Botany Town Centre Celebrates 10 Years With Auckland's Best Mums
 Joyce and Paula Midgley with Kayla (15 years) and overall best mum winner Melany Adams.JPG)
East Auckland’s Botany Town Centre had plenty to toast last weekend, as the centre marked its 10th birthday milestone and honoured Auckland’s best mums with a special high tea.
Mothers, daughters and friends descended on Botany Town Centre’s Sunset Terrace on Saturday afternoon for the Permission To Think About You High Tea, at which they were introduced to the event’s special guest, Nestle New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker winner Paula Midgley.
The 30 VIP guests were treated to a slice of Paula’s skill – a two-tier chocolate-cherry mud cake creation – and a range of decadent treats catered by Robert Harris Café, along with crucial accompaniments, Morton Estate’s Methode Traditionnelle Mimi and undivided YOU time to relax and unwind.
Botany Town Centre dedicated the entire month of May to mothers, encouraging the community to nominate their mums in 250 words or less and explain how they continue to go above and beyond the call of duty. The centre received a range of inspiring responses about self-sacrificing mums, some of whom juggle around-the-clock care for seriously ill children with extracurricular activities, cooking, cleaning and being an overall tower of strength.
“It was an absolute delight to celebrate and honour these great mums in our community not only on Mother’s Day, but throughout the month,” says Botany Town Centre senior marketing manager Desiree Clark. “In hosting the Permission to Think About You High Tea, we wanted to give mums some undivided ‘YOU’ time to relax and think about themselves for a change.”
One lucky woman was crowned ‘overall best mum’. Pakuranga mother of five Melany Adams humbly accepted the title, having been nominated three times by each of her daughters. The girls wrote about their mum’s unwavering dedication to the family, which includes an intellectually disabled eight-year-old.
“It was a real shock when I heard my name, I didn’t think I was that deserving,” says Mrs Adams. “It was a lovely afternoon topped off with an awesome prize pack. I put the gift card to good use, treating myself to a haircut and the kids to new electric blankets.
“This has been great experience and it was nice to have time to reflect with those around me. It’s a cool idea and a great competition that encourages all ages to get involved and express themselves. Next time I will nominate my own mum.”
Melany Adams’ prize pack included a $500 Botany Town Centre gift card, an Image Oasis treatment voucher valued at $300, and a Hoyts La Premiere gift card valued at $200. Each guest also took home a goody bag including Lush products, a Marie Claire cookbook, a Simply You Living magazine and Nestle Choc Bits.
The celebrations continued throughout the day, as Botany Town Centre marked its 10th birthday milestone by treating shoppers to 200 cupcakes, a live band, roving characters, face painting and balloons.
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