Media release from Shotover Jet
7 December 2009

Wakatipu teenagers receive unexpected Christmas bonus

An unexpected Christmas present from tourism leader Shotover Jet has guaranteed all Wakatipu High Year 10 students will get the chance to partake in next year’s previously endangered Branches Camp.

Clark Scott, General Manager of Shotover Jet, announced today that the $6,225 raised at Shotover Jet’s annual Locals’ Day yesterday (6 December) will go to the Branches Charitable Trust.

“We’re really passionate about keeping the camp going,” he says. “It’s been invaluable to our young people for more than 40 years and it would be a crying shame to see it go under because of funding issues.

“The camp has become a rite of passage for our Year 10 students. It’s not just about getting them outdoors, it’s about giving them a unique combination of life experiences and opportunities. The aim is to challenge them in all aspects of their lives in order to grow and shape who they are as adults and how they contribute to the society they live in. That’s something you just can’t put a price tag on.”

News of the unexpected Christmas present was met with delight from the members of the Branches Charitable Trust committee.

Chairperson Kelly Campbell says the money has now guaranteed enough funding to ensure next year's Year 10 students get the opportunity to attend the camp.

“We’re absolutely thrilled and very grateful,” she says. ”Shotover Jet’s donation came completely out of the blue and has made a huge difference to our fundraising efforts. We’re just blown away at how much they and the rest of the community have got behind our young people.

“We needed to raise $20,000 to be able to run the camp and had fundraised $12,000 to date. We knew we’d get a great boost from the proceeds of this weekend’s Remarkables Christmas Spectacular and Santa’s Grotto but we thought we’d still have to do some serious fundraising after that to meet our total.

“The $20,000 means that every Year 10 student gets the opportunity to go to Branches without more cost being loaded on to their parents.”

This year’s Shotover Jet Locals’ Day was a sellout with 700 people coming to ride the famous ‘Big Red’ jet boats.

“It’s a great chance for local people to come and experience the ‘world’s most exciting jet boat ride’ and support a fantastic and worthwhile cause at the same time,” says Mr Scott.

In recent years Shotover Jet’s annual Locals’ Day has raised funds for various local causes including Plunket Wakatipu, Diabetes Wakatipu Society, Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network, Age Concern, the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade, and Victim Support.

ENDS

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