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Vol 45, No 5
CLASSICAL TRIO: Retiring Manukau Symphony Orchestra first violinist Ellen Skinner with her 1890 Stradivarius (copy) violin, flanked by new MSO manager, Bernadette Murphy, left, and retiring manager Terry Spragg, right. Times photo Wayne Martin
Just over 20 years ago a group of enthusiastic musicians came together to form an orchestra. Now, two of the Manukau Symphony Orchestra’s founders, manager Terry Spragg, and 86-year-old first violinist Ellen Skinner, are taking a step back to sit in the audience. Mrs Spragg chaired the MSO when it was formed, as well as playing the viola in the first concert along with Mrs Skinner who led the second violin section. Mrs Spragg says from its beginnings with 22 members the orchestra continued to grow, to more than 100 at times and its current 85. “We began with performances at the Papatoetoe Town Hall and All Saints Church, Howick.” When the Vodafone (then TelstraClear Pacific) Events Centre opened in 2005 the MSO found a new home and presented the event centre’s
first performance in the Genesis Energy Theatre. It was a new era having the events centre roomy stage and the back-up of the technical and front-of-house staff. “To have a real cultural venue, that was huge,” she says. Support from the southeastern community was and remains large, she says, particularly as new retirement villages are established and their residents are encouraged to attend the concerts. Mrs Spragg is handing the reins over to Bernadette Murphy who manages the MSO from its Te Tuhi Pakuranga office. She is keen to build sponsorship opportunities and the current donor base to increase the orchestra’s sense of independence. “We will honour the ground we have got from Terry’s hard work,” Ms Murphy says. “We need to treasure the people who are coming to our concerts. But I also want to explore social media to engage with youth.
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Vehicle crime slows INSIDE Howick Village ............... P7 Business profile .............. P9 Feedback .........................P18 What’s On .......................P19 Our Homes Today ..P21-22 Classified ................. P23-30 Sport .......................... P31,32 Join us on facebook TimesOnlineNZ Keep up to date with news on TimesLive at www.times.co.nz
By NATALIE BRITTAN
V
ehicle crime is seeing a downward trend thanks to the perseverance of local police and the community. Counties Manukau East crime prevention manager, inspector Jared Pirrett, says vehicle crime has dropped significantly. “While it’s still too high, vehicle crime is not as high as last year. Our officers and our partners all worked together really smartly and did a lot of work around public reassurance and crime prevention.” The police’s community part-
ners include volunteer current role for just over groups such as patrols, a month, says the sysvolunteers from the Fo tems in place are showGuang Shan Buddhist ing results. Temple and Asian Coun“There’s a very good cil on Reducing Crime system called Auror (ACRC) who assist with in place that identifies regular crime prevenretail theft offenders tion initiatives. through CCTV which Monthly statistics notifies other businesses released by police show INSPECTOR JARED and the police. It helps that the number of PIRRETT the police identify the vehicles stolen in the offenders early.” Counties Manukau district in The ANPR (automatic number December 2015 were 304, down plate recognition) system which from 391 during the same period first launched in East Auckland in 2014. about two years ago has also made Mr Pirrett, who has been in his an impact.
“We’re having positive results around ANPR vehicles,” Mr Pirrett says. “They’re very effective at the moment in identifying stolen vehicles travelling through the area. Within seconds of a vehicle driving through, police cars are dispatched to intercept the vehicle.” The cameras are installed at strategic locations or in mobile vans which monitor crime corridors. There are plans to set up an ANPR system in Whitford by the Pohutukawa Coast community and fundraising is on-going. ➤ Turn to Page 3
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