Look after the Hospice, so it’s there to look after you.
That’s Con Heinold’s message to people about Arohanui Hospice. Con has just retired as a volunteer area co-ordinator for the Farming for Hospice fundraising campaign.
He’s modest about the work he’s done as area co-ordinator, but it’s been 18 years of looking after participating farmers around Feilding and in Manawatu; keeping in touch, building relationships, encouraging everyone to keep supporting the Hospice.
Farming for Hospice involves farmers or small block holders raising a stock animal - cattle, sheep, cull dairy cows, deer, pigs - to killing weight, then the proceeds of the animal’s sale go to the Hospice.
Con, formerly a sheep, cattle, and deer farmer in Raetihi, took up the work when he moved to Feilding in 2006. He says it was relatively simple; a bit of paperwork to keep track of who had which animals and what stage they were at.
“I knew a lot of the farmers personally. You just kept in touch and kept it going.”
Unusually, Con hasn’t had family who have needed Hospice help. But he says the work the Hospice does is marvellous, a full, seamless service that wraps around patients and their families, and he hopes people will support it.
“Fundraising’s getting harder all the time. Farming for Hospice is all set up; farmers just have to decide to do it.”
Whilst Con is no longer farming, he continues to make donations to the Farming for Hospice program, ensuring his support carries on. Con is an inspiration to farmers everywhere.
His support hasn’t been only through the Farming for Hospice fundraiser. He recently renovated his home and sent all the useful unwanted furniture and goods to the Hospice shop. “It needs to be good stuff, mind. Don’t use them as a dumping ground for rubbish that they can’t sell.”
Arohanui Hospice is incredibly grateful for Con's years of dedication and his continued generosity. His work will now be taken up by one of Farming for Hospice’s 16 volunteer area co-ordinators.
