732 days ago

'The Stevie Wonder of Silverdale': Retired piano teacher plays for commuters

Melanie Earley Reporter from Rodney Times

Kia ora neighbours, every Thursday Lorraine Sampson makes the 40-minute bus trip from Silverdale to Auckland’s Britomart Station to play the piano for commuters.

The 75-year-old, who is legally blind in one eye and has cataracts in the other, can no longer read music due to her poor vision, so she plays all her music by ear.

There was a time Sampson, a retired teacher, believed she would have to give up playing music altogether due to her eyesight, but she said she found her fingers remembered songs she thought she’d forgotten.

When Sampson discovered there was a free piano for the public to play at Britomart Station she began making weekly trips there to play and raise funds for St John in Silverdale, where she lives.

Read the full story at the link below.

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More messages from your neighbours
23 days ago

Show us your projects

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Whether it's craft, haberdashery, woodwork or upcycling, we'd love to see what you've been working on lately.
You may even spark someone else's creativity...

Tell us about your current project or show us a picture in the comments below...

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5 days ago

Poll: Are domestic flights with Air NZ out of your budget?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

A Tauranga man has filed a complaint with the Commerce Commission, claiming that due to dynamic pricing, it’s cheaper for him to fly to Los Angeles than to book a flight for his daughter from Tauranga to Wellington.

Do you think their pricing needs addressed to encourage more people to fly?

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Are domestic flights with Air NZ out of your budget?
  • 95.6% Yes, it's too expensive
    95.6% Complete
  • 3.8% No, it's reasonable
    3.8% Complete
  • 0.6% Other - I'll share below
    0.6% Complete
1962 votes
3 days ago

What does ANZAC day mean to you?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

ANZAC Day is a time to reflect, remember, and honour those who served.

It’s also a powerful reminder of the impact of war and the courage of those who stood for something greater than themselves.

We're interested to hear what ANZAC Day means to you and your whānau, and about any special traditions you follow each year.

Perhaps you have a loved one who served? If you feel comfortable, we’d love for you to share their story here with us.

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