Firm donates Christmas fund to community | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

AFTER 43 years of Christmas revelry, the Greenlees brothers are making a break with tradition.

Instead of the annual Greenlees Print Christmas party for all their clients, they have decided to donate $2000 towards one of the courtyards in the new Wairarapa District Hospital in memory of their dad, Peter, who died last year from renal failure.

"It was time for a change," Paul said. "One of our staff came up with the idea of putting the money back into the community in a different way, and we agreed that the new hospital was a great idea, because dad was a big user of hospital services towards the end of his life.

"Dad started the Christmas parties in 1961, and it was funny, really, because he was a teetotaller himself.

"But he was a real-people person, and loved to see everyone enjoying themselves. For the first 20 years, it was strictly male only, and Mum and the aunties would make 600 or so sandwiches, and there would be pies and flagons of beer.

"We had a golf putting course out the back, and, for a dollar, anyone could have a putt. Then here were the card games ? some of the men were quite big punters.

"The parties would start at 5pm, and finish about 6am the next day. Then we had to clean up all the mess."

As more women went into business throughout the 80s, the parties changed.

"Once women started coming, we had to stop the meat pies," David said.

"We started providing casks of wine and fancy food, and then it changed again to bottled wine and beer and hors d'hoeuvres.

"We still kept up the golf and the cards, though."

Wairarapa District Health Board chief executive David Meates is delighted with the Greenlees family action.

"Their generosity and timing is outstanding," he said. "We are about to launch a fundraising effort, headed by Martin Easthope, to provide the things the funding package for the new hospital does not cover.

"High on that list is the design and landscaping of the beautiful open courtyards featured in the new hospital.

"The cafeteria, waiting areas, rehab unit and some inpatient areas will all open out on to these courtyards and well-designed, they'll provide a peaceful and relaxing setting for all who use them.

"This is a thoughtful and generous donation," Mr Meates said.

"We think Dad would approve, really," Paul said. "He started the parties as a way of giving something back to people. I reckon he'd think, 'Oh well, as long as you do something else' ? and we are."