The cancellation of the Daffodil Day Appeal this year completed ‘the perfect storm’ for a local family, and a chance to show their creativity.
As a result, they managed to be the top fundraisers not only for Cancer Society Otago and Southland, but for the whole of New Zealand.
As Bannockburn artist Odelle Morshius explains, the motivation was, “Lockdown with two teens and a working husband.
Schoolwork on the kitchen table, tripping over computer cables and struggling with audio on school google meets.”
Add to those the family’s thoughts were on her mother’s husband, who was away from home and alone, receiving radiation treatment for cancer, and being supported by kind members of the Cancer Society.
Odelle pondered on how she could turn all this into something positive.
So, with four days to go before the end of the nationwide appeal, the idea was formed to create art for auction, with all proceeds heading straight to the Cancer Society.
That meant just four days to plan, create and auction their Daffodil Day art collection.
Her children, Hannah and Ollie Dicey, found themselves in their mother’s workshop, experimenting with a project based on the idea of flower art, to replace the fresh daffodils.
With limited time, they needed to keep things simple. Ollie made flowers of steel, stainless steel and copper. Hannah concentrated on tiny flowers and steel figures.
Their mother contributed her taller steel figures too, along with photographing the works, and uploading images onto her artwork Facebook page.
She hoped that her normal audience of clients would engage.
“And they did, in spades,” says Odelle.
The family were thrilled to watch the bidding, which was immediate, and ended with a frenzy of bids by the deadline of 7pm on Friday.
They were totally amazed that they had raised $5,570 for the society.
Ollie says, “The best thing was that we were raising money for a charity helping struggling people. I enjoyed it.” Says Hannah, “We were so surprised that our total topped even the businesses who contributed.”
The Cancer Society Otago and Southland website states, “We were heartbroken to have to cancel our Daffodil Day. We’re incredibly thankful to all of those who helped promote the digital channels for donations.”
Because ANZ Bank meets every dollar raised, the family’s contribution is expended to $11,140 – a great effort for a wonderful cause.
