A win on the pokies during a women's bowls trip to the West Coast has ended up as a win for the Wanaka hospice shop, too.
While in Greymouth for a bowls tournament in February, the Wanaka women's team fancied a flutter at a local hotel - which paid off when Pauline Hope won close to $100.
With the winnings burning a hole in her pocket, Mrs Hope and her team-mates spotted a shop in Greymouth holding a wool sale.
''It was a good price and it was pure wool, so I thought 'Right!','' Mrs Hope said.
The women crafted a plan, a bulk load of wool was bought and after enlisting the skills of team member and knitting enthusiast Fran Duncan, an assortment of handmade beanies was produced and given to Wanaka's hospice shop.
''I was so overwhelmed. It was a lovely gesture,'' shop manager Bev Rudkin said.
Modelling their colourful contributions are (from left) Delma Guy, Margaret Young, Pauline Hope, Colleen Landsborough, Rhonda Hurley, Fran Duncan, Doris Studholme, Alice Turnbull and Kathleen Sutherland. Several of them regularly knit or sew items for the shop.
Upper Clutha Hospice Trust chairman Russell McGeorge said $150,000 had been raised in nine months - from shop sales, donations and fundraising events - towards operating costs for a proposed hospice, which will be part of an aged-care facility at Wanaka's Aspiring Retirement Village.
