The UCCMT committee celebrating Christmas and looking forward to yet another year of fun fundraisers. (Back row, from left: Noeline Harridge, Mary Holland, Jill Schaefer, Pam Horne , Laurel Gilks, Diana McLachlan, Derek Valentine, Dave Evans; front row, from left: Yvonne Gale, Dazza Sherwin, Kate Lovell. Absent: Sharyn Mathias) 

LIZ BRESLIN 

Fun fact: Here in the Upper Clutha we are further away from the sea than almost any other place in New Zealand. Not-so-fun fact: We are also one of the furthest away from hospitals, making accessing medical care a challenge for some people, especially families with young children.

So thank goodness for the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust (UCCMT), who, since 2009 have provided financial assistance to more than 200 local children in need of medical care. In 2016 they gained recognition in the Trustpower Community Awards as regional winners in the Health and Wellbeing category and they continue to go from strength to strength in the community.

Current chairperson Noeline Harridge explained how the UCCMT works. Set up by Bev Rudkin in November 2009, there are five trustees and 12 people in total on the committee.

Committee members have changed over the years, with Bev, and others, moving on to other volunteer projects, while new people come in to take their places. Jonette Hodge, who recently passed away, is one member who will be missed for her wisdom in discussions and her expertise with tickets at events.

Fun fact: None of the members are born and bred locals, Noeline said. They’ve all migrated here in the last decade or so, and they make sure to use their big city experience and connections in fundraising to the max for the UCCMT.

They certainly aren’t short of ideas. Noeline highlighted the importance of keeping fundraising functions new and fresh, so while they know that Ladies’ Lunches will be well-supported, they always want to make sure they’re well worth attending. Hence themed efforts like the ‘Old Bags Lunch,’ where everyone who attended brought along bags and jewellery to be resold to raise funds.

Committee member Sharyn Mathais’s favourite fundraising event so far has been the ‘Vintage Champagne Brunch’ held at Corbridge Barn last year.

"It was seeing all the generations together,” she said. "The school kids who did the modelling, their mothers, who volunteered to help and then the grandmothers. Us. And all the businesses who helped too.” Sharyn also mentions the three years of Melbourne Cup parties at Lone Star as putting the fun into fundraiser.

The amount of community support the UCCMT receives is widespread. People can donate through the website (uccmedtrust.co.nz) and in person, and frequently do. Last year saw Dazza and Leon’s Team Kiwi Kite Surfers at the Mongol Rally with the UCCMT as their charity of choice. An Enterprise group at Mount Aspiring College partnered with Wanaka Chocolate to create a limited edition fundraiser chocolate bar. And then there was young Lily Wilson who sold homemade Christmas cards and donated an impressive $60 to the cause.

All the monies raised goes towards helping school aged children from the Upper Clutha who are referred by professionals to the UCCMT for medical assistance.

They cover a comprehensive range of physical and mental health needs, with the committee discussing each application at length to see how and where they can best assist. Some examples of costs that can be considered are specialist medical appointments, speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, supply of health care needs and equipment, counselling, assessments and tutoring for specific learning disabilities. Travel and accommodation may also be covered.

Further information on eligibility, how to apply or make a donation is available on the website - click MORE below.

PHOTO: Supplied