Far North excels itself for Switzer

Jackie Simkins never misses an opportunity to acknowledge the rich vein of public goodwill that plays such a vital role in the success of the Kaitaia rest home she manages, but that goodwill was never better displayed than over the weeks leading up to the recent masked ball at Te Ahu, and on the evening itself.

The ball was organised as part of the campaign to raise funds for the conversion of part of the Switzer Residential Care complex into a secure dementia unit, and so many people made extraordinary contributions to its success that Mrs Simkins hardly knew where to start with her expressions of gratitude.

The ball cost $5460 to stage and raised $13,000 in ticket sales. The bar added $4600 and the auction $6700, for a profit of almost $19,000, thanks in large part to the donations that came from all quarters, and the fact that Switzer staff took charge of the catering, at no cost.

Food had been given by a number of local businesses, but contributions had been made by so many people that Mrs Simkins couldn't begin to list them all.

"There are way too many people to thank - almost all the local business did something, and I've written hundreds of thank you letters," she said.

"There are some who really must be publicly acknowledged though, like Neta Smith and her PA, Anne Mooney and Sue Curtis at Kaitaia Hospital. They were just fabulous. The relationship between Switzer and the hospital is at an all-time high, and we really are very grateful for that.

"It was Bev Mason's knowledge and skill that brought everything together, and Andrea Thomas did a fabulous job of decorating the hall. The band was terrific, but I'm sorry if there weren't enough waltzes and fox trots.

"Gary Steed was a great auctioneer, with Leonie and Tahlia Rogers as his runners, and thanks to all who contributed to the auction, with donations and bids."

Apart from its financial success the ball was notable for the range of people, of all ages, who supported it, she added, and while many were keen to do it again it was a bit soon to say if and when there would be another.

Meanwhile, she now had an enormous collection of photographs from the ball, and was looking at ways of giving the public access to them.