Media release – Otago Polytechnic
For immediate release, May 4, 2017
Hops for Hospice
Vicki Yarker-Jones (aka Vicki Purple) wears many different hats. Otago Polytechnic Nursing Senior Lecturer, clinical
supervisor, Steam Punk fanatic (that’s a particularly fancy one!) But the hat Vicki’s wearing this month is her beer
brewing bowler, and she’s about to bottle up a brew for the Otago Community Hospice.
Vicki, Otago Polytechnic and Hospice have collaborated to create a unique craft beer to release in Hospice Awareness
Week.
“We’ve brewed a beautiful Vienna Lager” Vicki says. “If it were a dance, this beer would be a Viennese Waltz.”
Vicki specially prepared ginger three ways (root, syrup and seeped in vodka) to infuse into the lager.
“We’ve only used natural Mainland ingredients, and we brewed them at the southern-most brewery in New Zealand – the
Catlins Brewery at Kaka Point” she says.
In a nod to ginger’s therapeutic properties, Vicki has named the brew ‘Ginger Ninja’.
“This is the perfect marriage between everything I hold dear. The Hospice supports our students for work placement, and
the nurses there came up with the idea of Hops for Hospice; The school of Nursing at Otago Polytechnic, and my own love
of brewing; Add to that the fact that I survived cancer, and it’s the ideal collaboration”.
Ginny Green, Otago Community Hospice Chief Executive, says Hospice is delighted to be working alongside Vicki whose
enthusiasm is contagious.
“We are also really grateful for the longstanding supportive relationship that we have with the Otago Polytechnic” she
says.
Hops for Hospice is the official launch event for this beer and it will be showcased alongside five other unique craft beers from around
Otago. Each beer has been creatively matched with an exquisite menu designed by Mark Lane and the team at the Food
Design Institute at Polytech.
Ginny says the evening will launch the Hospice Beer and help raise much needed funds for Hospice.
“Hospice Awareness Week runs from May 15 until May 21st this year and Hops for Hospice is the only public event we are
running. It is certain to be a terrific night out for a great cause”.
ENDS
EVENT: Hops for Hospice – Launch of ‘Ginger Ninja’ craft beer.
WHEN: Saturday May 20, 5:00-8:00
WHERE: Otago Polytechnic Hub, Forth Street, Dunedin
Otago Community Hospice has to raise more than 2 million dollars a year to continue delivering essential specialist
palliative care services throughout Otago.
Tickets are available at Event Finder - https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2017/hops-for-hospice/dunedin