Memory trees show Ruakaka’s generosity

KIND COMMUNITY: Ruakaka SuperValue owner Michelle Alison (left) and the first two trained volunteers, Murray Archer and Leonie Jarvis, with the Hospice memory tree. 

The generosity of the Ruakaka community has been highlighted following the success of the inaugural memory tree at Ruakaka SuperValue as part of the North Haven Hospice annual memory tree campaign.

More than $2300 was raised in Ruakaka, adding to a total of nearly $15,500 overall for the wider Whangarei area – with a top-up donation by Morris and Morris funerals of $1 for every $2 donated, making the grand total over $23,000.

Bream Bay hospice support group coordinator Gillian Archer says the local volunteer force that manned the memory tree throughout its stint in December at the local supermarket, was thrilled with the result.

“It was a leap of faith to fill the forty-two two-hour time slots that were required to ensure the tree was set up, manned, and taken down all on schedule. They came from every corner of our kind-hearted community,” Gillian says.

North Haven Hospice funding development and communications manager Hannah Blake says the memory trees were a resounding success in monetary terms, but the main importance of the event was to ensure that people in Whangarei and surrounding areas had a chance to remember a loved one during the festive season.

The stars and hearts used in the campaign were blessed by the hospice chaplain at a recent afternoon tea, where the volunteers involved in the campaign were thanked for their efforts.

“Volunteers make up such a large part of what we do here and we would be lost without them,” Hannah says.

An induction day will be held for new hospice volunteers on March 12 at the Marsden Boat and Yacht Club from 9.30am to 2.30pm. For more information or to register, please call Gillian on (09) 432 7712.