Di Goldsworthy With - Mercy Hospice Auckland

“I saw very clearly the benefit to
our family, not only medical care but
that wonderful holistic support that
Hospice provides the families.
It has been a most rewarding and
fulfilling six years, I personally get so
much out of it.”
Di’s father, Jack Cooper was admitted
to St Joseph’s Hospice (our name prior
to our relocation in 2007) in 1981.
“He was there for over 10 weeks
and during Dad’s stay, Mum and I
formed a close relationship with Sister
Margaret Timms and the dedicated
Hospice staff. After Dad’s passing the
Sisters and some of the nurses became
regular visitors to my mother’s home in
Papakura. Mother would look forward
to these visits and enjoyed preparing
delicious goodies for their morning or
afternoon tea.”
Eight years after her husband’s
December 2009 Newsletter
Di Goldsworthy with Sister Margaret Timms, taken at a ‘High Tea’ Di had
recently to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her mother’s passing.
Firsthand
experience
stirred a
desire to
give back.
Volunteering for Hospice can be motivated by any number of reasons. For Di Goldsworthy it was firsthand
experience of Hospice and their involvement with both her father and mother that stirred a desire to give back.
death it became time for Kathleen
(better known as Nan Cooper) to
require hospice care.
“Mum’s dream was to spend her
last days under Sister Margaret’s care.
I rang Sister and she simply said ‘Call
an ambulance and bring her to me’.
What more could we ask for.”
Di’s daughter Nicola travelled in
the ambulance with her Nan and Di
followed in her car. Having made many
trips to St Joseph’s, Di was somewhat
surprised when the ambulance driver
turned left off the motorway and
took a completely different direction
to where St Joseph’s Hospice was in
Mountain Road, Epsom.
“All of a sudden we were
travelling down Queen Street! I
dutifully followed and eventually
we made it to the Hospice.”
On arrival Di questioned the
ambulance driver about the detour
and was informed that Mrs Cooper
requested a last look at Smith and
Caughey’s windows!
“I had to laugh, that was Mum to a
tee. She was such a character, tiny in
stature, but very strong minded. I am
sure the ambulance driver didn’t stand
a chance. He simply did as he was told.”
Sister Margaret welcomed her to the
Hospice by serving afternoon tea in
fine china cups and dainty sandwiches
with the crusts cut off, just as Nan
Cooper would have expected.
Nan was in St Joseph’s Hospice
care for just 10 days, during this time
she celebrated her 74th birthday.
Di Goldsworthy is a member of the Mercy Hospice
Auckland fundraising committee which organises
events such as Shake It Up Baby, featured in this
newsletter. The team also manned a table at the
Strawberry Festival.
Contents: New York Marathon | A Fitting Momento | “Shake It Up Baby” | Ellerslie Shop Moves | $17,000 - Love
Heroic Gardens | Mercy History Wall | Remembrance Service | Diary Dates | Thank Yous | Strawberry Festival

November was a month of milestones for many in the hospice, not
least for the team who made a commitment early in 2009 to run the
New York Marathon to raise both funds and awareness for the Hospice.
Blisters and
Angel Wings
The team of thirteen
was launched on June 25th after
considerable discussion and personal
thought. It was no light decision to
make and would involve hours of
training and a commitment to fundraising
from each team member.
Everyone paid their own way fully,
but agreed to raise funds for Mercy
Hospice Auckland.
But as Jan Nichols describes it,
“We all decided to run the marathon
as a tribute to people whom we will
never forget. The race was tough - but
knowing what we know and having
met the people we have, we knew
that in the scheme of things it was a
small battle in comparison. We ran by
choice for people who have had
experiences that were not their choice.
We ran for people who have left us
with an enormous sense of value and
appreciation for the life we have.”
It was these sentiments that got the
team through, a mix of novice and elite
runners, many of whom had never
entered anything like this before, but
all inspired to make a difference.
Advice from a variety of fitness
trainers, therapists and well-wishers
assisted with the get fit programme, as
did the advice and inspiration of team
leader Viv James, our Opening Doors
coordinator and experienced runner.
2
Sponsorship by companies such as
2XU that provided training and race
gear, Pasta Nostra, Sky City Cinemas
and Glow Design all helped the team
move forward.
So November 1st dawned - a very
early start, with buses to Staten Island
at 5.45am. One of the world’s great
road races, the 2009 New York
Marathon attracted 43,471 contestants,
before a crowd of over a million cheering
spectators. It is as much a triumph of
logistics as a race. Members of the
Mercy team left at different start times
depending on their experience, and the
last group didn’t begin running till 10.35.
The team tell us that the race itself
is an unforgettable experience.
