Jan Ludemann
26 May 2021, 5:39 AM
A huge financial windfall, the result of raising a few laughs in a woolshed earlier this year, has boosted the coffers of two of Fiordland’s emergency response organisations.
This week, St John Fiordland and the rescue helicopter service operated by Southern Lakes Helicopters were presented with a share of thirty-one thousand dollars raised in February at a ‘Comedy in the Woolshed’ show hosted by the Macdonald Family at Davaar Station at The Key.
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In what has become a tradition for the Macdonald family for the last 13 years, their woolshed has become a legendary venue amongst some of New Zealand’s top comedians and the best of international acts that have previously visited New Zealand for the annual Auckland Comedy festival and in the process raised thousands of dollars for the district from ticket sales.
Kate Macdonald stepped up to head the organisation this year and she was thrilled to announce a sellout show.
In the week leading up to the comedy show, Ms Macdonald had indicated they had hoped to raise at least twenty thousand dollars this year but they were overwhelmed when the final count revealed thirty one thousand dollars had been realised from tickets sales, a pamper and wellness package auction and refreshment sales on the night.
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And this was in spite of the local community reeling from the effects of the government’s response to Covid-19.
Te Anau Basin residents took the chance to show their true colours when the chips were down when offered the opportunity of a having a few laughs combined with a good reason to socialise for the first time since the border closure along with the feel-good factor of the possibility of raising money for a good cause.
A committee made up of the organisers and a small group of community-minded people including JP Mary Climo, Nicky and Snow Mullally and Margaret Sheppard were tasked with distributing the proceeds, with this years funds being channeled to Fiordland’s emergency services via the local Rotary International Branch.
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Earlier this week two cheques were handed over to the recipients by Fiordland Rotary president, Craig McMurtrie.
Fifteen thousand dollars was presented to St John Fiordland which will be mainly used to replace batteries in fifteen defibrillators located within the Te Anau Basin while a further ten thousand dollars was handed to Southern Lakes Helicopters which will used towards the upgrade costs of BK117 the rescue helicopter they operate from Te Anau.
The remaining six thousand dollars will be distributed by the Fiordland Rotary branch in the form of grants to local organisations.
Mr McMurtrie said grant application forms could be found inside the back of the Rotary produced local phone books and that anyone could apply for a grant.