November 2025
With Term 4 well underway and the year drawing to a close, we're pleased to share our final newsletter for 2025. This year has been particularly special as we celebrated Cholmondeley’s centenary. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible alumni who generously shared their stories with us throughout this milestone year. Their voices have helped us honour our history and reflect on the impact we've had in the Canterbury community.
We'd also like to thank you, our supporters, partners, and friends, for taking the time to read our stories, engage with our work, and show genuine interest in the service we provide. Your ongoing support means so much to our team and the families we walk alongside.
November has seen the Centre buzzing with activity. Our tamariki have loved getting outside and making the most of the sunshine with plenty of visits to the Governors Bay Pool for swims to cool off.
We're also excited to share that our new flying fox is now complete. A huge thank you to Creo for bringing this project to life.
We’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to Julia Gabrielle and the team at Buddle Findlay for supporting Cholmondeley with a Week of Care. Their staff joined in with activities alongside our tamariki, creating special moments and showing true community spirit.
A big thank you also goes to the St Martins Menzshed for crafting a new set of entry gates for the Centre. They beautifully replicated the original design and helped us preserve a piece of Cholmondeley’s history.
We were honoured to host the Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, on Show Day for a visit to the Centre and to officially open Phase 1 of Cholmondeley’s upgraded playground. It was a privilege to share the important work happening here and to highlight the impact Cholmondeley has on tamariki and whānau living here in Canterbury. The Minister enjoyed a special afternoon tea with the tamariki and described it as a privilege to witness the amazing work happening at Cholmondeley.
As we head into the festive season, our team is looking forward to a well-deserved Christmas break after a busy and rewarding year. December is shaping up to be full of activity including the annual Crusaders working bee where players will spend an afternoon with the tamariki while helping with key tasks around the Centre.
Thank you once again for being part of our community this year. Your connection, generosity, and support help make Cholmondeley such a special place.
The Cholmondeley Team
Kind regards,
Katie McCullough
Interim General Manager
Centre Update
November has been full of excitement and learning for our tamariki! The kids enjoyed a range of activities including trips to Ninja Valley, MoveX Trampoline Park, a Lyttelton radio station, and sailing on Fox II. It’s fantastic to be able to provide opportunities like sailing, which many children wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Experiences like this help tamariki develop confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, while giving them a sense of freedom and connection to the outdoors.
We were also delighted to welcome Raffaele Romano and some of his team from Westpac for a visit. They spent time with the tamariki talking banking in a hands-on, engaging way with plenty of questions. Afterwards they cooled off at the nearby Governors Bay Community Pool. It's great to have supporters like this who can provide tamariki with practical life skills.
In addition, we ran our intermediate boys’ week and intermediate girls’ week, held once per term for 10–12-year-olds. These weeks provide a great chance for tamariki to connect with peers of the same sex and participate in activities designed just for their age group. It's amazing to see the smiles on the kid's faces and the relationships that are built over these stays.
A Century of Care Made Possible by Our Community
As our centenary year draws to a close, we continue to be blown away by the incredible generosity and spirit shown by our community. Your support has ensured Cholmondeley can continue to be a place of joy for children and whānau across Canterbury. Special thanks to the following, who are among the many supporters who have pitched in over the past month.
Long-time supporters Lyttelton Port Company have once again rallied behind Cholmondeley by running bus and boat tours to raise funds. Supporters on last week’s trip were even treated to a special sighting of Hector’s dolphins!
We’ve enjoyed a special Christmas collaboration with Harcourts Holmwood. Four talented Cholmondeley artists aged 7–12 designed a beautiful range of Christmas cards, with over 80% of proceeds supporting Cholmondeley. Packs of 12 cards are available for $10 at Harcourts’ Merivale, St Albans, Ilam, Ilam 2, and Fendalton offices.
Our Little Gems community continues to shine, too. After winning a trackside party package at our Little Gems event, Softsource vBridge treated their staff and clients to a spectacular day at the Motukarara Races, complete with whitebait patties, crayfish, and mojitos in the sun. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous supporters who made this prize possible: Wayne May, Harry Soper, Tony Robinson, Daniel Reeve and their team of volunteers
And to the Dirty Bangers Car Club, thank you for another outstanding year of support. Their annual event drew its biggest crowd yet, with incredible donations of toys, food, and funds that will bring joy to our tamariki this Christmas. We’re deeply appreciative of the Cruise Committee and the entire Dirty Bangers community for their long-standing dedication to Cholmondeley.
As we celebrate 100 years of caring for Canterbury children, we are reminded every day that we can only do this work because of the incredible people and organisations who stand with us. Thank you for helping make our centenary year so special.
A Happy Place When Home Was Hard: Connor's Cholmondeley Story
My time at Cholmondeley was great. It was a real escape from what was going on at home. I was a little too young to realise I was living in a dysfunctional household, but places like Cholmondeley give kids and even adults time away to reset. I have great memories of the firefighters coming in and putting us to bed most nights. Milo and movie nights were always fun, and going to school at Cholmondeley kept you in a good routine. I’m not sure if it’s still at the same site or not, but the playground was a massive bonus!
I stayed at Cholmondeley because of my family situation, with Mum and Dad not working together, and it impacted us kids. At the time it felt like we were being taken away and put into this big, scary camp, but after a week or so it felt like I was just at home again, but a happy one.
Cholmondeley made me realise as I got older that even parents need a break sometimes. Having places like Cholmondeley can, and I think will, help prevent a lot of domestic issues.
For someone who has never heard about this place and is thinking about sending their child, or even more than one, I would say absolutely do it. Me and my brothers had an absolute blast making some cool memories, and in hindsight, sending us to Cholmondeley helped our parents out while they went through some tough times. It is basically a big holiday, but kids are still getting an education and learning good morals.
Win a Car This Christmas! Get Your Ticket Now!
Grab your chance to win a 2021 Toyota Corolla GX 2.0L Hatch, valued at $25,990, for just $20 a ticket!
Tickets and time are running out. Get yours before they’re gone!
If you would like a ticket, please enter here. Winner will be drawn on Friday, 19 December.
Don’t miss out on the chance to make this Christmas unforgettable.
Centenary Gin
Give a gift with meaning this Christmas! Founder’s Spirit Gin, handcrafted locally by KJ & Co Distillery for Cholmondeley’s centenary, is $70 per bottle.
Order yours today and support tamariki and whānau across Canterbury.
Raise a glass to 100 years of care.
Upcoming Events
Cholmondeley Charity Golf Tournament, proudly presented by ILAM Toyota
Tee off for a great cause this summer!
Our much-loved Cholmondeley Charity Golf Tournament, proudly presented by ILAM Toyota, is back for 2026! Early bird entries are officially open - register today and save $100!
Join us for an unforgettable day of golf, networking, and good fun, all in support of Cholmondeley Children’s Centre, helping provide care and respite for Canterbury tamariki and their whānau.
Event Details
Date: Friday 20 February 2026
Location: Russley Golf Club
Early Bird Entry: $650 + GST (now until 25 December 2025)
Standard Entry: $750 + GST (from 26 December 2025)
Your entry includes:
A round of golf for four players (playing Ambrose)
BBQ lunch and on-course refreshments
Team prizes and spot giveaways
Post-tournament dinner and prizegiving
Register today and help make a difference, one swing at a time!