Changeover time as (from left) Donell Hole, Jim Gaudin, Joanne Gaudin and Debbie Morley reflect on another Napier Community Christmas, the last for the Gaudins, who are retiring. Photo / Doug Laing
Changeover time as (from left) Donell Hole, Jim Gaudin, Joanne Gaudin and Debbie Morley reflect on another Napier Community Christmas, the last for the Gaudins, who are retiring. Photo / Doug Laing
The spirit of Christmas was there in loads as Napier’s Community Christmas dinner farewelled the couple who have organised the event for more than a decade.
Catering for a sitting of almost 150, Jim and Joanne Gaudin had so many volunteers some had to be “turned away”.
“We’re over-run withhelpers,” Jim Gaudin said as the annual dinner got underway in the Napier Old Boys’ Marist clubrooms at Park Island.
Among about 45 volunteers helping were Donell Hole and Debbie Morley, who each had little hesitation in putting their hands up as the future organisers when they heard last year that Christmas 2025 would be the Gaudins’ last.
Hole has been involved about six years, but it was just the second year for Morley, recalling: “Joanne mentioned last year she was wanting to retire.”
The couple started helping in the kitchen predecessors when the event was held at All Saints Church, and have been doing it every Christmas for 15 years.
It was relocated to the Salvation Army premises in Greenmeadows, and found a home at Park Island with the facilities made available free of charge, joining a list of sponsors and supporters including the Napier City Council and Pak‘nSave Tamatea.
Almost 150 guests were at the Napier Community Christmas, for which there were about 45 volunteers preparing the meal, serving, and transporting and welcoming. Photo / Doug Laing
About 45 volunteers were involved, some for two days as the meal and the premises were prepared to cater for about 16 tables of needy, a mixture of homeless, families unable to afford a costly Christmas and those who would otherwise be spending Christmas alone.
The jobs also included greeting driving to collect people without transport or deliver meals to people unable to leave their homes, including at least one trip to Hastings.
“I’ve just delivered six meals,” said volunteer Elly.
Annual volunteer Berry Rangi (right) as the last meals of the day are served to new Napier Community Christmas organisers Debbie Morley (left) and Donell Hole. Photo / Doug Laing.
One who was there to help was Anaru Randell, who had during the year graduated from being a foundation resident at new Napier homeless night shelter Te Ahuru Mowai to getting a job and “get me a house”, after several months living in his car.
“I’m here for Jim and Joanne,” he said. “They’ve been my support. I needed a kick up the bum, and they gave it to me.”
New Napier Mayor Richard McGrath tells the Napier Community Christmas guests of his hopes for the council and the city in the new year. Photo / Doug Laing.
Addressing the guests, Jim Gaudin said: “We know that things are tough, and we wish that every day could be like today.”
Acknowledging those from the homeless shelter, he said: “Every one of them comes with a story. If you come across them on the street, take the time to talk with them, find out why they are on the street.”
