle East, living in Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai and Oman. Upon her return to New Zealand she was appointed Personal Assistant to Professor Alistair Woodward, Head of the School of Population Health, University of Auckland. She held this position until enforced retirement as a result of wet macular degeneration when she moved to live in Mt. Maunganui.

Viv was appointed to the Steering Committee of Macular Degeneration New Zealand as a member of the MD community. Viv had been diagnosed with Wet Macular Degeneration and having been unsuccessfully treated with Avastin, was told her sight was irretrievable, and thus rapidly lost her independence, no longer being able to drive. Through taking a second opinion Viv was treated with a course of the drug Lucentis, and, in her opinion miraculously, regained her sight and thus her complete independence. She is passionate in wanting to educate the community at large and in particular the aged, thus making them aware of the importance of having the macula tested.