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When Stoney Creek accounts administrator Donna Rieger was diagnosed with terminal cancer, owners Brent and Juanita McConnell stepped up, transforming her final months with extraordinary care and compassion.
Rather than hosting a large Christmas celebration, the McConnells renovated Rieger’s Arataki house in Mount Maunganui in just 48 hours, starting at 8am on Thursday.
“The work began as soon as she left for work yesterday,” Brent McConnell said.
A cunning ruse was implemented - Rieger was on an overnight pampering trip while the 50-strong team got stuck into the makeover.
Every inch of the property would be changed, from the bathroom to the living rooms to the gardens.
The plan nearly unravelled, McConnell said, when a trailer tailgate left at Bunnings sparked chaos as the retailer hilariously tried returning it to Rieger.
It was a full team effort and everyone stepped up to help, reflecting the Stoney Creek whānau’s respect for Rieger.
The crew get stuck into the mahi on the Riegers' Arataki house.
“It’s been like this massive thing, and everyone is grabbing a wheelbarrow,” McConnell said.
Once the team finished at 2am on Friday, they were back at it at 5am. The crew were fed and watered while working on the project, with “venison burgers on tap”.
Members of the Stoney Creek crew painting the fence.
The McConnells have owned outdoor gear specialists Stoney Creek for 11 years and Rieger had been there the whole time, Juanita McConnell said.
Stoney Creek owners Juanita and Brent McConnell devised a cunning ploy, pampering their employee Donna Rieger while they renovated her house.
In 2016, Rieger and her husband, Greg, faced tragedy when their 17-year-old son, Hamish, was swept off the rocks at Moturiki Island by a wave on January 25.
“Some people just get dealt an awful hand, but you would never know it with Donna,” McConnell said.
Unlimited venison burgers and sausages fuelled the crew during the renovation.
Rieger received the diagnosis a few weeks ago, and instead of asking for time off or any special treatment, she went straight back to work as if nothing had happened, according to McConnell.
Following their son’s death, the Riegers have focused on surf lifesaving and charitable causes in Tauranga, including a 2017 scholarship for the Spirit of Adventure, Stoney Creek accountant Rachael Coppins said.
“They are such a strong, positive couple.”
Mount Maunganui lifeguard Hamish Rieger. Photo / Jamie Troughton, Dscribe Media Services
Fuelled by the McConnells’ leadership, the makeover was planned, co-ordinated and completed in just weeks, which highlighted the determination and teamwork involved, marketing director Brandon Li said.
“They drop everything for a staff member, which is pretty cool,” Li said.
Sponsors and contacts from all over the Stoney Creek business operation were recruited to help with the project, including Daltons, which donated mulch and compost for the yard work.
The Stoney Creek crew came together to help renovate the house of staff member Donna Rieger, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The Riegers were set to return home at 4pm Friday to witness the crew’s completed transformation, Li said.
“We have to do a bit of clean-up, but many hands make light work.”
On arriving home, Donna Rieger said in a phone call that it was a humbling and completely unexpected experience.
