Giving kids ‘trips of a lifetime’

Two Southern District staff are bringing joy to lives of critically ill or disabled children throughout the Ōtago region.

Sergeant Matt Scoles, Community Relations Coordinator, Southern and Constable Jaimee McDonald, Dunedin are police ‘ambassadors’ and committee members for charity Koru Care (Ōtago).

Koru Care coordinates and funds annual ‘trips of a lifetime’ to Surfers Paradise, Australia for children aged 8 to 15 with critical illnesses and/or disabilities. Both Matt and Jaimee act as supervisors and carers during these trips.

Koru Care (Ōtago) was set-up approximately 15 years ago by a group of Dunedin Police staff in conjunction with local Air New Zealand staff.

Matt has been involved with the organisation for the last six years and two years ago encouraged Jaimee to become involved.

The group’s patron is none other than former All Black, Josh Kronfeld, and Matt says Josh’s involvement with the trips and fundraising ventures is always a highlight for the children and their parents.

“Josh’s contributions to Koru Care are nothing short of outstanding,” says Matt. “His enthusiasm when we’re ‘on tour’ is incredible and for a man with such a high public profile to give his time up for our cause is truly inspiring – he is a wonderful role model for all.”

This year, the group’s major fundraiser is a black-tie celebrity auction being held in the Dunedin Town Hall in November.