Di Goldsworthy With - Mercy Hospice Auckland
Di Goldsworthy With - Mercy Hospice Auckland
Di Goldsworthy With - Mercy Hospice Auckland
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“I saw very clearly the benefit to<br />
our family, not only medical care but<br />
that wonderful holistic support that<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> provides the families.<br />
It has been a most rewarding and<br />
fulfilling six years, I personally get so<br />
much out of it.”<br />
<strong>Di</strong>’s father, Jack Cooper was admitted<br />
to St Joseph’s <strong>Hospice</strong> (our name prior<br />
to our relocation in 2007) in 1981.<br />
“He was there for over 10 weeks<br />
and during Dad’s stay, Mum and I<br />
formed a close relationship with Sister<br />
Margaret Timms and the dedicated<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> staff. After Dad’s passing the<br />
Sisters and some of the nurses became<br />
regular visitors to my mother’s home in<br />
Papakura. Mother would look forward<br />
to these visits and enjoyed preparing<br />
delicious goodies for their morning or<br />
afternoon tea.”<br />
Eight years after her husband’s<br />
December 2009 Newsletter<br />
<strong>Di</strong> <strong>Goldsworthy</strong> with Sister Margaret Timms, taken at a ‘High Tea’ <strong>Di</strong> had<br />
recently to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her mother’s passing.<br />
Firsthand<br />
experience<br />
stirred a<br />
desire to<br />
give back.<br />
Volunteering for <strong>Hospice</strong> can be motivated by any number of reasons. For <strong>Di</strong> <strong>Goldsworthy</strong> it was firsthand<br />
experience of <strong>Hospice</strong> and their involvement with both her father and mother that stirred a desire to give back.<br />
death it became time for Kathleen<br />
(better known as Nan Cooper) to<br />
require hospice care.<br />
“Mum’s dream was to spend her<br />
last days under Sister Margaret’s care.<br />
I rang Sister and she simply said ‘Call<br />
an ambulance and bring her to me’.<br />
What more could we ask for.”<br />
<strong>Di</strong>’s daughter Nicola travelled in<br />
the ambulance with her Nan and <strong>Di</strong><br />
followed in her car. Having made many<br />
trips to St Joseph’s, <strong>Di</strong> was somewhat<br />
surprised when the ambulance driver<br />
turned left off the motorway and<br />
took a completely different direction<br />
to where St Joseph’s <strong>Hospice</strong> was in<br />
Mountain Road, Epsom.<br />
“All of a sudden we were<br />
travelling down Queen Street! I<br />
dutifully followed and eventually<br />
we made it to the <strong>Hospice</strong>.”<br />
On arrival <strong>Di</strong> questioned the<br />
ambulance driver about the detour<br />
and was informed that Mrs Cooper<br />
requested a last look at Smith and<br />
Caughey’s windows!<br />
“I had to laugh, that was Mum to a<br />
tee. She was such a character, tiny in<br />
stature, but very strong minded. I am<br />
sure the ambulance driver didn’t stand<br />
a chance. He simply did as he was told.”<br />
Sister Margaret welcomed her to the<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> by serving afternoon tea in<br />
fine china cups and dainty sandwiches<br />
with the crusts cut off, just as Nan<br />
Cooper would have expected.<br />
Nan was in St Joseph’s <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
care for just 10 days, during this time<br />
she celebrated her 74th birthday.<br />
<strong>Di</strong> <strong>Goldsworthy</strong> is a member of the <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
<strong>Auckland</strong> fundraising committee which organises<br />
events such as Shake It Up Baby, featured in this<br />
newsletter. The team also manned a table at the<br />
Strawberry Festival.<br />
Contents: New York Marathon | A Fitting Momento | “Shake It Up Baby” | Ellerslie Shop Moves | $17,000 - Love<br />
Heroic Gardens | <strong>Mercy</strong> History Wall | Remembrance Service | <strong>Di</strong>ary Dates | Thank Yous | Strawberry Festival
November was a month of milestones for many in the hospice, not<br />
least for the team who made a commitment early in 2009 to run the<br />
New York Marathon to raise both funds and awareness for the <strong>Hospice</strong>.<br />
Blisters and<br />
Angel Wings<br />
The team of thirteen<br />
was launched on June 25th after<br />
considerable discussion and personal<br />
thought. It was no light decision to<br />
make and would involve hours of<br />
training and a commitment to fundraising<br />
from each team member.<br />
Everyone paid their own way fully,<br />
but agreed to raise funds for <strong>Mercy</strong><br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong>.<br />
But as Jan Nichols describes it,<br />
“We all decided to run the marathon<br />
as a tribute to people whom we will<br />
never forget. The race was tough - but<br />
knowing what we know and having<br />
met the people we have, we knew<br />
that in the scheme of things it was a<br />
small battle in comparison. We ran by<br />
choice for people who have had<br />
experiences that were not their choice.<br />
We ran for people who have left us<br />
with an enormous sense of value and<br />
appreciation for the life we have.”<br />
It was these sentiments that got the<br />
team through, a mix of novice and elite<br />
runners, many of whom had never<br />
entered anything like this before, but<br />
all inspired to make a difference.<br />
Advice from a variety of fitness<br />
trainers, therapists and well-wishers<br />
assisted with the get fit programme, as<br />
did the advice and inspiration of team<br />
leader Viv James, our Opening Doors<br />
coordinator and experienced runner.<br />
