Fundraising Favourite Sells Out Fast

The 5th annual Central Otago Dinner, sponsored by Pioneer Energy and held at The Packing Shed on Friday 10th of October raised an impressive $38,700 for Otago Community Hospice’s Central Otago service. This included a winning bid of $850 for a pound of butter!

The dinner has become a much anticipated staple in the Central Otago calendar. Attended by 120 people and supported by over 60 local businesses through gifted auction items, it sold out almost immediately this year.

Recently appointed Pioneer Energy CEO, Peter McClean, was very pleased with the result: “Hospice is the embodiment of giving back, and therefore we are proud to support this outstanding fundraising effort.”

Russell Garbutt, the creator and main volunteer behind the dinner, started the event after experiencing Otago Community Hospice first-hand through their care for his wife: “This is such an important cause which benefits local people directly, so I am so happy the event has become such a success."

A massive thanks to Jonathan Usher who was our MC and entertainer for the night, the Packing Shed for the fabulous food and service, the many many local donors of goods and experiences which were auctioned by Peter Hishon from Tall Poppy Real Estate, and of course all the diners that came back and supported us.

As Ginny said “an event like this is perfect - the local community helping us raise funds for the locally based service. We are so grateful to Pioneer Energy for sponsoring and helping organise such a great event, and Russell for his unwavering dedication to quality palliative care."