Nothing prepares you for the crowds,
the enormous public support all along
the way. When you enter 1st Avenue,
you are met by an unforgettable roar,
which you need for this avenue is very
straight and very long. Even when
Central Park comes into sight, it is
deceptively far away with a gentle but
not so easy undulation all the way
along. By this time your muscles are
really complaining.
Not surprisingly, crossing the finish
line in Central Park is said to be one of
the great thrills of a lifetime. All 13
runners managed to finish in very
respectable although unofficial times
ranging from 3 hours and
5 minutes to 5 hours 29 minutes.
A number of the team managed PBs
and felt they ran with angel wings and
that the people they represented were
there with them urging them on.
“The New York experience - the
marathon and the city - is a once in a
lifetime affair and there is truly
nothing like it. On behalf of the Mercy
Marathon Team, I would like to thank
all those who have helped us enjoy
that experience through advice,
assistance, sponsorship, messages of
support and contributions.”
Jan Nichols comments.
In total, the team raised just over
$70,000, all of which will go towards a
staff education scholarship fund.
* The full New York Marathon Team is
listed on the ‘Thank Yous’ page later
in this issue
Mark Colthart, with the Inpatient Nurses,
and Jan Nichols. Mark ran the Auckland
Marathon, achieving a personal best 4:07
and raising a fantastic $9,677.50, the most
money raised in that event.

A Fitting Momento
Goldman Sachs JBWere is a corporate that doesn’t want to just write a
cheque for a charity. They want to do their bit and that involves rolling
up their sleeves and getting stuck in.
Kathleen Fogarty (left) and Kirsten Muxlow of FHE Galleries with Clark Perkins and Amanda Howley (right) of Goldman Sach JBWere
Earlier this year they embarked on
a journey to find three charities to work
with after a private equity fund
matured and there were residual funds
left over. Goldman Sachs JBWere
wanted to put these funds to good use
by supporting New Zealand charities.
Project manager, Amanda Howley
from Goldman Sachs JBWere says
they wanted to assist the charities with
something that was important for them
to achieve.
“It was all about making a true
connection with the chosen charities,
rather than posting off a cheque that
would have little impact on our staff.”
Charities were shortlisted and three
charities were chosen; The Prostate
Cancer Foundation of New Zealand,
Sweet Louise and Mercy Hospice
Auckland.
“After meeting with the Hospice we
were thrilled with their suggestion to
assist with purchasing artwork.”
FHE Galleries were approached and
came onboard with huge passion and
enthusiasm for the project.
“They were very keen to be a part
of the project. Together we all worked
with the Mercy Hospice Auckland team
discussing what might best suit their
environment. It was such a team effort.”
A decision was made to concentrate
on the entrance of the building and the
two main rooms; a meeting room and
the hospice chapel.
“Through FHE Galleries’ contacts
and their vision, artists Chris Charteris
and Emily Siddell became involved.
The results are incredible.”
Known for his Pacific Island links
Clark Perkins
(CEO of Goldman
Sachs JBWere
at the time)
Chris Charteris has created exquisite
pounamu light boxes. His Aroha
installation has ensured the entrance
to the chapel not only stands out but is
a welcoming beacon for visitors as you
enter through the main doors, while
the Awhi piece radiates a calming energy.
Mercy Hospice Auckland CEO Jan
Nichols says the work created by Emily
Siddell is perfectly named.
“It’s called Momento and is a series
of ceramic leaves that cover our chapel
walls. The chapel has been transformed.
It is very simple and very effective.”
Representatives from Goldman
Sachs JBWere joined the hospice team
for a blessing.
“The people at Hospice are very
special, we are incredibly lucky to have
this sort of service in our communities.
The people make it. It truly has been a
pleasure to have played a small part in
helping to create such a beautiful and calm
environment for everyone who lives, works
and visits the hospice. The experience
has been very special and fulfilling for
staff at Goldman Sachs JBWere.”
Mercy Hospice Auckland has personally touched a number of Goldman Sachs JBWere staff, including one of their own teammates - Doug Smaill. Doug was a
much loved and admired team member of the company. Goldman Sachs JBWere would like to dedicate the beautiful Hospice artwork project to his memory.
Let Them Eat Cake!
They certainly will be! We have received record orders for cakes and puddings this year. A big thank you to everyone who
has ordered and to all the volunteers who kindly pounded the pavement to distribute flyers. Don’t forget, there are still
some cakes and puddings available from hospice reception. Contact Sandy McGregor 361 5966.
3

4
The Town Hall
R o ck e d !
Saturday 21st November will be long remembered by hospice staff, friends and
associates and supportive businesses. Because that was the night of the hospice’s
30th birthday at the wonderful Auckland Town Hall. ANd iT rocked!