2<br />
Sponsorship by companies such as<br />
2XU that provided training and race<br />
gear, Pasta Nostra, Sky City Cinemas<br />
and Glow Design all helped the team<br />
move forward.<br />
So November 1st dawned - a very<br />
early start, with buses to Staten Island<br />
at 5.45am. One of the world’s great<br />
road races, the 2009 New York<br />
Marathon attracted 43,471 contestants,<br />
before a crowd of over a million cheering<br />
spectators. It is as much a triumph of<br />
logistics as a race. Members of the<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> team left at different start times<br />
depending on their experience, and the<br />
last group didn’t begin running till 10.35.<br />
The team tell us that the race itself<br />
is an unforgettable experience.<br />
Nothing prepares you for the crowds,<br />
the enormous public support all along<br />
the way. When you enter 1st Avenue,<br />
you are met by an unforgettable roar,<br />
which you need for this avenue is very<br />
straight and very long. Even when<br />
Central Park comes into sight, it is<br />
deceptively far away with a gentle but<br />
not so easy undulation all the way<br />
along. By this time your muscles are<br />
really complaining.<br />
Not surprisingly, crossing the finish<br />
line in Central Park is said to be one of<br />
the great thrills of a lifetime. All 13<br />
runners managed to finish in very<br />
respectable although unofficial times<br />
ranging from 3 hours and<br />
5 minutes to 5 hours 29 minutes.<br />
A number of the team managed PBs<br />
and felt they ran with angel wings and<br />
that the people they represented were<br />
there with them urging them on.<br />
“The New York experience - the<br />
marathon and the city - is a once in a<br />
lifetime affair and there is truly<br />
nothing like it. On behalf of the <strong>Mercy</strong><br />
Marathon Team, I would like to thank<br />
all those who have helped us enjoy<br />
that experience through advice,<br />
assistance, sponsorship, messages of<br />
support and contributions.”<br />
Jan Nichols comments.<br />
In total, the team raised just over<br />
$70,000, all of which will go towards a<br />
staff education scholarship fund.<br />
* The full New York Marathon Team is<br />
listed on the ‘Thank Yous’ page later<br />
in this issue<br />
Mark Colthart, with the Inpatient Nurses,<br />
and Jan Nichols. Mark ran the <strong>Auckland</strong><br />
Marathon, achieving a personal best 4:07<br />
and raising a fantastic $9,677.50, the most<br />
money raised in that event.
A Fitting Momento<br />
Goldman Sachs JBWere is a corporate that doesn’t want to just write a<br />
cheque for a charity. They want to do their bit and that involves rolling<br />
up their sleeves and getting stuck in.<br />
Kathleen Fogarty (left) and Kirsten Muxlow of FHE Galleries with Clark Perkins and Amanda Howley (right) of Goldman Sach JBWere<br />
Earlier this year they embarked on<br />
a journey to find three charities to work<br />
with after a private equity fund<br />
matured and there were residual funds<br />
left over. Goldman Sachs JBWere<br />
wanted to put these funds to good use<br />
by supporting New Zealand charities.<br />
Project manager, Amanda Howley<br />
from Goldman Sachs JBWere says<br />
they wanted to assist the charities with<br />
something that was important for them<br />
to achieve.<br />
“It was all about making a true<br />
connection with the chosen charities,<br />
rather than posting off a cheque that<br />
would have little impact on our staff.”<br />
Charities were shortlisted and three<br />
charities were chosen; The Prostate<br />
Cancer Foundation of New Zealand,<br />
Sweet Louise and <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
<strong>Auckland</strong>.<br />
“After meeting with the <strong>Hospice</strong> we<br />
were thrilled with their suggestion to<br />
assist with purchasing artwork.”<br />
FHE Galleries were approached and<br />
came onboard with huge passion and<br />
enthusiasm for the project.<br />
“They were very keen to be a part<br />
of the project. Together we all worked<br />
with the <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> team<br />
discussing what might best suit their<br />
environment. It was such a team effort.”<br />
A decision was made to concentrate<br />
on the entrance of the building and the<br />
two main rooms; a meeting room and<br />
the hospice chapel.<br />
“Through FHE Galleries’ contacts<br />
and their vision, artists Chris Charteris<br />
and Emily Siddell became involved.<br />
The results are incredible.”<br />
Known for his Pacific Island links<br />
Clark Perkins<br />
(CEO of Goldman<br />
Sachs JBWere<br />
at the time)<br />
Chris Charteris has created exquisite<br />
pounamu light boxes. His Aroha<br />
installation has ensured the entrance<br />
to the chapel not only stands out but is<br />
a welcoming beacon for visitors as you<br />
enter through the main doors, while<br />
the Awhi piece radiates a calming energy.<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> CEO Jan<br />
Nichols says the work created by Emily<br />
Siddell is perfectly named.<br />
“It’s called Momento and is a series<br />
of ceramic leaves that cover our chapel<br />
walls. The chapel has been transformed.<br />
It is very simple and very effective.”<br />
Representatives from Goldman<br />
Sachs JBWere joined the hospice team<br />
for a blessing.<br />
“The people at <strong>Hospice</strong> are very<br />
special, we are incredibly lucky to have<br />
this sort of service in our communities.<br />
The people make it. It truly has been a<br />
pleasure to have played a small part in<br />
helping to create such a beautiful and calm<br />
environment for everyone who lives, works<br />
