Support Eastwoodhill: Bid on art and learn about brain research at Waikanae event

Dr Samantha Holdsworth, the chief executive of Mātai Research Institute, will be interviewed by Dr Lucinda Thatcher at the Friends of Eastwoodhill fundraising event Brains on the Beach on Wednesday.

Friends of Eastwoodhill Arboretum is having a fundraiser with a difference this year - a mix of stimulating conversation and an online art auction.

Eastwoodhill National Arboretum of NZ is home to more than 25,000 species of exotic and native trees, shrubs and climber plants located northwest of Gisborne in the hill country of Ngātapa.

Medical physicist and Mātai Research Institute chief executive Dr Samantha Holdsworth will be interviewed by a long-time supporter of Eastwoodhill, Dr Lucinda Thatcher, at the Brainwaves on the Beach event at Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club on Wednesday from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

Dr Holdsworth is an associate professor at the University of Auckland’s Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and a principal investigator at the Centre for Brain Research.

With 23 years of experience in MRI acquisition, post-processing and analysis, she has developed fast, high-resolution MRI methods and amplified MRI – a new method of visualising brain motion.

During her 11 years at Stanford University as a senior scientist, Holdsworth streamlined and translated a variety of MR imaging and imaging reconstruction methods to clinical practice, resulting in better detection of brain disorders and diseases. She then returned to her hometown of Gisborne to co-found Mātai with the goal of making a difference in the lives of her community.

Brains on the Beach is the opportunity to hear some of Holdsworth’s vast knowledge and learn more about the work done by Mātai.

“It’s the chance to learn about the wonderful asset we have here in Tairāwhiti (Mātai) while raising money for another incredible asset we have in Eastwoodhill,” Friends of Eastwoodhill member Sally Gaddum says.

“There is also some beautiful art for sale so people are encouraged to get bidding.”

Wairoa artist Joanna Abraham Joseph has an oil painting of Eastwoodhill up for auction and there are also works by Gisborne artists, including Zoe Alford and Susan Vorster.

“This is your chance to get a piece of stunning art while also supporting Eastwoodhill.”

Friends of Eastwoodhill is a group of volunteers which supports and raises money for the National Arboretum of NZ.

Money raised from Brains on the Beach will go towards upgrading the pavilion with plans to renovate the kitchen and function space.

To view the art go to 32auctions.com/eastwoodhill.

Tickets are available from humanatix.co.nz enquiries@eastwoodhill.nz or (06) 863-9003.