This year’s 2016 Golden Oldies come from all over New Zealand, the 24 member team mainly aged 60-80+ years!

Denise, ‘Junior Golden Oldie’ Luke and Heather receiving a traditional Fijian welcome

“My lounge is so full of donated goods to take with us, that I know it must be time to go!” says returning Denise from last year’s mission.

Archer residents display some of the medical equipment donated for the Mission

Like other years the team, previous year’s Golden Oldies members, and Archer residents, staff and families have fund raised during the year.  Over $4,000 cash and donated goods on top of that are going to churches, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, old peoples home, orphanage, and the Bible College.

Cyclone Winston devastated many villages in Fiji with the worst tropical storm in living history. Archer as a Mission partner to Fiji, along with residents, staff -including a number of Fijian staff working in our Homes, and Golden Oldies members started a fundraising appeal.

Archer Nurse Manager Adele, Fijian Nurse Anita, and Chaplain Peter, loaded donated clothing, books and bedding for a container bound for Fiji.

Fijian staff member Anita said, “It has been so humbling to see the generosity of everyone contribute with money, buying crafts and veges , attending fundraiser afternoon teas, and donating cash, clothing, books, kitchen items for the people of Fiji. Thank you so much.”
Over this period the donated goods virtually filled a whole shipping container, and $14,000 was raised in cash. Fijian staff members families all received cash donations to help them rebuild their houses and buy new furnishings; and funds also went to squatter settlements to assist with restoring power to their homes, provide food and helping students return to school.

2015 Report Card

2015 saw 24 ‘Golden Oldies’ mobilised for mission to Fiji.

Missions create friends for life

They visited and supported projects in remote villages, hospitals, schools, orphanage, street kids refuge, an Old Peoples’ home, prison, kindergarten, and a number of churches.

A real highlight being the day where we held workshops at the Suva Cathedral on Sunday school training, prayer ministry, crafts, painting, property maintenance, small business, to health checks for diabetes (did you know Fiji as one amputation every 12-hours?). It was through these health checks with our Archer nurses that 15 people were identified as needing urgent medical follow-ups.

Our Partnership-Project Investments

Donations towards the Golden Oldies Development Fund totalling over $15,000 have gone towards the following investment into individuals and village developments:

Archbishop Winston having his health check by Archer nurses Adele and Anita, with Principal Amy watching on

The Sigatoka Kindergarten setup –with children coming daily and many more on the waiting list… Basden College students being able to attend the SU Christian Leadership Camp …St Lawrence Church ministries to new mothers at the local Maternity Hospital, travel funds to develop the prison ministry, …at the ‘Tin Cathedral’ funds to support widows raising their grandchildren with a new shower facility under construction …recycled and serviced sewing machines delivered and used at St Christophers Orphange to make new school uniforms…education and  training support for the Bible College students, …support to nurture the Bible College chapel… and a new micro-finance fund to assist villages to start or expand their small businesses, including the hopeful purchase of a fishing boat for village women to catch more fish safely, instead of standing in the sea all day…

Who was entertaining who?!!

Golden Oldies Mission 2016
Now the 2016 mission is about to start. Its goal being to continue the partnership of Christian ministry and sharing Gods love to the people of Fiji.