St Patrick’s Day celebrations turned the Bruce McLaren village centre into a sea of green as residents adorned themselves in wigs, hats and green clothing to mark the Irish national day.
With village manager Chantelle Hand hailing from Northern Ireland, the occasion was given an extra air of authenticity, so much so that Ryman Healthcare’s chief executive Gordon MacLeod knew that Bruce McLaren was the place to be that day!
The residents were entertained by children from the Doyle Academy of Irish Dance followed by live music and singing before the area was transformed again for a special cocktail night to launch the village’s annual art expo weekend.
Chantelle said the atmosphere was ‘brilliant’.
“It was a fantastic buzz. The food was amazing, the chefs really did us proud. Everyone wanted me to dance and I did have a little dance with the residents but I wasn’t going to do any Irish jig,” she laughed.
Chantelle said having the CEO there had been very exciting for the staff who were left buzzing for the whole night.
“The mood really carried on through the evening and having the two functions together went really well too. It meant for once the cocktail party wasn’t such a black tie affair as many people kept their green clothes on!”
Sales advisor Rose Lawlor said it was an awesome way to launch what was a very busy weekend for the village.
A steady flow of people passed through to see the artworks on display coming from as far afield as Remuera, Papakura, Orewa and even Tauranga and around half a dozen paintings were sold too.
Another highlight from the same week was a day trip to the Hunua Ranges with the village’s activities coordinators taking two busloads of independent residents for the experience.
“They took the portable barbecue and had lunch while they were there and they came back raving about the good time they’d all had,” said Rose.
