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Kim and Margo Longbottom, the mother-daughter winemaking team at Australia’s Vintage Longbottom, are planning a Champagne brunch for Mother’s Day.
“There’s a great little restaurant that we frequent with a plant nursery attached out back,” says Kim.
Margo is looking forward to it. “Their philosophy is whatever they don’t grow, they source locally,” she says. “Mum and I are big fans of supporting local businesses.”
On Mother’s Day, many people will spiritually or physically raise a glass to the matriarchs and maternal figures in their lives. How, though, do multigenerational winemaking families handle collaborations all other days of the year? Are there challenges to working alongside your parent or child in the cellar, vineyard or CEO’s office?
Without wage subsidies and a bequest from a generous donor, Heart Kids would have struggled to get through the year, said Longbottom. The squeeze on traditional forms of fundraising, and a desire to attract younger donors, prompted it to investigate cryptocurrency. It was the first local charity to sign up with The Giving Block, a United States-based company, to receive donations in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Heart Kids was approached by The Giving Block head of research Michael Earley, originally from New Zealand. “Had we not had that anchor with Michael, maybe if you got a cold call you’d start worrying about the negative side of it potentially unregulated market - how do you know who your donors are?” Longbottom said.
Heart Kids has become the first charity in the country set up to accept donations in a range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, responding to the impact of Covid-19 on traditional fundraising. The charity, which supports children and .
Highlights of the trek have come from small everyday moments and having family, friends and strangers to share the journey with along the way, Thomas said. Her body had held up fairly well but Thomas said her goal was to not wreck herself and enjoy it. Thomas s mum Robynne Thomas, who had been with her the whole way, said in the North Island her daughter averaged 45km a day. During the South Island stint it was 60km a day. It had been special to spend that time with her daughter, Robynne said.
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Brooke Thomas, a Queenstown-based nurse and former competitive rower.