2026 Quiz Night Success
Our Quiz Night on the 3rd of September was a fantastic success, bringing the community together for a busy evening of fun and friendly competition with 27 tables booked. The early enthusiasm was clear, with guests arriving from 4:30 PM for the 7:00 PM start, many promising to return next year.
The event ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to an impressive team. Chaplaincy volunteers and even a retired chaplaincy volunteer turned up to help with set-up, while Alison Lamberton ensured everything ran efficiently. Noel Lamberton and Alan Mac entertained as Quiz Masters, Steve Lovegrove managed the auctions, and Clare Jessep-Van Wyk and Aaron Coveney handled the scoring. Cecilia Roper completely sold out the popular raffle tickets. Special thanks go to the kitchen team, who worked under immense pressure to serve great food despite several staff members being hospitalized the week prior.
On behalf of the Chaplaincy team, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported, volunteered, and donated. We receive no government funding and rely entirely on community generosity and competitive grants. This event made a real difference, raising just under $7,000. A portion of these funds will support our volunteers' annual professional development retreat, while the rest will fund the unpaid portion of the Chaplains’ stipend. Your support keeps our services running, and we cannot wait to see you all again at next year’s Quiz Night!
The winning team on the night (pictured above) werePieces of 8, who had a score of 58 out of 80.
We would not have been able to have a quiz night at all if it were not for all our amazing sponsors!
The generosity shown to us was simply amazing, and blew us away. Not only were we able to provide prizes for our quiz winners, but we also had enough to run raffles and auctions.
Listed on the next couple of pages are all the fantastic people and businesses who showed their support by donating either, cash, vouchers, gift baskets or other suitable items for our quiz night.
We want to thank all of them for their contributions which helped make the night a success and we encourage our readers to support these businesses if possible, most are local and we would love to see them thrive and be paid back in blessings.
Chaplain Assistant and CNS both serving Lakes
Newly commissioned Chaplain Assistant Gary Parker and daughter Clinical Nurse Specialist Ali Parker have a long-running joke about who has followed whom through different organisations over the years.
Gary has recently joined the Rotorua Hospital Chaplaincy as a volunteer and Ali has been at Lakes for two years working in the community as CNS for Health in Vulnerable Populations, particularly those experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming unhoused.When Gary was Head of Sport and Recreation at Waiariki Polytechnic (now Toi Oho Mai), Ali attended the polytech’s onsite kindergarten. He was then a swimming coach when she was at St Marys, started teaching at John Paul College the same year she started there and now they are both serving at Lakes.
Ali says her parents raised her with strong Christian values and morals, something she carries closely in both her personal life and her work
“It’s been instrumental in shaping how I live my life and what I bring to my mahi.”
Both father and daughter describe their work as a calling. Service, compassion, and listening with intention are values deeply rooted in their whānau.
He has completed a chaplain assistant course run by Chaplain Paul Leighton over 12 weeks and volunteers in Rotorua Hospital for two hours a week.
“It’s a privilege. I am so taken aback by the number of people, including staff, who respect the chaplaincy immensely. The staff, the patients and their whānau show love here. It’s beautiful.”
Whoever may have led and whoever may have followed, patients and staff are benefitting from the commitment of father and daughter to serve others.
Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser - Supporting Rotorua Hospital Chaplaincy Trust
Join us on 28 February from 9am at Bunnings Warehouse for a community sausage sizzle supporting the Rotorua Hospital Chaplaincy Trust.
Every sausage pruchased and every donation made helps provide vital emotional and spiritual support to all patients, whanua, hospital staff and families during challenging times in hospital. The chaplaincy service offers care, comfort and a listening ear when it's needed most and is available to everyeone - regardless of ethnicity, age, religion or belief.
Come along, enjoy a bite to eat and help us make a meaningful difference in our local hospital community.!
