Media Release
Friday, October 29, 2010
Mary Potter Hospice 2010 Awards
Mary Potter Hospice presented eight special awards recognizing outstanding support for the Hospice at its AGM yesterday.
The Awards were presented by renowned Wellington lawyer Mai Chen, Mary Potter Hospice Chair, Carolina Gartner, and Chief
Executive Ria Earp.
“Out of our many supporters we highlight the amazing effort of a few every year,” says Ria Earp. “This year includes
awards to a wide range of individuals and organisations, from people who have volunteered their time to work in the
Hospice day to day, to businesses and community groups”.
“All these recipients are inspiring. They have shown outstanding dedication to the Mary Potter Hospice helping it to
survive and prosper, and continue to provide its services free to Wellingtonians.”
“The way they have all given is amazing. We have had people running ‘bring and buy’ stalls or arranging flowers every
day for patients, to others who have given us top level professional advice for free. There have also been businesses
and health organisations who have provided brilliant levels of service. This type of dedication has been given quietly
by these recipients over many years,” says Ria Earp.
“We are very, very grateful for their support and glad that we can publicly recognise it.”
2010 Annual Awards
First Award
Mokoia Masonic Perpetual Trust
The Trust has supported the Mary Potter Hospice for over 20 years starting with a $1000 they contributed to the appeal
to build the Newtown base, and from that small beginning their contributions have mounted up to $47,550.
Second Award
Parkwood Seekers Waikanae
The Parkwood Seekers are the Residents’ Association of the Parkwood Village and Lodge at Waikanae. They have supported
the Hospice for 15 years raising a total of $13,170. In 1995, they raised $451 at a “bring and buy” sale. In 2007 a gift
of $900 was made to the Hospice as a result of an inter-village sports day and they have raised over $6,113 at “Time to
Remember” events. Their most recent contribution of $1,420 was raised through a “high tea.”
Third Award
Hollywood Floral
For over 10 years, Susan Joe, of Hollywood Floral has been donating weekly flowers for Mary Potter Hospice. Susan
started doing this after she visited the Hospice and noticed the lack of fresh flowers.
Fourth Award
Palcare and Mark Ellis
This Award recognises excellence in service from a health provider. Mark Ellis and his team have provided excellent
support to the Hospice in maintaining “PalCare” an electronic health record system. The trust Mark has inspired has also
enabled the Hospice to drive the Palcare Primary Care Project and plan the District Nurse Palcare project with absolute
confidence.
Fifth Award
Raylee Hill
She is a flower volunteer for the Hospice donating her time over the last 16 years.
Raylee became a volunteer after her husband had been cared for by the Hospice service. She saw this work as a way of
“giving back” and found it was also a way of helping her deal with her grief.
Sixth Award
Gladys Shields
Gladys has been a volunteer for 12 and a half years. For seven years she has organised and coordinated Street Appeal
collection sites in Khandallah, Ngaio and Johnsonville, spending hours ringing volunteers and organising logistics
around 11 collection points. Gladys has also been working with Raylee as a weekly flower volunteer for many years. She
says: “Flowers make a huge difference in helping patients and families through difficult times.”
Seventh and Eighth Awards
Sue Christie John Harkness
Have both been Hospice Board members. Sue served on the Hospice’s Board for three and a half years and John for seven
years. Both brought to the Mary Potter Hospice expertise in human resource, legal advice, financial and property
management and have made a considerable contribution in helping the Hospice develop and grow.
ENDS