18 October 2023
Anybody who knew Christine Wykes knew that she loved people, parties and music. So the hospice fundraising event that she created with a committee of friends and family incorporates all three.
Rock the Hithe is now in its 10th year and has raised more than $114,000 for Harbour Hospice. Daughter Shireen Garrett says her mum would be proud to see that the event is still going and gathering momentum.
Christine was a mother of two, a talented artist and a Greenhithe local. She’d been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 52 and was cared for by Harbour Hospice in her last two years of life. She died in 2013 at the age of 62. “In those last two years Mum had learned that hospice needed so much more funding a year to cover its costs than it received from Te Whatu Ora,” says Shireen. “So she thought ‘I love music. I love dancing and socialising. What better way to go out and to support a good cause at the same time?’”
Christine was able to attend the very first Rock The Hithe, even getting up on the dance floor in her chair. Shireen says her ‘party girl mum’ absolutely loved it. “Seeing her wish come to fruition meant so much.”
From the get-go the Rock the Hithe committee has never had trouble securing bands to play at the Sunday afternoon event. Shireen explains, “Mum had grown up in Huntly with The Chicks (Judy and Sue Donaldson) Shane Hales (Shane and the Shazam Band) and The Rumour so she was a bit of a muso and knew lots of musicians. But more than that, there was something about Mum. People were drawn to her and they’ve always given their time to this event freely.”
Rock The Hithe is Christine’s legacy, Shireen says. “This was absolutely her. This was Mum’s sense of humour. When she had her breast removed she threw a BB party - a breast burial party and she buried her breast in the garden under a kowhai tree! She surrounded herself with good people and fun music and she had an absolute blast.”
Rock The Hithe 2023 is on at the Dairy Flat Community Hall in Dairy Flat on Sunday 5 November, 1:30pm - 8:00pm
This year’s line-up includes: Shane and the Shazam Band, Grey Dog, The Vibro Kings, The Recliner Rockers, Green Bullet and more. To buy tickets click here.