and visits the hospice. The experience<br />
has been very special and fulfilling for<br />
staff at Goldman Sachs JBWere.”<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> has personally touched a number of Goldman Sachs JBWere staff, including one of their own teammates - Doug Smaill. Doug was a<br />
much loved and admired team member of the company. Goldman Sachs JBWere would like to dedicate the beautiful <strong>Hospice</strong> artwork project to his memory.<br />
Let Them Eat Cake!<br />
They certainly will be! We have received record orders for cakes and puddings this year. A big thank you to everyone who<br />
has ordered and to all the volunteers who kindly pounded the pavement to distribute flyers. Don’t forget, there are still<br />
some cakes and puddings available from hospice reception. Contact Sandy McGregor 361 5966.<br />
3
4<br />
The Town Hall<br />
R o ck e d !<br />
Saturday 21st November will be long remembered by hospice staff, friends and<br />
associates and supportive businesses. Because that was the night of the hospice’s<br />
30th birthday at the wonderful <strong>Auckland</strong> Town Hall. ANd iT rocked!<br />
The origins of the evening lay in a<br />
desire to put on a special birthday as<br />
a thank you to all staff and volunteers<br />
for all their hard work over the past 30<br />
years. This happily coincided with fundraising<br />
committee member Cheryl<br />
Whiting’s idea to have a celebration in the<br />
Town Hall. Her efforts and connections<br />
helped make this possible. Special thanks<br />
to His Worship the Mayor John Banks<br />
for his support and to The Edge for their<br />
generosity and great assistance.<br />
Lesley Dawson and the fundraising<br />
team then developed a baby boomers 50s,<br />
60s and 70s theme, “Shake It Up, Baby”,<br />
a lot of which went on, on the night.<br />
A great deal more work behind the<br />
scenes with Ray Columbus and Larry<br />
Morris achieved a stunning line-up of<br />
artists, all of whom were Kiwi icons of<br />
the 60s and 70s.<br />
So to the night, and from the very<br />
beginning, it was clear it was going to<br />
be an evening to remember. Shouts of<br />
Ellerslie Shop Makes a Move<br />
Written by Sarah Moyes, reproduced with thanks to the East and Bays Courier.<br />
celebrate the baby boomer years with mercy hospice auckland<br />
delight could be heard as the 600 plus<br />
guests arrived in an array of 50s, 60s<br />
and 70s gear begged, borrowed, hired,<br />
or found in the dress-up box.<br />
The welcome Pimms immediately<br />
took everyone back to the good old<br />
days, especially after they entered the<br />
main hall, with its disco lighting and<br />
themed balloons.<br />
The night’s entertainment was<br />
incredible, kicking off with MC Frankie<br />
Stevens, and performers Larry Morris<br />
You no longer need a map to find<br />
the <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> shop in Ellerslie.<br />
It’s moved out onto the street and<br />
the bright signs are hard to miss.<br />
Store manager Amanda Killick says<br />
a lot of people didn’t know where the<br />
old shop was because it was hidden<br />
behind other businesses on Main<br />
Highway. “The location was good, but<br />
we had maxed out the client base,”<br />
she says. She believes the shop would<br />
have sold more if they had street<br />
frontage. The new shop, which is the<br />
largest of the six <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> shops<br />
in <strong>Auckland</strong>, has been relocated across<br />
the road to 188 Ladies Mile.
and his band, who also provided backing<br />
for Shane, Suzanne, Tom Sharplin and<br />
Ray Columbus. They were all received<br />
with huge enthusiasm and the dance<br />
floor remained packed all evening.<br />
Great choreography by the Candy Lane<br />
dancers on several songs added to<br />
the mood.<br />
The final set of the night was<br />
performed by Shane Cortese and the<br />
Class of ’58 which was a superb finale<br />
to an already great evening.<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> Ellerslie now sells<br />
electrical goods and furniture, as well<br />
as clothing, home-ware and much<br />
more. “We are always looking for more<br />
good quality products,” says <strong>Mercy</strong><br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> project manager<br />
Sarah Perry.<br />
“People come because they are<br />
supporting the <strong>Hospice</strong>, because the<br />
prices are excellent and because the<br />
shop is fantastic.” Mrs Perry believes<br />
the new shop will bring more people,<br />
especially because a free car park is<br />
just across the road.<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong>’s chief<br />
executive officer Jan Nichols says the<br />
Shake It Up, Baby was great fun,<br />
there was a huge amount of energy<br />
expended on the dance floor (which<br />
actually shook), and everyone went<br />
home buzzing, highly satisfied with<br />
their big night out. As spokesman Larry<br />
Morris commented, “It was a blast and<br />
we were all thrilled with the reaction<br />
we received from those there that very<br />
special evening”.<br />
Visit mercyhospice.org.nz to view and<br />
purchase photos of the night.<br />
hospice shops offer a way for people to<br />
give back to a very special service.<br />
“We currently need to raise more<br />
than $2 million net each year to keep<br />
our community and inpatient services<br />
operating.” She says the shops also<br />
help <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> connect with the<br />
community in a positive way.<br />
The new <strong>Mercy</strong><br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> Ellerslie<br />
shop at 188<br />