The origins of the evening lay in a
desire to put on a special birthday as
a thank you to all staff and volunteers
for all their hard work over the past 30
years. This happily coincided with fundraising
committee member Cheryl
Whiting’s idea to have a celebration in the
Town Hall. Her efforts and connections
helped make this possible. Special thanks
to His Worship the Mayor John Banks
for his support and to The Edge for their
generosity and great assistance.
Lesley Dawson and the fundraising
team then developed a baby boomers 50s,
60s and 70s theme, “Shake It Up, Baby”,
a lot of which went on, on the night.
A great deal more work behind the
scenes with Ray Columbus and Larry
Morris achieved a stunning line-up of
artists, all of whom were Kiwi icons of
the 60s and 70s.
So to the night, and from the very
beginning, it was clear it was going to
be an evening to remember. Shouts of
Ellerslie Shop Makes a Move
Written by Sarah Moyes, reproduced with thanks to the East and Bays Courier.
celebrate the baby boomer years with mercy hospice auckland
delight could be heard as the 600 plus
guests arrived in an array of 50s, 60s
and 70s gear begged, borrowed, hired,
or found in the dress-up box.
The welcome Pimms immediately
took everyone back to the good old
days, especially after they entered the
main hall, with its disco lighting and
themed balloons.
The night’s entertainment was
incredible, kicking off with MC Frankie
Stevens, and performers Larry Morris
You no longer need a map to find
the Mercy Hospice shop in Ellerslie.
It’s moved out onto the street and
the bright signs are hard to miss.
Store manager Amanda Killick says
a lot of people didn’t know where the
old shop was because it was hidden
behind other businesses on Main
Highway. “The location was good, but
we had maxed out the client base,”
she says. She believes the shop would
have sold more if they had street
frontage. The new shop, which is the
largest of the six Mercy Hospice shops
in Auckland, has been relocated across
the road to 188 Ladies Mile.

and his band, who also provided backing
for Shane, Suzanne, Tom Sharplin and
Ray Columbus. They were all received
with huge enthusiasm and the dance
floor remained packed all evening.
Great choreography by the Candy Lane
dancers on several songs added to
the mood.
The final set of the night was
performed by Shane Cortese and the
Class of ’58 which was a superb finale
to an already great evening.
Mercy Hospice Ellerslie now sells
electrical goods and furniture, as well
as clothing, home-ware and much
more. “We are always looking for more
good quality products,” says Mercy
Hospice Auckland project manager
Sarah Perry.
“People come because they are
supporting the Hospice, because the
prices are excellent and because the
shop is fantastic.” Mrs Perry believes
the new shop will bring more people,
especially because a free car park is
just across the road.
Mercy Hospice Auckland’s chief
executive officer Jan Nichols says the
Shake It Up, Baby was great fun,
there was a huge amount of energy
expended on the dance floor (which
actually shook), and everyone went
home buzzing, highly satisfied with
their big night out. As spokesman Larry
Morris commented, “It was a blast and
we were all thrilled with the reaction
we received from those there that very
special evening”.
Visit mercyhospice.org.nz to view and
purchase photos of the night.
hospice shops offer a way for people to
give back to a very special service.
“We currently need to raise more
than $2 million net each year to keep
our community and inpatient services
operating.” She says the shops also
help Mercy Hospice connect with the
community in a positive way.
The new Mercy
Hospice Ellerslie
shop at 188
Ladies Mile
opened for
business on
November 28th.
Maria, Amanda & Sarah
Special thanks must be extended to the
sponsors - Barfoot & Thompson, The edge,
AppServ, Austins, The New Zealand Herald
and NorWest Advertising.
Also to all the performers. Also Marbecks,
Walker & Hall, Mollies Boutique Hotel and
Frances davies of the international Art
centre, for their generous contribution
of raffle prizes.
Thanks also to the hard-working fundraising
committee - cheryl Whiting, di Goldsworthy,
Luna cameron, cyndy Hendry, christina
cairns, Jillian Bashford, Stephanie Tattersfield,
Alma Sax, Penny clydesdale & Lesley dawson.
Also Sara o’Brien for managing the
performers so well, out the back.
