The Rotary Club of Wanaka annual quiz night (Wednesday May 19) has raised $10,000 which the club says will be donated to help children in the Pacific Islands get critical vaccinations.

The Rotary project, Rotary Give Every Child a Future is planning to protect 100,000 children from rotavirus, pneumococcal disease and cervical cancer across nine South Pacific Island countries over three years.

“We are delighted to be able to make a contribution to the project Give Every Child a Future,” Rotary Club of Wanaka president Mike Elliot said.

“We had such good community support and the event was sold out. It was a fun night made better by the fact that we can help save lives.”

Quiz night co-organiser and Rotary Club of Wanaka director Nicola Brown said a small amount of the funds raised will go towards the purchase of three Emergency Response Kits (ERKS).

“The Emergency Response Kit is distributed to affected families immediately following natural disasters to support them through the first days. With a kit a family can construct basic shelter, keep themselves protected from the elements and utilise the immediate survival items that are included,” Nicola said.

A packed Pembroke Pavilion was the venue for the quiz night.

She said funds were raised from team registrations and many generously donated gifts which were auctioned during the evening. One prize, a Fiordland Discovery adventure, was sold for $2,850, Nicola said.

The Rotary Club of Wanaka thanked Fiordland Discovery, Maude Wine, The Bakery, Bella Wanaka, Trout Cafe Restaurant and Bar, Aspiring Distribution, Ground Up Brewery, Florence’s, New World Three Parks, Proppy Real Estate, Wanaka Marquee and Party Hire, Upper Clutha Rugby Football Club, quiz master George Smythe, auctioneer Dave McKenzie, and the Showgrounds Community Sports Trust.

For the record the winning team was ‘The cLOWns’, led by Mike Elliot. All winners donated their winnings back to the club, Mike said.

The Rotary Club of Wanaka manages a number of fundraising events each year. Their next event is the Rotary Club of Wanaka Book Sale at the Lake Wanaka Centre on July 16-18.

PHOTOS: Supplied