Pioneer Energy Dinner Club raises $15k for growing Central Otago Hospice Team

The Dinner Club, attended by 80 people and supported by over 30 local businesses through gifted auction items, had been postponed due to the March Covid lockdown, but keen supporters saw the event sell out despite the challenges.

Pioneer Energy CEO Fraser Jonker was pleased with the result which built on last year’s event.

“Pioneer Energy is privileged to once again be part of, and sponsor, this event. We are proud and thankful to our community, other sponsors and business partners that so generously supported the night and helped us raise the bar on last year’s success.”

Russell Garbutt, the main volunteer behind the event who knows first-hand the value of the Central Otago Hospice service which looked after his wife four years ago, was also rapt with the evening.

“It was a huge night. A massive thanks to Pioneer Energy as major sponsor, to Pallas Hupé Cotter who was our MC and guest speaker, and to the many local donors of goods or services which were auctioned by Peter Hishon from Tall Poppy Real Estate to a very receptive audience.”

The event was also supported by Alexandra New World, Benjer Drinks Co, Cardrona Distillery, Clyde River Cruises, Creagh Cottage & Vineyard, Cromwell Golf Club, Edgewater Wanaka, Emerson’s Brewery, Grahame Sydney, Highland Motorsport Park, Kika, Lake Wanaka Cruises, Mt Difficulty Wines, Olivers, Paddon Rallysport, Pembroke Patisserie, R.Redpath Ltd, Rockburn Winery, Sue Noble-Adams, Tall Poppy Real Estate, The Packing Shed Gallery & Café, The Post Office Café & Bar, Two Paddocks and Wooing Tree Vineyard

Otago Community Hospice CEO Ginny Green says the Hospice fundraising target of $2.5 million each year relies upon the goodwill of the community to ensure free specialist palliative care for anyone in the region who needs it.

“We have seen growth in patient numbers and complexity for our Community Team in Central Otago, and as such we have built the team up from four to nine team members in the last six months. We need to raise more funds for this service, and to be able to help out with events like this is perfect - the local community helping us raise funds for the locally based service.”

For more information contact:

Pioneer Energy Ph: 03 440 0022

Ginny Green, Otago Community Hospice CEO Ph: 03 473 6005