TOTARATALK MARCH 2017
your connection to Hospice tou hononga ki Hospice
LEADING BY EXAMPLE A personal connection with Totara Hospice gives Head Youth Ambassador Fangafua Po’oi passion and drive for her new role. This year marks a very special time for Year 13 student Fangafua Po’oi – it is her last year at school and her first year as Head Youth Ambassador for Totara Hospice – the next step in a very special connection with Hospice for her and her family. Fangafua helped with her first Totara Hospice event four years ago, the annual Long Lunch fundraiser. A self-described “people person”, the now 17-year-old enjoyed the work that went into staging Hospice’s biggest fundraiser of the year and continued to help out.
Fangafua takes over from previous Head Youth Ambassador Rosie Kennedy, and will now oversee the group of students aged 11-19 who help with fundraising and raising the profile of Totara Hospice in its local community. The programme began in 2013 and last year the team won the Youth Health Volunteer Award as part of the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, which recognises the contributions of volunteers to the health and disability sector. For Fangafua, there is the satisfaction of knowing her efforts are making a
I can’t wait to get out there and do more for Hospice at a different level with this new role. Just months later, her uncle became ill and went into Totara Hospice for care. She said it was at this point she understood the importance of what Hospice offers. “We could relate to the actual services that Hospice provided and got a better understanding of the importance of palliative care. From thereon we just had that connection with Hospice and have stuck with it ever since.”
real difference, but also the opportunities it brings her. “I love socialising with people older than me, because they are adults that we’re dealing with and serving; I love hospitality. The experiences that we gain from Hospice, meeting people from the corporate companies and learning how to talk to them is very beneficial as well.”
Part of her role as Head Youth Ambassador is to encourage other young people to join the programme, which she is passionate about, but says can require changing preconceptions about what Hospice is. “We say, ‘You know Hospices are more than just places that cater for people who may be terminally ill. They look after not just the wellbeing of the person going through that journey, but the family as well.” That family aspect is at the heart of one of her first events as Head Youth Ambassador. Fangafua is looking for sponsors for a ‘Kids of Hospice Day’, to help fund 75 children to attend a day at Rainbows End. “It’s for kids who have lost loved ones through Hospice to give them that day to get away, from not just reality, but to relate to people on the same level and just have fun and to create more connections and more friendships with other people, even in the youth programme as well.” She says her message for other people her own age is that you never know whether you will need Hospice. “My journey is a perfect example. Starting out helping with Hospice I didn’t expect any of my family members to need that palliative care, so I felt lucky at the end of the day… they offered that care for my uncle that our family couldn’t. I can’t wait to get
Head Youth Ambassador Fangafua Po’oi out there and do more for Hospice at a different level with this new role.” If you can help with sponsorship of the ‘Kids of Hospice Day’ or would like more information about the Totara
Hospice Youth Ambassador programme, contact Melinda Seal 09 640 0208 melinda.seal@hospice.co.nz
A WAY TO REMEMBER Are you looking for a unique and meaningful way to celebrate and honour your loved one? The new Walls of Aroha provide a special way to continue to remember someone you have loved - whilst helping Totara Hospice. They feature a a selection of ceramic art pieces from NZ artists that will be displayed around the exterior of the Hospice. Join us to view the first Wall of Aroha, offering you the exclusive opportunity to be one of the first to purchase a ceramic piece for your loved one. When:
Tuesday 11th April
Where: Totara Hospice South Auckland Time:
6.30 - 8pm
Tickets: $10.00 per person Book now at www.hospice.co.nz/wallsofaroha (under 16’s free) Refreshments and canapes will be served. Tickets are limited so book now. Enquiries contact: Emma - 09 640 0255
emma.northcott@hospice.co.nz
Totara Talk - your connection to Hospice // 01
FUN AND FUNDRAISING Celebrating a birthday milestone gave Clif Shaw the perfect fundraising opportunity. Turning 50 is a major event in anyone’s book and usually a good excuse for a celebration. For Clif Shaw, it was the ideal reason to cycle from Cape Reinga to Wellington and raise money for Totara Hospice in the process. “I enjoy bike riding, especially on the trails,” says Clif. “I turned 50 in September last year and thought ‘Well, I wouldn’t mind doing something extraordinary in my 50th year.”
Davis a 17 year old Youth Ambassador came and spoke to us about Totara Hospice. She’d lost her father and it was one of her first times making a speech. She spoke beautifully at our BNI breakfast meeting one morning and that inspired me.”
their behalf in lieu of Christmas presents – “…they were all rapt with that.”
Clif contacted Melinda Seal, the head
Already a regular rider, Clif stepped up his training a couple of months beforehand to ensure his body could cope with the hours on the bike. He and his riding partner planned their route using a mixture of cycle way tracks and quieter back roads, as they wanted to avoid busy highways.
