News archive — Autumn 2009
- Help our garden grow
- Chris hangs up dancing shoes
- Health check for families’ finances
- Long wait over for Tamatea family
- Family pays tribute to their ‘wee man’
- Wanganui family FundRAZOR
- Kawerau families pull together
- Phone appeal raises $80K
- Organic Surge founder empathises with families
- Meet our dedicated McFundraisers!
- 2009 a bonanza year for family dinners … and it’s only just begun!
- Supporters’ Christmas magic!
- Back in time with Jim Sullivan
- Honouring a very special legacy!
Help our garden grow
A group of students from Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland (pictured right) are the brains behind our new garden project due to commence later this year.
The girls had an idea to create something positive, outdoors, for sick children and their families staying at the House and so entered their idea into the BP Community Enterprise Project, winning a cash subsidy towards the garden. Palmers in Remuera was approached for support and immediately pledged $1,000 and their services to the project.
The garden will provide families with a peaceful outdoor space to sit and reflect or temporarily focus on something other than the illness of their sick child. For seriously ill children who often stay with their family in the House either during or between their treatments, this will also provide an extremely powerful antidote to the clinical environment of the hospital.
Our goal is to raise $40,000 to convert the outdoor area and we need your help! If you, your school, business or community group would like to help us fundraise for our family garden, please donate online, contact Rebecca on 09 303 1365 ext 876, or .
A special thank you to Diocesan School for Girls, Palmers Garden World in Remuera, and BP Oil NZ Ltd for getting this community project off the ground.
Chris hangs up dancing shoes
Dancing with the Stars has now come to a close. Sadly, Shortland Street’s Chris Hobbs and dance partner Kristie were knocked out of the third round but not before they helped to raise money for NZ’s three Ronald McDonald Houses — Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
After his elimination, a smiling Hobbs said he intended to keep dancing. “I have had the most amazing time, a brilliant time … I love it. I intend to keep doing it on a daily basis.”
Health check for families’ finances
Because everyone is finding it hard to make ends meet right now, our goal with this new support service is to ensure that if families are worried about their financial commitments they can discuss them with someone who understands.
Our pilot ‘Financial Health Check’ programme started at the House this month. SKYCITY Auckland Community Trust kindly funded the pilot which has taken us five months to scope, refine and recruit appropriate ‘expert’ volunteers and set up the systems and measures we required to ensure we could add even more value to families staying with us.
Every Wednesday evening (6pm to 9pm) families can discuss their situation with one of our four financially qualified volunteers.
It is important Mums and Dads think about their finances when they arrive, especially if they are going to be here for a long time and their income is reduced or unstable. Their sick children need them to be focused on the healing process, rather than being distracted by how to meet their financial commitments. As with one’s own health, early intervention when problems arise, always improves the outcome.
Long wait over for Tamatea family
After 2 years, Mya Tamatea, now 8, received her long awaited new kidney on 18th February. Coming around from her ‘op’ her first question to Mum and Dad was “can I go swimming now?” an activity she has been denied for so long.
More good news followed when the family were finally able to return home to Wanganui on 11th April. The Tamateas — Mum Kath, Dad Richard, Mya and her two brothers Jackson and Mason — were our longest stay (continuous) family having been with us for almost 2 years. Before heading home the Tamateas laid on a farewell dinner, cooking for families, staff, trustees and volunteers.
It’s been a long emotional rollercoaster for the Tamatea family, thankfully one with a wonderful outcome. We wish them all well and miss them dearly.
Dinner’s up! Mya and her Mum serve up at their farewell dinner.
Family pays tribute to their ‘wee man’
The Sidford family from Lower Hutt (read about their journey) organised a charity golf tournament on 16th March at the Hutt Golf Club to raise money for the three charities that helped them when their newborn son Riley was so sick. Sadly, Riley lost his battle and passed away on 25th September 2008 at just 11 weeks old.
