My Account
The opening of Tui House is a significant step in a journey that started in Warkworth 31 years ago.
Here is a look at just a few of the highlights:
1986
Until 1986, the Warkworth Wellsford area was not covered by any hospice facility. From an initial contact made by North Shore Hospice to Rev. Malcolm Clague and Raewyn Wylie, a public meeting was called to set up a group of hospice homecare volunteers. Among those who attended were Angela Buckton, Mary Catalani (McLellan), Margaret Cross, Nan Furniss, Dianne Nichols and Rosemary Powell. Raewyn was appointed as coordinator. In the following year, these people trained as homecare volunteers. They were unpaid and provided emotional support for the terminally ill and their families in their homes.
1988
The committee received a $9000 grant and, as a result, Ruth Wrack and Raewyn were each paid for five hours a week to coordinate the volunteers. Ruth operated in Wellsford and Raewyn in Warkworth.
1990
Vonnie Wynne was appointed coordinator of volunteers and was paid for 10 hours a week. Vonnie visited each patient and then assigned a volunteer to look after one family. She became very involved with hospice in many capacities. Under her guidance and energy, together with Rev. Clague, hospice became a solid helping presence in the Warkworth and Wellsford community.
1993
The official Warkworth Wellsford Hospice Committee of the North Shore Hospice Trust was formed with Rev. Clague as chairperson. In July, the first part-time nurse, Dianne Keip, was employed. The Warkworth Garden Club, lead by Fay Illingworth, started to support hospice with plant sales and the first hospice garden tour was held. Trees of Remembrance was held at Christmas and National Hospice Day, at the beginning of December, became a regular local event. Vonnie took over the role of chairperson and hospice was initially based in her spare room. Late in the year, an office was opened in Elizabeth Street and Jan Wordsworth was appointed joint office administrator and coordinator of volunteers, a paid position of 20 hours a week.
1994
The first Bereavement Group was formed.
1995
The Warkworth Hospice Shop opened in Argyle Lane with Joyce Barry as co-ordinator. The office shifted to the new Rural Health Services Building, on the corner of Percy and Alnwick Streets. The first nurses’ car was purchased, a Ford Lynx.
1996
The Wellsford Hospice Shop officially opened with Anne Roberts as shop coordinator, assisted by Heather Power. The two shops became the main source of non-grant funds, bringing in a net total of around $50,000 a year.
1997
Hospice moved to new offices in Tui House, corner Alnwick and Percy Streets. The premises were large enough to accommodate one office administrator and four part time nurses.
2000
Fay Illingworth, as fundraising coordinator, was busy organising a very successful fashion parade and the Auction of Promises. The Hospice Catering team was set-up and raised over $20,000 in its first year. Garage sales were held at the home of Dave and Mildred Maney, under the leadership of Christine Sanderson, and raised around $8000 for the year.
2001
An anonymous benefactor loaned $200,000 interest-free for two years and Hospice House, at 51 Woodcocks Road, was purchased. The loan was repaid in two months upon receipt of a gift of $140,000 from the Veta Mary James Trust and $55,000 from Warkworth Rotary. The EAR Fisher Estate provided $40,000 towards the upgrade.
2002
On April 6, Hospice Patron Dame Thea Muldoon officially opened Hospice House in Warkworth.
2006
The first Wearable Arts show was held at Ascension Wine Estate in August.
2009
Work started on alterations to Hospice House, funded by Rotary.
2010
The lounge, dining room and kitchen in the second house were refurbished to provide room for massage therapy, meetings, art therapy and training. Free therapeutic massage was offered to patients well enough to come to Hospice House.
2014
The fundraising campaign for a new hospice was launched.
2017
Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy opens Tui House on November 16.
