For someone who didn't know a soul when she moved to Tauranga, Lorraine Stevens has since won an award for helping connect her community in the fight against crime.
A former Wellington bank manager, Mrs Stevens knows a thing or two about managing people, skills which have seen her team up with
Papamoa police to sign up more than a quarter of Papamoa streets into neighbourhood support groups.
Lucky enough to retire early, Mrs Stevens is cagey about the amount of time she now dedicates to neighbourhood support. She attends at least two new street meetings every Wednesday night and visits each of the new street co-ordinators prior. She emails a weekly newsletter to residents and fields a number of phonecalls.
Having lived a busy working life, Mrs Stevens said she would have gone crazy without something to keep her occupied and the personal rewards have been high too. "Probably the nicest thing about it all is feeling involved and being part of the team at the police station. I just need to be around people. I turned up here and didn't know a soul."
She also loves seeing old-fashioned morals and values returning to the neighbourhoods of Papamoa.
When she first arrives at a meeting people she says are close neighbours are asking each other where they live, by the end they are asking for each other's phone numbers.
At last month's Bay of Plenty Police awards Mrs Steven's efforts were honoured with a District Commander's certificate of appreciation for being instrumental in the establishment and growth of the Papamoa Neighbourhood Support network, a network that continues to grow by the day and be directly responsible for solving multiple crimes.
Mrs Stevens admits it's her slightly bossy nature that makes her the right person for the job. "I think you've got to be enthusiastic, because if you're not, you'd struggle."
When she's not bringing neighbours together, Mrs Stevens spends time with her and husband John's eight grandchildren, with her own three daughters all having given birth within six months of each other. "I'm quite busy just being Nan."
Papamoa Senior Sergeant Mark Pakes said the relationship between police and the community is pivotal in reducing crime. "The Papamoa Neighbourhood Support Network would not survive without the passion of people like Lorraine and the drive that she has."
RECOGNITION
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For someone who didn't know a soul when she moved to Tauranga, Lorraine Stevens has since won an award for helping connect her community in the fight against crime.
A former Wellington bank manager, Mrs Stevens knows a thing or two about managing people, skills which have seen her team up with
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