Ladies Mile<br />
opened for<br />
business on<br />
November 28th.<br />
Maria, Amanda & Sarah<br />
Special thanks must be extended to the<br />
sponsors - Barfoot & Thompson, The edge,<br />
AppServ, Austins, The New Zealand Herald<br />
and NorWest Advertising.<br />
Also to all the performers. Also Marbecks,<br />
Walker & Hall, Mollies Boutique Hotel and<br />
Frances davies of the international Art<br />
centre, for their generous contribution<br />
of raffle prizes.<br />
Thanks also to the hard-working fundraising<br />
committee - cheryl Whiting, di <strong>Goldsworthy</strong>,<br />
Luna cameron, cyndy Hendry, christina<br />
cairns, Jillian Bashford, Stephanie Tattersfield,<br />
Alma Sax, Penny clydesdale & Lesley dawson.<br />
Also Sara o’Brien for managing the<br />
performers so well, out the back.<br />
Thanks to the fabulous support and generosity of the<br />
following who have helped with the fitout of our new<br />
Ellerslie shop: Patrick Moyne, Shears & Mac4 / Pat Coll,<br />
Coll Electrical Ltd / Shaun Bartlett, Godfrey Hirst Carpets /<br />
Dean Stuart, Total Supply Ltd / Joel Tetro, Sign of the<br />
Times Ltd / Leigh <strong>Di</strong>xon, Planit Design / Grant Nicoll,<br />
National Glass / Leanne Selwood, A E Tilley Ltd / Karen<br />
Valder, Commercial Office Equipment Ltd / Nathan<br />
Takau, Aluminium Security Doors & Screens / Stan<br />
Murphy, Swinnock Industries Ltd / Sunil Kumar, A1<br />
Cleaners / Brett Webster, Fire Control Services Ltd /<br />
George Martin, Global Bizpro / Robert Faasse, Fox<br />
Faasse & Baddock Ltd / Andrew Flint, Surplus Traders Ltd /<br />
Bruce Woodman, Aegis Ltd / Leonard St James<br />
Vander Vlis, Ullrich Aluminium Company / Andrew<br />
Brown, Connect NZ Ltd / Craig Mathieson, Armstrong<br />
Smarter Security / Brett Mattson, W. Mattson Ltd /<br />
Peter Jolliffe, J. R. Webb & Son (1932) Ltd / Karen<br />
Warman, Resene Paints / Paul Wilson, Faulkner Collins /<br />
Karen Jennings, Checkpoint Security Systems Ltd /<br />
Ian Cooke, Glass Arts / David Perry, Buddle Findlay<br />
Barristers & Solicitors. Amanda Killick also thanked the<br />
whole Ellerslie business community for its support,<br />
particularly Rennells Jewellers & Engravers,<br />
Gemmell’s Footwear and Ellerslie Eyecare.<br />
5
6<br />
Heroic Gardens Festival<br />
6th-7th March 2010<br />
The Heroic Gardens Festival has<br />
chosen <strong>Hospice</strong> NZ and the hospices<br />
of the <strong>Auckland</strong> region as the<br />
beneficiaries of this fabulous two day<br />
garden festival for a second year<br />
running. This event raised $30,000 for<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> in 2009 and promises an even<br />
bigger and better festival for March<br />
2010. At the time of going to print, 28<br />
gardens are confirmed as participants<br />
including both small city and large<br />
country gardens, the Rannoch<br />
Sculpture Forest and the Kelliher<br />
Estate on Puketutu Island. This festival<br />
has plenty of subtropicals, dramatic<br />
foliage and architectural delight.<br />
It showcases <strong>Auckland</strong>’s summer<br />
life-style and generally provides an<br />
inspiration for visitors.<br />
Tickets are $30 each and all ticket<br />
sales go to <strong>Hospice</strong>. Tickets and<br />
programmes will be available from 1st<br />
February 2010. The programme will<br />
be published in the February issue of<br />
NZ Gardener and will also be available<br />
at garden centres and selected retailers,<br />
Wish List: •Foosball Football Table<br />
•<br />
White wine, especially Chardonnay<br />
Photocopy paper<br />
Table cloths<br />
OPENINGDOORS<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> and www.heroicgardens.org.nz<br />
Christmas Gift Vouchers for tickets<br />
are available through <strong>Hospice</strong>. We will<br />
send to your chosen recipients, the<br />
programme and actual tickets closer<br />
to the event. Contact Verity at <strong>Mercy</strong><br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> on 361 5966 to<br />
purchase your tickets, which can also<br />
be purchased at the gate on the day.<br />
Or pay $5 per garden that you visit.<br />
Additional volunteers to help on<br />
gates are welcome, please contact<br />
Verity if you would like to assist.<br />
The Pat McKenzie Memorial Tennis Tournament took place on Friday 4th September and raised<br />
close to $17,000 towards the palliative care services of the <strong>Hospice</strong>.<br />
Players participated in a doubles tournament which<br />
meant there were many happy winners to take home<br />
prizes. Tennis players and spectators also participated<br />
in a live auction where a painting by New Zealand<br />
artist, Helena Blair sold for $2,000, and where<br />
“nothing” sold for $200. To sweeten things up there was<br />
an array of delicious jams and chutneys available for<br />
sale and Christmas cake from The Great New Zealand<br />
Christmas Cake Co. to sample and buy for Christmas.<br />
Volunteer and Event Coordinator for this tournament,<br />
•<br />
Boxed or loose chocolates for special celebrations<br />
Cotton balls, nail polish remover, nail files and a Therapist<br />
to donate a few hours a week - please contact Julie Reid<br />
Sue Rowell was most impressed with the generosity<br />
from the sponsors, players and spectators and is<br />
delighted with the amount raised.<br />
As there simply isn’t room to thank all our sponsors and<br />
helpers by name we would like to thanks those who<br />
sponsored courts - ARA Lodge, Ariadne Marinas<br />
Oceania Pty Ltd, Astor Construction, Barfoot & Thompson<br />
Real Estate, Coll Electrical, Red Bull and Walker & Hall,<br />
and everyone else who helped to make this such a<br />
successful day.
