8 April 2011

Aoraki Mt Cook Village gets busy fundraising

The tight-knit community of Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Village -- supporting a permanent population of just 120 people -- has joined forces in recent weeks to raise over $6500 for disaster victims.

From the moment news broke about the Christchurch earthquake and subsequent Japanese disaster, Mount Cook Village felt a personal obligation to put its best foot forward and raise money for these devastated regions.

The Hermitage Hotel General Manager Steve Kirkpatrick, the largest employer in the village, said the degree of enthusiasm and determination from village residents was overwhelming.Mr Kirkpatrick, who only recently took over as GM at the hotel, said he knew as soon as he arrived at the remote location that there was something special about Mount Cook.“Even so, to see all these people band together and make such an effort was pretty humbling, and it seemed natural for us to get on board and help where we could,” he said.Mount Cook ‘brainiacs’ kicked off the fundraising with a charity quiz night held at The Hermitage, which together with other raffles, social club donations and a ‘guess how many lollies in the jar’ competition raised over $1500.

The lolly competition attracted thousands of entries, but the Hermitage Chief Engineer who won promptly made himself very popular by donating all 1738 lollies to the local Mount Cook school.In true Mount Cook village style, a further $800 was raised at the Chamois Bar and Grill ‘Texas Hold'em’ poker night and auction, powered by businesses throughout the village that provided prizes. The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre also raised $600 with a movie night and from café staff donating tips.Even the local Department of Conservation office came to the party, putting their best ‘boot’ forward with a bake and busking sale outside the DoC visitor centre.

The busking hat was filled to the brim and they’d raised $725 before they knew it. With additional generous donations from Hermitage Hotel visitors there has been over $4500 dollars raised so far for Christchurch, which has gone to the Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake appeal.

When the extent of the Japan disaster was realised, the local Japanese community hosted a series of fundraising events also with the support of the Hermitage Hotel. Origami pieces were handed out to each person making a donation to their cause, and the group arranged an afternoon of raffles and activities that included members of the Aoraki Mount Cook Sedio Karate club chopping blocks of wood in half using their feet, and The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre playing the film Celestial Railway by famous Japanese author Kenji Miyazawa.Professional opera singer and former Hermitage staff member Emi Scheele wowed her audience singing a collection of songs, each one holding special significance to Japan, Christchurch and Aoraki Mt Cook Village.

‘Arigato’ was heard throughout the village as the Japanese community conveyed their thanks to all who contributed to the $2500 raised. The money has been donated to Red Cross Japan and also directly to Otsuchi and Miyako cities, home to many Japanese staff, friends and family from Mount Cook.

ENDS

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