Central Otago Health Services Ltd this week. It represented the proceeds of a monster auction and garage sale staged at three venues in February - Alexandra, Cromwell and Wanaka, organised by Lions and Rotary clubs in those areas.
The health company runs the hospital and its chairman, Russell McGeorge, said it was a tremendous effort and it was great to see the service groups working together.
''We're going to be able to open the scanner debt-free, and the people who underpinned this project, getting it off the ground, are Friends of Dunstan and we also owe thanks to our keystone funders, the Central Lakes Trust, who moved the project forward.''
The $1 million scanner equipment has been funded by the trust and the operating expenses will be covered by the Southern District Health Board. Friends of Dunstan agreed to underwrite the funds needed for the $250,000 scanner suite fit-out and that target has almost been reached.
Cromwell Rotary Club chairman John Angus said the $100,000 proceeds worked out at $4 a head for every person in the area served by Dunstan and ''all came out of Joe Public's pocket''.
The fund was ''testimony to the people here and the importance of the hospital and how we regard it''.
Cromwell Lions Club president Wayne Collie said ''capturing the imagination'' of the public was the first task and it was great to work together with the Rotary clubs on the venture.
Central Otago Health Inc chairwoman Ainsley Webb said the backing of the public ''reiterated the power of the people''.
''The support from the community has humbled us all; we're very thankful.''
Central Otago Health Inc is the sole shareholder of the health company that runs Dunstan. Hospital manager Karyn Penno said the first patients were being booked to use the scanner in the first week of June. Donations for the scanner suite were still coming in, from groups and individuals.
The Roxburgh Rotary and Lions clubs will join forces for the cause on Saturday, July 13, staging a giant paddock auction and sulky race at the Roxburgh Racecourse.
