2026 Mary Potter Hospice Annual Awards, proudly supported by KPMG

Esther Wong

Volunteer Award

For 18 years, Esther has brought kindness and a listening ear to patients and whānau through the Inpatient Unit Day Programme and as a Companion Volunteer. As she prepares to retire from volunteering this December, we thank her for the warmth and friendship she’s shared.

Marian Vickerman

Volunteer Award

Every Friday, Marian brings greenery from her garden to create beautiful floral arrangements for the Inpatient Unit. After 20 years of volunteering, she also helps welcome patients and visitors at reception.

Kamala Parbhu

Volunteer Long Service Award

For more than 30 years, Kamala has helped serve afternoon tea to patients and whānau through the Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation. She also coordinates the group’s Saturday roster and has volunteered alongside her husband Bhukhan in other community settings.

Rama and Ramanik Lal

Volunteer Long Service Award

Rama and Ramanik have spent around 25 years serving afternoon tea to patients and families through the Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation. Ramanik also coordinated the group’s volunteer roster for many years.

Mary Brown

Fundraising Award

Mary has supported the annual Street Appeal for more than 30 years. She began as a driver and runner alongside her late husband Pat before joining the team that counts donations. Since 1998, she’s helped count hundreds of thousands of dollars. And when the counting finishes, Mary makes sure next year’s appeal goes straight into her diary.

Ian Chapman

Health and Safety Award

As a retail volunteer and Health and Safety Committee member, Ian helps make Hospice Shops safer for staff and volunteers. He draws on his experience in shop management and retail operations to identify concerns and find practical solutions.

Ngāti Toa Rangatira

Community Engagement Award

For decades, Ngāti Toa Rangatira has worked alongside Mary Potter Hospice to strengthen Māori representation and improve health outcomes. From guidance through Te Pou Tautoko to collaboration on the proposed new Hospice at Ngāti Toa Landing in Kenepuru, this partnership continues to shape our services.

Jennie Smeaton represented Ngāti Toa Rangatira at the awards.

Lychgate Funeral Home

Corporate Partner Award

Lychgate has supported Mary Potter Hospice for many years by sponsoring our monthly Staff Champion Award, helping recognise staff who put Hospice values into practice.

Lucas Vetter, Kerry Hight and Sharnē van Wyngaard represented Lychgate at the ceremony.

JB Brown

Quality Award

JB brings kindness, empathy and gentle humour to his work with patients and whānau. He also supports Time of Remembrance events, joins the waiata group and helps sing patients out of the Hospice, making space for moments that matter.

Tracey Badcock

Quality Award

Tracey led the introduction of oncology massage at Mary Potter Hospice, completing training, developing guidelines and helping a colleague train in the service. Much of this work happened in her own time.

She also paints stones with encouraging messages, including Kia kaha, for patients and staff.

Jon Rouse

Long Service Award

If you’ve visited the Newtown Inpatient Unit, you may have benefited from the work of Jon and the hospitality volunteers he coordinates. Since joining in 2010, Jon has supported patients and whānau through hospitality services.

Today, he organises volunteers who help with meals, flowers and reception.

Karen Sommerville

15 years of service

Karen joined in 2011 as a part-time payroll administrator. Today, as Senior Payroll and Finance Officer, she manages complex payroll requirements and supports staff and managers through changing systems and processes.

Lyn Parris

20 years of service

Since joining in 2006, Lyn has worked as a healthcare assistant and on-call clinical administrator. She’s trained colleagues, covered shifts at short notice and stepped in whenever teams needed extra support.

Janet Turnbull

30 years of service

A geriatrician, Janet has helped improve care for people with complex conditions, including motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s disease. She received a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 for services to health.

Her colleagues also know her as an excellent garlic grower!

Dianne (Di) Florance

45 years of service

Di began her palliative care career at Calvary Hospital in 1981. Over 45 years, she’s helped shape nursing practice, introduced new approaches to patient care and shared her knowledge with generations of colleagues.

Her contribution to patients, whānau and the Hospice team is extraordinary.

Te Whetū Award

Annette Hodds

The Te Whetū Award recognises a staff member who demonstrates Hospice values, outstanding service and a commitment to working in partnership with others.

This year’s recipient, Annette Hodds, stepped into the Inpatient Unit Manager role during recruitment while continuing her usual responsibilities as Clinical Coordinator.

What began as a short-term arrangement lasted seven months. Throughout that time, Annette supported her colleagues, maintained high standards of care and kept the unit running smoothly for patients and whānau.