Open Day 2010
Friday, 16 April 2010
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand's 2010 Open Day held at the National Office and Training Centre in New Plymouth attracted a large crowd of eager visitors, including local MP Jonathon Young, wanting to know more about Hearing Dogs and how they work and enjoy all the activities on offer. The event was held on Sunday 11th April and Taranaki's weather came to the party with a warm sunny day.
Trustee and public speaker Jim Shepherd opened up proceedings with a talk explaining what the Hearing Dogs brand is all about. Kurt Ward from Purina who sponsors food for trainee hearing dogs spent the day with us giving out free samples of food and helping out on our raffle stand. Jane Tett from Jane's Dog Grooming manned a display and spent time explaining some grooming basics and helpful tips. Energy Honda supplied us with a 4wheel bike, which was kept busy all day thrilling kids with rides around the grounds.
Local supporter Murray Sutton loaned us a Bouncy Castle and mini Golf Game, which proved very popular with both young and old. Leighton Pearce raised plants from cutting and donated them for sale. Keith Beal built a 'coin throw' game and spent the day encouraging punters who were eager to give it a go! Bruce Newcomb - local artist and friend of hearing dogs ran a successful 'count the number of dog biscuits in the jar' competition and painted us a lovely oil painting of the mountain to sell.
A very popular café run by volunteers selling cakes, pies, toasted sandwiches and cups of tea or coffee provided refreshments throughout the day and local volunteers, staff and recipients supplied and manned a cake stall with an abundance of great fare, which sold very quickly.
In the presentation area our new hearing dog trainer Nikki Hawkes gave three demonstrations throughout the day of how a hearing dog works and Sue Young from Deaf Aotearoa gave a talk on 'what it is like to be hearing impaired. To round off the day Kate Hocking, Maurice West and Moira Shepherd gave a fantastic display of 'dog agility'.
Thanks are due to the public that supported this event and to all the staff, volunteers and other helpers who so generously gave their time to make the day a success. Thanks to in particular to those recipients who travelled all the way from Auckland to share the day with us. We must also thank the suppliers, companies and individuals that donated goods, equipment and time. Especially Dobson's Marquee and Party Hire who supplied us with the use of a Marquee for the day and TSH Audio and Video who kindly donated the use of a PA system. Not forgetting the wardens from the Legion of Frontiersmen who organised traffic and parking wardens during the day.
The whole event was a tremendous success in many ways for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand raising our profile in the community. Two people registered their interest in having their own hearing dog and others signaled their interest to become volunteers. In addition to the PR exposure the day was a great financial success raising $1,500 from all the activities and stalls.
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