The Times is recognising the many wonderful people in our local east Auckland community who go out of their way to help others with our regular Community Hero award.
If you know someone who’s doing amazing things in our community please email some information about them including their name, contact details if known, and a photo of them if possible, to chrish@times.co.nz.
The award is sponsored by New World Howick and recipients will receive a $50 New World gift card and will be featured in our new digital publication and on our website.
This week’s nominee is star sports coach Patrick Low.
He was nominated by Highland Park resident Christina Huang, who says he coaches her two children in table tennis and that he’s a “local hero” among east Auckland schools.
“I hope his contributions in the community can be shared and acknowledged in the local newspaper.
“My children have been learning from him for the last four years since primary school.
“Patrick has been running training and coaching for past many years in east Auckland.
“As a minority sport in New Zealand, he’s one of the very few table tennis coaches in Auckland.
“He’s been promoting table tennis at all primary schools in Auckland.
“He is the only coach who runs the Eastern Zone interschool competitions every Wednesday from 3.30-6.30pm at Pakuranga Community Centre for our top-60 players in east Auckland.
“He is there every Wednesday rain or shine. He also takes after-school group classes at Farm Cove, Somerville and Bucklands Beach Intermediate.
“This morning we started trainings at 6.30am at Bucklands Beach Intermediate for the coming AIMS game in Tauranga in September.
“We couldn’t think of anyone who would take the job. Patrick was also the coach for Saint Kentigern College for many years during the week and Saturdays.
“With all days at school, Patrick also has private coaching at home till 9pm.
“Every school holiday, he will take an hour bus at 7.30am to go to Epsom Tennis club to run the holiday program with 80 children.
“With his devotion to the children at the age of 75, I really think he deserves the recognition from the community!
“Patrick really is the unsung hero in our community. He hasn’t got much support from the schools and he does everything on his own.
“I hope his contributions can be acknowledged.”
