For the Meades, fundraising is a family affair and all hands pitched in to help with catering at the Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day.
Lily's dad Simon Meade, Suzuki's motorcycle sales manager, and wife Jenny, sons Brent (16) and Tennessee (18) and Lily were busy serving, doing dishes, cooking andclearing tables.
Grandma Sally Meade was there too busy despite the heat, and said the catering was a big job but well worthwhile to help her talented granddaughter Lily make waves on the international water skiing arena.
The 12-year-old has been named to represent New Zealand at the Oz/Kiwi Challenge Water Skiing in Canberra on February 6.
The family were catering for the corporate tent for the second year to raise funds for emerging water ski star Lily who was selected in November as part of the New Zealand under 14s team.
Trays heaped with fresh bread rolls were alongside a selection of salads and cold meats, and bowls of small saveloys with dishes of tomato sauce and large platters of chopped fresh fruit while a fridge full of cold drink completed the lunch service.
"It takes a few days to get it all organised. I was up at 5am and it's just soooo darn hot again," Sally Meade said.
The catering contract was a great way to raise funds because the whole family could be involved, Mr Meade said.
The family's home on the banks of Lake Wiritoa at Kaitoke is geared up for the family sport of water skiing.
"Yes we all ski, that's why we came to live here," he said.
Lily is out early every morning practising, with her mother driving the boat. She specialised in trick skiing and slalom, Mr Meade said.
She will be travelling to Canberra with her mother and Lily admitted she was pretty excited and really hoped the team did well.
Even though the heat was extreme on Boxing Day at the Cemetery Circuit, the Meade family were more than happy with their efforts and were spending yesterday cooling off and relaxing.
