Relay for Life

Professionals salespeople in Waiuku took part in the Relay for Life last weekend to support the Cancer Society.  Kim-Maree Osborne, Christine Montagna and Chris Pratt (Team DO IT) joined with friends, family and work collegues to do their bit.

There are a lot of sore bodies today but they helped to raise $120,000 for the Cancer Society. Congratulations.
A great contribution from all who took part and their sponsors.

Help Carol hit her fundraising goal

Carol Tildesley from our Rotorua office (McDowell Real Estate) is hoping to raise $5000 for the Child Cancer Foundation with a committment to shaving her head if she reaches her goal. Good luck Carol.
Support Carol online –
http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/CarolTildesley2013/

Getting “shorn” for charity

The Professionals real estate office in Morrinsville is getting ready to run a “shearing” event – but it’s not sheep getting shorn, it’s the people. Real estate agents and local people will be sponsored to have their heads shaved and all money is donated to the Child Cancer Foundation.

John Aarts, Morrinsville Real Estate

It’s been eight years since the Professionals office in Morrinsville ran this event and that year they raised $143,000 dollars from 124 haircuts – a fantastic outcome. Business owner Colin Fabish said he and the team are targeting 150 haircuts this time.

Anyone can take part in the event on March 22nd and entry forms are available from the Professionals Morrinsville office in Thames Street.

Other Professionals offices around the country are also are preparing to raise funds either from special events or getting out on the streets and “shaking a bucket” for this very deserving charity.

Come and join us on 22nd March – get a close shave or just make a donation and enjoy the fun.

View Professionals Morrinsville website

Award winners from Unique Realty Ltd ..

Our Manawatu offices, Unique Realty Ltd, held their company awards night last week.   Congratulations to all the winners.

Top photo:  Salesperson of the Year award – Richard Jensen, with Tania Young and PA Rachel Dixon
Bottom left photo: Property Manager of the Year – Jess Harvey
Bottom right photo:  Rookie of the Year – Frances Douglas

Top award winners from Unique Realty Ltd for 2012.

Our New Plymouth Superheroes

Our New Plymouth real estate team had lots of fun at the local Christmas Parade this year – dressed as superheroes, entertaining the kids and giving away 2000 odd lollipops. As well as having lots of fun, they were judged second best float.  Congratulations to all the team at Professionals Beaven Realty Ltd.

Our New Plymouth Superheroes

Arrowtown holiday home popular with CCF families

This year the original Sunshine Lodge holiday home in Queenstown was sold and replaced with a brand new modern home in Arrowtown which opened in June for families supporting children with cancer. The new ‘Arrowfield Mews’ property is a warm, three bedroom, two storied sunny home and is well suited to the needs of the families.  The house is walking distance from the main Arrowtown shopping / entertainment area, close to public transport and opposite the Millbrook golf course.

The holiday home is fully booked and proving very popular with the families. The Professionals Queenstown office provides free fun event vouchers donated by local businesses which help to create happy long-enduring memories for families which suffer numerous challenges.

Comments from families include:
” … being able to come together for the week after all these years of separation in hospital is so special …”
“… we created a series of special memories while staying in Arrowtown .. images to treasure long after our child has gone … “

This new holiday home is owned by Child Cancer Foundation Otago/Southland Accommodation Trust, (OSAT), which was set up in the 1980′s to provide accommodation for Otago and Southland children with cancer and their families.  It replaces the Sunshine Bay holiday home purchased by Professionals in 1999 after the success of the original one in Taupo.

A third holiday home is also available in Hastings. This is owned and managed by the Trucking for Hawke’s Bay Child Cancer Trust.  These holiday homes are exclusively available to families supported by the Child Cancer Foundation.

Professionals members have supported the Child Cancer Foundation since 1995 and it is a key part of our community commitment.   More about our support ..

Andrew Mark joins Professionals Hall of Fame

After almost 30 years with Professionals, Andrew Mark, from Gillies and Mark in Upper Hutt, was inducted into the Professionals Global Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognises significant work, effort and commitment to the Professionals Group at both New Zealand and International level.

Andrew is a second-generation real estate agent, joining his father in real estate at the age of 19.  He became a member of Professionals in 1984 and a founding member of Professionals in the Wellington region. He became a Director on the New Zealand Board in 1994 and was the New Zealand Board Chairman for a number of years.

Since 2006 he has been a Director on the Professionals Global Board and has taken an active role in the direction of the group ever since.  In 2007, he was also the inaugural Chairman of Professionals Service Centre (Australia), helping in his humorous way to meet the many challenges in integrating the Eastern States.

Whilst no longer a shareholder of Gillies and Mark, he is involved in running his own business, is an Independent Director on the New Zealand Board and takes an active role in chairing various committees and assisting with mentoring.

Andrew is one of the absolute identities and icons of the group.  He epitomises the family and core values which the Professionals Group is famous for. He is about helping one another, sharing best practices and, at the same time, having fun.

Congratulations Andrew.

Congratulations also to Ian Cornell from Western Australia who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.  He has been an active member of the Professionals Group for 25 years.

The Hall of Fame currently has 12 members with the other New Zealand members being Bob Fisken (Dunedin) and Paul Lochore (Auckland).

The criteria for the Professionals Hall of Fame is to:

• have been in Professionals group for not less than 15 years
• have never left the group to go to another brand, therefore are either still in Professionals or have retired
• have been instrumental in making significant constructive change at an overall Group level, as well as being a key member of their region
• likely to have represented their region at Group Board level
• if they are no longer actively involved at a Group level, they continue to actively support the Group and where it is heading.