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Hugh Green and his family
Tickets to O’Party are $125pp and are limited
to 300. Guests will enjoy a delicious dinner,
live band and dancing and be able to bid on a
luxury trip to Ireland for two and other
desirable auction items.
To order your ticket(s)
visit www.mercyhospice.org.nz
or phone Lesley on 376-7571.
Online Shop
February
2013
From left: Marcia Russell, daughter-in-law Jane Wilkinson and Dr Felicity Barnes
L
ate
Auckl and
businessman
and philanthropist Hugh Green
always
cl aimed
he
had
t wo
homes: New Zealand and Ireland.

“After emigrating here, Hugh never forgot
his Irish roots,” says Adrienne Thurston,
Manager of the Hugh Green Foundation.
On July 13th last year, at 80 years of age,
Hugh sadly died in the comfort of his Mount
Albert home. Hugh is survived by his wife
Moira, five children, 12 grandchildren and
one great grandchild. Hugh’s legacy of
kindness to Kiwis continues to shine on
through the work of the Foundation.
Mercy Hospice Auckland, with roots
P
that also go back to Ireland, has also been
touched by Hugh’s kindness. One criteria
when applying for Foundation’s funds is
an organisation must be able to
demonstrate that they can provide a
better quality of life for those they serve.
Seeing a good fit, Hugh was instrumental
in purchasing a much-needed van for the
Mercy Hospice shops.
“Hugh supported Hospices for a very
long time,” says Adrienne, “The quality of
care and comfort that they bring to the whole
family in the final stages of life is so important.
Hugh was happy to help in any way.”
“Dad was cared for by Mercy Hospice
at home. Nurses and staff were never too far
away, checking in daily to see how he and
the rest of us were coping,” says daughter
Frances, “They were a brilliant support.”
Mercy Hospice is delighted to have the
Foundation’s support again through its
premiere sponsorship of Mercy’s upcoming
O’Party: St. Patrick’s Dinner and Dance
fundraiser, 7.00pm on Friday 15th March.
“We are very grateful for their generosity,”
says Events Manager, Lesley Dawson, “as
we are to all sponsors, volunteers and the
community for helping to make this event a
great success.”
lease post this donation response to mercy hospice auckland
in the envelope provided. Or visit www.mercyhospice.org.nz to donate online.
I wish to donate by Automatic payment, please send me details
D.O.B:
/
/
I wish to make a bequest to hospice, please send me details
I have left a bequest to Mercy Hospice Auckland in my will
Gifts over $5 are tax deductible. We would normally post a receipt thanking you for your gift. If you would prefer
this to be emailed to save us the postage please tick here
and provide your email address in the space above.
8
Life spent illuminating others.
O
n a Tuesday in November Marcia Russell , together with friends, family and colleagues
gathered for a special ceremony acknowledging the l ast of a lifetime of achievements.
Tom Finlayson, Marcia’s partner for 35
years, joked with her that she wouldn’t
have the satisfaction of seeing him hit 70.
He was 69 when the love of his life
succumbed to cancer.
“Right up until her death, Marcia’s intellect
and passion for learning didn’t falter,” says
Tom, “She was halfway through her PhD
when her health took a turn for the worse.”
So impressed with Marcia’s work was the
University of Auckland it decided
to award her a Master of Literature (MLitt.)
early. With Marcia’s blessing Mercy set
about converting its day lounge into a
venue befitting such an honour.
“Marcia was very clear about what she
wanted out of the day,” says Tom, “First of
all, she wanted everyone to know that her
work was not about glorifying herself. Her
job was to illuminate the life of others - in
this case her thesis centred on Elizabeth
Riddell a journo-turned-poet who first found
acclaim in Australia.”
“In her early years, Elizabeth worked as a
World War II correspondent in London,” Tom
explains, “It was her raw life experiences
that intrigued Marcia. She believed they
tempered and sharpened Elizabeth’s work.
Marcia found an affinity with Elizabeth
I think.”
An aspiring journalist in a once maledominated industry, Marcia faced many
challenges herself. She was the first
women general reporter in a daily paper.