History Wall tells<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong>’s <strong>Hospice</strong> Story<br />
In August <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> marked its 30th birthday with an open day for families and friends, offering a chance to<br />
inspect the newly installed history wall which tells the story of <strong>Mercy</strong>’s ongoing care for those with life-limiting illnesses.<br />
“Modern palliative care has made<br />
huge advances” says Sr Margaret<br />
Timms, “and <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong><br />
is among the leaders in the field. But<br />
the foundations were laid by our<br />
pioneer sisters who established the<br />
Mater in 1900. We stand today on<br />
their shoulders.”<br />
Combining text and photos, the<br />
five-metre wall is made from a series<br />
of scrolls, woven through vertical rods.<br />
The weaving concept was developed<br />
to illustrate the intertwining of the<br />
many threads of the story.<br />
It also reflects the link with the<br />
cloak that gives the hospice its Maori<br />
name, Te Korowai Atawhai.<br />
A koru design derived from the<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> logo visually links and focuses<br />
on the bronze by Gael O’Leary,<br />
originally cast for <strong>Mercy</strong> Hospital,<br />
which traces the ministries brought by<br />
the Sisters of <strong>Mercy</strong> from Ireland to<br />
New Zealand and the Pacific.<br />
Nurse Manager, Julia Thomson,<br />
who is also on the hospices’ mission<br />
team, says plans for the wall began to<br />
take shape after <strong>Mercy</strong> Hospital was<br />
sold in 2001. “There was a feeling that<br />
the history of the hospice would be<br />
lost unless there was a concerted<br />
effort to capture it.<br />
After we moved to College Hill<br />
it seemed timely to put something<br />
together for our 30th anniversary.”<br />
At that point, Penny Clydesdale<br />
and Warren Bott of NorWest<br />
Advertising were briefed to develop<br />
the concept for the wall. Penny<br />
worked with a number of the Sisters<br />
of <strong>Mercy</strong>, to identify strands of<br />
the story, among them archivist Sr<br />
Marcienne Kirk, Sr Margaret Timms<br />
and Sr Rita Vessey, a former Sister<br />
Administrator of <strong>Mercy</strong> Hospital. Penny<br />
comments, “It was fascinating to<br />
unravel the key steps in the <strong>Hospice</strong>’s<br />
history with the Sisters. Delightful<br />
material such as Sr Philomena’s diary<br />
of the Sisters’ first voyage to New<br />
Zealand in 1831, the original of which<br />
is still safely stored in the archives,<br />
shed interesting and often humorous<br />
light on the subject.”<br />
Back from a pilgrimage to Baggot<br />
Street earlier this year, hospice CEO<br />
Jan Nichols brought her own sense of<br />
the <strong>Mercy</strong> story.<br />
The final history was then<br />
transformed into the wall design by<br />
Penny and Warren, which was then<br />
installed with the generous assistance<br />
and manpower of Espies Ltd.<br />
“The whole concept has turned<br />
out very well”, Julia comments, “with<br />
a good response from the sisters and<br />
other guests who visited on our recent<br />
open day and felt the wall helps to<br />
capture the legacy of <strong>Mercy</strong>.<br />
The history wall provides everyone<br />
involved here - staff, volunteers and<br />
patients - with a sense that they<br />
belong to something extraordinary,<br />
which has grown and continued to<br />
evolve for over 180 years.”<br />
Penny Clydesdale, NorWest Advertising<br />
with Sr Teresa Anderson<br />
7
8<br />
I have been very aware this year of the number of eating places - hotels and<br />
the like - who have advertised Christmas <strong>Di</strong>nners and invited the public to<br />
“book soon” for these events. Perhaps for the cook or chef in the family,<br />
having the Christmas dinner prepared and served would be a great attraction.<br />
For others there is no cosy home, or larger family gathering; those living alone<br />
may well wish for more company at the meal table, once a year at least. Other<br />
people may desire, or need, a change; something different this Christmas to<br />
help face their altered personal circumstances for this seasonal celebration.<br />
Along with all the other celebrations of the season ‘Christmas <strong>Di</strong>nner’ is often<br />
a major event, with its own traditions and family customs. <strong>Di</strong>fferent cultures<br />
and religions place a lot of emphasis around the hospitality of the meal;<br />
offering and preparing food, then the fellowship of eating and drinking<br />
together. Sharing food draws people closer, it can create a special kind of<br />
intimacy where strangers become friends and memories are created.<br />
This Christmas we will recall those who have sat and shared with us in past<br />
years. In your remembering, you may wish to name these you love aloud, or<br />
silently in your hearts and minds. Say their name(s), and maybe raise a glass<br />
and give thanks for all you shared.<br />
Mealtimes can become a special time of remembering, and<br />
Christmas perhaps even more. I trust your Christmas will be<br />
blessed with good memories as you observe the feast this year. I<br />
hope you are able to create new memories this Christmas for the<br />
years ahead.<br />
Remembrance Service<br />
Join us for our<br />
Christmas Remembrance Service<br />
This will be held in the <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
61 College Hill, Ponsonby<br />
Thursday 17th December 7pm<br />
This is an opportunity for family and friends to<br />
gather for a time of reflection and to honour<br />
the memory of those who have died.<br />
We look forward to welcoming you.<br />
Shalom (peace)<br />
Robert Matthews,<br />
Pastoral care Coordinator, <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong><br />
Some of you may not be able (or wish)<br />
to join us for this Remembrance<br />
Service. You can however remember<br />
a loved one through our New Zealand<br />
Christmas Memories Tree on our<br />
website. Visit mercyhospice.org.nz to<br />
buy a Pohutakawa memory blossom in<br />
the name of your loved one.<br />
Don’t forget, this year as always we<br />
will have our Remembrance Trees at<br />
selected shopping malls.
