A Very Pink Ribbon Day

June 2, 2023
June 2, 2023

Picture this. It is a sea of pink. Everywhere you look it’s a multitudinous array of every single shade of pink you can imagine. Baby pink, hot pink, fuchsia, rose, coral, bubblegum. You name it, and it was there. All crammed into one room.

You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s an over-the-top baby shower for the first-born girl in the family. But no. Instead, it was NorthTec | Te Pūkenga’s annual Pink Ribbon Brunch. The northland-based polytechnic was delighted to once again hold its event after a three-year hiatus due, primarily, to Covid.

NorthTec’s Apprentice Restaurant was bedecked in pink for the morning, with pink balloons, pink streamers, pink cutlery, pink waitstaff, and a pink fairy or two in attendance. Even the food and drinks on offer stuck to the theme with bubbly pink rosé and pink bananas aplenty.

The attendees were a sight to behold, decked out in whatever pink they had managed to find in their wardrobes, all vying for the prize of best dressed. I can’t imagine the judges had an easy job picking the winner!

But of course, it wasn’t just all fun and games. The Pink Ribbon Brunch, held this year on the 22nd of May, aims to raise money for Breast Cancer education, research, and support. It also is used to promote awareness of the importance of breast health for both women and men in Aotearoa New Zealand.

NorthTec’s Brunch was held in their student-run apprentice restaurant and featured a three-course meal, drinks, raffles, games, quizzes, and many prizes to be had. Attendees bought tickets to the event which raised money for the Breast Cancer Foundation, as well as purchasing over 200 raffle tickets. Many local businesses sponsored the event with prizes for the raffle and awards with numerous donations given by Northtec staff.

“The whole menu was produced by students currently doing the NZ Certificate of in Cookery (Level 4),” said Amanda Turner, NorthTec hospitality tutor. “They, and their tutor Hughie Blues, planned and prepared the whole thing for the occasion. It’s a great experience for the students.”

Amanda’s own Tai Tokerau Trades Academy Food & Beverage ākonga from Pompallier Catholic Collage, Whangārei Boys High School, and Tauraroa Area School, were also on duty and provided their waiting services for the event, also a great learning experience for them.

Attendees were a mixed bag, made up of current and ex NorthTec staff members, friends, family, and supportive members of the community. Prizes were given to the oldest attendee, 83 years old specifically, and the youngest, only 5 months old!

The day was a huge success with all guests in a fantastic mood. Almost everyone received a prize of some sort and the food, as per usual, was extraordinary. NorthTec donated the food for the event as their part in the fundraising meaning all the proceeds could be donated. In total, $2,634.20 was raised comprising of $2240 from ticket sales and $394.20 from raffle sales.

NorthTec | Te Pūkenga would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended, all those who helped make the day a success, and, of course, their wonderful sponsors without whom they couldn’t have done it.

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