Mr Ross Thorby, of Auckland, QSM for services to the community
Roscoe Thorby is the founder and head organiser of the annual Franklin Road Lights in Ponsonby, Auckland. The Christmas light display attracts tens of thousands to the street every year as a free, family-friendly activity. Mr Thorby personally decorates his home with more than 60,000 lights and acts as unofficial warden of the street for the three weeks of the event. For many years, he met the opening night costs himself, which involved inviting a local celebrity to switch on the lights and organising gifts for the children in attendance. The Waitemata Board now helps fund the opening night.