What is Quality?<br />
William Foster stated that quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere<br />
effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.<br />
In 1992 when St Joseph’s <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
was part of <strong>Mercy</strong> Hospital we<br />
undertook our first Accreditation<br />
Survey. Since that time we have been<br />
surveyed every three years. These<br />
surveys highlight the areas we excel in<br />
but they also identify areas that we<br />
can improve on. As we work on these<br />
opportunities for improvement so<br />
we build on our Quality foundations.<br />
Quality, whilst being the fabric of<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> requires<br />
constant commitment behind the<br />
scenes to make it happen. Our<br />
commitment to Quality is significant.<br />
Our Quality Committee meets monthly<br />
and our Quality Manager oversees our<br />
project teams. To hone our skills we enter<br />
December 2009 Newsletter<br />
<strong>Di</strong> goldsworthy with Sister Margaret Timms, taken at a ‘High Tea’ <strong>Di</strong> had<br />
recently to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her mother’s passing.<br />
? ?<br />
? ?<br />
Firsthand<br />
experience<br />
stirred a<br />
desire to<br />
give back.<br />
?<br />
?<br />
? ?<br />
Volunteering for <strong>Hospice</strong> can be motivated by any number of reasons. For <strong>Di</strong> <strong>Goldsworthy</strong> it was firsthand<br />
experience of <strong>Hospice</strong> and their involvement with both her father and mother that stirred a desire to give back.<br />
“I saw very clearly the benefit to death it became time for Kathleen ambulance driver about the detour<br />
our family, not only medical care but (better known as Nan Cooper) to and was informed that Mrs Cooper<br />
that wonderful holistic support that require <strong>Hospice</strong> care.<br />
requested a last look at Smith and<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> provides the families.<br />
“Mum’s dream was to spend her Caughey’s windows!<br />
It has been a most rewarding and last days under Sister Margaret’s care. “I had to laugh, that was Mum to a<br />
fulfilling six years, I personally get so I rang Sister and she simply said ‘Call tee. She was such a character, tiny in<br />
much out of it.”<br />
an ambulance and bring her to me’. stature, but very strong minded. I am<br />
What more could we ask for.”<br />
sure the ambulance driver didn’t stand<br />
to St Joseph’s <strong>Hospice</strong> (our name prior <strong>Di</strong>’s daughter Nicola travelled in<br />
to our relocation in 2007) in 1981. the ambulance with her Nan and <strong>Di</strong><br />
“He was there for over 10 weeks followed in her car. Having made many <strong>Hospice</strong> by serving afternoon tea in<br />
and during Dad’s stay, Mum and I trips to St. Joseph’s, <strong>Di</strong> was somewhat fine china cups and dainty sandwiches<br />
formed a close relationship with Sister surprised when the ambulance driver with the crusts cut off, just as Nan<br />
Margaret Timms and the dedicated turned left off the motorway and took Cooper would have expected.<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> staff. After Dad’s passing the a completely different direction to Nan was in St Joseph’s <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
Sisters and some of the nurses became where St. Joseph’s <strong>Hospice</strong> was in care for just 10 days, during this time<br />
regular visitors to my mother’s home in Mountain Road, Epsom.<br />
she celebrated her 74th birthday.<br />
Papakura. Mother would look forward “All of a sudden we were<br />
travelling down Queen Street! I<br />
delicious goodies for their morning or dutifully followed and eventually<br />
afternoon tea.”<br />
we made it to the <strong>Hospice</strong>.”<br />
Eight years after her husband’s On arrival <strong>Di</strong> questioned the<br />
<strong>Di</strong>’s father, Jack Cooper was admitted<br />
to these visits and enjoyed preparing<br />
? ? ?<br />
?<br />
? ?<br />
? ?<br />
a chance. He simply did as he was told.”<br />
Sister Margaret welcomed her to the<br />
<strong>Di</strong> <strong>Goldsworthy</strong> is a member of the <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
<strong>Auckland</strong> fundraising cimmittee which organises<br />
events such as Shake It Up Baby, featured in this<br />
newsletter. The team also manned a table at the<br />
Strawberry Festival.<br />
New Newsletter<br />
Name<br />
quality innovation awards. Particularly<br />
recognised has been our Day Stay<br />
programme (Opening Doors).<br />
Your contribution is important to<br />
us. We take your feedback and any<br />
complaints very seriously and we work<br />
on all of your issues to improve the<br />
quality of the care we provide. To raise<br />
the bar even higher we are working with<br />
the NZ Business Excellence Foundation<br />
to take Quality to a new level. This<br />
international framework gives us the<br />
opportunity to benchmark against the<br />
best in the world and we will keep you<br />
informed of our progress. We are very<br />
fortunate to have wonderful links to<br />
world class health care providers who<br />
help and support us on our way. We<br />
A good number of names were<br />
entered into our “Name the<br />
Newsletter” competition.<br />
Thank you to all those who put<br />
their thinking caps on. The final<br />
selected title will stay under wraps<br />
until the February 2010 issue.<br />
Contents: The Prime Minister’s Second Visit | Garden Sanctuary | Marathon Update | Celebrating 30 Years<br />
Strawberry Festival | Opening Doors | <strong>Di</strong>ary Dates | Wish List | Thank Yous | Earlybird Christmas Shopping<br />
As<br />
always,<br />
we will have<br />
our remembrance<br />
trees in 4 of <strong>Auckland</strong>’s<br />
shopping malls 277<br />
on Broadway, St Lukes,<br />
Eastridge and Royal Oak.<br />
For a donation, you can select a bauble,<br />
write the name of the loved one you<br />
wish to remember and hang it on the tree.<br />
REMEMBRANCE<br />
TREES<br />
would particularly like to thank NZBEF<br />
for their sponsorship.<br />
“Quality is not an act,<br />
it is a habit”. Aristotle<br />
To give your feedback please click<br />
the feedback icon on our website.<br />
Or write to our CEO at PO Box<br />
47693, Ponsonby.<br />
Moving in with Old Friends<br />
