This morning we were bowled over with excitement as Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr and Lauren Down of the World Champion White Ferns visited Te Wao Nui Children’s Hospital!
Taking time out of their busy schedules, the team connected with hospital staff, young patients, and their families – giving fans of all ages the chance to chat, receive signed merchandise, and even hold the coveted (and impressively heavy) trophy!
One particularly thrilled fan was Marie Smolnicki, who is retiring this week after an extraordinary 48 years of service as a Registered Nurse at the children’s hospital. “I am an avid cricket fan and watch it any time I get the chance. I’m Scottish, so I was a closet cricket fan in England, as it wasn’t the done thing, but I used to race home from school to watch the tests. Going to the Basin here is really special, and I try and get there as much as I can. Now that I’m retiring, I’m really looking forward to doing that more often.”
It’s moments like these that foster a wonderful sense of connection and community in our hospitals.
A huge thank you to the White Ferns for knocking it out of the park and making today so memorable. Best of luck for the test this weekend – we’ll be cheering you on!
