Locals show support at museum fundraiser

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BY JULIA WADE

5 Sept, 2022

 

With a wave of their collaborative hands, locals raised thousands of dollars recently at a fun event, ensuring Mangawhai’s many stories will continue to be told for future generations.

Around 100 people wined, dined and vied for a range of prizes at Mangawhai Museum’s fifth annual dinner and auction fundraiser held at Mangawhai Golf Club on August 20, netting $8000 for the upkeep of the popular historical facility. The money is a welcome addition to support the museum’s running costs, Mangawhai Museum & Historical Society chair Jill Corkin says, and was a great result.

“Due to Covid restrictions, this was our first dinner auction since 2019,” she says. “It was so good to be able to hold this event again after the disruption of the last couple of years.”

The funds are essential to the museum’s annual revenue for the facility’s range of operating costs and exhibitions and collections, as well as paying the new manager, Tom Long, who took up the position in June and ‘was inducted’ into the community at the event Jill says.

“We are delighted to have him as he brings a museum and historical sites background and a wealth of experience, and his partner Barbara Hilden has been appointed as curator to the Kauri Museum, so together they are great assets for the wider community.”

The Golf Club was a great venue to hold the fundraiser she says, with A to Z Catering’s delicious three course dinner and live music by Auckland-based entertainer, David Shanhun ‘creating a superb atmosphere for a night out’.

“The evening was very well supported by Mangawhai locals who bought tickets and turned out for the event, making it such an enjoyable time,” Jill says. “Our fundraising team led by Lesley Bell and Gaylene Lawrence did a great job for us this year and we are very grateful for their efforts, as we are to the many businesses who supported and sponsored this event, a big thank you to you all.”

 

THANKS Mangawhai Museum would like acknowledge the following sponsors and supporters: A to Z Catering, Aotearoa Surf, Arbonne, Art Group, Bammas, Beauty Within, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bennetts Chocolates, Bronze Weta, BrookLane Vineyard, Caro with Love, Carters, Debbi Stone, Dimity, Elevated Art, Good & Gooey, ITM, Joseph Taylor, Junction Magazine, Little Tart Bakery, Mangawhai [Artists, Butcher, Focus, Gas Station, Golf Club, Hire, Memo, Vets, Village Wines], Mark Perry, Mike Pero, Morris & James, Olives on the Hill, Pipi Gallery, Sculptureum, Skin Perfector, Te Arai Strawberries, Village Wines, Waterboy and Wyatt Landscape Supplies.

 

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Going, going, gone. Mangawhai Museum’s recent dinner and auction proved to be a fun night out with good food, great company and a chance to score some great prizes while helping to support a worthy cause.

 

Mike Pero Mangawhai real estate agent turned auctioneer, Alan Corkin, models one of the colourful items for sale on the silent auction.

 

Leaders of the fantastic fundraiser team, from left Lesley Bell, Gaylene Lawrence and Marion Naish, with some of the items under the hammer gifted by generous businesses which included gardening supplies, stunning photography, pottery, vouchers and sweet treats.

Music was by the talented David Shanhun who has opened shows for Heart and Foreigner, and also had a number one iTunes hit ‘Jessie’.

 

Event co-organiser Lesley Bell says ‘it was our best result, huge thanks to local businesses for donating magnificent auction items, free advertising via radio and print, and big thanks to golf club for their premises, Mike Pero for their sponsorship and to all who came to the dinner and made strong bids on auction items’.

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