Mark Wentworth receives special community award

October 10th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

The man with the "biggest set of keys in Motueka" received a Mayoral Community Recognition Award yesterday for his work in making the town's performance venue facilities up to world standard.

Mark Wentworth, who for a living manages the State Cinema, was the surprised recipient of the special award before an assembly of about 20 friends and colleagues at the council's service centre. (He thought he was there for a meeting about rates relief.)

Presenting the award, Mayor Richard Kempthorne described the amount time and the quality of skills devoted freely by Mark to the upgrading of several venues, principally the Memorial Hall. (See our earlier story here.) He has also made an enormous difference to the sound and lighting at Imagine Theatre and the Recreation Centre.

"Mark's community service is extensive and involves many hours of work doing lighting and sound in any venue or any event inside or out," said Richard. "He's famous throughout the district for helping with lighting and sound requirements for community events and school performances.

"His project driven ambition and knowledge has been a great help to Imagine Theatre and for the recent renovations to the stage area of Memorial Hall. He has managed to have sponsors and the Tasman District Council help to achieve results for a modern venue at Motueka.

"He has contributed over the years to the Motueka Recreation Centre, assisting with the Christmas in the Park sound setup and the Rugby World Cup Fanzone setup, including the sound, projector, and taking a voluntary project manager role for designing and overseeing the installation. And what a most stunning and successful event that was."

Often these projects involved all-night sessions carrying heavy equipment, and overseeing the work of others, "all for no expectation of reward".

The special award was initiated by Shirley Frater on behalf of the Motueka Arts Council. Some time ago she nominated Mark for one of the community awards which TDC provide each year, but found that he didn't qualify as he hadn't been working in Motueka for the normal requisite of 20-30 years. So she asked that a special award be made.

"Mark Wentworth is the joker with the biggest set of keys in Motueka, baggy shorts and a ute full of electrical cords and anything that was needed," Shirley told the people at the ceremony who had been the recipients of his services.

"He does a great job, and I don't know why some big company round New Zealand hasn't picked him up. He's our secret. But I want also to acknowledge Hilary [Sinclair, his wife)] and Heather [Sinclair-Wentworth, their daughter]. I haven't heard anywhere in the grapevine that Hilary goes off because Mark's spending a long time at the theatre.

"Thanks to these wonderful people. Whatever drew them to Motueka, we're sure glad they came and we thank them for their contributions," Shirley added. "And thanks to the council for acknowledging it, because Mark's the only person I know who can get money out of the TDC without a resource consent. We'll be round for some lessons."

Responding, Mark said it has been an "absolute delight" for his family to be here, having arrived about 11 years ago. He said that much of what he'd been able to do here was possible only because of the support of the council, and particularly Lloyd Kennedy and Francie Wafer.

"At the end of the day, Motueka's town hall now has a fantastic setup. The amount of money coming to council [from venue bookings and hires] shows that yes, you've got to spend a bit of money to get the rewards. Over the last two or three months we've had fantastic productions at Memorial Hall.

"David [Armstrong] has put a few things on Motueka Online about them and I know that's gone a bit viral around the country, and as a result we have an Australian crowd doing a tour around New Zealand and they can't get a venue in Nelson so they've chosen Motueka. So Motueka's going on the map internationally."

Mark and the mayor with Shirley Frater, Hillary Sinclair and Heather Sinclair-Wentworth

Comment by Julie Cunningham:
[Posted 25 October 2012]

I have worked with Mark Wentworth some years ago in amateur theatrical productions in Sumner, Christchurch ....he is certainly a man who puts 150% into his community..... and Hilary does more than her share as well.....your are very lucky to have them in your area.

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