05 December 2019

Whanganui Hospital children’s ward nurse manager Trish Silk accepts a cheque from the Grumpy Old Men.

Unfortunately, every year there are children who cannot enjoy Christmas celebrations to the full because they are in hospital.

But this year’s festive season will be a little brighter for kids at Whanganui Hospital, thanks to a generous donation by Grumpy Old Men Enterprises.

On Wednesday, December 4, the Grumpy Old Men belied their name by happily handing over a cheque for $1000 to the children’s ward.

The Grumpy Old Men (women are also welcome!) are a bunch of retirees who collect unwanted household items like sandwich presses, sewing machines, microwaves, breadmakers, computers, TVs, and copper wires.

At their base in Castlecliff’s Hinau Street, they pull the items apart – sometimes smash them apart – and extract the metal, including gold and copper.

The scrap is sold and the proceeds go to children’s causes -- "They're our future, not us … we're too old," says lead man Jim O’Neill, otherwise known as ‘No 1 Grump’.

The group has donated $130,000 to benefit kids in just over four years, and this is the third year they have made a donation to the children’s ward.

Nurse manager Trish Silk said the money would be used to buy pyjamas and gifts for the children spending Christmas in the ward.