TOTARATALK your connection to Hospice JANUARY 2019 tou hononga ki Hospice HELPING TO MAKE HOSPICE HAPPEN When Melanie Kennerley took on the role of Community Champion at the Z service stations she owns with her husband in South Auckland at the end of 2016, Totara Hospice was just one of several charities their business supported. While Melanie knew Hospice did good work, she had never had anything to do with them. Then that changed suddenly. Melanie had been organising the She was given the name of a palliative Good in the Hood programme at their oncologist who worked with Totara stations (in which Z customers vote for Hospice and could answer some of local charities to receive a cash her early questions. As soon as her donation) and monthly community husband Wayne arrived in Auckland volunteering by their Z staff. After with Neville, Melanie took her brother- some contact with Totara Hospice in-law to a doctor and then Middlemore Hospital referred him to Sponsorship Manager, Mel Seal, she Totara Hospice. was starting to get more of an understanding of Hospice’s work. He stayed in the Inpatient Unit early Then, Melanie and her family were on while they established his pain floored by news that her brother-in-law management and he then returned Neville, who lived in Arizona, had home to live with the Kennerleys and pancreatic cancer. their children, while the community nurses visited 2-3 times a week. It was especially difficult as he was Melanie Kennerley(R) volunteering at the 2018 Sunrise Walk with regular volunteer Julie Bailey first diagnosed while already caring for “I don’t know how you would do it his wife, who had terminal lung cancer. without the support of somebody like She died over Christmas of 2016, and of the station staff helped at this year’s the next month Neville was told he had Sunrise Walk and at the Ladies’ just weeks left to live. With no other I’d always heard so many great things about Totara Lunch, and at other times their staff family in the US, he decided to come help to service the nurses’ cars or home to New Zealand, which he had Hospice, but until you go through it I don’t think you have wherever Totara Hospice needs left 40 years earlier as a teenager on a any appreciation of how much they do and the impact it assistance. Melanie also donates tennis scholarship. has on the family that’s looking after somebody.” goods for Hospice fundraising. Melanie says having her terminally ill “When I started the role at Z I hadn’t brother-in-law arrive to live with them been to Totara Hospice and hadn’t the Hospice,” says Melanie. She says had anything to do with them and then was a huge change for everyone. “For that made it the best it could be, given Melanie, “but until you go through it I Neville struggled to understand why lo and behold we had this huge me, it was like ‘I want to do this. But the circumstances. From the support don’t think you have any appreciation there was so much support available of the nurse home visits, to family card of how much they do and the impact it life-changing event together. But once what do I do? I’m going to have as it was very different from his tournaments in the Hospice dining has on the family that’s looking after you do go through it you certainly someone with end-stage pancreatic experience in the States, where he room, and the spacious patient rooms somebody.” understand that they’re amazing.” cancer arriving on the doorstep, who’s had looked after his wife by himself at designed for family members to spend become a diabetic, who’s been given home until the she died. time with loved ones; even to stay Neville’s estate made a substantial If you would like to help Make Hospice just weeks to live and we have to work Happen with a donation of funds or Neville lived just nine weeks after over, as the Kennerleys did with Neville donation to Totara Hospice and out how to look after him. How do I just before he died in March last year. Melanie and Wayne continue to goods for fundraising, please contact arriving in New Zealand, and while his Melinda on 09 640 0208. even get him into the system?’ It was time with his family was short, Melanie support it through Good in the Hood, this complete unknown.” says it was the help of Totara Hospice “I’d always heard so many great things and their gift hamper business about Totara Hospice,” reflects Paddock to Pantry. Melanie and some Join us for the 2019 JOIN OUR FRIENDLY TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS Do you have some spare time and want to make a difference? We are seeking volunteers Lunch to work in various areas to support the work of Totara Hospice. Ladies Lunch Drivers – We need your Retail – Help turn Ladiesfor help to be able to pre-loved donated continue to provide goods into much- all our services free needed support Hospice of charge – our for our patients with Julie Biuso Volunteer Drivers and their families. are integral to being We are looking for able to do this, as volunteers to help they help our in our six Hospice Gather the ladies for an entertaining afternoon while patients get to where Shops – Manukau, enjoying a glass of wine and a three course luncheon, they need to be. Some Manurewa, The of our patients need help Gardens, Takanini, prepared by Grant Allen and Alfriston College getting to Totara Hospice or to a medical Pakuranga and Howick – and in our Takanini students. Featuring the appointment and that’s where you’ll come in. Distribution Centre. If you have an interest in fabulous Hospice To register your interest please contact our providing positive customer service and want to Fashion Show, a silent volunteer services team on 09 640 0025 do some good in your community then we want or [email protected] to hear from you. Please contact our volunteer auction and raffles, services team on 09 640 0025 or it’s the perfect [email protected] Mother’s Day treat! Inpatient Unit – Would you like to help provide caring support to our Fundraising – th patients and their Would you like to Friday 10 May, 2019 families? help raise much- We are seeking needed funds for 11:45am - 3:00pm compassionate Totara Hospice? Tickets $70pp - Table of 10 $650 people to help with The Fundraising meal service, light Team is looking Totara Hospice, 140 Charles Prevost Drive, Manurewa, Auckland housekeeping duties for motivated and various other volunteers to help BOOK NOW: tasks to support the with our community www.ladieslunch.co.nz medical team in caring for our appeals and patients. We will provide you with the support and assistance with events. All proceeds to Totara Hospice advice you need to do this role. If you have No experience is necessary but a positive attitude understanding and respect for the journey each and willingness to help is crucial. If this sounds Enquiries: [email protected] or 09 640 0243 patient and their family is on, please get in touch like you, please contact Julayne on 09 640 0250 on 09 640 0025 or [email protected] or [email protected] Premier Sponsors Mary McDonald - Residential Sales Totara Talk - your connection to Hospice // 01 A WILDLY SUCCESSFUL LONG LUNCH! A huge thank you to everyone who Special thanks to our generous joined us on Sunday 28th October for sponsors Davis Funerals, Andrew our 6th annual Long Lunch at Simms, Walthall Ward, Drake Medox, Alexandra Park. 300 guests – our Scarecrow, The Tasting Shed and largest ever Long Lunch crowd – Mike Pero Papakura for your ongoing indulged in the best of New Zealand’s support of our flagship event. Thank Wild and Farmed cuisine, expertly you to our incredible auction prepared by Chefs Ben Barton and sponsors, food, wine and event Sam Campbell. supporters and to those who participated in the auctions and raffles With the help of our generous on the day. sponsors and guests, we are thrilled to announce that over $75,000 was With the Long Lunch growing year on raised for Totara Hospice – by far our year, and with ten tables already sold most successful Long Lunch yet! for the 2019 event, it is sure to be a sell out! Lock in Sunday 20th October We could not have achieved such an 2019 in your calendar and go to www. amazing result without the support of eventfinda.co.nz/2019/hospice-long- our fantastic Youth Ambassadors, lunch to secure your seats. Celebrity Hosts, MC and Host Mike Puru, entertainers HALO and our For more information contact fabulous Chefs, assisted by the NZMA Melinda Seal on 09 640 0208. Culinary Students, who continue to wow us with incredible dishes. Table Host Melodie Robinson and MC Mike Puru REGISTER NOW www.sunrisewalk.co.nz Pop in for a bite to eat at Café Aroha here at Totara Hospice, we have great coffee and offer a range of simple, yet delicious food and beverages; all served with love and supported by our volunteers. The last Wednesday of each month we have a Pop Up Mini Market – a fabulous chance for you to enjoy a yummy bite to eat with a spot of shopping! We have the following confirmed days booked with some fabulous stalls: • Wednesday 27/2/19 • Wednesday 27/3/19 • Wednesday 29/5/19 Café Aroha has free Wi-Fi and indoor or outdoor seating is available.