Lynfield College students to represent NZ Jubilant Lynfield College students (L-R) Harry Ashley, Kais Azimullah, Matthew Tribble and Joseph Hisayasu are awarded overall winner for their silent film ATTACK! of the Death Robot. Lynfield College students have taken out a raft of awards, including Overall Winner, at the NZ finals of the International Youth Silent Film F[KBS1] estival which was held in Tauranga in October. The silent film ATTACK! of the DEATH ROBOT produced by Joseph Hisayasu, Matthew Tribble, Kais Azimullah and Harry Ashley from Lynfield College, was announced as the overall winner, receiving high praise from celebrity judges, actor and director David de Latour (Alibi, Westside) and Bay of Plenty Film CEO Anton Steel. The students were also presented with a first-place cash prize of $2000. On top of the first-place win, Joseph Hisayasu, 16, also won the award for Best Director for his work on ATTACK! of the DEATH ROBOT. It was also a night to remember for Harry Ashley, 17, and fellow students Raymond Feng and Shamir Sarif whose film Overexposed won second-place and a cash prize of $1500. The team also took out the awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Production Design. The IYSFF is a competition which challenges filmmakers, aged 20 years and under from across the USA, Australia, the UAE and New Zealand to create a three-minute silent film set to one of 10 musical scores composed especially for the festival. The top three films will represent New Zealand at the week-long International Youth Silent Film Festival Final and will be screened during the IYSFF Global Awards Show in Portland, Oregon, in June 2019. All of this year’s Top 12 silent films were screened during the ceremony, each featuring live musical accompaniment from IYSFF composer and award-winning organist Nathan Avakian who performed on Baycourt’s mighty Wurlitzer Organ.  L-R: Matthew Tribble, Joseph Hisayasu and Kais Azimullah (ATTACK! of the Death Robot) and Raymond Feng, Shamir Sarif and Harry Ashley (Overexposed) with their awards. The Lynfield College films and makers are: ATTACK! OF THE DEATH ROBOT (category: Hero): Writer and Director: Joseph Hisayasu; Cinematographer, Editor and VFX: Matthew Tribble; and starring Kais Azimullah and Harry Ashley (as the robot). Winner, 1st Place. Also won Best Director (Joseph Hisayasu) and nominated for best Production Design. OVER-EXPOSED (Category: Noir): Writer, Director and Editor: Harry Ashley; Cinematographer and Colourist: Raymond Feng; and starring Shamir Sarif. 2nd Place. Won Best Cinematography (Raymond Feng), Best Editing (Harry Ashley), Best Production Design. Nominated for Best Shot and Best Director. THE TERRORIST WHO TRIPPED (Category: Slapstick): Writer, Director, Cinematographer, and Editor Tremaine Leaso. Contributing crew: Daniel Brown, Abigail Blackie, and Kunal Vallabh, and starring Tremaine Leaso and Rose MacClure. Finalist. Nominated for Best Editing and Best Actor. Help get these kids to Portland!Donate at www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/send-us-to-portland# Eds note: I found these short films highly entertaining and well worth the watch. You can see them at https://vimeo.com/album/5175310. Massive congrats to these talented students. All the best for Portland! 
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Of note were ‘Stevie Wonder’ found at Visique, ‘Matt-ewe’ at Church of the Saviour, and ‘Hipi’ (Maori for sheep) and ‘Pepe’ (baby) at the Library. ‘Postman Pat’ of course was found at the Post Shop, and ‘Sheeplock Holmes’ found himself at the Community Centre. Thanks to the shops and businesses and the families who took part. We hope you had fun. Watch out for the hunt next year. The sheep are sure to get away again!   L-R: Rebecca Wyatt and Gayle Prescott Iconic local dance studio, Gayle Prescott Dance School has recently changed ownership and is now in the capable hands of Rebecca Wyatt, a former dancer of the studio. Fifty years ago, Gayle Prescott’s dream of having her own dance studio became a reality when she launched her first classes from her parents' garage in 1968. The studio continued to grow and eventually moved to its current prominent position on the corner of Himalaya Crescent in Lynfield. Now Rebecca has the honour of leading the school and bringing it into a new era. Rebecca has been dancing for 18 years and has experience at numerous dance and fitness studios in teaching, managing, and directing roles. She has instructed overseas in New York City and is known for her warm and friendly personality. “I’m excited to inject fresh ideas into the school and spread my passion for dance with as many people as possible,” she says. The school currently offers ballet, tap, jazz, and adults’ classes, with students successfully participating in competitions, exams, and shows. There are two fully-equipped studios, a dancewear shop and plenty of on-road parking, making the dance experience accessible and enjoyable for everyone. In an easy-to-access location the studio is just down from Halsey Drive Primary School. Classes cater for all levels, from preschool through to advanced and adult classes; whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dancer looking to improve your technique. The link between dance, fitness and wellbeing is becoming more popular and new classes will reflect this as the school develops. Students are encouraged to become the best that they can be as they are introduced to the joy of dance and the physical and mental benefits that come with it. If you would like to learn more about classes at GPDS, email hello@gayleprescottdanceschool.co.nz or call/text Rebecca on 0210650867.