Our very own David Smail, fresh from his NZ Golf Open appearance, and former All Blacks fullback Christian Cullen were amongst 9 guest players who were auctioned off to play in the tournament. The day finished with a dinner and another auction with Rodney So’oialo donating his 47th All Blacks test jersey. A round of golf with Michael Campbell in Sydney was also on offer. The event raised $48,000 for Life Flight Trust, Starship and Ronald McDonald House® Auckland. Thank you to Alastair and Amy Sidford and everyone involved with the Hutt Golf Club for making this event such an enormous success!
Wanganui family FundRAZOR
Over 100 people gathered outside Barber Town in Wanganui on 10th January to watch as 13 keen individuals lined up to have their heads shaved for a good cause.
The FundRAZOR event was organised by Richie Rio and his wife Riri, both close friends of the Tamatea family of Wanganui who are our longest stay family having arrived at the House in June 2007. Their daughter Mya is on the waiting list for a new kidney…Ê Read the Tamatea’s story
“Richie has done so much for our family,” says Mya’s mum Kath Tamatea. “He and his wife Riri also wanted to raise awareness of just how important it is to support the House and all it does for kiwi kids and their families.”
10 Prison Officers, one Police Officer and two members of the Tamatea family came forward to have their head shaved, after drumming up sponsorship by family, friends and colleagues.
A highlight of the day was Constable Dave Hiroti (pictured, third from left) presenting Mya with his bravery medal — what an honour!
Kawerau families pull together
Four Kawerau families who stayed with us recently joined forces over Christmas and showed some truly amazing community spirit. Tania Masters and her family were in the House while her son Patrick, 18, who suffers from severe Pierre Robin Syndrome, required an 8-hour operation to realign his spine. While at the House, Tania came across other Kawerau families whose children were also having surgery at Starship.
”After speaking with their parents, I found that they, too, were blown away by the treatment they received from Ronald McDonald House, and wanted to help fundraise or give a donation,” said Tania.
The Masters family together with the families of 12-year-old Mere Pomana, who had two heart valve transplants, Eddie Koia, 15, who also had spinal re-alignment surgery, and Tyler Huntington-Chong, who underwent neuro-surgery, all fundraised for the House at Kawerau’s Christmas in the Park. Entering a Ronald McDonald House float in the Santa Parade, on loan from the generous people at Whakatane McDonald’s, they raised funds through collecting donations and selling RMHA t-shirts designed by Patrick’s Dad.
“We are extremely grateful to the Christmas in the Park committee for supporting our effort,” says Tania. “Kawerau is an awesome place for fundraising.”
Phone appeal raises $80K
For the 4th year Southern Stars Charitable Trust and Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland held its annual telephone fundraising appeal in support of the House. Three performances of Santa’s Christmas Adventure packed out the Logan Campbell Centre just prior to Christmas.
The shows are primarily for disadvantaged children who wouldn’t normally have the chance to see live theatre. Local businesses and individuals are approached to pay for these children’s seats with a percentage of their donation coming to the House.
The 2009 shows were a huge hit and Downtown Rotary were able to present us with a whopping cheque for $80,000 in January! Thank you to Keith, Wayne and the team of Southern Stars as well as Downtown Rotary for another wonderful result.
Organic Surge founder empathises with families
Alan MacKenzie, a UK based entrepreneur, visited the House in February during his visit to NZ to launch his organic body care product range Organic Surge. His story was fascinating — his business in the UK endows several charities in Africa dedicated to the welfare of children whose lives have been affected by the prematutre loss of their parents — schools and orphanages.
Impressed by the House, and the work done by our staff and volunteers, Alan very generously made a $5,000 donation towards our increasing family transport needs (so we can better carry families from their offsite accommodation to the hospital) and also immediately replaced one of our oldest hardest-working dishwashers, and that’s not all! His company, along with their NZ distributor Regional Health, will be ensuring many of our arriving families will receive a welcome pack of their fine products!
