Cholmondeley celebrates its 99th birthday

On Thursday Cholmondeley Children’s Centre celebrated its 99th birthday in style with cupcakes, decorations and a birthday banner handmade by its most important people - its tamariki.

The team also hosted special friends Jean Ruddenklau, who has been part of the Cholmondeley whānau for more than 50 years, and long-time supporter Paul Mulvaney.

Crowntastic Events’ Tennille Arthur surprised the tamariki with face painting, and kaimahi were gifted handmade party hats by the tamariki.

The Cholmondeley Children’s Foundation also marked the occasion with an event in Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens at the Ilex Events Space, focusing on the future of the centre for generations to come.

Cholmondeley was established in 1925 when Hugh Heber Cholmondeley left the land and original home to the children of the Banks Peninsula area, in memory of his late wife Margaret.

Over the following 99 years, it has served Canterbury and its tamariki through various models of care.

Today Cholmondeley operates from a respite care model with tamariki booked in to stay for up to three nights every six to eight weeks.

Tamariki between the ages of three and 12 stay at the centre when their whānau are going through complications at home. These could be a whānau member living with a physical or mental illness, bereavement, financial hardship, domestic violence, trauma or grandparents as second-time solo caregivers.

While the models of care have changed over the years, Cholmondeley’s purpose remains the same ‘Whakanuia a tatou tamariki: value our children.’

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