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mre property is proud to have been involved helping co-ordinate and sponsor this event
The 2009 Tour has raised $80,000 A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH THIS YEARS TOUR TAKPAUNA BEACHSIDE
The 2009 Tour has raised $80,000 A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH THIS YEARS TOUR TAKPAUNA BEACHSIDE
About The North Shore Hospice
Hospice is a service and facility dedicated to providing the best quality of life for those with a terminal illness. Specialist doctors and nurses experienced in palliative and terminal care and counsellors work together with patients and their families to relieve pain and provide physical, emotional and spiritual support in the final stages of a patient’s life.
North Shire Hospice currently requires $5 million each year to provide a totally free service to our terminally ill patients and their families. This can be via the in-patients unit and/or in their homes. The Waitemata Health Board allocates 50% funding – the balance must be raised by grants, bequeaths and fund raising activities.
The Annual North Shore Hospice Homes Tour:
The house tour is one of our most successful fund raisers. For the last 10 years home owners from Devonport to Long Bay have opened their homes and/or gardens to give supporters of Hospice the opportunity to enjoy a day of viewing and an appreciation of the special ambience of these homes while supporting their local Hospice.
There are 900 – 1000 visitors – each registered, supplying names, addresses and contact phone numbers. Security is paramount. Each home has a minimum of 2 security personnel and depending on the size of the house and numbers entrances/exits more will be allocated. We operate a ‘no ticket no entry’ policy. There is a team of hostesses in every home so that all parts of the house are overseen at all times – parts of the home may be closed off if desired/as required. Shoes are removed before entry (bags are supplied to carry shoes). Ticketing gives addresses and a brief description/history of each property (e.g. coachman’s kauri cottage built in 1890 – altered in 2001 by builder/architect Joe Blogs to…. gardens designed by…etc but current house owners remain anonymous. Tickets are distributed 1 week prior to the event.
Adding the Extras:
This is a real community effort with florists exhibiting their expertise, home décor stores exhibiting table settings and interior designers dressing bedrooms. While most are North Shore based we do have stores from across the bridge lending their support donating their time and talents –
Focus on Living, Corso d’Fiore, Studios of Tableware, Stevens, Urban Loft, The Homes Sore, Flowers on Orewa, Flowers of Auckland (formerly Colleen Murphy), Flowers by Sylvia, Amour, Bays Flowers, Tussie Mussie, Home Fabrics in Takapuna and Wallace Cottons in Birkenhead dress bedrooms.
And then there is the entertainment – homes with a piano will be allocated a pianist – John Wilcox is a perennial favourite and we are also able to call on the APO for pianists. No piano – we can source harpists and then there is our multi talented jazz musician David Nathaniel.
To add to this mix we have specially selected stalls – unique arts and crafts, specialty Christmas goodies, jewellery, preserves, toiletries etc. All donate a percentage of their takings to Hospice – number of stalls depends on suitable space available. Each year there is a raffle (a gift basket with all stall holders donating an item) and two years ago we introduced a Silent Auction – companies donate goods or services and people can tender a written bid – cases of wine, Kea campervan for a week, original paintings, spa treatments, outdoor furniture etc.
While much of the organization is carried out by a team of volunteers from the North Shore Hospice Fund Raising Committee mre property have come on board for the last seven years as our major sponsor. Their assistance with marketing, printing and publicity is invaluable ensuring that everything we make on the day goes directly to Hospice. They provide personnel on the day to help with security, parking and traffic flow. They access their data base on our behalf and persuade clients and office providers to get on board to donate time and services to Hospice.
Publicity
We seek as wide a coverage as possible. Over the years the event has been advertised in the Property Press, on NewstalkZB show with Leighton Smith, NZ House & Garden, the Aucklander, NZ Herald mid week property, through North Shore Hospice and mre property databases – wherever we can find support!
We do live in an exceptional caring community.