The Reverend Michael Kerr and his wife Ros inspect their fully refurbished 1964 Volkswagen Beetle, which they won in a raffle organised by the City of Timaru Highland Pipe Band. Photo by guy Williams.
The Reverend Michael Kerr and his wife Ros shared the cost of a $50 ticket for the City of Timaru Highland Pipe Band raffle while at a band competition in Fairlie in December.
Mrs Kerr said she saw a picture of the car on a poster advertising the raffle, but the couple initially could not find where to buy a ticket.
‘‘Michael was saying ‘Never mind, never mind', but I said ‘We've got to have a ticket'. ‘I had a really, really strong feeling.''
Mr Kerr said he agreed to buy the ticket because he had been a lifelong band enthusiast and wanted to support the band's fundraising efforts.
‘‘I never thought for a minute we would win it. It's the first time either of us has won something.''
He retired last year from his position as Timaru Hospital chaplain after a 43-year career in the ministry. He regarded the stroke of good fortune as a retirement gift and a belated wedding present for the couple, who married 15 months ago.
‘‘It's the lovely bit of icing on the cake.''
Although the couple already own two cars between them, they have no plans to sell their prize, which is valued at $11,500.
City of Timaru Highland Pipe Band drum-major Donald McLeod said the raffle was held to raise funds for the band's three-week trip to Scotland to compete in the Glasgow World Pipe Band Championships on August 15.
The band would also compete in three competitions in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Its 34 members and 21 travelling supporters were still well short of their $130,000 target, and would continue coming up with interesting fundraising ideas, Mr McLeod said.