Thanks to the fabulous support and generosity of the
following who have helped with the fitout of our new
Ellerslie shop: Patrick Moyne, Shears & Mac4 / Pat Coll,
Coll Electrical Ltd / Shaun Bartlett, Godfrey Hirst Carpets /
Dean Stuart, Total Supply Ltd / Joel Tetro, Sign of the
Times Ltd / Leigh Dixon, Planit Design / Grant Nicoll,
National Glass / Leanne Selwood, A E Tilley Ltd / Karen
Valder, Commercial Office Equipment Ltd / Nathan
Takau, Aluminium Security Doors & Screens / Stan
Murphy, Swinnock Industries Ltd / Sunil Kumar, A1
Cleaners / Brett Webster, Fire Control Services Ltd /
George Martin, Global Bizpro / Robert Faasse, Fox
Faasse & Baddock Ltd / Andrew Flint, Surplus Traders Ltd /
Bruce Woodman, Aegis Ltd / Leonard St James
Vander Vlis, Ullrich Aluminium Company / Andrew
Brown, Connect NZ Ltd / Craig Mathieson, Armstrong
Smarter Security / Brett Mattson, W. Mattson Ltd /
Peter Jolliffe, J. R. Webb & Son (1932) Ltd / Karen
Warman, Resene Paints / Paul Wilson, Faulkner Collins /
Karen Jennings, Checkpoint Security Systems Ltd /
Ian Cooke, Glass Arts / David Perry, Buddle Findlay
Barristers & Solicitors. Amanda Killick also thanked the
whole Ellerslie business community for its support,
particularly Rennells Jewellers & Engravers,
Gemmell’s Footwear and Ellerslie Eyecare.
5

6
Heroic Gardens Festival
6th-7th March 2010
The Heroic Gardens Festival has
chosen Hospice NZ and the hospices
of the Auckland region as the
beneficiaries of this fabulous two day
garden festival for a second year
running. This event raised $30,000 for
Hospice in 2009 and promises an even
bigger and better festival for March
2010. At the time of going to print, 28
gardens are confirmed as participants
including both small city and large
country gardens, the Rannoch
Sculpture Forest and the Kelliher
Estate on Puketutu Island. This festival
has plenty of subtropicals, dramatic
foliage and architectural delight.
It showcases Auckland’s summer
life-style and generally provides an
inspiration for visitors.
Tickets are $30 each and all ticket
sales go to Hospice. Tickets and
programmes will be available from 1st
February 2010. The programme will
be published in the February issue of
NZ Gardener and will also be available
at garden centres and selected retailers,
Wish List: •Foosball Football Table
•
White wine, especially Chardonnay
Photocopy paper
Table cloths
OPENINGDOORS
Hospice and www.heroicgardens.org.nz
Christmas Gift Vouchers for tickets
are available through Hospice. We will
send to your chosen recipients, the
programme and actual tickets closer
to the event. Contact Verity at Mercy
Hospice Auckland on 361 5966 to
purchase your tickets, which can also
be purchased at the gate on the day.
Or pay $5 per garden that you visit.
Additional volunteers to help on
gates are welcome, please contact
Verity if you would like to assist.
The Pat McKenzie Memorial Tennis Tournament took place on Friday 4th September and raised
close to $17,000 towards the palliative care services of the Hospice.
Players participated in a doubles tournament which
meant there were many happy winners to take home
prizes. Tennis players and spectators also participated
in a live auction where a painting by New Zealand
artist, Helena Blair sold for $2,000, and where
“nothing” sold for $200. To sweeten things up there was
an array of delicious jams and chutneys available for
sale and Christmas cake from The Great New Zealand
Christmas Cake Co. to sample and buy for Christmas.
Volunteer and Event Coordinator for this tournament,
•
Boxed or loose chocolates for special celebrations
Cotton balls, nail polish remover, nail files and a Therapist
to donate a few hours a week - please contact Julie Reid
Sue Rowell was most impressed with the generosity
from the sponsors, players and spectators and is
delighted with the amount raised.
As there simply isn’t room to thank all our sponsors and
helpers by name we would like to thanks those who
sponsored courts - ARA Lodge, Ariadne Marinas
Oceania Pty Ltd, Astor Construction, Barfoot & Thompson
Real Estate, Coll Electrical, Red Bull and Walker & Hall,
and everyone else who helped to make this such a
successful day.

History Wall tells
Mercy’s Hospice Story
In August Mercy Hospice Auckland marked its 30th birthday with an open day for families and friends, offering a chance to
inspect the newly installed history wall which tells the story of Mercy’s ongoing care for those with life-limiting illnesses.
“Modern palliative care has made
huge advances” says Sr Margaret
Timms, “and Mercy Hospice Auckland
is among the leaders in the field. But
the foundations were laid by our
pioneer sisters who established the
Mater in 1900. We stand today on
their shoulders.”
Combining text and photos, the
five-metre wall is made from a series
of scrolls, woven through vertical rods.
The weaving concept was developed
to illustrate the intertwining of the
many threads of the story.
