MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Mangawhai proud to host breakfast fundraiserBY JULIA WADE
Support for people who are living with dementia and their families is growing strong in Kaipara with plans for a new housing unit stepping closer to reality due to ongoing community fundraising. Among events was a recent breakfast held at The Mangawhai Club on November 14, the 60 strong crowd raising approximately $3000 from ticket sales, raffles, spot prizes and an auction. Proceeds will help Maungaturoto Community Charitable Trust (MCCT) establish a secure dementia unit complete with 14 bedrooms, library, whanau room as well as a shared kitchen to allow families to prepare meals together, at Riverview Resthome and Village in Maungaturoto. Organised by Albie Paton, a recent recipient of a 2019 Citizens Award for his organisation and promotion of various community groups, and MCCT chair Craig Fergus, the breakfast contributed to the pool of much-needed donations as the project’s price tag stands at $3.6million, and to date, requires a further $350,000 to finish. Originally intending to build only an eight bedroom unit, MCCT realised after conducting more research that more rooms will be required Fergus says. “Currently the rise in the number of people needing residential dementia care outstrips population growth… predicted to grow by 7 per cent per year as the risk of suffering from dementia increases after 65 years,” he says. “At present the nearest dementia units are at Waipu, Whangerai or Dargaville, so the development of a secure and stable dementia unit in Maungaturoto will allow local families to stay together for longer.” At present Riverview – which was first established twenty years ago by MCCT, a charitable organisation that supports the community with aged care – is now at full capacity. “We are having to turn people away either from a lack of space or complexity of needs, forcing people to seek care as far away as Whangarei, which is having a negative impact on the families in our local community.” Fergus thanked everyone for attending the breakfast, The Club for hosting the event, and made a special tribute to ‘the driving force’ of Paton and his crew who have raised thousands in donations since April 2018 through various means including proceeds from ‘The Den’, a group who refurbishes and resells donated goods. “Hopefully by this time next year we will have a fully-operating dementia unit,” Fergus says. “However as there are varying levels of dementia it will ‘grow arms and legs’, and we’ll also be looking at providing homecare assistance as well as community education and support. Fourteen beds is just the tip of the iceberg.” Interested in knowing more or contributing? Visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-us-keep-our-loved-ones-close-to-home or maungaturotoresthome.co.nz MCCT chair Craig Fergus (left) and Albie Paton at the breakfast attended by a strong local crowd. |