Mitre 10 Dancing for Hospice!

Written by Esther Dowman

On the 1st of March 2025, the Whanganui Memorial Hall came alive with glitz, glamour, and a remarkable sense of community spirit at the inaugural Mitre 10 Dancing for Hospice event. The evening was a spectacular celebration of local talent, generous support, and a shared commitment to raising funds for Hospice Whanganui. With tickets selling out within three weeks, the event far exceeded expectations, all thanks to the incredible support from the Whanganui community and local businesses.

The event’s success is a true testament to the community spirit that runs through Whanganui. Thanks to Rivercity Press and Mad Media, whose free advertising played a pivotal role in spreading the word, the event quickly became one of the hottest tickets in town. The demand for tickets was so high that an additional event was added—a live dress rehearsal at the Royal Whanganui Opera House on February 27th, generously donated by the Whanganui District Council. This allowed even more people to get a sneak peek of the spectacular night to come.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work and support of the Hospice staff and Board, and the unwavering generosity of key sponsors and partners. Mitre 10, our principal sponsor, saw the potential in our vision and eagerly came on board. Their commitment, along with that of our gold sponsors—Emmetts Civil Construction, Display Associates, Craigs Investments, Dance and Pilates Whanganui, The Robert Bartley Foundation, and OrthoDocs—ensured that we had the financial backing needed to bring the event to life.

The evening itself was nothing short of magical. As guests arrived at the Memorial Hall, they were greeted by the shimmering glow of gold sparkling tablecloths, a stunning photo wall, and sheer elegance, all expertly curated by our dedicated décor team, Anna O’Leary and Maryanne Martin. Their tireless efforts ensured that every detail was perfect, creating an atmosphere that truly set the tone for an unforgettable night. Thanks to Harrisons Hiremaster, who provided a generous discount on all our hireage needs, the venue was transformed into a luxurious setting for the evening’s festivities. Guests entered the venue via a red carpet, greeted by servers in suits and a welcome drink and table wines, courtesy of Bullocks, Keown Honda, Morgan Valuations, Moore Markhams Whanganui and The Dentist Whanganui. This set the stage for an incredible experience. Our guests were kept hydrated thanks to the generosity of Crystal Valley Water.

The event’s MC, Glen Osborne, kept the energy high, entertaining guests with his witty humor and ensuring that everyone was thoroughly engaged throughout the evening. A saucy opening number performed by Sophie Perkins and Irina Kipeli set the tone for the night, while the renowned Sophie Toyne graced us with breathtaking music during the dinner break. Behind the scenes, our volunteer committee had worked tirelessly to ensure that everything ran smoothly; from drumming up sponsorship and services to sourcing auction items.

The gourmet three-course meal was a standout, with an incredible team of chefs led by Lyn and Peter Crawford, Karen Sewell, Steve Barton, Gil Prevost, Amanda Spooner, Kelly Ngatai, Gina Guigou, Scott Harvey, Jenny O’leary, Joe Power and Amanda Spooner. This fabulous team volunteered their time to prepare the meal for over 420 guests. The delicious lamb and beef were generously donated by Affco. In addition, discounted rates from suppliers such as Turks, Gilmores, Stevos, Wild Chef, Pak’n Save, and Summerset Retirement Village, supported us in keeping the cost of the meal manageable, allowing for an exceptional dining experience at a fraction of the cost. The meal was served by our amazing volunteer serving leads Heather Power, Jemma Huijs, Di Butters, Glan Ivory, Amelia Bryant and 20 Whanganui Collegiate students, who ensured that every course was delivered with precision and professionalism. Our kitchen super supporters Shelley Walls, Tangi Penetito, Tracey Chant, Sarah Apiata, Reyno Maximo, Glenda, Macgee, Kelley Hayward, Gyemel Tumayan, Pratikisha Paradeshi, Rob Mancer, Shontae Arthu and Maryke Miles. Ensured our delectable fine dining experience ran smoothly and without any issues.

