The organisation that governs Te Kauwhata Community House, Toi Ako Artspace and Te Kauwhata Community Garden celebrated 30 years this month with both a High Tea and a Ball, all on the same day.
Both events were themed around the symbol of 30 years… the pearl. Over 220 people were in attendance across the two events, which also served as a major fundraiser for the organisation.
The events were attended by many of the original staff and volunteers who have supported the organisation since the early days. Newer community members also came along to dance the night away.
The organisation appreciates the widespread support that made these celebrations possible:
• Wattle Contracting – key partner of our Anniversary celebrations
• Te Kauwhata Rugby Club, Mario, Sheryl, Whiti and Bella for the venue and bar service
• Girlie Iwihora & Wendy Donaldson and their teams for the fabulous food. So much care for our kaupapa.
• Vai Apisai and the students of Te Kauwhata College the service of the high tea. The Senior Volley Ball team were fundraising for their season and nationals tournament. They did themselves and their school proud.
• Te Kauwhata Lions, Lynda Halverson, House of Treasures, St Andrews Op Shop and the many community members who loaned additional tables, table cloths, cutlery, crockery and vintage tea pots and stands
• Eastgate Church for the PA
• New Zealous Music for lighting
• Photographers Carole Garside and Harper Tuhimata
• Harpist Anna Dunwoodie
• Our local Steampunks, the Swamp Orchid Steamers, for dressing the part and sharing their parasol duelling with us. We love you Rowena, Sheryl and Andrea
• Guest speaker Jennie Gore & and speaker/performer Edith Cullen. The legacy of service of these women is exceptional (and continuing daily). We really appreciated their eloquent recollections of the early years of our organisation.
• Our amazing band Loop, they absolutely rocked
• Auctioneer and comedian, our fav, Sandra Pace
• Mark and Michelle Wilson for guest transport and all round awesomeness
• The decorating committee for the hours of work over many months – Angela McKee with her big vision and the creation the Ball centrepieces, Rowena & Trish Budd of Pumphouse Blooms for the High Tea centrepieces, Nicky Patterson for lanterns and curtains, Leanne Mako, Moana Thomas, Lynda Halverson, Shelley Crawley, Julie Nelson, students of Waerenga School and everyone else who helped skewer, thread and spray giant pearls from recycled lids, blow up balloons, set tables and ensure everything was perfect. Plus all the additional whanau and helpers who turned up to set up and pack out the venue. You are legends.
• Our Board members Robin Baird, Jo Mako, Mark Wilson, Joe Nelson, Hazel Boldero, Hayes Freeman, Lynne Gronback, Sera Henare and Wendy Peach for everything they do. The list is endless.
• All the organisations and individuals who donated auction items, prizes, cash or in-kind support:
• Amy’s Kitchen Aromas
• Animal Health Products New Zealand | Boehringer Ingelheim AU
• Bittern Cafe
• Buildlink
• Bunnings
• Coromandel Cold
• Edith Cullen
• Evelyn Bryce
• Ferntastic Florist & Garden Care
• For Keeps
• Franklin Vets
• Gossamer Wings Creative Arts Therapy
• Hampton Downs Motorsports Park
• Lisa Kay Photography
• Mareet Carley
• Merilyn Van Heerden
• Motul Service Centre
• Pokeno Pizza Te Kauwhata
• New World Te Kauwhata
• New Zealous Music
• Nicky Patterson
• Peplers
• PGG Wrightson
• Pilbrow Surveying Ltd
• Pumphouse Blooms
• Rachel Gronback
• Steve Irvine Transport
• Sue Padfield
• Sweet Tooth
• Te Kauwhata Chiropractic
• Te Kauwhata Lions
• Te Kauwhata Rugby Club
• Value Add
• Vickie O’Connor, Contact Care
We have many valued partners who support specific programmes for the organisation and we cannot name them all, but we do want to thank those who invest consistently in our general operating costs – core expenses like staff wages, our buildings and power, rates and insurances. We simply could not open the doors each day without them and we celebrate them for helping us reach this milestone:
o WEL Energy Trust
o Trust Waikato
o Lotteries
o Sky City Community Trust
o COGS
o Te Kauwhata Water Association
o Te Kauwhata Lions
o Te Kauwhata Tav via TTCF
o DV Bryant Trust
o Tindall Foundation
