Tauranga Octogenarian Rides Again

Belle Harris had her faith in human nature restored when she was gifted an Invacare Pegasus mobility Scooter.

She can look back and laugh now, but when Belle Harris’s mobility scooter went missing from outside a Tauranga supermarket in early May, she certainly didn’t see the funny side.

The Tauranga great-great-grandmother was making her regular trip to Countdown in Greerton and parked her mobility scooter outside in its usual spot. But when she returned, her Ranger mobility scooter was gone, and in its place was a far shabbier one.

Belle was left with an “old clunker” whose ignition fitted her key. News of Belle’s misfortune spread and the Tauranga grandmother’s story appeared in the Bay of Plenty Times and The New Zealand Herald.

Police were initially puzzled by the apparent theft, but relished the challenge of tracking down the scooter.

After all, it’s not every day a mobility scooter is reported stolen –they’re not exactly a quick getaway vehicle, and the stolen one could only travel 10km before the battery ran out.

 “I couldn’t understand why anyone would take my scooter, unless they were being cheeky and going for a free upgrade. It was just a mystery.”

She made do with the inferior ride for a week, until Home and Health Mobility heard her story in the paper and offered her a free Invacare Pegasus mobility scooter.Company owner Gary Darkes, who was holidaying in Waihi at the time, said his business had serviced Mrs Harris' scooter for years, and he felt sorry for her when he heard about the missing scooter. Mr Darkes said the new scooter, valued at around $4500, was "head and shoulders" above the old one.

Mrs Harris agrees.

“It’s a beautiful machine,” she says.

Belle’s name has been marked on it and it has seen her go from a top speed of 7k/ph to 10km/ph.

“That’s fast enough for me” laughs Belle.

Unlike her previous scooter, the Pegasus has a locking mechanism and a unique key, which helps prevent it from being stolen.

Belle has gotten around using a mobility scooter for the last five years, after old age finally slowed the formally active octogenarian down.

She’s a regular around Tauranga, and uses her scooter to travel to the library, supermarket and the doctor.

“Having a mobility scooter means I have the independence to travel where I want to and not rely on someone else to take me there,” she says.

I gave up driving a few years ago when I realised I was getting too dependent on my nitrolingual spray. My son drove me around for a while, but I didn’t like being dependent on him.  For a while I was able to walk and tow a trundler, but that soon became too difficult as well.

Having independence when you get older is so important. You don’t like being a burden on people. Keeping my independence is one of the reasons I moved from Matata where my son lives, to Tauranga.”

As a result of media coverage, Belle has become a well-recognised face around Greerton. And despite the inconvenience of a week of bumpy rides, she’s found an upside in the response of people in the street.

“People smile when they see me in the street. It’s just lovely.”

Footnote: Belle’s original mobility scooter was returned when elderly man, Alfred Ellis, realised he had accidentally taken it. 

Mr Ellis read about Mrs Harris’ plight in the Bay of Plenty Times without realising he was the offender. When he returned to the Greerton supermarket, staff recognised the missing scooter and informed him of what had happened.

Mr Ellis went straight to the Tauranga Police Station, where he met Mrs Harris, and they exchanged scooters.

Fortunately both parties saw the humour in the situation.

Belle plans to donate her original mobility scooter to the Mt Maunganui RSA.