New hospice site gets blessing
At first light, the earth on the Nelson Tasman Hospice’s new site in Stoke was overturned during a ceremony to bless the land.
At a dawn ceremony yesterday the land on Suffolk Rd, which will soon be the new home of the region’s hospice, was blessed by Archdeacon Harvey Ruru.
Nelson Tasman Hospice CEO Frans Dellebeke said the ceremony was a moving experience with staff, board members and representatives from Nelson Marlborough Health and Nelson Bays Primary Health present.
‘‘It is a beautiful site, it is just absolutely perfect and we are all extremely happy.’’
A hole was prepared on the site and stones of significance were placed in it by those at the ceremony, including one from the Sally McCormack House, which is where the hospice first began in Nelson.
The hole was covered over and the stones would remain under the pathway leading into the building.
Dellebeke said the milestone acknowledged the people that were going to come onto the site, including the patients, families and staff.
The building was expected to be finished in December 2018.
Dellebeke said the Rata Foundation had recently given the hospice a grant of $250,000 towards the new build.
‘‘This is fantastic news and will help us in our fundraising.’’
The fundraising campaign for the new $11.5 million building was launched in August where it was announced the hospice had already raised $7.5m, made up from a mixture of investments, assets, bequests and donations.
Grants and payment in kind support was estimated to make up another $1.5m.
The hospice is asking for the community’s help to raise the remaining $2.5m for the project.
To donate towards the new build, visit www.nelsonhospice.org.nz/donate