As Editor of “Thursday”- a New Zealand
Herald publication, she championed the
issues of women including fertility and
equality. Instrumental in getting TV3 off
the ground, Marcia was founding Director
of News and Current Affairs. In 1995 she
was awarded an OBE for her outstanding
service to journalism.
Marcia’s profession also brought Tom,
a journalist himself, into her life. They met
when TV2 first started and they worked
together as editors in the same newsroom
on the award-winning News At Ten. The
couple have one daughter, Kate. Tom says
he is very thankful for the way the Mercy
Hospice team accommodated Kate, who
struggles with a disability. “They just
opened their arms to the whole family.”
“The second thing that was important to
Marcia was that she wanted to use the
occasion to say goodbye,” says Tom.
Together many loved ones shared a very
special and emotional graduation ceremony.
Marcia died peacefully in Mercy’s
Inpatient unit four days later.
Just like Elizabeth Riddell, her life and
work will no doubt continue to shine on.
Photo: Nic Finlayson
Celebrating Green
Michele Leggott was New Zealand’s first
poet laureate from 2007-2009 and, as a
professor in the English Department at
the University of Auckland, she supervised
Marcia Russell’s Master of Arts and PhD
work. The poem speaks of her student’s
legacy. Marcia had just told Michele of her
second cancer diagnosis. Mercy would
like to thank Michele for sharing the
poem with us.
Marcia
we are here with you
as the stars turn
as you turn from us
and take your first step
towards them
we are here with you
as the stars turn
as you turn from us
and take your first steps
over the dark field
towards them
we turn with you
bright star on a horizon
of dust and luminous
possibilities turning
you turning us
towards them
so that we are here
with you turning
as stars turn in a field
of bright possibilities
your first steps
our luminous map
turning them
towards us
Michele Leggott
Sept 2012
2
H
appy New Year. I hope this edition of LifeTimes finds you and
your loved ones refreshed and looking forward to the
year ahead.
I am certainly excited about 2013. In
fact, following on from November’s
successful planning workshops, I am looking
forward to sharing with you a number of
exciting, positive and timely initiatives to
be rolled out over the next year.
As donors, volunteers and champions,
your gifts are investments in our work
and they enable us to plan our spending
and create new programmes.
The standard of care that we offer
patients and families will always be
important to us. Be assured, that we are
constantly asking ourselves: How can we
do things better ? How could we exceed
the expectations of those in our care ?
How can we use your donations more
efficiently and effectively to make the
biggest difference possible ? Mercy
Hospice is committed to offering patients
and their families the very best service. A
commitment to quality is, and always will
be, an important part of our core values.
We continue to experience an
increase in the number of people
requiring our services. Referrals for the
last quarter are up 14% with a record
104 referrals received in November. Two
initiatives for this coming year will help
to manage this increase. The Hospice at
Home project provides increased specialist
support at home. (Read more about this
Your
Impact
project in May). Our second initiative will
create a more seamless transition for patients
who require services of hospitals, residential
care facilities and ourselves. Of course
neither would be possible without you.
We have a saying, “it is people” at
Mercy Hospice and it really is. In this issue
we reveal two exciting new appointments
in the Mercy family and also how you
don’t need to be a grown up to make a
difference for Mercy either ! I hope you
get a sense of just how important people
are when you read this newsletter.
Enjoy and thank you for the part you
play in supporting the on-going work of
our charity.
As donors, volunteers and
champions, your gifts are
investments in our work and they
enable us to plan our spending
and create new programmes.
James’ Mercy Dash
I
n December , 29 year old James Mortimer along with 1,599 swimmers br aved a one metre swell
and 30 knot westerly winds to comple te the gru elling Auckl and Harbour Cros s ing .
Excited to cross a stretch of water not
swimmable at any other time of the year,
James’ goal was to swim it in one hour.
He also had another goal in mind - to
raise $2,900 towards Mercy’s work as a
thank you for looking after his dad’s partner,
Marilyn, (Min). You may remember Min’s
story captured on the front page of
LifeTimes Feb 2010.
“Min had multiple system atrophy (MSA),”
says James, “Dad became her full-time caregiver
for five years until she died in November 2011.
