To get the floundering pug, Len has to dive in (6).

ARTS

Mother, daughter exhibition opened

By ZOE GARDEN

A mother and daughter artist duo’s new exhibition had its grand opening over the weekend.

Cockle Bay residents Megan Murphy and Greta Umbers partnered to produce independent bodies of work they would later integrate as one as “grief is both a collective and an individual experience”.

In 2019, Murphy and Umbers lost their son and brother, Callan, to mental illness. Their pieces of work are around grief, loss, love, and dealing with mental illness. “It was a natural way for us to process our grief over the loss,” Murphy says.

“With these works we would hope to open up a conversation about mental health.”

Their exhibition, titled 16:34 16:34 | 16:35, runs until August 9 at the Railway Street Gallery in Newmarket.

Additionally Umbers has a drawing which has been accepted into New Zealand’s premier Parkin Drawing Awards in Wellington. This runs from August 2 until September 11.

Greta Umbers, left, and Megan Murphy’s exhibition runs until August 9. Photo supplied

ARTS

Local’s short film wins international awards

STUDENT WINS IN ORATORY COMPETITION

Pakuranga College student and cohead girl Charlotte Tukiri won three awards at Ngā Manu Kōrero in June in the Senior English Cateogry – Best Prepared Speech, Best Impromptu Speech, and Best Speaker Overall. Ngā Manu Kōrero is a significant event on the Māori education calendar, nurturing the oratory skills of students.

HIGHBROOK MEDICAL HUB BUSINESS SHOWCASE

The newly-established Highbrook Medical Health Hub is to host a business showcase.

The showcase, for East Tamaki members and businesses, is on Wednesday August 17 from 4.30pm.

Situated at 31 Highbrook Drive, businesses are opening their doors for the local business community to see what is available.

They include Highbrook Medical GP Clinic, Active + Highbrook which delivers physiotherapy and occupational therapy, The Dentist East Tamaki Highbrook, Highbrook Pharmacy and The Psychology Group.

By ZOE GARDEN

AHowick filmmaker and his company have won six awards at an international film festival.

Five Continents International Film Festival is an online festival with live screening of the winning films where feature films, short films, video clips, web series and video arts from all over the world come together to compete for various prizes.

Founder and creative director of film and digital video production studio Wow Now Productions Howick-based Kam Sharma and his crew won Best Short Thriller Film award for their short film Froggie Whoosh.

The film is written, conceived and director by Sharma under the banner of Wow Now Productions and co-produced by Greenwall Productions, and is a psychological action thriller based on and exploring how childhood trauma and violence can affect the socio-psychological behaviour of a human being. It was shot in Auckland with local artists.

Froggie Whoosh also won awards for direction, lead actor (Mukhtiar Singh), best editing, cinematography and sound design.

“We endeavour to promote local talent and the film industry

What’s on

PLANT A TREE ON AN ISLAND

Motuihe Trust would love your help with planting trees on this beautiful inner gulf island. No expertise needed, we supply tools and training. Just an average level of fitness. Trips going fortnightly on Sundays, August 7 and 21 and September 4 and 18, using The Red Boats. Email Fiona on info@motuihe.org.nz. For information on midweek trips email Simon on voluneermotuihe@gmail.com.

DANCE YOURSELF HAPPY TUESDAYS

Uninstructed dance hour with electronica and hits from 80s, 90s, 00s and beyond. Free entry. Tuesdays 7-8pm in The Lounge, 186 Wellington St, Howick. facebook.com/DanceYourselfHappy

HOWICK MAHJONG GROUP

Meet every Thursday 12.45pm3.45pm at the Howick Croquet Clubrooms, Millhouse Drive, Botany. New members welcome. Contact Lee phone 09 577 5585 or Karen 021 1823 950.

JAGUAR DISPLAY

Free display of classic and new Jaguars cars for the 100th anniversary of marque. Book launch of ‘Classic Jaguars in New Zealand’ by Howick author Richard Waugh. Archibald & Shorter showroom, 550 Great South Rd, Greenlane. Saturday July 30, 9am-12.30pm. Public welcome. Phone 022 533 9400.

