This Saturday, 3 September 2011, the Australian supporters of the Port Elizabeth based Missionvale Care Centre are holding a concert and silent auction to raise funds to help Sister Ethel and her Missionvale community.
Australian artist, Lynne Lund, asked for permission to use a MyPE image for a derivative work of the original Missionvale tree that ‘spoke’ to Sister Ethel – giving the impetus for the establishment of Missionvale Care Centre. Lynne’s aim was to use her work at the upcoming silent auction in order to raise funds for Missionvale.
Now the painting is complete and Lynne has sent us an image – if you would like to bid on it, may we suggest that you mosey on over to Lynne’s web site, LynneLund.com [October 2018 Update: Site is no longer available] and contact her pronto.
Lynne writes; “The concert is at Pat Morgan’s home, she has sold 70 tickets, so it’ll be a squeeze! She is on the committee for Missionvale in Australia. The guest pianists are Darryl Coote, Danny Chamoun and Tom Griffiths with compere Peter Bandy. All are giving their time as a gift.”
Good luck Lynne and Pat – we hope that you have an awesome time raising money for those less fortunate.
WHY is the Missionvale Tree so significant?
In 1988 Sister Ethel Normoyle, a member of the Little Company of Mary, came to Missionvale eager to share the gospel values of compassion and love with the poor. She set up a school and basic clinic under a tree. A group of concerned business leaders visited the area, resulting in the building of three small rooms for the school and clinic.
Some significant accolades from the beginning of Missionvale Care Centre include:
1989 – Union of Jewish Women chooses Sister Ethel as Woman of the Year.
1990 – Sister Ethel was chosen as Port Elizabeth Citizen of the Year.
1992 – Opening of Missionvale Clinic. It was built for the people of Missionvale with funds provided by Pilkington Shatterprufe. In 1995 the clinic was handed over to the Health Department who continue the running of it today in partnership with the Missionvale Care Centre clinic.
1995 – Opening of the two Pre-primary classrooms.
Queen Elizabeth visited the Care Centre and in her Christmas message to the Commonwealth, she paid tribute to the wonderful work that Sister Ethel does at the Care Centre.
1996 – Sister Ethel received the Tipperary Peace Award in Ireland. Previous recipient was Nelson Mandela.2001 – Sister Ethel received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Port Elizabeth.
2004 – Sister Ethel awarded two Paul Harris Fellowships by Rotary.
2005 – Missionvale Care Centre primary schoolOpening of a four-classroom Primary School Building by Mr. Gerard Corr, Irish ambassador.
2006 – Missionvale Care Centre HIVStart of Home Based Care initiative and other projects directly focused on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Sister Ethel invited as keynote speaker at Rotary International Convention in Copenhagen. The theme was poverty and education.
2007 – Sister Ethel awarded Clare person of the year in Ireland.
2008 – Sister Ethel honoured by President of South Africa at the opening of Parliament for the integrated approach of the Missionvale Care Centre in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
2009 – Sister Ethel was honoured by President Motlanthe with the Order of the Grand Counsellor of the baobab: Silver, one of South Africa’s top awards, for her excellent service to society.
2010 – Sister Ethel top 3 finalist in the Business Woman of the Year award.
2011 – Sister Ethel receives Certificate of Honour from Port Elizabeth Mayor, Zanoxolo Wayile.
2012 – Normoyle Primary School becomes Missionvale Care Center Academy with the addition of 6 classrooms. The Community Health Practitioners receive first prize in the Nelson Mandela Business Chamber Health & Wellness Awards (NGO category) and Dr. Johann Strombeck (volunteer doctor at our Recource Centre) becomes the first ever recipient of the “Wellness Champion” award.
2013 – Sr Ethel invited to speak at the St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry, Northern Ireland
2013 – Missionvale Agricultural Team won the first ever Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Wellness Team Award for their work creating sustainable vegetable gardens in Missionvale
2014 – Head of Health Esterlene Campbell and Nursing Sister Annie van der Merwe win Wellness Impact and Wellness Champion Awards respectively at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Health & Wellness Awards 2014
2018 – Missionvale Marketing Manager, Linda van Oudheusden wins the Business Women’s Regional Achievers Award in the Social Entrepreneur Category
2018 – Samantha Streak (Trustee), wins the Professional Category in the in the Business Women’s Regional Achievers Awards
2018 – Linda van Oudheusden awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of PE West
Alan Straton
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Hi Alan, the concert was amazing, the music sublime and the company great. The painting sold for $450 Australian dollars. We are thrilled with the response, and overall tonight raised about $4000 dollars. Thank you again for the use of your image. The copyright of the art work passes to Missionvale, so hopefully they can use it to raise some more funds!
Kind Regards,
Lynne Lund
$4000.00 – a great total. Thanks for your efforts Lynne. I am sure that Sister Ethel will be delighted.