Wharekaka News

Ian and Maggie mixing the ANZAC cookie ingredients while Lionell and Glady’s keep an eye to ensure the recipe is followed correctly. Photo by Jim.

Our beautiful oak trees have begun to turn into the most stunning orange and golden colours, we have also noticed the cooler mornings…. a sure sign of the change in the seasons.

Life for our residents continues to be fun filled.

Wharekaka residents recently enjoyed a visit from Graham Clark and Murray Parker with their vintage cars.  One resident  noted that the tyres had come from her father’s car – a model T Ford.  Many thanks go to Graham and Murray for taking residents for a spin around town.  The men enjoyed getting up close under the bonnet and checking out the engine.

Our pool table has been reinstated in the day room.  It is being put to good use by residents – with one resident up at 6am to practice!!

We have begun weekly art classes.  Special thanks to Gail for having dahlias brought in from her garden, for us to draw.  We have some budding Michelangelo’s amongst our residents.

Anyone from the community is welcome to come in and join this group…. or our regular singing group.

This month Wharekaka will host the monthly Rest Home quiz.  This is a fiercely fought battle between the South Wairarapa Facilities.

Residents enjoyed ANZAC celebtrtations held at the home.  These included banking ANZAC cookies, a church service and a visit to the square to view all the white crosses.

Many thanks to everyone who recently purchased tickets in our Easter raffle.  Congratulations to Joy Cooper who won the basket of Easter goodies and thanks to Joy for donating the basket to staff….it was very much appreciated.

Wharekaka Auxiliary News:

In February the Auxiliary was offered the opportunity to run the tea rooms at the first Martinborough fair of the year. This is usually managed by the Lions Club and it was a generous gesture on their part to make this available to us for our fund-raising efforts. Luckily the 5a.m start didn’t deter our wonderful Auxiliary ladies and there was a great team, ably lead by Sheryl Howie, turning out scones, sandwiches and slices. With a steady stream of hungry fair goers eager to be fed throughout the day, we raised nearly $3000.  

From this activity we have been able to contribute a new fridge for the residents to use, petrol vouchers for visiting speakers and we are about to take possession of the wonderful all Terrain Wheelchair that we trailed last year.  So, many thanks again to the Martinborough Lions Club. These special events are over and above our monthly drives and activities that we share with residents.

We are also in the process of buying an iPad, which will be used by Maggie, our Activities Coordinator, to take photos to be uploaded to the new Wharekaka Facebook page.

So, as you can see it has been a hectic time but one that we hope has brought some pleasure to our residents and allowed us to raise necessary funds to make their daily lives a little easier or more pleasant.Thanks again to my fellow members for all their hard work and dedication, some have been involved for over 40 years! your wonderful contribution to Wharekaka does not go unnoticed.

Carolyn Thompson.