During the last years of her life Min visited
Mercy Hospice regularly for respite visits
giving Dad a break to do other things.”
James says Mercy became a second
home for his family and that staff became
like extended family.
“The support hospice gave was simply
incredible. I feel that it is services like these
that we all take for granted until we need
them most. I wanted to do something to
give back a little.”
James cracked both goals with a time of
57:49 and by fundraising $3,373.00.
Thank you James for your amazing efforts!
If James has inspired you to give back to Hospice by participating in a challenge event, there are plenty of
opportunities available. It is not too late to register for Round the Bays, taking place in March, or the Auckland
Marathon. Contact community fundraiser, Rebecca McCaughan on 361 5966 for other ideas and support.
celebrating You!
Community nurses: Jill, Cat, the two Annes and Lyn
A poem
for Marcia
ceo’s message
Thank you to everyone who supported our November LifeTimes Appeal. We are very excited
to tell you that with your support we have been able to purchase two new vehicles for the
community nursing team. Your investment will enable Hospice to provide timely assistance to
Auckland patients in real need of our care.
3
your mercy Hospice Shop Locations:
|
Ellerslie and Furniture Shop 188 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie Town Centre. Ph 579 1208 Royal Oak
|
728 Manukau Rd (opp Pak’N Save carpark). Ph 625 9300 Ponsonby 300 Ponsonby Rd (Three Lamps end).
|
|
Ph 376 5301 Mt Eden 453 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden Village. Ph 630 7110 Pt Chev Arcade. Ph 849 2258
Blockhouse Bay 560 Blockhouse Bay Rd (at the roundabout) Ph 627 0128
|
Events
Diary
Jamie helps
hospice
i
t took Jamie McConnell about
a year to save $100 of her
pocket money and she decided
to give it to Mercy Hospice. The
9-year-old Parnell District school pupil earns
$5 a week from her parents for doing chores
around the house. It was her granddad who
inspired her to donate to Mercy Hospice.
Jamie with her grandfather, Gus
“We were just talking, me and my granddad, and he told me he was fixing some
chairs to give to hospice. I asked him what
that was and he said they help people and
that’s why we should help them too. I went
home and put my money in a secret place
so no one could find it.”
Gus Pretscherer restores old furniture
for sale at the Ellerslie Shop and says he was
amazed by his granddaughter’s giving spirit.
“I had no idea she was doing it. I was
delighted when she came to me with this
handwritten envelope and it said ‘Jamie’s
Money’. She asked me if I could drop it in
because she had to go to school. I couldn’t
be happier, she’s amazing.”
Jamie wants to keep giving as much as
she can to charity.
“It feels really good because I feel like
I’m making someone else’s life happier.”
Well done Jamie, you are an inspiration
to us all. If you would like to start your
own loose change appeal, call 361 5966
today for your very own collection
box. Your loose change can make a big
difference to Hospice patients and
their families.
He ro
eroic’s Unsung
N
oel Pascoe is an unassuming character. More at home with
a cuppa and a cardie, he isn’t one to blow his own trumpet.
His quarter acre patch in Sandringham, it seems, does all the talking for him!
Viv (left) and Dale greeting a patient
Opening Doors is looking
forward to another exciting
year of fun and friendship.
This Mercy Hospice patient
day-stay programme operates
every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am
to 2pm. Offered is a range of therapeutic
and social activities to enhance the quality
of life for those in our care whilst giving
respite to family and caregivers. For more
information contact Viv James on 361-5966
or email viv.james@mercyhospice.org.nz.
4
15th February Chamberlain Park Golf Course
Now in its third year this fun golf day gives golfers an opportunity
to take Friday off and play Ambrose style golf. Play nine holes of
golf either in the morning or afternoon. At each hole and along
the fairways you will enjoy catering and refreshments from many
of Auckland’s greatest restaurants, Villa Maria, Lion Breweries
and Glengarry’s. Silent auction will follow. A big thanks to
Chris and Richard, Harcourts for your amazing
enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring this event is even more
successful each year.
Tickets are only $50.00 per player for nine holes.
