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The Otago Boys' High School Foundation
PO Box 11,
Dunedin, New Zealand
Tel +64 3 477 2546
Fax +64 3 477 5468
December newsletter –
Christmas wishes
* Best wishes for the festive season to our Foundation members, to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude, and to all connections of Otago Boys’ – the school’s teaching staff and management, its office, café, library and ground staff; Old Boys and their families and the wider school community.
To you and yours - sincere Christmas greetings and genuine best wishes for the New Year.
School news
* Otago Boys’ High School has broken with 145 years of tradition and appointed its first woman as assistant principal.
Lindy Marr, the head of learning support at Rongotai College, in Wellington, will take up the role in February.
It will be the first time a woman has held one of the most senior administrative positions — rector, deputy principal or assistant principal — at Otago Boys’, one of New Zealand’s oldest high schools.
School rector Clive Rennie said Mrs Marr, who has a considerable background in boys’ education, had been selected for the range of skills, including in literacy work, she would bring to the school.
Mrs Marr was excited about the new challenge she faced and noted that with Rongotai College also a boys’ school that she was looking forward to continuing her involvement with boys’ education. She was born in Dunedin and attended Bayfield High School but has lived away from the city for 30 years.
‘‘Every time I come back to Dunedin, it’s like putting on your old overcoat. It’s so comfortable. I love it.’’
She gained qualifications from the then Dunedin Teachers College as well from the University of Otago, including a master of education degree in professional development from the latter. Professional development involved ‘‘empowering teachers to be even better teachers’’, she said.
Mrs Marr’s husband Brian will take up the role of manager of the Otago Golf Club at Balmacewen in the next few weeks, and her sister, Ngila Dickson, is a Dunedin-born film costume designer who won, with Richard Taylor, an Academy Award for costume design for The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings in 2001, and this year won an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award.
Tracking Old Boys
* Thank you to all those who have assisted with contact details for ‘lost’ Old Boys in recent weeks.
With the school’s 150th anniversary celebrations now under five years away tracking the whereabouts of all living 17,000 alumni is high priority and any contact information you have for those not on our newsletter database would be welcome.
The following boys have slipped off our postal list in the last couple of months. If you know where they now reside, or have any point of contact for them, please let me know:
Adam Grave (1987-91). Was in Queenstown
Howard Mumford (1962-64). Was in Auckland
Bryan McCormack (1982-86). Was in Papakura
Ken Stewart (1966-70). Was in Ohaka, Canterbury
Stephen Coombes (1978-81). Was in Dunedin
Geoffrey Foster (1966-70). Was in Dunedin
Michael Greer (1970-74). Was in Dunedin
John Sligo (1958-52). Was in Sydney
Registrations for 2013
* Otago Boys’ will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding in August 2013 – and already a significant number of registrations for the sesquicentennial Reunion have been received.
While these are indications of interest only at this stage, it’s certain the 150th assembly will be a social gathering like no other.
If you wish to note your interest in being involved, please do so through an email to the Foundation (info@obhsfoundation.co.nz), the message to include your full name and years of attendance.
It’s likely a registration fee will be levied in the early stages of next year to assist with some of the early costs associated with the organisation. Naturally, this fee – probably to be $100 – will be taken off the final fee.
Foundation members
* Since the November newsletter, the following Old Boys and connections with the school have made pledges or donations and have been registered as Members of the Foundation –
Congratulations
* Patron of the Otago Boys’ High School Foundation Graeme Marsh (1947-51) was named as the winner of The City of Dunedin Mayor’s award for Business Personality at the Westpac Otago Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards in late-November.
The award honoured a long and distinguished career in a myriad of southern businesses.
The award for business personality recognised not only Graeme’s business achievements but also his contribution to the wider community.
He began as an accountant with Sinclair and Haig and later became a partner, he had early investments in ice cream businesses, bought Cooke Howlison Motors, took a controlling interest in J and A P Scott which became Scott Technology.
That was followed by the purchase of Blackwell Motors in Christchurch, then he took a controlling interest in John Edmond and was managing director and chairman of rope manufacturer Donaghys. Many of the companies, spanning from the late 1960s to late 1980s, were merged or bought out, while Scott Technology was floated in 1987.
Graeme has also served on the University of Otago council, as a director on the Dunedin City Council’s subsidiary holding company and Mercy Hospital, and started the Cooke Howlison Community Trust while overseeing private family companies Oakwood Securities and Oakwood Properties.
In 1995, he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and was also named Deloittes management executive of the year. In December last year, he formally stepped down as chairman of listed company Scott Technology following a marathon 32 years as its chairman, understood to be one of the longest terms of any company in the country. He was iInducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 1998.
