A Wānaka woman who won a $4,200 cubby house, slide and swing set in a Wānaka App/McKay Brothers Building and Renovations Christmas competition has passed the prize straight on to the people she works for - expectant grandparents who had quietly hoped to win it themselves.

Lynne Gerrard, who entered the McKay Brothers Building giveaway on a whim, said she was “pretty blown away” when she got the call to say she had won.

“I enter a lot of competitions and never win anything,” she said.

“I really didn’t expect it.”

She had entered the draw while with her employers Shane and Tracey Gibson, who are preparing to welcome their first grandchild. Tracey mentioned how much she would love to win the play set, and Lynne made a promise on the spot.

“I said, ‘I’m going to enter that draw too, and if I win it I’m going to give it to you’,” Lynne said. 

“Today is delivery day, and I think they’ll get a lot of pleasure out of it.”

Tracey said the gesture had left her overwhelmed.

“We’re just full of gratitude for Lynne’s generosity,” she said. “We’ve got one grandchild on the way and hopefully there’ll be more. Our family is growing, with our two older daughters moving back to Wānaka, so this means a lot.”

The Cubby Slide and Swing Set built by McKay Brothers Building. PHOTO: McKay Brothers Building

The competition was run by McKay Brothers Building and Renovations, whose director Joe McKay said the idea came from his own children’s Christmas wish list.

“I asked my kids what they wanted for Christmas and they said a swing set, so I built one,” he said. 

“I’m a big fan of Christmas. To be able to do something like this and make another family feel that much joy, if I’ve got the capability, why not?”

The play set was built by Joe and donated with support from several Wānaka businesses including Mitre 10 MEGA, Art of Architecture, and Lakeland Contracting.