Hospice event gets punked

Sci-fi met Victorian class at the Nelson Tasman Hospice Big Night Out event.

The Steampunk Fantasy themed fundraiser last night at Annesbrook Community Centre saw party-goers don goggles, frills, corsets and bowler hats to raise money for the new hospice build.

One of the organisers Nikki Cooper said she was ‘‘blown away’’ by how the 225 revellers embraced the genre and were ‘‘all decked out’’.

She said it was great to see the effort people went to.

‘‘Everyone’s outfits were amazing. When you do something like steam punk, it’s a little bit of a break-away from tradition.’’

Steam punk is a style which combines historical elements with out-dated technological features inspired by science fiction.

The inaugural hospice event started at 6pm and included a three-course-meal, an auction, a silent auction, raffle, prizes for best dressed man and woman and dancing at the end of the evening.

Cooper said the 23 auction items included two ‘A’ reserve tickets to the World of Wearable Arts event in Wellington, two backstage passes with the founder of WOW Suzie Moncrieff and travel for two anywhere in the Pacific.

She said the auctions made a total of around $50,000.

All the proceeds from the event will go to the new Hospice being built on Suffolk Road in Stoke.