Scott Technology and Silver Fern Farms joint venture company Robotic Technologies Ltd last night won the Otago Chamber of Commerce’s business research and innovation award.
Scott had made its mark manufacturing and exporting production lines from its Christchurch site and in Dunedin concentrates on the research and development into its meat processing robotics joint venture, having recently relocated to a new $3 million purpose-built site in Kaikorai Valley.
There is a strong Otago Boys’ link with Scott Technology – Graham Batts (1951-56) is a Director, Stuart McLauchlan (1971-75) is the Board Chairman, Greg Chiles (1983-87) is the Chief Financial Officer, Mark Jackson (1986-88) is the Finance Manager, and Graeme Findlay (1995-99) can be found in the Dunedin workshop.
* Allan Dippie, (1978-81) managing director of the Nichols Garden Group, accepted the night’s premier accolade – the Supreme Business Excellence award.
Nichols is one of Otago’s oldest companies and now boasts an annual turnover of several million dollars with an involvement in a variety of endeavours.
Nichols Garden Centre been transformed during the last three decades with its growth characterised by a willingness and ability to adapt and change and seek new opportunities. One particular project, which was described as a ‘‘stand-out contribution to the local economy as well as to the cultural fabric of Otago’’ – the Otago Museum’s hugely popular $1.2 million tropical forest and butterfly attraction, and which has vastly exceeded visitor numbers and revenue expectations was highlighted at the awards dinner.
A portion of the commendation read: “The result of transforming ideas through creative skills and sheer determination ensured a stunning tropical rainforest at the museum that has exceeded all expectations and which is a living advertisement of the company as thousands visit what is becoming one of Dunedin’s most popular attraction.”
* Peter Cox (1997-2001), Head Boy in 2001, will be packing his bags for Oxford University next year after being named as the school’s eighth Rhodes Scholar.
Peter, who graduated with MB ChB with distinction in medicine and surgery from Otago University last year, said gaining the scholarship was ‘‘incredibly humbling’’.
The university’s tradition of success in the scholarship reflected the positive mix of cultural and sporting activities that was an important part of the wider life of the university, he said.
He plans to take up his scholarship mid next year, and will undertake a DPhil in cardiovascular medicine. He is currently working in Greymouth as a surgical house surgeon.
Peter was a fine schoolboy athlete, with hurdles and long jump his forte, while he was ranked in the top 10 in the Commonwealth for the decathlon in 2006.
His success continues a terrific tradition at Otago Boys’ with the school boasting three of New Zealand’s first four Rhodes Scholars.
The previous seven are - James Thomson (1904), Robert Farquharson (1905), Colin Gilray (1907), Norman Davis (1934), Lester Moller (1935), John Matheson (1975) and John Danesh (1992).
* Grant Daly (1968-71) is currently the Director of Education and Training for Master Builders of the ACT in Australia and in 2007 was awarded an Australian Government Fellowship to research skill deficiencies and training needs in the prefrabricated housing sector of the Australia building and construction industry.
Grant’s research began with a trip to the Building Research Australia and New Zealand facility in Wellington and he followed this up with a series of site and organisational visits to the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Once his report is completed, Grant will share his findings with the New Zealand Building and Construction Training Organisation with which the Australian Master Builders movement has worked closely in the past.
As well as his overall administrative role, Grant’s energy continues to benefit the industry where he currently working on training material for the Australian Advanced Diploma of Business Management and is also looking at writing assessment tools for a qualification at the same level of corporate governance.
Scholarships
The Foundation is delighted to be already making a difference to the quality of education at Otago Boys’ through a series of scholarships it offers and we are delighted to announce the winners of three new awards.
Scott Woodhead (2004-08) is the first recipient of the Mason Brothers Scholarship.
The Mason Brothers Scholarship has been established in memory of George Harold Mason and Percy Mason who attended Otago Boys’ High School in 1896-98 and 1905-06 respectively and is made possible through the benevolence of their nephew George Mason. The Scholarship will help leavers to undertake a University degree or other tertiary education leading to an engineering qualification. The scholarship will assist each winner for three years with a new recipient selected each year – so every year from 2011 onwards six Old Boys will benefit from this grant.
Scott lives on a farm just south of Milton and has boarded at the Hostel for the last five years. Academic as well as practical, Scott enjoys building and repairing all manner of farm equipment. This year he studied statistics, mathematics, calculus, physics, economics and chemistry.He undertook leadership roles through Peer Support and as a House Prefect and has also been involved with tennis and ice hockey. Scott plans to do his Intermediate year in Christchurch prior to applying for engineering at Canterbury.