It also reflects the link with the
cloak that gives the hospice its Maori
name, Te Korowai Atawhai.
A koru design derived from the
Hospice logo visually links and focuses
on the bronze by Gael O’Leary,
originally cast for Mercy Hospital,
which traces the ministries brought by
the Sisters of Mercy from Ireland to
New Zealand and the Pacific.
Nurse Manager, Julia Thomson,
who is also on the hospices’ mission
team, says plans for the wall began to
take shape after Mercy Hospital was
sold in 2001. “There was a feeling that
the history of the hospice would be
lost unless there was a concerted
effort to capture it.
After we moved to College Hill
it seemed timely to put something
together for our 30th anniversary.”
At that point, Penny Clydesdale
and Warren Bott of NorWest
Advertising were briefed to develop
the concept for the wall. Penny
worked with a number of the Sisters
of Mercy, to identify strands of
the story, among them archivist Sr
Marcienne Kirk, Sr Margaret Timms
and Sr Rita Vessey, a former Sister
Administrator of Mercy Hospital. Penny
comments, “It was fascinating to
unravel the key steps in the Hospice’s
history with the Sisters. Delightful
material such as Sr Philomena’s diary
of the Sisters’ first voyage to New
Zealand in 1831, the original of which
is still safely stored in the archives,
shed interesting and often humorous
light on the subject.”
Back from a pilgrimage to Baggot
Street earlier this year, hospice CEO
Jan Nichols brought her own sense of
the Mercy story.
The final history was then
transformed into the wall design by
Penny and Warren, which was then
installed with the generous assistance
and manpower of Espies Ltd.
“The whole concept has turned
out very well”, Julia comments, “with
a good response from the sisters and
other guests who visited on our recent
open day and felt the wall helps to
capture the legacy of Mercy.
The history wall provides everyone
involved here - staff, volunteers and
patients - with a sense that they
belong to something extraordinary,
which has grown and continued to
evolve for over 180 years.”
Penny Clydesdale, NorWest Advertising
with Sr Teresa Anderson
7

8
I have been very aware this year of the number of eating places - hotels and
the like - who have advertised Christmas Dinners and invited the public to
“book soon” for these events. Perhaps for the cook or chef in the family,
having the Christmas dinner prepared and served would be a great attraction.
For others there is no cosy home, or larger family gathering; those living alone
may well wish for more company at the meal table, once a year at least. Other
people may desire, or need, a change; something different this Christmas to
help face their altered personal circumstances for this seasonal celebration.
Along with all the other celebrations of the season ‘Christmas Dinner’ is often
a major event, with its own traditions and family customs. Different cultures
and religions place a lot of emphasis around the hospitality of the meal;
offering and preparing food, then the fellowship of eating and drinking
together. Sharing food draws people closer, it can create a special kind of
intimacy where strangers become friends and memories are created.
This Christmas we will recall those who have sat and shared with us in past
years. In your remembering, you may wish to name these you love aloud, or
silently in your hearts and minds. Say their name(s), and maybe raise a glass
and give thanks for all you shared.
Mealtimes can become a special time of remembering, and
Christmas perhaps even more. I trust your Christmas will be
blessed with good memories as you observe the feast this year. I
hope you are able to create new memories this Christmas for the
years ahead.
Remembrance Service
Join us for our
Christmas Remembrance Service
This will be held in the Hospice
61 College Hill, Ponsonby
Thursday 17th December 7pm
This is an opportunity for family and friends to
gather for a time of reflection and to honour
the memory of those who have died.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Shalom (peace)
Robert Matthews,
Pastoral care Coordinator, Mercy Hospice Auckland
Some of you may not be able (or wish)
to join us for this Remembrance
Service. You can however remember
a loved one through our New Zealand
Christmas Memories Tree on our
website. Visit mercyhospice.org.nz to
buy a Pohutakawa memory blossom in
the name of your loved one.
Don’t forget, this year as always we
will have our Remembrance Trees at
selected shopping malls.

What is Quality?
William Foster stated that quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere
effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.
In 1992 when St Joseph’s Hospice
was part of Mercy Hospital we
undertook our first Accreditation
Survey. Since that time we have been
surveyed every three years. These
surveys highlight the areas we excel in
but they also identify areas that we
can improve on. As we work on these
opportunities for improvement so
we build on our Quality foundations.
Quality, whilst being the fabric of
Mercy Hospice Auckland requires
constant commitment behind the
scenes to make it happen. Our
commitment to Quality is significant.
Our Quality Committee meets monthly
and our Quality Manager oversees our
project teams. To hone our skills we enter
December 2009 Newsletter
Di goldsworthy with Sister Margaret Timms, taken at a ‘High Tea’ Di had
recently to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her mother’s passing.
