The Rosies

GOOGLE ‘NEW ZEALAND’ AND ‘VOLUNTEERS’ AND YOUR SCREEN WILL BE INUNDATED WITH PAGES OF SOCIETIES, GROUPS, SITES AND COMMITTEES DEDICATED TO RECRUITING AND INFORMING VOLUNTEERS.

Story: Pip Crombie; Photography: Alana Dresner & Quinn OConnell

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE out there who have an integral role in society - one which aids and abets the turning of the wheels in any community and on a range of levels. So strong are volunteer groups in New Zealand, TV One has even dedicated a prime-time Sunday evening slot to a show honouring people who give of their time and themselves. Mucking In, which sees uber-volunteers thanked by way of having their gardens transformed over a weekend, seems to have no trouble filling a whole series each season. The number of good-willed people, who give so freely of their time never ceases to amaze and humble. Funding of many projects these days seems to fall short, and those happy to give up their free time - often even their own employment - to further a worthy cause, warms your soul and makes you proud to be a Kiwi.

 

If you are feeling a little like you need to justify your own lack of involvement in a volunteer group at this point, don’t. There is a good chance you have been, or will be, a parent helper or perhaps a school sports coach, time keeper, sausage sizzle helper or the like. There are many cultural and recreational activities which rely completely on the help given freely by people in the community. Next time you grit your teeth and look ominously at your watch when picking up Junior from training, take a deep breath and think about what it is that the coach is giving up in their life, to better your child’s sports game.

 

Funding Innovations

 

Fundraising takes many forms and generally requires thinking outside the square in order to attract renewed interest and encourage people to dig deep. Funding Development Co-ordinator, Trish Rae of Waipuna Hospice on the outskirts of Tauranga, is constantly in search of funding for the hospice which provides a community based service plus a 12 bed 24 hour, seven day a week facility for patients for symptom control, respite and terminal care. She broached an idea with a dedicated group of volunteers some of whom for the last decade have given their time and expertise in the development and upkeep of the beautiful five acre garden which surrounds the hospice.
“I had the idea of a 2009 calendar,” she says. “We hadn’t done that before but we already have a stunning rose, the deliciously fragrant ‘Scent to Remember’, which is a stand alone fund-raising project.

 

I thought amalgamating the two would be perfect and who better to ask than our wonderful gardening group who maintain and care for our grounds?”

The group were at first reluctant - in varying degrees - but say that Trish was particularly persuasive! She promised discretion, a team of experts to co-ordinate the shoot, a lot of fun and a very good cause: the calendars, which will be available to buy from Palmers Garden Centres and Waipuna Hospice, will sell for $15 each, all proceeds of which will return to the hospice. It was when Trish added - in parting - that nude coloured underwear would be a good idea, that one of the gardeners, Christine Evans nearly balked.

 

“I had the absolute jitters about it. Actually, I was terrified! But Trish was really forceful and I just kept thinking about a mother at school who had lost her battle with an illness and I thought, come on, you’ve got your health, go for it! It really was a bit beyond my usual PTA and Art Exhibition Committee though!”

The ‘token male’ calendar model John Carmichael, says he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“It was a bit of a bonding experience.” (Gales of laughter from the women, at this). “We do get on well, we enjoy our catch ups while we’re gardening and this certainly gave us something else to talk about!” Hilarity seemed to be a large ingredient of the shoot - as well as the odd tipple - a bit of Dutch courage was required. The outfits worn by the models were quite a departure from what they would usually garden in, so this went some way to alleviate any nerves. Tastefully styled and beautifully shot, the very nature of the rose leant itself to an upmarket and stylish outcome.

 

Rose Breeder

 

The ‘Scent to Remember’ rose was specially bred for Waipuna Hospice by local rose breeder Rob Somerfield, who has also bred several other outstanding roses including White Romance, Blackberry Nip and Kaimai Sunset. The Scent to Remember gained its name from a newspaper competition and was selected for its fragrance, exquisite colour, disease resistance and strength as a long lasting picking flower.

“Because of its colour, men are happier to buy it too and it flourishes in our beautiful grounds to be enjoyed by patients, staff and visiting friends and families,” explains Trish.

 

The calendar largely features the Scent to Remember and is shot in a humorous, feminine and whimsical manner. Set amongst the grounds of Waipuna Hospice, the creativity of the calendar is superb, the colourful nature is compelling and something you would most certainly want on your wall. Growing notes for roses are an added bonus. Thanks to the efforts of the gardening team, the grounds look spectacular year round - all of the members work hard to create and maintain a pleasant and restful environment.

 

Yet more volunteers pooled their skills and dedicated their expertise to the calendar project and the quality of it is reflective of those involved.

Local photographer Alana Dresner photographed the whole calendar. She had a tight time frame due to other commitments so the models had little time to ponder their decision and two weeks after the idea was mooted, they were under way. Stylist Anna Robertson of Silver Bubbles themed each calendar month and the hospice volunteers ‘begged, borrowed and stole’ the huge array of required props.

The hospice training room became the prop room as well as the hair, makeup and dressing room. The School of Makeup Art Technology were responsible for the makeup, local woman Suzanne Gartshore created wonderful hair styles and V Marketing collated the calendar.

 

“I am always amazed at how people continue to give,” Trish Rae says. “The resources needed to maintain the hospice are huge and it is only because of the dedicated people involved that projects like this succeed. Without the support we have had from a large number of local businesses and individuals this project would not be the success we know it will be.”

 

The Group’s Formation

 

And what of the models? The gardening group has a core of about 20 members and there are around 16 of them featured in the magazine. Some of those members formed the original group back in the mid nineties and continue to come along on the second Friday of every month at 8.30 am, to spend a couple of hours gardening. I spent some time, in the grounds catching up with a few of them.

 

Marg Mills was asked, way back then, to check out a problem with a lavender hedge. She was out with her walking group and brought them all along too. What resulted was that some of that group set up a fundraiser to replace the hedge. Then another event was organised to fund outdoor furniture in the grounds. Another founding member, Trish Williams came into the group and has contributed invaluable experience and advice on the likes of design, layout and plant selection.

 

“She came up with the idea of the committee,” explains Marg. The hospice garden had been designated as a café stop on the bi-annual Bayley’s Garden and Art Festival. The committee organised donations of plants from various garden centres to sell to people calling in on that café stop. This helped fund further on site garden development.

Robin Ayres had worked with her neighbour Marg Mills keeping a couple of private gardens tidy - she too found herself part of the Waipuna Hospice gardening group. Andrea Cashmore heard about it and came along too. Long time member Fay Burn recruited her daughter-in-law Kim Burn, who in turn brought along her friend Christine Evans. Little did they know they would one day be modelling for the cause!

 

As a group, these people are also involved in other community minded volunteer work, from John washing the hospice nurses’ cars while they are on duty, to Kim organising a lunch at her home for the Te Puke Nine Holers golf group, proceeds to the hospice.

 

The invitation to join the Waipuna Hospice gardening group is an open one and needs no introduction. Should you take it up, you just never know where it might lead!