To book your place or team contact
Christopher Dunn 021 520 304 or go to
www.takefridayoff.co.nz
From a covered porch full of begonias
to garden beds ablaze with dahlias, you
could be forgiven for thinking you’d
stepped back in time to a garden just like
your grandparents used to grow.
It’s this nostalgia and sense of familiarity
that has kept hundreds of festival-goers
coming back for more.
“Three elderly women came to visit one
time,” says Noel, “They were having trouble
manoeuvring their walkers. When they spotted
the dahlias they forgot their limitations and
walked unaided for 20 minutes! They were
reminded of their grandmothers’ love for
these beautiful flowers.”
This joyous emotion has inspired Noel
to open his garden to the public for 16 out
of the festival’s 17 years. He did decide
one year that he wanted to go see the
other gardens for himself. Although 2013
will be the last year Noel’s garden will
feature in the Heroic Gardens Festival, he
will be staying involved by visiting Heroic
Gardens in the years to follow.
Noel spent a few years on the festival’s
organising committee starting with its
inception in 1997. He is a strong advocate
for Mercy Hospice and we are very
grateful for his continued
commitment and dedicated
support.
The 17th Heroic Gardens
Festival will be held 23-24
February. You can purchase your
tickets for $35 each (valid both days).
Visit www.heroicgardens.org.nz for
information and tickets.
Online Shop
Fabric-A-Brac
is back!
Saturday 9th March 2013. 9-12.30
Freemans Bay Community Hall
52 Hepburn Rd, Auckland
Due to popular demand, Fabric-A-Brac
returns to treat craft-crazy Aucklanders to
fabulous vintage, unusual and modern fabric
at bargain prices. With everything from patterns to zips, this
year’s event will accommodate even more stallholders. To book
a stall to sell your stuff email fabricabracauckland@gmail.com
If your sewing cupboard is in need of a clear out, you may wish
to donate your goods to the Mercy Hospice stall.
Come along and spend the morning searching through the
treasures on offer and enjoy a cuppa at the retro inspired café.
For details email: rebecca.mccaughan@mercyhospice.org.nz
5
Mercy Hospice’s 2012 Strawberry Festival
was a sweet success raising $14,000 net.
Thanks to the hundreds of Aucklanders who
turned out to enjoy all things strawberry.
Vodafone’s Karyn Gould was one of many
corporate volunteers who helped out on
the day. For the four years the Strawberry
Festival has been running, Vodafone has
kindly offered volunteer support.
“Vodafone is big on encouraging us to
give back to the community. The festival is
an opportunity to do just that,” says Karyn
who is Human Services Manager. “Besides,
we are virtually neighbours - how could we
not support Mercy ?”
The 2012 festival was Karyn’s third time
volunteering. She has a very special reason
for getting involved. Sadly, her dad Warwick
was diagnosed with cancer at around the
same time she joined Vodafone. Her Dad
was cared for by an Auckland Hospice.
“Hospice was so good to Dad and my
family,” Karyn says, “They supplied all
equipment necessary for his care at home.”
When Warwick’s health took a turn
for the worse, he was admitted to IPU.
Karyn says, “Staff were amazing. They
helped us understand what was happen-
We truly appreciate the generous
support and relationships we have with
the following Trusts and Foundations.
Karyn Gould
ing and when Dad died they even thought
to offer us a cup of tea and biscuits. They
made us feel at home and so normal.”
A huge thank you to our sponsors
Phil Greig Strawberry Gardens, New
Zealand Natural Ice Cream, Carlton
Party Hire, Z Auckland Central Petrol
Stations and also to Ripe Deli and Shaws
Berry Farm, ‘Juicy’ our MC, all our
celebrity chefs and friends and everyone
who rolled up their sleeves
to help on the day.
