It was a night of James Bond glitz and glamour as more than 180 persons with disabilities celebrated their best night of the year on Friday 16th September with Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Associate Minister of Health; Simon O’Connor, MP for Tamaki; their families, and their support team and management from Geneva Healthcare.
Geneva Healthcare provides persons with disabilities a caring home environment at our 25 Community Living Residences across Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, and Tauranga. The annual Spring Ball is just one of the many ways that our clients live their best lives.
The guests, dressed up to the nines, entered Auckland’s Mt Albert War Memorial Hall to the tune of James Bond’s signature theme as a vignette of Bond movies played on the big screen. A proud and beaming Josephine Wallis, Founder and CEO of Geneva Healthcare, opened the ceremonies with a warm welcome before passing on to the Kaimatua for the Karakia and blessing of the food. Celebrity New Zealand actor, Te Kohe Tuhaka, lent his star power as the night’s Bond emcee. Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner as the soloist performed a medley of popular Bond theme songs. Then it was time for the clients to steal the limelight with the client choir group performing a rendition of the Sister Sledge’s classic, ‘We Are Family’, and a video of a pre-shot Bond themed fashion show.
The night also celebrated the achievements of Geneva Healthcare’s Client Advisory Group, made up of five Community Living client representatives who work hand in hand with Geneva’s management team to ensure the provision of service that enables every client to live their best lives. The Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga awarded each member a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their outstanding contribution to their fellow residents. Gilli Sinclair, CEO of Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand , also presented each member with a special gift.
Simon O’Connor, Chairman of the Health Select Committee, handed out the other special awards including the night’s Ball King and Queen, as well as the Best Dressed Support Worker, with recipients receiving gift packs sponsored by The Body Shop, Servilles, and Farmers.
The highlight of night was the silent charity auction of artworks produced by Geneva’s Art Therapy Clients. Funds raised will go to the Minds for Minds Trust, a registered charity supporting an expert group of scientists who are actively seeking to unlock the cause of autism in order to help with diagnosis, and contribute to the development of innovative treatment options.
Then it was time for everyone to go all out to DJ Cam’s mix as clients and guests boogied into the night!
Special thanks go out to our generous sponsors – The Body Shop, Servilles, Ray White CEO Carey Smith and his team, Attainable Trust, Farmers, and Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand.
The night celebrated life, hope and all the exciting possibilities that await the residents of Geneva Healthcare’s Community Living homes. The clients and all attendees left with big smiles and hearts aflutter as they look forward to next year’s spring that heralds the next ball.
About Geneva Healthcare
The Geneva Healthcare Vision: “To be recognised as the highest value provider of healthcare services and solutions across New Zealand, allowing us to directly influence and improve the quality and level of care clients receive.”
Geneva Healthcare wants everyone in our communities to be able to live the best lives they can whatever their situation may be due to age, disability, illness or injury.
Trusted by thousands of kiwis nationwide since 1996, we are a locally-owned global organisation working closely with ACC, Ministry of Health, DHBs, GPs and the healthcare industry to give our clients personalised home and community support or nursing services, rehabilitation and disability services, as well as health staffing and training. So, our clients can continue to enjoy a full life because we care from the heart, we care like family.
Geneva Healthcare continues to strengthen their success through innovation, quality assurance practices, and key industry partnerships to help support and enable everyone in our communities to live the best lives possible.
Photo’s above:
From Left: Carey Smith, Graham Windross, Jo Wallis, Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Simon O’Connor
Right photo: Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga awards Peter Hewitt, one of the Client Advisory Group members, a certificate of appreciation; with Carmel Conaghan, Geneva Healthcare’s Home and Community Services General Manager.