GETTING IN THE SWING: St Faith's parishioner Ena Mitchell (left) and the Rev Tom Poata practise their backswings at the St Faith's charity golf tournament held at Lakeview Golf Club. Photo / STEPHEN PARKER 291113SP1
GETTING IN THE SWING: St Faith's parishioner Ena Mitchell (left) and the Rev Tom Poata practise their backswings at the St Faith's charity golf tournament held at Lakeview Golf Club. Photo / STEPHEN PARKER 291113SP1
Around 70 golfers, fuelled on barbecue sausages and healthy green tea extract, kept the faith to raise more than $27,000 at a charity tournament to help restore a treasured Rotorua church.
St Faith's Church at Ohinemutu required funds for the renovation as it prepared to celebrate 100 years of servicesand becoming the first cathedral church in New Zealand. Present and past men and women golfers from Rotorua and other centres teed off at Lakeview Golf Club yesterday in an Ambrose charity tournament to give the project a helping hand with raffles, and a $1200 first prize on offer.
New Zealand Maori Golf Association spokesman John Cribb said the tournament was the first charity event the council had been involved in. "We would like this to be an annual event if we can, it has certainly proved popular this year."
St Faith's the Rev Tom Poata said the church held so many memories for people that it was important to preserve it.
"We need to look after what we have been left, it's not so much about keeping the things inside the church but to remember the people who filed through the main doors."
St Faith's was an important symbol to the people of Rotorua and maintaining the structure represented continuity between the church's past and its future, he said. "Thousands of people are connected spiritually with the church and it is vital to maintain this. Next year also commemorates 200 years of the Gospel in New Zealand, and 100 years of the outbreak of WW1 - both significant events for Maori."
A gala dinner and prizegiving was held at Whakaturia on Te Papaiouru Marae last night.