? ?
? ?
Firsthand
experience
stirred a
desire to
give back.
?
?
? ?
Volunteering for Hospice can be motivated by any number of reasons. For Di Goldsworthy it was firsthand
experience of Hospice and their involvement with both her father and mother that stirred a desire to give back.
“I saw very clearly the benefit to death it became time for Kathleen ambulance driver about the detour
our family, not only medical care but (better known as Nan Cooper) to and was informed that Mrs Cooper
that wonderful holistic support that require Hospice care.
requested a last look at Smith and
Hospice provides the families.
“Mum’s dream was to spend her Caughey’s windows!
It has been a most rewarding and last days under Sister Margaret’s care. “I had to laugh, that was Mum to a
fulfilling six years, I personally get so I rang Sister and she simply said ‘Call tee. She was such a character, tiny in
much out of it.”
an ambulance and bring her to me’. stature, but very strong minded. I am
What more could we ask for.”
sure the ambulance driver didn’t stand
to St Joseph’s Hospice (our name prior Di’s daughter Nicola travelled in
to our relocation in 2007) in 1981. the ambulance with her Nan and Di
“He was there for over 10 weeks followed in her car. Having made many Hospice by serving afternoon tea in
and during Dad’s stay, Mum and I trips to St. Joseph’s, Di was somewhat fine china cups and dainty sandwiches
formed a close relationship with Sister surprised when the ambulance driver with the crusts cut off, just as Nan
Margaret Timms and the dedicated turned left off the motorway and took Cooper would have expected.
Hospice staff. After Dad’s passing the a completely different direction to Nan was in St Joseph’s Hospice
Sisters and some of the nurses became where St. Joseph’s Hospice was in care for just 10 days, during this time
regular visitors to my mother’s home in Mountain Road, Epsom.
she celebrated her 74th birthday.
Papakura. Mother would look forward “All of a sudden we were
travelling down Queen Street! I
delicious goodies for their morning or dutifully followed and eventually
afternoon tea.”
we made it to the Hospice.”
Eight years after her husband’s On arrival Di questioned the
Di’s father, Jack Cooper was admitted
to these visits and enjoyed preparing
? ? ?
?
? ?
? ?
a chance. He simply did as he was told.”
Sister Margaret welcomed her to the
Di Goldsworthy is a member of the Mercy Hospice
Auckland fundraising cimmittee which organises
events such as Shake It Up Baby, featured in this
newsletter. The team also manned a table at the
Strawberry Festival.
New Newsletter
Name
quality innovation awards. Particularly
recognised has been our Day Stay
programme (Opening Doors).
Your contribution is important to
us. We take your feedback and any
complaints very seriously and we work
on all of your issues to improve the
quality of the care we provide. To raise
the bar even higher we are working with
the NZ Business Excellence Foundation
to take Quality to a new level. This
international framework gives us the
opportunity to benchmark against the
best in the world and we will keep you
informed of our progress. We are very
fortunate to have wonderful links to
world class health care providers who
help and support us on our way. We
A good number of names were
entered into our “Name the
Newsletter” competition.
Thank you to all those who put
their thinking caps on. The final
selected title will stay under wraps
until the February 2010 issue.
Contents: The Prime Minister’s Second Visit | Garden Sanctuary | Marathon Update | Celebrating 30 Years
Strawberry Festival | Opening Doors | Diary Dates | Wish List | Thank Yous | Earlybird Christmas Shopping
As
always,
we will have
our remembrance
trees in 4 of Auckland’s
shopping malls 277
on Broadway, St Lukes,
Eastridge and Royal Oak.
For a donation, you can select a bauble,
write the name of the loved one you
wish to remember and hang it on the tree.
REMEMBRANCE
TREES
would particularly like to thank NZBEF
for their sponsorship.
“Quality is not an act,
it is a habit”. Aristotle
To give your feedback please click
the feedback icon on our website.
Or write to our CEO at PO Box
47693, Ponsonby.
Moving in with Old Friends
In September Mercy Hospice’s inpatient unit was relocated
for a total of ten days. Intensive corrective work was needed
on our floors - a daunting task.
This was made easier by MercyAscot Hospital who offered us
a full ward for a two week period while surgeons were on leave.
The location was new for us - Ascot Hospital in Greenlane,
but many of the people and services were familiar from our
Mercy Hospital days. Catering, cleaning, pharmacy,
security and other support were all provided by Ascot staff
who were extremely accommodating and welcoming.
We value the tradition of collegiality and service with
MercyAscot Hospital, built over many years and wish to
thank them again for their invaluable assistance.
