Gisborne glows pink in support of breast cancer awareness month

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Sculptures and landmarks around New Zealand, including Gisborne’s town clock, have lit up pink in support of breast cancer awareness month.

“We are so grateful to all those who have lent their support this year,” says Evangelia Henderson, chief executive of the Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand (BCFNZ).

“The landmarks give such a wonderful visual reminder for every woman to be breast-aware.”

The campaign runs for the entire month of October and acts as a backdrop to Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand’s major fundraising event, the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal, which takes place on October 11 and 12.

Money raised through BCFNZ’s Pink Ribbon Street Appeal and community fundraising events around the country will fund research into new targeted treatments, life-saving awareness initiatives, education programmes, and will support New Zealanders going through breast cancer.

Landmarks featuring in the campaign include Auckland’s Sky Tower, Christchurch Airport and Airways Tower, Canterbury Museum, Nelson Cathedral, Palmerston North Clock Tower, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, and Wellington’s cable car tunnel.

Gisborne’s clock tower, formally named the Robinson Memorial Town Clock, is named after Reginald Deason Blandford Robinson, the town clerk from 1891 to 1933.

The clock was built in 1934, the year after his death, and the dial and hands used are from the previous town clock, which was part of the old Post Office building.

That building, situated at what is now Heipipi Endeavour Park, was severely damaged in the earthquake of 1931.

The clock tower, built at a cost of £448.10, stands 17-metres- tall.