The highlight of the evening was of course, the dancers taking the floor, looking absolutely dazzling with the support of Blushes Beauty Therapy team and their hair stylists Justine Gaisford, Kathryn Alston and Cherie Alderton. Our 20 local dancers, who had trained for 20 weeks with Irina and Ginny from Dance and Pilates Whanganui, performed stunning routines that included the tango, foxtrot, jive, rumba, and many more. Each dancer, sponsored by a local business, was a testament to dedication, passion, and community spirit. There was a mixture of nerves and excitement on the evening, which were worked through with the support of our amazing stage manager Janey Jenson. Our dancers not only showcased their newfound skills but also developed lasting friendships throughout the training process. The camaraderie between them and their sponsors was palpable, creating a sense of family that made the evening even more special.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated dancers: Nita and Andrew, sponsored by Pak’n Save; Dhinisti and Matt, sponsored by Emmetts Civil Construction; Cath and Wade, sponsored by Whanganui Vet Club; Libby and Hayden, sponsored by OrthoDocs; Charlene and Geoff, sponsored by Victoria Dental; Tam and Paul, sponsored by Dempsey & Forrest; Tania and Tony, sponsored by Sport Whanganui; Carla and Aaron, sponsored by Concept Tile Collective; Marguerite and Rionn, sponsored by CME Electricians; Rachel and Craig, sponsored by Thompson Plumbing and Gas. These incredible individuals poured their heart and soul into their performances, and their dedication to the cause was truly inspiring.

The evening also featured a live and silent auction that raised a staggering $31,000. With the help of our expert auctioneer, Phil Transom, bids soared as items donated by Whanganui businesses were auctioned off. Generous contributions for our live auction came from Blue Duck Station, Whanganui Rugby, Shane Stone Builders, Sorenmobler, Katie Brown Glass and The Gin Ladies from Fordell.

Get Glazed, Dance and Pilates Whanganui, Pharmacy 145, Ginny Cranstone, Rob McGechan, Frank Bar and Eatery, Little Curious Bagels, La Station, Country Lane, Spec Savers, The Waimarie, De Antonia, Photo and Print, Thistle Sweet Shop, Caci Clinic, Flower Room, GMC Clinic, Tahu Gin, Flat Hills Café, Hair Crafters, The Flawsome Artist, New Zealand Helicopter Training Academy – Mid West Helicopters, The Grey Space Photography, Ravensdown, Concept Tile Collective, the Cranstone family, and the O’Leary family, were all generous donors for our silent auction items. The support from these local businesses played a pivotal role in the event’s financial success, ensuring that Hospice Whanganui would benefit significantly from the night’s fundraising efforts.

After a truly successful evening for our dancers, we were privileged to present each of them with trophies that were beautifully handcrafted and generously donated by New Zealand Glassworks. The People’s Choice winners, Cath Cranstone and Wade Vivian, went above and beyond to secure votes, even delivering flyers to their rural community! They proudly received the stunning People’s Choice trophies, created by local artist Madeline Prowd. Meanwhile, the high-energy jive performance by Libby Sampey and Hayden Nottingham earned them first place, along with bespoke trophies crafted by Whanganui’s own Katie Brown.

Photos from the event were beautifully captured by the talented Andre Vroon.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making the Mitre 10 Dancing for Hospice event a resounding success. From our sponsors to the volunteers who gave their time and talents, every person played a vital role in ensuring the event ran smoothly. A special thank you goes out to our dancers, who poured their heart and soul into their performances, and to our community, whose support continues to amaze us.

Thanks to all the generous contributions, we raised an incredible $170,000 for Hospice Whanganui, allowing us to continue providing vital services to those in need. We look forward to bringing this event back so that together we can celebrate life, love, and the spirit of giving.

Thank you Whanganui, for making the Mitre 10 Dancing for Hospice event a night to remember!