 Glenavon's community celebrating Good Stuff The Glenavon Community Hub’s co-ordinator Eva Wongchiu has only held her position for three months but has already observed many exciting things happening within the community. One of the recent achievements was the Food Pantry and Mini Library which was launched in Miranda Street in December.  The new food pantry and mini library
Construction of the pantry and library was a joint effort, involving volunteers from the community and students from Glenavon School. The Food Pantry was stocked with donations from within the community, while thanks go to Padmini from Blockhouse Bay Library for organising books for the Mini Library. Adding to the excitement on the day was the gift of a lawn mower from Blockhouse Bay Baptist church, which will be at the hub and is available for community use. The launch day bore testament to Glenavon Community Hub’s mission statement, "Doing Good Stuff Together.” Reflecting on the celebrations at the end of the day, Eva commented, "It is love, it is kindness, It is Community."
 Council is consulting this summer on where to restrict Freedom Camping from mid-2019. It is an extended consultation period to match up with when there is a lot of freedom camping happening so people can report on what they are experiencing first hand. It's very important to have your say - the deadline for your input is 18th February. You can make a submission online through the Council website, or at Have Your Say events around the region, more info on both at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz (search for "freedom camping"). The new rules would likely apply from mid-2019, after a vote on them by Governing Body (Mayor and ward councillors). Enforcement would be focused on aiming to get people to follow the rules first, with the possibility of a $200 fine if they refuse to do so. In the Puketapapa Local Board area the proposal is to prohibit (ban) freedom camping entirely at these sites: - Mt Roskill War Memorial Park, May Rd entrance - Hillsborough Park - Keith Hay Park (excluding Rainford St carpark) - Taylors Bay Reserve - Wairaki Stream Reserve (Lynfield Cove) - Monte Cecilia Park - Waikowhai Park And restrict (to self-contained only, limited nights & limited number of car park spaces to be used) at these sites: - Keith Hay Park, Rainford St carpark only - 6 carparking spaces available - Three Kings Reserve - 10 spaces - Margaret Griffen Park - 10 spaces - Mt Roskill War Memorial Park, Gifford Rd parking areas - 2 spaces Sites not listed will not have restrictions or bans at all, as per the central government legislation that allows freedom camping to happen. There may be parks not listed above which you think should have restrictions, or perhaps you believe the number of intended carparking spaces is wrong. Maybe you have specific ideas for improvements to a park for it to cope with freedom camping properly. It will be helpful to put your ideas in to the consultation process. The Puketapapa Local Board is also focusing their February community forum on freedom camping: Wednesday 13th February from 6.30pm to 8pm at Lynfield Recreation Centre's Youth Room, in Margaret Griffen Park.
Scouting is not just about knots, woggles and big shorts, and it's not just for boys either! There are approximately 16,000 young people in Scouting in New Zealand, spread across five age-related sections: Keas, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers. Each section has its own balanced programme of activities, badges and awards. A time-honoured organisation run by passionate, committed leaders and parents for kids aged 7 – 19, Scouts is a wholesome, tried-and-true outlet for your kids’ creative energy, in a safe, supervised, yet challenging environment. We are fortunate to have several excellent local Scout troops in the wider Blockhouse Bay area – each with a slightly different ‘flavour’, with both land- or sea-based to choose from. There is definitely one that will feel just right for your family. New Lynn Sea Scouts Contact Andrew 027 693 9756 newlynn.seascouts.org.nz Western Bays Sea Scouts (Lynfield) Contact Suzanne 09-627-3018 wbssgroup@gmail.com Iona Scouts (Blockhouse Bay) Contact Colin 021 208 1103 Seeking adventure-loving kids!Do you have a 5 to 15-year-old child who is looking for new adventures in 2019? Perhaps Scouting is the opportunity for them.
