Britannia House?s Daphne Turner holding Petone artist Alfred Memelink?s donated watercolour of Petone beach
By Jamie Melbourne-Hayward
Petone artist Alfred Memelink has donated a watercolour to Rotary in an effort to help raise funds for Britannia House. Mr Memelink, an Udy Street resident, found out about Petone Rotary?s commitment to aiding the local retirement home when he was invited to share his Antarctic experiences with the group. ?I have given them a painting of Petone beach at sunset, to help them raise funds for a vehicle. ?I?m all for supporting the local community; places like Britannia and Te Omanga,? he says. Britannia House is particularly important for locals that want to stay close to home as they become older. ?It?s particularly important for elderly people who have lived in Petone all their lives. ?It?s great to offer them this opportunity, rather than to go to a retirement home in a different area that they don?t know,? says Mr Memelink. Tying together different groups in the community is an important part of what makes Petone special, and Britannia House functions more like a home than most retirement villages, he says. Britannia House is raising funds to purchase a van with a hoist to help transport less mobile residents. Mr Memelink began painting at sea while working as an engineer, his donated watercolour is valued at around $1200 dollars. ?I love Petone, I?m forever painting Petone beach and the estuary ? the weather can be beautiful and calm and then change into ferocious storms. ?There is something special about it,? he says. Mr Memelink recently painted watercolours at Petone Beach with well-known Eastbourne artist Jacky Pearson.
