Stars Thru Their Eyes 2003 on Saturday 30 August at the Sheraton Hotel in Auckland attracted ­”full houses” at both the lunch which was hosted by TVNZ’s Simon Dallow and Alison Mau and dinner which was hosted by TV3’s John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld. Both events were awesome and inspiring occasions where people with disabilities as young as nine years of age up to their mid-twenties were invited to interview well- known local and international celebrities of their choice.

A high energy dance by Splash Youth Dance Company and Sky City Cheerleaders started each event. It was brilliantly executed by 6 dancers, two of whom performed in their wheelchairs.

The highlights kept coming and the events produced interviews with local celebrities such as TVNZ’s Susan Wood , One News Presenter Judy Bailey , double amputee mountain climber Mark Inglis , Mike King , members from Nesian Mystik and Mikey Havoc . Shortland Street’s Waverley played by Claire Chittham was interviewed by Farhiya Ibrahim, a 16 year old Somalian refugee from Wellington High School who was flown to Auckland for the event.

Pre-recorded interviews included our very own Lord Of The Rings, Director Peter Jackson , who was interviewed by nine year old Anthony Jellyman, Lucy Lawless and one lucky interviewer, much to the amazement of mainstream news presenters who were present, got to interview Tom Cruise on the set of his latest made movie in New Zealand movie, The Last Samurai. This was, the audience was told by interviewer Lisa Friedrich’s live interview subject, Michael Galvin who plays Shortland Street’s Chris Warner, a warm up for his interview! Lisa Friedrich had also interviewed Tom Cruise

One of New Zealand’s finest Opera singers, Patricia Wright was interviewed live by 17 year old Rangitoto College StarJammer Ju Hyeon Han who then surprised the audience by inviting Patricia to join her in a duet from Mozart’s Marriage Of Figaro which was truly magnificent. Ju, who is blind, has already produced her first CD titled First Step. And if her performance with Patricia Wright is anything to go by, her first step is going to lead to some bigger ones in the future.

Neil Finn was interviewed by Takapuna Grammar Student Karl Owens and then joined Karl and Limitless Vision, a quartet of blind students from James Cook High School, singing Better Be Home Soon.

Cricketing legend Martin Crowe , who was interviewed by 16 year old Onehunga High School student Jonathan Heaps, donated to Project StarJam, a limited edition cricket bat signed by the late Australian cricketing great Sir Donald Bradman.

It was a truly awesome day.

and you can see photos from the show  here