Starship children's hospital creating a Christmas scene.
While Christmas is a day off for many workers around the country, a dedicated few are needed, or in some cases choose, to spread the festive cheer on the job. Corazon Miller meets those who have chosen to give up their holiday for others.
A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
It's the night before Christmas and all through the wards of Auckland's Starship Hospital nurses are hard at work, ensuring their patients are sleeping soundly, while they put out gift-filled stockings at the children's bedsides.
Despite the semblance of a silent night, punctuated by the occasional alarm and brief flurry of activity, weeks of hard work have gone into sprucing up the wards with festive décor.
Nurse Jodi Bingley will be working in Paediatric Intensive Care at Starship this Christmas. Photo / Michael Craig
Paediatric Intensive Care nurse, Jodi Bingley, 39, is one of those who has not only rallied a team to decorate her unit, but has chosen to give up sleep, and time with her own family, to care for sick children this Christmas Eve.
"Most of that shift will be consumed with clinical work at the bed-space, but in between we will be putting Christmas stockings out for the patients.
"Christmas Day I will be sleeping for a few hours before I get up and have Christmas lunch with my family."
While she has worked every Christmas Eve or Christmas Day over the past eight years Bingley said it wasn't a chore, but a joy to be at work.
"It's such a stressful and all-consuming time for the parents, to have that opportunity to try make it spirited and joyful is a real privilege."
PICU charge nurse, Nic Gini, said Bingley was one who liked to "fly under the radar but really goes the extra mile".
"Our whole team are so dedicated and passionate and this really shines through at Christmas time."
It's the first year the unit has joined the hospital's annual decoration competition that sees each ward of the children's hospital colourfully decorated in time for Christmas.
PICU's gone with a Canadian-themed Christmas; complete with snowy mountains, maple leaves and elves swinging from the ceilings and the walls.
For a self-professed Christmas fanatic like Estelle Dixon, 30, who was facing this one, with her daughter Poppy, 5-and-a-half months, in hospital, the decorations brought some much-needed cheer.
"Christmas is so magical for me and it's great for my kids too, something for them to look at."
The Waikato mum, of three young children, had been in Starship ever since Poppy was diagnosed with an inoperable heart condition three months ago and was facing an indefinite stay.
Dixon said her daughter's odds weren't great, but she had faith and having the PICU staff help perk up their environment made a big difference.
"It makes this easier, coming in through those doors and seeing the effort put in."
This year Starship celebrated its 25th birthday, to read more about its celebrations and to do your bit for the service go here
Some 2000 guests come to the annual Auckland City Mission Christmas Lunch each year. Photo / Nick Reed
For 15 years Frank Dowling has spent almost every Christmas co-ordinating Santa's little helpers for the Auckland City Mission lunch.
One of hundreds volunteering at the event venue, down at the Viaduct Events Centre, his job is to get the gifts to the tables.
He said it was no easy feat organising presents for the 2000 guests expected.
"There's a fair bit of logistics setting up in the morning, but we have a team of 120 people to make sure the presents are all organised.
"They love it, the kids. To see their faces when they get a present you know? When they wouldn't potentially get a present, it's just great to see it."
Dowling, who makes a living as a sales and operations manager, was so attuned to what's needed he barely gave it a second thought.
To get the job done, Dowling, 47, and his wife, Lauren, 53, got up early to exchange gifts, before heading down for a full working day.
This year the couple didn't expect things would be any different.
Frank Dowling on a mission at the annual Christmas community lunch
Despite spending all Christmas Days, bar one, over the last 15 years at the community lunch, Frank Dowling said it wasn't a sacrifice.
"We don't look at it as giving up our day, but as adding value to the community," he said. "You are able to feel good sitting down to your own Christmas dinner later in the day knowing you've done some good."
Dowling said it was good to see people, who might otherwise end up home alone come together for Christmas.
He said despite the common assumption that those at the annual lunch were poor - it wasn't always the case.
"There are many types of people who go there; maybe they can't afford it, maybe they are lonely."
Dowling said the lunch often gave those who'd fallen on hard times a chance to escape from the hardship of normal life and share the day with others.
FAMILY AFFAIR AT CHRISTMAS
The Magallon family spend a good part of their Christmas Day cheering up the elderly residents at Radius Taupaki Gables.
On Christmas Day, while many Kiwi families are pottering around their home, holiday bach or beach - one local family spends it in an Auckland rest home.
Cristy Magallon, a registered nurse, has spent at least the last five working at Radius Taupaki Gables.
Frequently joining her for lunch and some festive musical fanfare are her three sons, Joshua, 12, Benjamin, 11, and Miguel, 5, husband, Michael and her sister, Catherine.
"It really makes them happy; there are endless thank yous - the next day when I come to work they say; 'thank you, thank you'."
As the Magallon family plays a collection of Christmas classics, such as Jingle Bells, and O Come all Ye Faithful, the elderly residents, dressed in festive gear, are served a feast.
Magallon said the music put a smile on the faces of many of the residents - even those with dementia who seldom smiled.
"Once they hear the Christmas songs, their faces light up; there's a twinkle in their eyes, they are so happy."
This Christmas, even though Magallon was on a rostered day off, her family still planned to pay the rest home a visit after morning mass.
Her three boys, who sing and play range of instruments, including the recorder, guitar, violin and piano, had been practising for weeks with their aunty - who is also a musician.
Joshua didn't mind giving up part of his Christmas holidays to play for the elderly - and planned to keep doing it for the next few Christmases.
"My family loves to play there, everyone in the rest home loves us," he said. "Because we make everyone happy and feel joyful, we don't mind."
The Magallon family performing at the rest home on Christmas Day
Irene Purdy, one of the Taupaki Gables residents, said she didn't have family locally so it was "lovely" to see Cristy and her family.
"It's wonderful to see the children. Christmas is for children and they are always so excited."
Jill Fitzgerald said she looked forward to seeing the family each year.
"It can be lonely with no family to visit at Christmas and they make us feel special."
Magallon, who came to New Zealand from the Philippines in 2002, said it was hard to just turn her back on the elderly residents who couldn't go home for Christmas.
She said the residents reminded her of her own elderly relatives back in the Philippines.
