City Mission's Lauren Dowling. Photo / Janna Dixon
While most of us were sitting down to a meal with our nearest and dearest yesterday, an army of workers were busy feeding, healing, and helping others. Here are our three wise men - and women - of Christmas Day.
Lauren Dowling was in charge of serving up Christmas dinner to 1700 strangers.
Dowling, 47, of Avondale, Auckland, and her husband, Frank, first volunteered dishing up dinner at the Auckland City Mission's Christmas celebration 7 years ago.
And a tradition was born. "It's part of our life now. It's Christmas
for us," says Dowling.
Now Dowling, who runs her own graphic design business, is in charge of all the serving stations and "barrow boys" - who ferry food from the back of Vector Arena into the dining area.
Dowling arrived at Vector Arena at 9am on Christmas morning, after a festive salmon and egg breakfast with her husband, and spent the rest of the day on her feet running operations by walkie talkie.
While lunch attendees tucked into chicken, ham, roast vegetables, fruit salad, jelly and ice-cream, Dowling would not get the chance to eat until she was back home again. But there are no complaints from Dowling at the end of the meal.
"It's a great thing to do on Christmas day and hopefully we make a difference," she says.
Colleen Moses is praying that all is calm these Christmas holidays. "I think we're the only people pleased when we don't have any business," she says.
The St John ambulance officer from Mt Wellington will be out on the job today at Eden Park as the Black Caps play Pakistan in a Twenty20 match. Yesterday, she sacrificed time with her family to spend the day at the City Mission Christmas lunch.
During her 22 years as an ambulance officer, Moses has often worked during the festive season. Last year was the first time she spent Christmas day with her family in 15 years.
With the sacrifices, come rewards.
"I'm a volunteer. If I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't do it," she says. "It's nice to be able to help people if they've got an emergency."
George Dennigan was able to mix business and pleasure while mixing the drinks at Soul Bar in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.
The Irish-born duty manager was in charge of serving 54 people at a private function for the family of restaurant owner Judith Tabron.
Dennigan, 26, says guests encouraged the waiting staff to join in on the festivities.
"It was a very laidback atmosphere," he says. Dennigan made contact with family back in Ireland.
"I Skyped the family and was able to see the nieces and nephews open the Christmas presents that I bought for them - that really made my day.
"I'm very much a family person, I made it home last year but I do miss the Irish traditional Christmas."