Clif’s ride raised nearly $4000 for Totara Hospice and he is planning a South Island trip as the next stage.
If you say to your friends, ‘Look, I’m going to ride and raise some money’, then people think that’s pretty good...
He and a friend decided to ride the length of the North Island, with Clif’s 50th also marking a year since he’d had a hip replacement. He says cycling had helped his recovery. “I was finally starting to feel really good and I thought, ‘Why wouldn’t you do it [the ride] for a good cause?”
The Auckland-based business coach is part of BNI (Business Networking International) Metro, which supports Totara Hospice. Clif says his thoughts of fundraising were cemented by a very special guest speaker. “Ellen
of Fundraising, Sponsorship and Marketing at Totara Hospice, and she helped him to create his fundraising page on everydayhero.com “Then I just put on my little blurb and photo and threw the link on my facebook page. I went through my email database and sent it to everyone that I felt comfortable mentioning it to,” says Chris. He had donations from family, friends and business colleagues and also gave clients the option of taking part by donating on
The ride started at Cape Reinga on December 19th and finished at Parliament Buildings in Wellington on January 2nd. Clif says it was an incredible experience and one he would encourage others to try. “It was so enjoyable it felt like cheating. I met so many people, because you’re riding slowly through villages and people are waving out… you feel so much more engaged than if you were driving.”
Clif Shaw (BNI Metro) cycled from Cape Reinga to Wellington He says cycling is an opportunity to get out and about, whatever your level of ability. “If you want to do something extraordinary or just take a week and go for a ride somewhere then I think
it’s the best thing you can do, and if you say to your friends, ‘Look, I’m going to ride and raise some money’, then people think that’s pretty good.”
TREES OF REMEMBRANCE RAISES RECORD TOTAL! A huge thank you to Farmers Papakura, Manukau, Pakuranga and Botany, and to our community, for donating to our Tree of Remembrance appeal at Farmers stores in November and December. Your hard work and generosity raised a record total of $35,038 for Totara Hospice.
The Trees of Remembrance campaign in the community, combined with Farmers, raised an incredible $102,163 for Totara Hospice! This has exceeded the total raised in previous years and reflects the community’s support for Totara Hospice. Thank you to all the stores that hosted a Tree of Remembrance, to the many volunteers who manned the trees and of course to the community who gave so generously. Your support will help to ensure Totara Hospice can continue to provide palliative care services free of charge in your community.
UPCOMING EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS - Save the dates SUNRISE WALK 2017
Auckland Botanic Gardens, Sunday 26th March, 7:45am Join us for a fun 5km walk where you will be helping Hospice step by step. Buy tickets now at: www.sunrisewalk.co.nz
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
Totara Hospice, Thursday 13th April, 6-7pm Join us for an evening of remembrance for those who are forever present in our hearts. For more information or to RSVP contact reception 09 640 0025 reception@hospice.co.nz
AWARENESS WEEK APPEAL
15th - 21st May We are looking for volunteers to collect donations throughout South and South East Auckland during Hospice Awareness Week. If you can help please contact Emma 09 640 0255 emma.northcott@hospice.co.nz
LONG LUNCH 2017
It’s time for a South American Fiesta!, Sunday 15th October To book tickets go to www.eventfinda.co.nz/2017/hospicelong-lunch/auckland or contact Melinda 09 640 0208 melinda.seal@hospice.co.nz
02 // Totara Talk - your connection to Hospice
WALLS OF AROHA LAUNCH
Tuesday 11th April, 6.30-8pm Don’t miss the first opportunity to secure a special tile on our Walls of Aroha in memory of your loved one. To buy tickets go to www.hospice.co.nz/wallsofaroha. Enquiries contact Emma 09 640 0255 emma.northcott@hospice.co.nz
Wear shorts for Hospice on Wednesday June 21, 2017
LADIES LUNCH 2017
Totara Hospice, Friday 5th May, 11.45am-3pm Join Jo Seagar for lunch, book tickets at www.hospice.co.nz/ladieslunch. For more information contact Emma on 09 640 0255 or emma.northcott@hospice.co.nz z
SHORTS FOR HOSPICE 2017 Wednesday 21st June New for 2017! Support Totara Hospice by wearing shorts on the shortest day of the year! To register or for more information contact Renee 09 640 0280 renee.pickering@hospice.co.nz
ENTERTAINMENT BOOK
Order your 2017-2018 Entertainment Book or Entertainment Digital Membership. To order go to www.entertainmentbook. co.nz/orderbooks/97662m
Get your friends and workmates together and support Totara Hospice by wearing shorts on the shortest day of the year. Big shorts. Little shorts. Loud shorts. Life is short. Wear shorts for Hospice. To register or for more information email renee.pickering@hospice.co.nz
Life is short - live every moment! www.facebook.com/totarahospice
REGISTER NOW w w w.s u n ri s ew al k .co.n z
Totara Hospice volunteer Chris Ridley
A DRIVING FORCE
A love of driving and a desire to help is what keeps Totara Hospice volunteer Chris Ridley behind the wheel… It was a chance moment over jam that led Chris Ridley to become one of Totara Hospice’s dedicated volunteers – a role in which he finds a lot of satisfaction. Chris, who is in his 70s, lives in The Gardens with his wife, Maxine. He is a regular driver for Hospice and also helps out with parking at fundraising events and distribution of Christmas hams. The couple’s first contact with Totara Hospice came when Maxine’s mother received support there before she passed away from liver cancer. Chris was then primary caregiver for his mother before she too, died, aged 99. “By the time I got my breath back from all of those things I thought, ‘What can I do now?’ and my mind went to the place up the road,”
Now, Chris drives Totara Hospice patients to medical appointments around the South Auckland region, into the city and sometimes even further afield: “For a couple of years I’ve been taking a patient to Hampton Downs for what I call ‘The Bucket List game’ where they can go down and ‘fill their bucket’ full of things they wish they’d done. They can go up on a helicopter ride, or on the back of a motorbike, or in a racing car. They have a slap-up lunch and the volunteers have a pretty good time too – because when they’re out on the road we’re out on the road.”
