Offenders from Waitakere Community Work Service Centre have won the thanks of the SS Toroa Preservation Society for their help fixing up the historic ferry.
The SS Toroa was launched in 1925, one of a fleet of eight double-ended steam-powered ferries built to carry commuters across Auckland Harbour. In her heyday, before the Auckland Harbour Bridge was built, she carried as many as 20,000 passengers a day.
SS Toroa Preservation Society President Robert Brown says that it will be about another three years before the ferry is shipshape.
“We’re progressing well. We wouldn’t be this far down the track without the help of the guys doing community work sentences,” he says.
Waitakere Service Manager Karl Bethell says most members of the work parties are first-time offenders and enjoy doing something to preserve a piece of history.
“One guy whose hours will be up at the end of the month told me he’ll be back in his own time to help out with the wooden seat repair,” says Karl.
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