Grant Elliott and Ian Klinac: Wellington Champions Lunch organisers on the success of the event

The Cello Champions Charity Luncheon is being held in Wellington for it's 28th year - and Nick Mills was at the Takina Convention Centre broadcasting live ahead of the event. 

The luncheon is in aid of Life Flight - and former Blackcap and Life Flight ambassador Grant Elliot and luncheon organiser Ian Klinac joined Nick to discuss the event. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks at b.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well I'm live at the Champions lunch and I'm very,
very excited because I've got two of the movers and
shakers of this whole organization going to get a couple
of minutes giving me up a couple of their minutes
of their time, grind Elliott and Ian Klinik. Ian, can
I start with you? I mean, how do I describe
what you have done for the city over the decades

(00:35):
that you've done it? And these events are the biggest,
the most successful, the most well run events in our
city in history over many, many years. How do you
keep the energy level up to do it?

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Welcome, by the way, thank you so much, Nick. A
pleasure to be here. Listen. I suppose a lot of
it comes from the passion and support from my family,
from Maria and my children obviously, and of course it's
just inside You've got the ability to help and support
other people, and listen, it's just not me, it's just
not Ian Klinik. It's so many people that I've got

(01:09):
to be thankful for. And I use the magic word grateful,
and I'm extremely grateful for so many sponsors, our sporting greats,
the guests that keep coming back. Some of these guests
today have been here for over twenty years, and I
think it's just it's a great city and love doing
what I do.

Speaker 2 (01:25):
And Grant Elliott, welcome to the show. I've obviously spent
a lot of time at Life Flight, had a business
down the road from it, so I know how wonderful
your organization you're part of. Is how much of a
big deal is it to have an event like this
connected to you guys raising money for you guys.

Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, it's great being on the show and together with
you and to see what he does. It is a
significant event and I think, you know, we're lucky to
be the recipient of such an amazing event that he holds.
And I think the thing that's very special to me
is that when you walk into the Life Flight offices,
everyone leaves their ego at the door and it's about
saving lives. And we talk about you know, these ambassadors

(02:08):
and celebrities. If there is such a thing in New Zealand,
I don't think there is, to be honest, you know
all of these.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
Well there is, and that's the reason this event is
so successful because these celebrities are ad mined by a
lot of people. I mean, you know, I grew up
with Ian Kirkpatrick being the greatest of the greatest of
the great You know, if he walks past me here,
I don't know whether I'll be able to stay not fainting.

Speaker 4 (02:31):
I think that's the great thing, though, is that they
leave their egos at the door and they arrive here
to support such an amazing cause. So there's a lot
of synergy between what we do and what happens at
this champion's lunch and and what people are willing to
do to put their hands up and make a significant difference.
It's four thousand dollars basically saves a life, so every
dollar counts, and we're a small team of seven and

(02:55):
makes us feel like we're a team of fifty when
we comes to that.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
This is a big event. Now the crowd is starting
to arrive and the emotions starting to go. How you
feeling right now? Are you all right?

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah? I'm feeling pretty pumped neck. You know, it's it's
a sleepless week building up to it, but the excitement
of what you can achieve for a day like today
for a fantastic organization and putting Wellington on the map.
You know, Sir Graham Henry claimed that it's one of
the most professional and successful events he's attended, and that's
really humbling. And it's like Grant reiterates, you know, the

(03:31):
ego is left at the door. You go in there
to have some fun along the way. But yeah, I'm
feeling pretty good.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Nick, well enjoy it. You've got the best host in
the world coming to the host of Avenue you bed. Yeah,
buddy there. I thank you both so much for joining
us this morning.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news Talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
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