Go Media has always been involved in supporting those making a positive difference here in Aotearoa. One charity that we absolutely love working with is Cholmondeley Children’s Home. Established in 1925, Cholmondeley is an organization dedicated to offering respite care and holistic support to local Canterbury tamariki and their whānau, providing a nurturing home away from home.

Over the years we have supported Cholmondeley by providing them with a platform to spread their message and gather support through promoting their mahi on our digital billboards. We are always delighted when we get the chance to visit the team and the wonderful tamariki, so on Wednesday the 12^th of October that is just what we did.

Equipped with pirate regalia and industrial quantities of Neapolitan ice cream, the Go Media Christchurch team set sail to the Cholmondeley Children’s Home, prepped to cook dinner for 15 of the centre’s young residents.

Upon arrival, the crew received a tour of the Governor’s Bay grounds from the fundraising coordinator, Michael. The playground overlooking a beautiful view of Lyttleton harbour, fit with appropriately piratey-looking boats.

Given this was Cholmondeley’s first charity cooking experience offered since lockdown, the Go Media crew certainly felt the pressure to serve up some quality grub. Chief office-dad, Jason, quickly took over the operation, overseeing the preparation of the Pirate Burgers (all while wearing a bright-red lobster chef’s hat).

While the team waited for buns to toast and fries to crisp, some of the group migrated to the backyard, where deputy Go Media Dad, Craig, supervised a spirited game of ‘Red Light, Green Light’, followed by the audience-requested ‘Octopus’.

After a solid half hour of see-sawing and daisy-chain making, the team finally served up dinner, with Sophie K acting as senior operator of the burger assembly line. Filling-wise; the chicken was most popular, the smashed avocado was rejected by several of the young connoisseurs, who are clearly aware of the negative correlation between avocado and home ownership.

Decorated with a miniature pirate flag placed atop each bun, the dinner was deemed a success by the kids, although the dinner table conversation did disintegrate into Hayley and Sophie W being called “poop” in German for 5 minutes (we will pretend it was the kids’ language of love).

Giddy from our burger success, the team moved on to dessert, which proved much messier than the burger-surgery (or ‘burgery’ if you will). Armed with a way-too runny bottle of chocolate sauce, and an over-enthusiastic sprinkle distributor (Sophie W is a huge fan of hundreds and thousands), the team dished out scoops of ice-cream in waffle cones; Jelly-Tip being the favourite flavour.

Finishing up as the sun set, the Go Media crew sailed off from Cholmondeley, earning many hugs (which almost knocked Hayley over), high-fives, and further compliments in German. Wrapping up with a celebratory drink at the local Governor’s Bay Hotel, the team mused upon the success of the evening.

We want to say a BIG thank you to Cholmondeley for welcoming us in, the team had an amazing afternoon, and we hope the tamariki did as well - we cannot wait for the next time we are able to visit.

Read more about and Support Cholmondeley Children’s Home here. Be sure to give them a follow on Facebook as well @Cholmondeley.NZ