We have planned another exciting year for our Scouts, and we’d love to share these experiences with more kids. Interested? Why not come along a few times and have a go, to see if scouting is for you and your family. You will find us at the hall under the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre, beside the car park on Exminster Street, every Wednesday evening during the school term. Keas, school years 1–3, meet 6.00-7.00pm, Cubs, school years 4-6, 6:30 – 8:00 and Scouts, school years 7 – 10, 6:30 – 8:00.
Fun on the waterWhile from a youth perspective, the Scouting experience is all about the adventure, a key underlying purpose is to encourage the development of important life skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership. This is something that the nautical environment supports so well due to the wide range of activities and challenges available.
For the Leaders it was a very rewarding experience watching the Juniors expressions as it dawned on them how their teamwork, communication and leadership had compensated for their lack of experience and physical strength, to pull off a win that was otherwise unimaginable to them.
The annual Seaweek Sand Sculpting Competition will take place on Cornwallis beach after the clean-up. Start planning your creation now. Get your family or a team together, have fun and be in to win great prizes including a kayak. Other Manukau Harbour activities will include a special event about the grey faced petrels living on the west coast and around the harbour. This will take place at Arataki on Tuesday 5 March and will feature researchers from the University of Auckland. There will also be a guided walk at Awhitu on 17 March. Plus, there’s the Onehunga Festival on 23 February at the Onehunga Reserve and Friends of the Farm will be doing a clean-up at Ambury Park foreshore. At Lopdell House in Titirangi award winning cameraman and film maker Robin Kewell will be presenting his series of underwater films at a special Seaweek cinema event. The films will be screened on Wed 6 March starting at 10-30am in the Seminar Room, 1st floor Lopdell House. For trailers, times and details go to flickscinema.weebly.com Check the Seaweek website for up to date details on dates, times and locations of all events www.seaweek.org.nz
Friday, 15 February 2019 6pm-9pm Blockhouse Bay Beach Reserve Line-up: Midge Marsden, The Flaming Mudcats With a career spanning four decades, Midge Marsden is one of New Zealand's pre-eminent rhythm and blues artists – a true Blues Legend. His excellent musicians and unstoppable energy guarantee a great show every time. After many years of performing at Music in Parks, Midge claims (again!) that this is last – so don’t miss him! The Flaming Mudcats are regarded as one of the New Zealand’s premier RnB acts. They have performed at festivals and clubs throughout New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands and the USA. Their energetic live show ranges from butt-shaking belters to soulful grinders and nearly everything in-between.  Head out on the highway… Lookin’ for adventure, and whatever comes your way! (Are you singing yet?!) If you’re ‘Born to Be Wild’, like a true nature child, get your groove on and join the Lions on their 11th Annual Wild Westie Fun Car Rally! Since 2009 the Blockhouse Bay-Lynfield Lions Club have opened up the ‘Wild West’ of Auckland to dozens of families, couples, friends, car enthusiasts and adventure-seekers, by taking them down roads many have never driven, to destinations of incomparable wild beauty and historic significance, in an annual event which never fails to become the genesis of many a tall tale.  Lions Nick and Kuldeep with one of the 2018 rally's interesting vehicles. The Rally is a leisurely drive with a competitive edge. No, not a race, but the cryptic itinerary quiz will surely test the navigational skills of your support crew and help participants spot and enjoy the places passed along the way. And if you find yourself going astray, don’t worry; the final destination is inside your sealed envelope.  The Wild Westie Car Rally is the genesis of many a tall tale - and some of them are even true! This from rally 2018, contestants lent a hand to help recover a runaway ute - not one of the contestants, fortunately! The BBQ will be fired up for lunch at the mystery destination, with sausages and onions supplied by the Lions to compliment your BYO picnic and refreshments. The winning entrants are chosen from the most correct answers, with deductions for kilometres gained or lost in travel. Token prizes are awarded, and it’s all in fun. And if you really want to get in the spirit, come dressed as a Westie! As always, the Rally is a fundraiser to help the Blockhouse Bay-Green Bay Community Patrol maintain its vigil in the Bay areas to combat crime and vandalism.
 The New Year is a great time to spend some time thinking about the big questions of life. Science often answers the question ‘how?’ but not necessarily the question ‘why?’ when it comes to big issues. If you are interested in finding out about why Christians believe what they do and looking at matters such as the historicity of Jesus and the reliability of the Bible, then Alpha may be for you. It involves a video presentation followed by open discussion about matters of faith, and no question is off limits. Alpha is an 8-week course which starts on 13th Feb at 7.15pm at Church of the Saviour. There’s no charge, and if you need a little more convincing then the desserts on offer at the beginning of the night are fantastic! Come to eat together, share together and to ask the big questions together. Ph 09-627 8779 for more info.  |
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