Pot pourri of Old Boys' news

6/11/2009

* Ashley Boeyen (1979-82) is the marketing and sales manager for the Shaky Bridge vineyard near Alexandra and is also a member of the Alexandra Basin Wine Growers’ Group. The recently formed body has the objective of ensuring the Alexandra region isn’t completely overshadowed by the more well-known vineyards through the Kawarau Gorge and on both sides of Lake Dunstan. The group has mounted a collective marketing drive, targeting local, national and international consumers. The Alexandra Basin has about 2,000 hectares in wine production (about 25% of the Central Otago growing area), has 25 labels, about 30 growers and its wines have won 140-plus awards at 15 separate competitions since 2007.

* Bill Medder (1954-55) is playing a leading role in the organisation of the City of Dunedin Legends Pro-Am golf tournament to be played at the Otago Golf Club in late February next year.Bill was the founder of the Gardner Motors Classic which ran successfully for many years in Dunedin and which raised a significant amount of money for various charities before being taken over by the Skeggs Foundation, where the success continued. The Legends tournament will involve 40 professionals aged 50 or over, including New Zealand great Sir Bob Charles. They will be joined by 120 amateurs in a $30,000 event sanctioned by the Australasian PGA as part of its Legends tour.
Also involved in the work behind the scene is Gordon Marr, husband of one of our Assistant Principals Lindy Marr.

* Graham Roberts (1969-72), Chief Executive of Turners Auctions, had the happy job recently of announcing the lifting of the company’s full-year profit forecast after better-than expected trading in the third quarter of the year. Turners said it now expected its full-year net profit to range from $3.1 million to $3.3 million, up from a range of $2.6 million to $2.8 million indicated in August. Graham noted in his announcement that third-quarter trading had been significantly better than expected, with volumes across all segments of the business surpassing expectations.

* Steve Hayward (1971-75), Green Island Primary School principal and President of theOtago Primary Principals Association, is pessimistic about the national education standards announced last month. To come into operation next year, the standards will set clear expectations pupils will need to reach in reading, writing, and mathematics in their first eight years at school. Steve says evidence from experiences overseas indicates the new standards will result in a “huge step back in time for us. I have no confidence at all that this is going to solve the problem”.

* Stuart McLauchlan (1971-75), recently retired Chairman of the Highlanders rugby franchise, has been appointed to the Board of South Canterbury Finance. Stuart is also Chairman of Scott Technology, Deputy Chairman of Pharmac and a Director of several companies including Scenic Circle Hotels, Dunedin Casino, AD Instruments Pty and Aurora Energy. He is pro-chancellor of the University of Otago and crown monitor to the Southland District Health Board.

* Tony Hunter (1976-80), general manager of Blackhead Quarries, is delighted a recent Dunedin City Council decision to grant resource consent to extend operations at the Logan Point quarry has secured the company’s future. While some conditions are attached, Tony says the decision gives the company security and the city surety of supply.

* Rob Douglas (1955-59), is a recipient of a Waitaki Citizen Award in recognition of his service with the North Otago Tree Planting Association since 1974. During that time, Rob has served as its President and is currently the association’s Secretary. Rob was the founding Secretary-Treasurer of the North Otago Memorial Oaks Committee, he has researched and published a book on the growing memorials to North Otago soldiers who served in World War One, is Chairman of the Oamaru Beautifying Society and has served on the committees of the Forrester Gallery, St Lukes Church, Waiareka Valley Lions, Waitaki Lakes and Waianakarua Memorial Hall.

* Hugo Inglis (2007-08), a member of the Junior Black Sticks men’s hockey team and the national league’s top scorer this season, has been named in the senior men’s team for this month’s World Cup qualifying series with matches scheduled against China, Malaysia, Austria, Scotland and Wales.

* Barry Ellis (1970-72), took a novel approach to the issues of Labour Day and the Holidays Act last month, handing over control and profits of his Craft Bar in Dunedin and the Pig N’ Whistle in Queenstown to staff. Barry struck a ‘‘one-day contract’’ with ‘‘the majority’’ of up to 30 Craft staff and 40 at the Pig, which allowed them to run the pubs, pay the costs and share the profits among themselves. The staff paid running expenses, became self-employed, paid tax and did not draw wages, but would share the profits and will also have a day in lieu owed. He said it was a ‘‘no-one loses’’ arrangement as the Holidays Act demands of time-and-a-half pay rates often prompted bar closures, but staff volunteering to take up the offer would gain experience in marketing their own events, organising rosters and work systems and menus.