MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Generous shoppers fund big donation to surf clubJULIA WADE
In a crowd-funding effort tallied at the till of a popular local store, charitable shoppers have raised thousands of dollars for an essential service whose main mission is to save lives. Over two long weekends, Northland-Auckland Anniversary January 31, and Waitiangi Day February 6, local and visiting shoppers at Mangawhai Heads Four Square gifted $6500 to Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Surf Lifesaving Service (MHVLS), through a fund-raising initiative set up by the stores owners, Hamish and Hannah Townshend. The couple say they were so blown away by the generous response and support for the lifesavers, they personally topped up the total to ‘a nice round number’ of $10,000. Around 3072 customers agreed to adding one dollar to their shopping after being asked by staff, Hamish says. “The response has been amazing, the community have been extremely generous… one customer actually gave $50, incredible. We chose those weekends for the fundraiser as we knew we would have more people around and through the shop – it worked out great.” After hearing about the MHVLS annual door knock fundraiser being cancelled this year due to Covid, and the club’s ongoing efforts to raise $35,000 for a Rescue Water Craft (RWC aka jetski), the benevolent Townshends ‘just wanted to do as much for them as we could’. Since moving to Mangawhai two years ago to run the Heads Four Square, ‘which is a lot of fun’, the couple have supported and sponsored a number of local services and organisations including Mangawhai Volunteer Fire Brigade, St John, Helping Hands, Te Whai Community Trust and Mangawhai Activity Zone, where Hannah is a committee member, as well as paying for the landscaping services from Mangawhai Rotary Club members. Hamish says they both just like to give back to the community they fell in love with: ‘Its got such a cool vibe and great people’. “We try to get around to as many organisations as we can really. This was our first time with a fundraiser through the till and since it worked so well, we’ll definitely look at doing more community funding this way.” MHVLS president Jon Drucker says especially in these difficult times, the outpouring of generosity shown by the community ‘is just astounding’ “Really want to thank the Four Square and everyone who supports us, as without this support we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” he says. “The club has been fundraising for a RWC and hope to have it available for the next season. They’re a life-saving asset, faster than IRBs (Inflatable Rescue Boats) which will save us precious minutes responding to incidents on the water, and sometimes all you need is an extra minute to save a life.” Due to Covid and the ongoing requirements, the surf club has also experienced their own difficulties this season Drucker says, with the Surf Life Saving NZ mandate policy and a few positive cases leaving the service short of guards, and patrol numbers ‘not as robust as we would like them to be’. “We’d like to ask people to do the right thing and keep away from the beach if they test positive as, if you need assistance, it puts our guards at risk and the whole service under stress which can put lives at risk,” he says. “Especially with the current conditions, we have more sand being washed away from the beach and it is now one of the most dangerous beaches we’ve had since I’ve been involved here.” Due to ‘dynamic changing conditons’ causing shifting sands, combined with large surf, a rip has been in place at the popular surf beach for over a month, Drucker says. “It starts at the north end by the first set of rocks, and sucks out straight in the middle of the beach through all tide levels… at some tides the whole beach becomes a rip… its quite scary.” Every morning Drucker sets signs at the beach accessways, warning beach-goers about the rip, strong currents, and highlighting the fact that during the week there are no life-guards on duty, as ‘being armed with the truth gives you the chance to make a good decision’. “Our main message is for people to really pay attention to the lifeguards on the weekends but more importantly to pay attention every time you go to the beach – don’t swim alone, don’t over-estimate your abilities and ring 111 in an emergency.”
Mangawhai Heads Four Square owner Hamish Townshend, and retail assistant Edita Aagaard, hand over the proceeds gathered at the store’s till from generous shoppers to Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Surf Life Saving Service president Jon Drucker and club chair Gordan Finlayson. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
“The response has been amazing, the community have been extremely generous… one customer actually gave $50, incredible.” – Hamish Townsend, Heads Four Square
“Really want to thank the Four Square and everyone who supports us, as without this support we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.” – Jon Drucker, MHVLS |