Public Trust Announces Sponsorship of the Carer

PUBLIC TRUST ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF THE CARER

Public Trust is the principal sponsor of the New Zealand tour of The Carer, a warm and funny play about a man who has recently lost his wife to Alzheimer’s. It’s a touching one-man comedy written by celebrated Australian playwright Alan Hopgood- and stars our own Ray Henwood.

In the play, the carer has lost his wife, after taking early retirement to care for her while she was dying. But far from being sad, the play celebrates life and death along with mateship, loyalty and honour. The story is told with humour, warmth and wit.

The Carer deals with a very real life situation that many of us face in one way or another – and in many ways Public Trust is often a carer in the work they do. As New Zealand’s oldest and largest trustee organisation, Public Trust has been caring for New Zealanders for over 130 years. The many legal and financial services provided by Public Trust help people throughout the different stages of their life, and after their death.

Public Trust Chief Executive Pat Waite says “We are delighted to be the principal sponsor of a play of this calibre and relevance; starring one of New Zealand’s most accomplished actors. It is also an opportune time to highlight the role of carers.”

“We feel it is a positive way to draw attention to carers. More than 750,000 New Zealanders, one in five of the population, provide at-home care for a sick, frail, injured or disabled family member.”

The national tour will begin at Wellington’s Te Papa on March 15, coinciding with the inaugural Carers New Zealand Summit, the first national carer focused event. Public Trust will also be supporting the summit and wherever the play opens they will have a stand with information on various carer groups to try and help raise awareness and support those who are themselves carers.

The play will be touring 14 centres from March – May 2005; beginning in Wellington. From there the play will visit Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill.

Pat Waite says, “The Carer deals with a very real life situation that many of us face now, or may well face in the future. Our role as an organisation that takes care of people makes our association with The Carer a natural fit”.

About The Carer

The Carer is a one-man comedy written by celebrated Australian playwright, Alan Hopgood.

The Carer is one of Australia’s best loved plays, where it enjoyed 350 successful performances over the past four years, where it starred Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell.

The Carer is set to tour the UK and the USA within the next two years.

The New Zealand production of The Carer will star well known local actor Ray Henwood (Gliding On), as George; the carer. This will be Ray’s third solo show.

George is in his late sixties. He is a sophisticated ex-businessman, who retired early to care for his wife Josie who suffered from Alzheimer’s. George cared for Josie at home for two years before she became so demented that she had to be put into care.

The Carer begins with George returning home with Josie’s ashes, to face life on his own. Having cared for Josie for so long, he questions when he actually lost her.

Despite its subject matter, The Carer is a comedy, and the story is told in a warm, funny and positive way.

The Carer raises the question of ‘who cares for the carer when the caring is done’ and celebrates life, death, loyalty, humour, honour and friendship.

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