November 19, 2025
Methven House’s Audrey Lilley has 101 reasons to celebrate.
As the face of the Methven Care Trust’s fundraising drive, she’s helped raise over $117,000 in just a month but the 101-year-old doesn’t want this story to be about her.
“Audrey humbly says this is not about her, it’s about future generations,” fundraising manager Mandy Mee said.
The funds will go towards finishing the Trust’s new care home, a purpose-built village in the centre of Methven.
“The response from the community has been phenomenal.” Mee said.
“We’re not doing any major promotions at the moment, but there’re a lot of amazing things happening behind the scenes.”
The Audrey 101 challenge centred around 101 laps around different portions of Methven House, with some walked by her, others run or biked by supporters and friends.
Partway through the challenge, a sing-along was organised to raise awareness within the community.
Mount Hutt College music teacher Sam Luddy rewrote the lyrics to: “I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)” to tell Audrey’s story, for what was expected to be small gathering of locals.
But Mee said it ballooned to heights even she hadn’t expected, catching the attention of TV programme, Seven Sharp.
“We only had a short period of time, we had a day and a half, basically, to get our message out there.
“We put flyers in the town’s mailboxes two nights before, I think, with the lyrics on them, telling people to come along.”
Despite the short notice, Mt Hutt Memorial Hall was packed with folks young and old on the Friday of the sing-along.
“One of the most magical, beautiful moments at the hall was when we went to sing,” Mee said.
“When Audrey entered the hall, everyone stood up and applauded her. It was the most beautiful moment, so heartful.”
The official Givealittle fundraising page is closed, but the Trust is still working to raise the final amount needed to seal the deal for the new care home, a facility that’s been a decade in the making.
“We started needing half a million dollars. Over this time, we’ve accumulated some more funds.
“What we’re anticipating right now is that the Methven House residents will move [in] at the end of November.”
Once it passes Health NZ’s compliance and audit regulations, it’s move in time.
“There needs to be a really lovely nod particularly to Dave Grant, who’s a well-known Methven man, who is the project manager, as well as the clinical team.
“They are the people working really, really hard, as well as the wider [trustees] to meet the compliance.”
Mee said the Trust would be grateful for any individual or business donations as they finish up the project, and they can contact her via the Methven Care Trust website.
Methven House’s Audrey Lilley has 101 reasons to celebrate.
As the face of the Methven Care Trust’s fundraising drive, she’s helped raise over $117,000 in just a month but the 101-year-old doesn’t want this story to be about her.
“Audrey humbly says this is not about her, it’s about future generations,” fundraising manager Mandy Mee said.
The funds will go towards finishing the Trust’s new care home, a purpose-built village in the centre of Methven.
“The response from the community has been phenomenal.” Mee said.
“We’re not doing any major promotions at the moment, but there’re a lot of amazing things happening behind the scenes.”
The Audrey 101 challenge centred around 101 laps around different portions of Methven House, with some walked by her, others run or biked by supporters and friends.
Partway through the challenge, a sing-along was organised to raise awareness within the community.
Mount Hutt College music teacher Sam Luddy rewrote the lyrics to: “I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)” to tell Audrey’s story, for what was expected to be small gathering of locals.
But Mee said it ballooned to heights even she hadn’t expected, catching the attention of TV programme, Seven Sharp.
“We only had a short period of time, we had a day and a half, basically, to get our message out there.
“We put flyers in the town’s mailboxes two nights before, I think, with the lyrics on them, telling people to come along.”
Despite the short notice, Mt Hutt Memorial Hall was packed with folks young and old on the Friday of the sing-along.
“One of the most magical, beautiful moments at the hall was when we went to sing,” Mee said.
“When Audrey entered the hall, everyone stood up and applauded her. It was the most beautiful moment, so heartful.”
The official Givealittle fundraising page is closed, but the Trust is still working to raise the final amount needed to seal the deal for the new care home, a facility that’s been a decade in the making.
“We started needing half a million dollars. Over this time, we’ve accumulated some more funds.
“What we’re anticipating right now is that the Methven House residents will move [in] at the end of November.”
Once it passes Health NZ’s compliance and audit regulations, it’s move in time.
“There needs to be a really lovely nod particularly to Dave Grant, who’s a well-known Methven man, who is the project manager, as well as the clinical team.
“They are the people working really, really hard, as well as the wider [trustees] to meet the compliance.”
Mee said the Trust would be grateful for any individual or business donations as they finish up the project, and they can contact her via the Methven Care Trust website.