Sunday 26 March 2017
But Chris also acknowledges the reality of his role. “I’ve been really enjoying it and sometimes become attached to the people. There was someone I was driving and all of
Adult Pass $35 | VIP Adult Pass (18+) $45 | Children 10 - 15 years $15 Children 9 and under FREE* (dogs can walk with you for free too!)
Helping Hospice step by step, remembering and honouring someone special you love... Auckland Botanic Gardens at 7:45am
*children (& dogs) must have a paid adult accompanying them
If you’re prepared to give the gift of your time then it is worth gold... says Chris. An unexpected encounter when he and Maxine went along to watch the annual Totara Hospice Sunrise Walk gave him his answer.
a sudden I’ve been told ‘She’s moved on to ambulance care’; she can’t go in a car. You recognise with regret, but you’ve got to be pragmatic.”
“There was a girl selling pots of jam,” explains Chris. “She was selling one for $5 and three for $10, but people were shying away from the three for $10 because she didn’t have any bags to put them in. So, we dived home, got some plastic bags and gave her a hand on the stall and her sales jumped.”
Drivers are always in demand at Totara Hospice, and Chris says it’s a great starting point for anyone with time on their hands. He has been volunteering for around four years and says it’s hugely rewarding. “You may give a bit but you get 110 per cent back, because the sense of satisfaction and usefulness coming out of a retiree being able to do something constructive and productive is overwhelmingly satisfying. If you’re prepared to give the gift of your time then it is worth gold.”
Chris says he got such enjoyment from helping that when he saw an application form for volunteer drivers at Hospice he signed up straight away. “I used to do a lot of driving… so thought I could put that skill to good work.”
One of the challenges we have at Totara Hospice is the maintenance of our property so we are looking for a team of amazing Hospice Property Angels, volunteers who can offer us a little time to help with various handyman jobs. Every month we have a list of jobs we need help with such as painting, water blasting, putting up shelves or fixing things.
Theme - colours of the Rainbow dress-up to win prizes!
If you would like to help Hospice, contact Volunteer Services on 09 640 0219.
We have a monthly job sheet online where people can put their name down if they can help with any of the jobs, without requiring an on-going commitment. Register to become a Hospice Property Angel by emailing renee.pickering@hospice.co.nz
Every quality pre-loved item you donate to our stores, and every purchase you make, you are helping to Make Hospice Happen in your community.
• Howick • Manurewa • Manukau • The Gardens • Takanini
61 Picton Street 153 Great South Road 29b Cavendish Drive Shop 2, 91-97 Charles Prevost Drive 198 Great South Road
09 534 1545 09 268 0211 09 263 5080 09 269 4472 09 297 7550
• Pakuranga
Aylesbury St, Pakuranga Plaza
09 576-2189
Totara Talk - your connection to Hospice // 03
CONVERSATIONS THAT COUNT from Tina McCafferty - Chief Executive
Greetings All, Kia ora tātou, Kia Orana, Talofa Lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa Lahi Atu, Ni sa Bula Vinaka, Namaste, Ní hăo, Hola! It has been a great summer period for Totara Hospice. We were privileged yet again to be supported by Farmers, our many volunteers and the Trees of Remembrance campaigns. The funds raised ($102,163) are directly invested into our Hospice services; continuing to help us keep on ‘making hospice happen’ across the range of services we provide for patients and their loved ones. From all of us at Totara – Thank you! Autumn is here and we are looking forward to our annual Sunrise Walk. Tickets are available now for the event on 26th March. Please come along
and share memories and laughter with other members of our fantastic community of South Auckland, get some early morning fitness in and enjoy the entertainment. As I observe the changes that the turn of the season brings I have also had cause to reflect on how things can sometimes change just so fast. Across my network of friends and family we have lost two people very suddenly and part of the grief of family members was being unsure of what their loved one would have wanted. Here at Hospice we encourage people openly to have a conversation with those
House of Travel Botany and Howick stores have been supporting Totara Hospice for over 10 years. They recently presented us with an amazing donation of $10,000 from their bi-annual quiz night!