This was the first time Alan had chosen to donate to a NZ charity, having been touched personally by childhood illness in his family he connected immediately with our families’ struggles!
Meet our dedicated McFundraisers!
Debi and Mark Rush are the franchisees of McDonald’s Queen Street, Downtown, Quay Street and Newmarket in central Auckland. They are great supporters of the House, several times a year delivering freshly cooked McDonald’s meals to all our families — no easy task when youÕve got 120+ mouths to feed!
Last year Debi came up with two new ideas to help our families in conjunction with PrintStop in Grafton. The first saw us receive 5,000 Happy Meal vouchers to welcome our families when they first arrive at the House. The second initiative ‘Donate a gift for the kids!’ involved setting up collection points around Auckland prior to Christmas so people could donate presents to the children who need to stay with us over the Christmas period. This was a great success and looks likely to be rolled out nationwide this coming Christmas.
A number of Mark & Debi’s keen crew also fundraised for us outside their restaurants during the 2008 Farmers Santa Parade in downtown Auckland. What a team!
2009 a bonanza year for family dinners … and it’s only just begun!
2009 is already looking to be the busiest Family Dinner year in the history of the House! In 2008 volunteer cooks treated House families to 95 dinners. Thanks to 9 new regular groups, 8 long serving groups and some special one-off participants, we can proudly say that 65 dinners are already booked in before July! That equates to a whopping 8,450 individual meals cooked in the first half of the year, making stressful days that little bit easier for our families.
Supporters’ Christmas magic!
A special thanks to all those who helped fill pillow cases with their generously donated gifts, making our 2008 Christmas party on 22nd December such a wonderful night!
Families, staff and trustees were treated to a fabulous Christmas feast thanks to our special ‘Home away from home’ Business Club member Tasman Insurance Consultants, whose dedicated team were at the helm of our kitchens. Thanks guys!
The evening was topped off with entertainment, face painting for the kids and of course Santa’s arrival which brought much laughter and sparkle to the faces of kids and adults alike.
Christmas day was not to be overshadowed either. Volunteers Sarah and Gavin Rennie put their culinary skills into action, cooking up a fantastic Christmas turkey lunch for families. For a full list of Santa’s helpers see recent supporters.
Back in time with Jim Sullivan
Bequest Society luncheon guests took a trip down NZ’s memory lane on 5th March, with oral historian Jim Sullivan.
Having worked as a broadcaster and writer for more than 40 years, Jim had many a tale to share — most amusing and memorable was one of Robert Muldoon’s last interviews where Jim quotes Muldoon as saying he would have done a few things differently if he’d had the chance again. Who would’ve thought!
Whether you’re a well known figure in New Zealand or not, Jim spoke of the importance people’s stories play in creating New Zealand’s history as we know it, without which so much of our heritage would be lost forever. Jim is more recently known for his Sounds Historical show on National Radio every Sunday evening from 8-10pm.
Diary this date: our next Bequest Society luncheon is taking place in the House at midday on Thursday 2nd July. Our guest speaker is The Mad Butcher himself, Peter Leitch. A long-time and generous supporter of the House, The Mad Butcher has fed hundreds of our families over the years through the supply of meat for our weekly Family Dinners.
If you would like to join us for lunch and find out more about the House and our Bequest Society, come along and please feel free to bring a friend or family member with you. To RSVP or request more information please contact Rebecca Shadwell on +64 9 303 1365 ext 876.
Honouring a very special legacy!
A second special mention and thank you to the late Mrs Eunice Jackson.
Having made a substantial bequest to our Trust in 2006 ($50,000) and again in 2007 ($500,000), her estate The Florence Heron Trust, named in memory of her mother has just recently been wound up. The RMH Auckland Trust was the very fortunate recipient of a further $260,000 as the residual distribution of her magnificent bequest.
These funds will be used to secure an offsite expansion site with a small proportion being earmarked as seed funding to the House’s planned endowment, allowing us to honour her generosity in perpetuity.