Get your running
shoes on for Hospice
Sign up for the Round the Bays 2010, Sunday 14th March
and run for Mercy Hospice Auckland.
If you’re interested in running/walking for us and raising
funds, please contact Verity on 361 5966.
For information about the actual event
visit www.roundthebays.co.nz
9

Diary Dates:
EVERY TUESDAY at 10.30am -
Bereavement Team Walking Group
Please telephone the Hospice reception
on 361 5966 if you are interested.
OPENINGDOORS
OPENING DOORS
EVERY TUESDAY - 10am to 2pm
WEDNESDAY - 10am to midday
Our Day Stay programme at the Hospice,
61 College Hill, Ponsonby. Contact Viv
James for more information on 361 5966.
CANDLE LIGHTING SERVICE
Every Wednesday at Midday
Held in the chapel at the Hospice,
61 College Hill, Ponsonby.
DECEMBER
Thursday 17th.
Remembrance Service
Mercy Hospice Auckland,
61 College Hill, Ponsonby,
7pm.
FEBRUARY 2010
Sunday 7th
Sunday Club Bereavement Support Group
St Peter’s Anglican Church, cnr Church St &
Onehunga Mall between 3.00pm and 4.30pm.
Please phone the Hospice reception for more
information on 361 5966.
MARCH 2010
6th-7th
Heroic Gardens Festival.
A number of beautiful gardens.
See the article earlier in this issue.
Sunday 14th
Round the Bays
Run for Mercy Hospice Auckland - see the
article earlier in this issue.
Date to be confirmed
Garden Party, Florence Court, Epsom
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities
and donations of prizes please contact
Lesley Dawson 2376 7571.
10
Thank
Yous
• ARA Charitable Trust for their
recent and continued sponsorship
of our hospice fundraising events
• ASB Community Trust for funding
towards essential operating and
equipment costs
• CR Stead Trust for a contribution
towards petrol costs for our fleet
of motor vehicles
• The Holzer Trust and Les Wood
Masonic Trust for their contribution
towards operating costs
• Four Winds Foundation for funds
to purchase stackable chairs
• Community Post who recently
provided us with 1,000 free
envelopes
• Mt Wellington Foundation for
their contribution towards salaries
of 2 community nurses working in
the Mt Wellington, Glen Innes,
Tamaki and Ellerslie areas
• The Maurice Paykel Charitable
Trust for their contribution
towards meals for patients in the
inpatient unit for six months
• The New Zealand Community
Trust for their contribution
towards operating costs
• The William & Lois Manchester
Trust for their continued support
• Rotary Club of Newmarket for the
funds to purchase a television for
our family lounge and a specialised
electric lift chair for one of our
inpatient rooms
• Ted & Mollie Carr Endowment
Fund for their contribution
towards clinical staff salaries
• Redwood Charitable Trust for their
continued support of our services
through grant funding
• Vodafone NZ staff who raised
$2,925.40 from the hat day they
organized in memory of a
staff member
• New World Victoria Park and
Remuera stores for donating
grocery vouchers and selling
Strawberry Angels
• Epsom Girls Grammar for organising
a fundraising Op Shop market day
• St Cuthberts College $696.90 -
Year 12 Mufti Day and Glendowie
College $1,606.60 - Mufti Day
• New York Marathon Team -
Jan Nichols, Viv James, Dianne
Cochrane, Toni Edwards, June
McCathie, Kristy Robertson, Ruth
Jillings, Tim James, Simon Cochrane,
Derek Meyer, Geoff Watson,
Amanda Trail and Tony Banks

Strawberry Festival
Strawberries – sweet, red, juicy - a symbol of new life and ‘living every moment.’ What better way to celebrate
spring and the arrival of the festive season than a taste of these gorgeous berries?
Mercy Hospice Auckland was
delighted to host the inaugural
Hospice Strawberry Festival in the
heart of Auckland City. This was part
of a national event for Hospice with
13 hospices around the country
participating in the fundraising effort.
On the day of the festival Auckland
City commuters were welcomed to the
event in style by the “Strawberry
Angels” and invited to chill out and
enjoy their strawberries and ice cream
in the afternoon sun. QEII square was
transformed into a festival atmosphere
with music, live entertainment,
marquees and a café setting providing
a welcome place to relax for city
office workers.
Fundraiser Verity Lee Sang says the
inaugural event had a great response
from the public and was a fantastic
opportunity to raise awareness of
Hospice.
The tables were manned by volunteers
from BNZ, House of Travel, Air New
Zealand, Vodafone and Crockers who
dished up over 2,000 serves of spring
strawberries and ice cream topped off
with strawberry syrup.