In September <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong>’s inpatient unit was relocated<br />
for a total of ten days. Intensive corrective work was needed<br />
on our floors - a daunting task.<br />
This was made easier by <strong>Mercy</strong>Ascot Hospital who offered us<br />
a full ward for a two week period while surgeons were on leave.<br />
The location was new for us - Ascot Hospital in Greenlane,<br />
but many of the people and services were familiar from our<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> Hospital days. Catering, cleaning, pharmacy,<br />
security and other support were all provided by Ascot staff<br />
who were extremely accommodating and welcoming.<br />
We value the tradition of collegiality and service with<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong>Ascot Hospital, built over many years and wish to<br />
thank them again for their invaluable assistance.<br />
Get your running<br />
shoes on for <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
Sign up for the Round the Bays 2010, Sunday 14th March<br />
and run for <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong>.<br />
If you’re interested in running/walking for us and raising<br />
funds, please contact Verity on 361 5966.<br />
For information about the actual event<br />
visit www.roundthebays.co.nz<br />
9
<strong>Di</strong>ary Dates:<br />
EVERY TUESDAY at 10.30am -<br />
Bereavement Team Walking Group<br />
Please telephone the <strong>Hospice</strong> reception<br />
on 361 5966 if you are interested.<br />
OPENINGDOORS<br />
OPENING DOORS<br />
EVERY TUESDAY - 10am to 2pm<br />
WEDNESDAY - 10am to midday<br />
Our Day Stay programme at the <strong>Hospice</strong>,<br />
61 College Hill, Ponsonby. Contact Viv<br />
James for more information on 361 5966.<br />
CANDLE LIGHTING SERVICE<br />
Every Wednesday at Midday<br />
Held in the chapel at the <strong>Hospice</strong>,<br />
61 College Hill, Ponsonby.<br />
DECEMBER<br />
Thursday 17th.<br />
Remembrance Service<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong>,<br />
61 College Hill, Ponsonby,<br />
7pm.<br />
FEBRUARY 2010<br />
Sunday 7th<br />
Sunday Club Bereavement Support Group<br />
St Peter’s Anglican Church, cnr Church St &<br />
Onehunga Mall between 3.00pm and 4.30pm.<br />
Please phone the <strong>Hospice</strong> reception for more<br />
information on 361 5966.<br />
MARCH 2010<br />
6th-7th<br />
Heroic Gardens Festival.<br />
A number of beautiful gardens.<br />
See the article earlier in this issue.<br />
Sunday 14th<br />
Round the Bays<br />
Run for <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> - see the<br />
article earlier in this issue.<br />
Date to be confirmed<br />
Garden Party, Florence Court, Epsom<br />
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities<br />
and donations of prizes please contact<br />
Lesley Dawson 2376 7571.<br />
10<br />
Thank<br />
Yous<br />
• ARA Charitable Trust for their<br />
recent and continued sponsorship<br />
of our hospice fundraising events<br />
• ASB Community Trust for funding<br />
towards essential operating and<br />
equipment costs<br />
• CR Stead Trust for a contribution<br />
towards petrol costs for our fleet<br />
of motor vehicles<br />
• The Holzer Trust and Les Wood<br />
Masonic Trust for their contribution<br />
towards operating costs<br />
• Four Winds Foundation for funds<br />
to purchase stackable chairs<br />
• Community Post who recently<br />
provided us with 1,000 free<br />
envelopes<br />
• Mt Wellington Foundation for<br />
their contribution towards salaries<br />
of 2 community nurses working in<br />
the Mt Wellington, Glen Innes,<br />
Tamaki and Ellerslie areas<br />
• The Maurice Paykel Charitable<br />
Trust for their contribution<br />
towards meals for patients in the<br />
inpatient unit for six months<br />
• The New Zealand Community<br />
Trust for their contribution<br />
towards operating costs<br />
• The William & Lois Manchester<br />
Trust for their continued support<br />
• Rotary Club of Newmarket for the<br />
funds to purchase a television for<br />
our family lounge and a specialised<br />
electric lift chair for one of our<br />
inpatient rooms<br />
• Ted & Mollie Carr Endowment<br />
Fund for their contribution<br />
towards clinical staff salaries<br />
• Redwood Charitable Trust for their<br />
continued support of our services<br />
through grant funding<br />
• Vodafone NZ staff who raised<br />
$2,925.40 from the hat day they<br />
organized in memory of a<br />
staff member<br />
• New World Victoria Park and<br />
Remuera stores for donating<br />
grocery vouchers and selling<br />
Strawberry Angels<br />
• Epsom Girls Grammar for organising<br />
a fundraising Op Shop market day<br />
• St Cuthberts College $696.90 -<br />
Year 12 Mufti Day and Glendowie<br />
College $1,606.60 - Mufti Day<br />
• New York Marathon Team -<br />
Jan Nichols, Viv James, <strong>Di</strong>anne<br />
Cochrane, Toni Edwards, June<br />
McCathie, Kristy Robertson, Ruth<br />
Jillings, Tim James, Simon Cochrane,<br />
Derek Meyer, Geoff Watson,<br />
Amanda Trail and Tony Banks
Strawberry Festival<br />
Strawberries – sweet, red, juicy - a symbol of new life and ‘living every moment.’ What better way to celebrate<br />
spring and the arrival of the festive season than a taste of these gorgeous berries?<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> was<br />
delighted to host the inaugural<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> Strawberry Festival in the<br />
heart of <strong>Auckland</strong> City. This was part<br />
of a national event for <strong>Hospice</strong> with<br />
13 hospices around the country<br />
participating in the fundraising effort.<br />
On the day of the festival <strong>Auckland</strong><br />
City commuters were welcomed to the<br />
event in style by the “Strawberry<br />
Angels” and invited to chill out and<br />
enjoy their strawberries and ice cream<br />
in the afternoon sun. QEII square was<br />
transformed into a festival atmosphere<br />
with music, live entertainment,<br />
marquees and a café setting providing<br />
a welcome place to relax for city<br />
office workers.<br />
Fundraiser Verity Lee Sang says the<br />
inaugural event had a great response<br />
from the public and was a fantastic<br />
opportunity to raise awareness of<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong>.<br />
The tables were manned by volunteers<br />