SEED EXCHANGE

Come along and meet other local gardeners for a chat. Take home some free seeds or seedlings, Tuesday, August 2, 10.30-11.30am, Pakuranga Library. Phone 09 377 0209 or email pakuranga. library@aucklandcouncil.govt. nz.

EASTERN DISTRICT COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB

All visitors welcome, Wednesday July 27, 7pm. Come and be entertained with live music or come and sing or play an instrument. Bucklands and Eastern Beaches War Memorial Hall, Wharf Road, Bucklands Beach. Non-members $5. For more information phone Bev 021 11 56 866. and make it as competent as the global film industry,” Wow Now Productions says.

“Filming in New Zealand has been a very tough, challenging and very costly job. But we have been persisting in making a mark for five years and have weathered all tough times, including lockdowns that almost killed many businesses like ours.”

The Froggie Whoosh crew won six awards at an international film festival. From left to right, Dallas Tusi Tipau, Greg Capper, Richard Kamariera Whare, MJ Vries, Mukhtiar Singh, Kam Sharma, Harry Hundal and Shreyas Beltangdy. Photo supplied

What’s On is a free community notice-board for non-profit groups. Send notices to whatson@times.co.nz or drop into our office at 10 Central Terrace, Howick. Notices must be received by the Wednesday before publication. While every effort is made to run the notices, space restrictions may mean notices may not run. Keep notices to less than 50 words. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOUR NOTICE WILL RUN. Where publication of a notice is time-critical, groups should consider placing a classified advertisement to ensure placement.

SENIORS FRIENDSHIP

Friendship Group for Seniors held weekly in Howick, Panmure and Pakuranga. Come for morning tea and lunch. To find out more phone Communicare on 09 631 5968.

STEADY AS YOU GO FOR SENIORS

Free strength and balance exercise class, every Friday 10.30am11.30am starting August 5. Live stronger for longer, preventing falls and fractures. Highland Park Library, 16 Highland Park Drive. Phone 09 377 0209.

CALLING ALL WOMENPRENEURS

Promote your business. An afternoon to encourage, empower, engage and express. If you are running your own business no matter big or small or managing someone’s business or you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, we want to hear from you. Indulge in an intellectual afternoon, The Rydges, Formosa Golf Resort, Sunday July 31, 11.30am-2.30pm, $50pp. Phone or text Ranjita on 021 252 3992.

THURSDAYS @ SEVEN CONCERTS

This week Jade Quartet, some of our most skilled and popular string players, offer another exciting and stimulating presentation. This time they perform Dvorak’s American Quartet, composed while Dvorak was serving as director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City, Thursday July 28, 7pm8pm, All Saints Church, Howick. Admission by donation.

MIGRANT CONNECT

Citizens Advice Bureau Pakuranga is hosting a free information session on ‘Healthy eating on a Budget’. It will be an engaging and interactive session facilitated by experienced health consultants and nutritionists on Saturday August 6 from 10.30am to 12 noon at Pakuranga Library. Registration is necessary. Email: settlement.pakuranga@cab.org. nz or text 021 459 520. noon, St Hilda’s Church Hall, Wakelin St., Beachlands. Come and join in a happy morning of craft, cutting, colouring and chatter. Contact Marilyn or Chris for further information, 09 536 6123 or 0274 961 260.

SENIORNET MEETING

Pakuranga SeniorNet monthly meeting is on August 5 at 10am, St Andrew’s Church, corner of Ridge Rd and Vincent St, Howick. Our guest speaker will be Robert Finney who will talk about the Maui Gas line. Visitors welcome. Enquiries please phone Warren 09 534 3482.

HEALTHY EATING – MINDFULNESS

Muskaan Care Trust NZ brings Connecting the DOTS – health workshops series supported by Howick Local Board. Learn with the nutrition and mindfulness experts joining us from SANNZ and MNSV Consultants & Research. Sunday August 7 at 11am, Botany Library. For more information please email botany. library@aucklandcouncil.govt. nz.