Opinion: Happy and satisfied with fundraising effort

Former All Black Michael Jones speaking at the Rotorua police charity function on Friday night. PHOTO/SUPPLIED BY PHOTOS4SALE

About 430 Rotorua residents know how the All Blacks will be feeling today after their record-breaking win against the Wallabies on Saturday night.

They will be happy, but they won't be satisfied.

We know this because former All Black Michael Jones, who was guest speaker at the Rotorua Police Welfare Fund's Charity Night and Auction on Friday night, gave us an insight into the mental training that goes into wearing the black jersey.

The rugby legend said All Blacks were trained to have that mindset because it makes you strive harder for the next goal.

Jones told the sold-out crowd there was no team living that mindset out better than the current All Black squad.

It's not hard to see why Jones is considered a legend. In his humble and gentle manner, he wooed the Rotorua audience who had attended to raise money mainly for Detective Steve Allpress, who is fighting terminal brain cancer.

Although clearly oblivious to a recent campaign by the Rotorua Lakes Council to lure Aucklanders to move to our city, Jones summed us up pretty well.

"We need to move down here to this beautiful part of the world . . . It's such a beautiful place, a tourism and cultural epicentre of New Zealand. I felt it when I walked in the room. Rotorua has to be the love capital of New Zealand."

He wasn't wrong. The crowd at Friday night's event wasn't a sea of corporate bigwigs (although there were a few). It was mainly Rotorua police staff and other members of the community who genuinely give a hoot about our city and the people in it.

Rotorua police have had their share of hard times. Mr Allpress is the ninth Rotorua police staff member to have been diagnosed with cancer in the past five years.

Add to that the fact three staff members were shot at and injured this year in the line of duty.

So nice one Rotorua, about $80,000 has been raised thanks to you. It was a pleasure to witness your generosity.