Remembrance
Trees
An Enormous
The Lion Foundation
for contributing to the salaries of four hospice doctors and nurses
J A Redwood Charitable Trust
for covering the petrol costs of our community nurse cars
Waitemata Lodge 689 8th Constitution
for alleviating pain through the supply of lymphedema supplies
Les Wood Masonic Trust
for a gift towards patient costs
F & J Shannahan Charitable Trust
for a generous gift for essential services onsite
Estate of Ernest Davis Hyam
for a contribution towards the Mt Eden shop lease
Ted & Mollie Carr Trust
for a substantial contribution towards the Ponsonby shop lease
Blue Waters Community Trust
for assistance with our new telephone system
N R & J H Thomson Charitable Trust
for covering the petrol costs of our community nurse cars
Constellation Communities Trust
for assistance in updating of our telephone system
6
What does it
mean to love
A deeper
someone in
per spective absence, after
loving them
in presence?
We really appreciate everyone who
took time out of their busy preChristmas schedules to volunteer for the
annual Remembrance Tree Appeal. A
big THANKS also to Farmers, who
generously donated all of the christmas
trees and baubles, and to Westfield 277,
Westfield St Lukes, Downtown Shopping
Centre, Eastridge Shopping Centre and
Royal Oak Shopping Mall who kindly
accommodated us.
Finally, a heartfelt
THANK YOU
to everyone who generously donated and
hung a bauble on the tree. You helped us
to raise $47,000 net profit to help those
we serve.
WELL DONE!
Kay Ryan
Event Your berry
UpDate good
support
T
he medical profession is renowned for its problem-solving
and making things better.
However, a different approach is required when addressing a patient’s spiritual well-being.
We thank Robert Matthews who has provided pastoral care support to patients and
families for 7½ years. His recent retirement opened up the opportunity to expand what
is offered to encompass spirituality.
For some, spirituality is faith based and
for others it could be about self discovery
through nature, music, dance, writing,
gardening or a combination of these.
Spirituality assists us to make meaning of
what is happening and leads to a deeper
conectedness to ourselves, to others and
something beyond.
Kay Ryan has had extensive experience
working in the field of palliative care. For
five years she has worked as a counsellor
for Mercy Hospice and this month moves
into the role as Spiritual Support
Coordinator.
Kay is excited and feels privileged to
be able to guide people on their personal
journeys. She says “Spiritual care is about
knowing and honouring your own values and
beliefs. It’s about helping and resourcing
people to find peace of mind themselves.
Spirituality is deeply personal and embedded
in culture. At the end stages of life patients
and their families often ask those bigger
questions in life and look for assistance to
discover answers.”
Kay will continue to support staff with
the practice of mindfulness and will
continue to expand her sessions to
include patients, family and volunteers.
She will also facilitate educational sessions
on spirituality and pastoral care to
colleagues and people in the community.
Welcome back Jenny.
Our new nurse leader.
If Jenny Thurston’s face seems a little
familiar, it may be because you saw her at
St. Joseph’s Hospice at Mountain Road in
the early 90’s.
Jenny is no stranger to nursing and she
loves it. Since leaving school, she has lived
and breathed the profession for 30 years.
It wasn’t until a friend suggested she join
hospice, that Jenny discovered palliative
care. For 11 years, she has worked within
this environment including time at both
Auckland and Middlemore Hospitals.
S
arah Penwarden’s doctoral research
study with the University of Waikato
will bring together two of her interests.
As a counsellor, Sarah has met with
clients who have told her of how they
continue to experience the presence of
a loved family member after death. Sarah
is also a poet. She uses it in counselling,
including writing poetry for clients.
Titled “Conversations about absence
and presence: Remembering a lost partner
in poetic form,” her innovative study will
focus on how a person’s relationship with
a loved one is transformed and changed
after death. Sarah is interested in the
ways people remember their loved one
whether this is through dreams, memories,
or through living out their legacy. In early
2013, she will interview ten individuals
and then write a series of poems based
on their words. A second round of
interviews will then focus on the
participants’ thoughts about the poetry.
If you are interested in learning more
about this project, please email Sarah at:
sarah.penwarden.research@gmail.com
“Palliative care is the essence of nursing,”
Jenny says, “ It’s patient-centred and is as
much about treating the family as it is the
individual. It’s nursing how it should be.”
Having recently completed a Masters
Degree in Nursing, Jenny will be
encouraging her colleagues to pursue
life-long learning opportunities. In this
constantly changing palliative care
environment she is looking forward to
the challenges ahead and working alongside
a talented and experienced nursing team.
7