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• A cleaning cart for our House Services team from Southern Hospitality (value $322)
If you can help us please contact renee.pickering@hospice.co.nz or 09 640 0280, please do contact Renee before purchasing. Thank you for your support
P.S. If you would like to know more, go to www.advancecareplanning.org.nz
The inaugural Light for Life fundraising dinner raised an amazing $35,000 with over 500 guests celebrating Diwali including Bollywood dancing, fine Indian cuisine and a live auction. We are thankful to Patel Pike and Don Ha Real Estate for helping to Make Hospice Happen in their community.
L-R Dr James Jap + Tina McCafferty THSA, Kanu Patel (Patel Pike), Don Ha (Top One Real Estate Ltd trading as Don Ha Real Estate), Jatin Patel (Patel Pike)
The teams that took part in the John Mallinson Testimonial Football Match
• $121 for a Karcher Window Vacuum from Mitre 10 Mega for cleaning windows indoors for our Property Maintenance team
• New small teddy bears/soft toys no bigger than 15cm high to be given out to children who have loved ones in the Hospice
Tina McCafferty Chief Executive
• Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate • Wiri Licensing Trust • Auckland Council – Manurewa • Four Winds Foundation
Thanks to the generosity of Pub Charity Limited, our specialist palliative care services can continue to be provided free of charge to the people of South and South East Auckland.
• A commercial blender for the In-Patient Unit kitchen - $1,165 for a Vitamix 1.4L – this is vital for many of our patients needing blended meals.
• Briscoes, The Warehouse and hardware store gift vouchers
Importantly this message is that everyone should have a conversation that counts. Have you thought about having your own?
• Ted and Mollie Carr Endowment Trust and Estate of Ernest Hyam Davis • Whitford Community Charitable Trust • Infinity Foundation
Are you able to donate any of the following items to support the work of Totara Hospice? Please contact Renee Pickering on 09 640 0280 before purchasing:
• Large candles and tea light candles
April 5th 2017 is Conversations that Count Day. The day aims to raise awareness about advance care planning to encourage people to think about, talk about and plan for their future and end-of-life care. Advance care planning is about exploring what matters to you when you near the end of your life. This information is shared with your loved ones and your health care team so treatment and care plans can support what matters and is most meaningful to you.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FUNDING ORGANISATIONS FOR YOUR GENEROUS GRANTS
OUR WISHLIST
• A garden centre voucher for 5 x bright plant holders to brighten up our Day Hospice entrance
This might include people and pets, your values and the ways you would like those caring for you to look after your spiritual and emotional needs. Having a plan is particularly important if you become too unwell to tell your loved ones and health care team what you want yourself. It’s an important gift for your loved ones as it can relieve the stress of them having to make decisions on your behalf.
We are so grateful to this group of footballers who held the John Mallinson Testimonial Football Match and raised an amazing $1,300 for Totara Hospice. A huge thank you to the organisers, Fencibles United AFC and to everyone who took part!
L-R Alison and Katrina from House of Travel, Totara Hospice CE Tina McCafferty and Karen from House of Travel
04 // Totara Talk - your connection to Hospice
closest to them about what their wishes will be i.e. what counts most to them.
YES! I would like to donate to help hospice support patients and their families. It’s easy to donate Donate online
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Visit www.hospice.co.nz and click on “Donate Now” please enter reference NL0317
Internet Banking
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ASB 12-3032-0715880-02 Particulars: Surname/Company Code: First Name Reference: NL0317
Call
(09) 640 0250
Please accept my donation of:
If you wish to pay via credit card:
❑ $20
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Mail the donation slip below to Totara Hospice PO Box 75560 Manurewa 2243
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lease send me information about including P Totara Hospice in my will.
Please make cheques payable to Totara Hospice. All donations over $5 are tax deductible - Charities Commission number: CC21683 The Privacy Act of 1993 requires us to advise you that we keep contact information of supporters on file to help us with fundraising. If you do not wish us to keep your information, please advise us. If you wish to check the details that we have on your file, you are welcome to enquire. Please notify us if you wish to be removed from our mailing list.