Auckland Mayor John Banks joined
the festivities at lunchtime and made
a few sales - as well as having a taste
himself, though he admits he enjoyed
the ice cream the most. “I have been
supporting the Hospice movement
all my life, it is one of the great
caring charities in this country.”
said Mr Banks.
Also on sale were fresh strawberry
punnets, strawberry plants, strawberry
tarts, Christmas cakes and the collectible
Hospice Strawberry Angel Christmas
decoration which you can purchase
too, at the locations listed below.
Mercy Hospice acknowledges
the generous support of sponsors that
Mayor John Banks with some of the fundraising team Three “Strawberry Angels”
Only
$10!
helped make the success of this event
possible. Special mention must go to
PSIS Onehunga and Auckland City
branches for sponsoring all the festival
marketing materials, Tip Top for
providing the yummy ice cream,
Carlton Party Hire, Town and Country
Marquee Hire, Ripe Deli for their
gorgeous strawberry tarts, AUT PR
students and all those who distributed
flyers and posters on the day.
“The generosity of all those
involved will be appreciated by many
patients and their families through the
services that can be provided with
these funds,” says Mercy Hospice
Auckland CEO, Jan Nichols.
In all $22,482 was raised from the
event with additional sales of
Strawberry Angels expected to take
this total well over $30,000.
2009 Hospice Collectable
Strawberry Angels
The star of our 2009 Strawberry Festival and one of what will be an annual collectible
Christmas tree decoration, our Strawberry Angel is just $10. To purchase yours, visit any
one of our Hospice Shops - Blockhouse Bay, Ellerslie, Mt Eden, Pt Chev and Royal Oak
or New World Victoria Park Market, New World Remuera or the Hospice reception.
11

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please let us know:
Mercy Hospice Auckland
Tel: 09 361 5966. Fax: 09 361 5977
email: admin@mercyhospice.org.nz
PO Box 47693 Ponsonby, 1144
61 College Hill, Ponsonby
Auckland
That thought was really put into
perspective the next day when I was
talking to Julia, our Nurse Manager.
She was reviewing our needs for care
equipment, including specialist
mattresses that we currently have to
rent for our most needy patients.
She explained that some of the
patients are so very frail, with tissuethin
skin, that the simple act of moving
them can be very distressing. But they
have to be moved, for dignity, and to
maintain skin integrity.
Consequently, they need an extra
comfortable mattress. No ordinary
mattress but actually made up of
fifteen individual air cushions, each of
which is inflated to the correct level for
the individual patient. Being computer
controlled, the cushions can be used
to move someone or even to provide
pulsation therapy. The temperature of
the air can also be adjusted to warm a
patient when needed.
At Mercy Hospice Auckland, we
have to rent these mattresses for our
most needy patients. “So why don’t
we have our own?” I asked.
“We wish we did - two in fact” said
my colleague. “But they are so expensive
- well over ten thousand dollars to
buy - with specialist cleaning on top.“
She paused and enquired cautiously,
“Do you think our supporters could
help us on this?”
Now it was my turn to be cautious.
“They have been incredibly generous
in the past”, I replied. “Last year for
example, we needed some new pain
pumps. Our supporters rallied round
and, as a direct result, we now have
twenty new pumps.”
“I suppose everyone knows that it
has been a tough year for finances -
D.O.B: / /
www.mercyhospice.org.nz
“How much? For a mattress!”
�
12
With Christmas coming and friends and family to stay, I decided it was time to stop making do, time to get a decent
replacement for that leaky, inflatable mattress. When you spend a third of your life in bed, a mattress is not something
that you economise on. But when I heard the cost, I was still taken aback. It’s only a mattress!
but hopefully our most loyal supporters
would understand if we were to ask
them again? And it is Christmas.”
So that is why I am writing to you.
Yes, these mattresses are very expensive.
But if we could all make a gift of whatever
could be afforded this Christmas,
we would be able to get one (or maybe
even two) of these specialist pieces
of care equipment. These are not a
luxury. They are precision items
that are really needed by the most
vulnerable. Can you help us please?
Thank you for all of your support
in the past, for listening and for your
consideration once again. With all of
our best wishes for Christmas and
the New Year.
Sandy McGregor
P.S. What about my mattress? I can wait until the
New Year sales. I just wish that all of our patients
had that same option open to them as well.
Please post this donation response to Mercy Hospice Auckland in the envelope provided.
Or visit www.mercyhospice.org.nz to donate online.
I wish to make a bequest to hospice, please send me details
I have left a bequest to Mercy Hospice Auckland in my will
I wish to donate by Automatic payment, please send me details
• All donations of over $5 will be sent a receipt.
}