from BNZ, House of Travel, Air New<br />
Zealand, Vodafone and Crockers who<br />
dished up over 2,000 serves of spring<br />
strawberries and ice cream topped off<br />
with strawberry syrup.<br />
<strong>Auckland</strong> Mayor John Banks joined<br />
the festivities at lunchtime and made<br />
a few sales - as well as having a taste<br />
himself, though he admits he enjoyed<br />
the ice cream the most. “I have been<br />
supporting the <strong>Hospice</strong> movement<br />
all my life, it is one of the great<br />
caring charities in this country.”<br />
said Mr Banks.<br />
Also on sale were fresh strawberry<br />
punnets, strawberry plants, strawberry<br />
tarts, Christmas cakes and the collectible<br />
<strong>Hospice</strong> Strawberry Angel Christmas<br />
decoration which you can purchase<br />
too, at the locations listed below.<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> acknowledges<br />
the generous support of sponsors that<br />
Mayor John Banks with some of the fundraising team Three “Strawberry Angels”<br />
Only<br />
$10!<br />
helped make the success of this event<br />
possible. Special mention must go to<br />
PSIS Onehunga and <strong>Auckland</strong> City<br />
branches for sponsoring all the festival<br />
marketing materials, Tip Top for<br />
providing the yummy ice cream,<br />
Carlton Party Hire, Town and Country<br />
Marquee Hire, Ripe Deli for their<br />
gorgeous strawberry tarts, AUT PR<br />
students and all those who distributed<br />
flyers and posters on the day.<br />
“The generosity of all those<br />
involved will be appreciated by many<br />
patients and their families through the<br />
services that can be provided with<br />
these funds,” says <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong><br />
<strong>Auckland</strong> CEO, Jan Nichols.<br />
In all $22,482 was raised from the<br />
event with additional sales of<br />
Strawberry Angels expected to take<br />
this total well over $30,000.<br />
2009 <strong>Hospice</strong> Collectable<br />
Strawberry Angels<br />
The star of our 2009 Strawberry Festival and one of what will be an annual collectible<br />
Christmas tree decoration, our Strawberry Angel is just $10. To purchase yours, visit any<br />
one of our <strong>Hospice</strong> Shops - Blockhouse Bay, Ellerslie, Mt Eden, Pt Chev and Royal Oak<br />
or New World Victoria Park Market, New World Remuera or the <strong>Hospice</strong> reception.<br />
11
If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please let us know:<br />
<strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong><br />
Tel: 09 361 5966. Fax: 09 361 5977<br />
email: admin@mercyhospice.org.nz<br />
PO Box 47693 Ponsonby, 1144<br />
61 College Hill, Ponsonby<br />
<strong>Auckland</strong><br />
That thought was really put into<br />
perspective the next day when I was<br />
talking to Julia, our Nurse Manager.<br />
She was reviewing our needs for care<br />
equipment, including specialist<br />
mattresses that we currently have to<br />
rent for our most needy patients.<br />
She explained that some of the<br />
patients are so very frail, with tissuethin<br />
skin, that the simple act of moving<br />
them can be very distressing. But they<br />
have to be moved, for dignity, and to<br />
maintain skin integrity.<br />
Consequently, they need an extra<br />
comfortable mattress. No ordinary<br />
mattress but actually made up of<br />
fifteen individual air cushions, each of<br />
which is inflated to the correct level for<br />
the individual patient. Being computer<br />
controlled, the cushions can be used<br />
to move someone or even to provide<br />
pulsation therapy. The temperature of<br />
the air can also be adjusted to warm a<br />
patient when needed.<br />
At <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong>, we<br />
have to rent these mattresses for our<br />
most needy patients. “So why don’t<br />
we have our own?” I asked.<br />
“We wish we did - two in fact” said<br />
my colleague. “But they are so expensive<br />
- well over ten thousand dollars to<br />
buy - with specialist cleaning on top.“<br />
She paused and enquired cautiously,<br />
“Do you think our supporters could<br />
help us on this?”<br />
Now it was my turn to be cautious.<br />
“They have been incredibly generous<br />
in the past”, I replied. “Last year for<br />
example, we needed some new pain<br />
pumps. Our supporters rallied round<br />
and, as a direct result, we now have<br />
twenty new pumps.”<br />
“I suppose everyone knows that it<br />
has been a tough year for finances -<br />
D.O.B: / /<br />
www.mercyhospice.org.nz<br />
“How much? For a mattress!”<br />
�<br />
12<br />
<strong>With</strong> Christmas coming and friends and family to stay, I decided it was time to stop making do, time to get a decent<br />
replacement for that leaky, inflatable mattress. When you spend a third of your life in bed, a mattress is not something<br />
that you economise on. But when I heard the cost, I was still taken aback. It’s only a mattress!<br />
but hopefully our most loyal supporters<br />
would understand if we were to ask<br />
them again? And it is Christmas.”<br />
So that is why I am writing to you.<br />
Yes, these mattresses are very expensive.<br />
But if we could all make a gift of whatever<br />
could be afforded this Christmas,<br />
we would be able to get one (or maybe<br />
even two) of these specialist pieces<br />
of care equipment. These are not a<br />
luxury. They are precision items<br />
that are really needed by the most<br />
vulnerable. Can you help us please?<br />
Thank you for all of your support<br />
in the past, for listening and for your<br />
consideration once again. <strong>With</strong> all of<br />
our best wishes for Christmas and<br />
the New Year.<br />
Sandy McGregor<br />
P.S. What about my mattress? I can wait until the<br />
New Year sales. I just wish that all of our patients<br />
had that same option open to them as well.<br />
Please post this donation response to <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> in the envelope provided.<br />
Or visit www.mercyhospice.org.nz to donate online.<br />
I wish to make a bequest to hospice, please send me details<br />
I have left a bequest to <strong>Mercy</strong> <strong>Hospice</strong> <strong>Auckland</strong> in my will<br />
I wish to donate by Automatic payment, please send me details<br />
• All donations of over $5 will be sent a receipt.<br />
}