Kurt Thomas (2004-08) is the first recipient of the Superior Minerals Scholarship.
The Superior Minerals Scholarship has been established through the foresight of Lawrence Alloo (1981-85) and will assist one leaver a year with a portion of his first-year fees for an agricultural course at Lincoln University.
Kurt has also been a boarder at the Hostel and this year was part of the Gateway Programme with a local engineering firm while also studying woodwork, agriculture and geography.Kurt is another practical young man who has been a part of the ice hockey and smallbore shooting teams.Like Scott, Kurt has also undertaken leadership roles through the Peer Support programme and at year 10 camps.This scholarship will assist Kurt’s initial studies at Lincoln next year.
And the recipient of the Stanley Johnson Scholarship is 2009 entrant Nga Woodhouse.
This scholarship has been offered by Ainsley Johnson, in memory of her father Stanley who attended Otago Boys’ 1924-26. While Ainsley has lived in the United Kingdom for many years, she retains a link with her father’s alma mater through membership of the Foundation and the establishment of this one-off scholarship.
Nga, who has been attending the Waitaki Valley School, will be a day boy living with his father in Dunedin next year.He is a North Otago age group rugby representative and a speech winner in both years 7 and 8. He is a clear-thinking young man who has set his sights on becoming a mechanical engineer.
In operation for the last two years have been the Graeme Marsh Scholarships, which are open to three boys enrolling from Arthur Street School each year and which assist the recipients for the first two years of their time at Otago Boys’. These scholarships have been made possible through the generosity of the Foundation’s Patron Graeme Marsh (1947-51), who was Dux at Arthur Street in 1946 and who received a scholarship himself upon entering Otago Boys’.
Clarke Craw Ltd, through Gavin Craw (1961-65) and Barry O’Donnell (1973-77), were instrumental in establishing the Clark Craw Scholarship through the Foundation in late-2007 with the recipient being Ryan Hammer (2003-07). Ryan is studying accountancy at Otago University and a significant portion of his fees are paid by the scholarship, which also opens the way for part-time work at the firm during his course and the very real prospect of full-time work upon graduation.
And the first Foundation scholarship for staff Professional Development, as announced last month, will be awarded in late-2009. This scholarship will allow a member of the Otago Boys’ staff – each year – to engage in a period of study and development in a particular area of interest, with the benefits to then flow back into the school and the education it offers.
* Geoff Davies (1961-63), one of Britain’s most successful businessmen and the UK Entrepreneur of the Year for 2007, is keen to extend the educational links between Otago Boys’ High School, the University of Otago and some of the 17 companies in his Alamo Group Europe.
Geoff was in Dunedin in late-November as guest speaker at the Otago Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, dinner, as the University of Otago Business School’s Distinguished Visitor for the year and to visit a number of Dunedin businesses.
Although he has been based in the United Kingdom since leaving school, he retains strong links with Otago Boys’, being a Senior Fellow of the Foundation.
In the UK, Geoff sponsors five undergraduates a year through his group and there are 30 on the programme at any one time.
He is keen to set up a similar programme in the city with his old school and the university. The programme would see Otago Boys’ leavers being sponsored to study at the university before gaining an internship at one of the Alamo Group companies. The intern would get exposure to UK and French companies before finishing his qualifications and working for the group.
Geoff is also looking for a New Zealand company he could buy in a rural area where he could send British interns to work. They would also possibly study at the University of Otago.
Education was a key part of the group’s self-development programme for workers, he said.
‘‘In all Alamo companies, everyone is encouraged to work towards constant improvement, both personal and companywide. Anyone, from the cleaners to me, is empowered to identify areas for improvement.
“Education is a high priority to me.’’
Geoff cited the case of a 16-year-old schoolgirl who was hired to answer the telephones in the office. However, she could barely answer the phones when she arrived. With Geoff’s encouragement, the girl studied to pass her A levels and went on to university where she qualified as a lawyer. She continued to work at Alamo as one of the group lawyers.
Young women and men were running production units with some guidance, based on their ability to work.
Alamo had a deliberate policy to base its company in rural settings where people needed jobs and there was a higher quality of life.
Annual Foundation golf tournament
* The Foundation’s fourth annual Golf Classic will be played at the St Clair course in Dunedin on Friday, 20th March next year.
Armstrong Mazda will again be the major naming rights sponsor and will fill that role for the next three years, the partnership with the Foundation being extended through until at least 2011.
Sponsorship of 12 of the 18 holes has been confirmed and team and individual entries are now being taken. Please contact the Foundation office (03/4778977, info@obhsfoundation.co.nz) if you wish to be in the playing field of 120 – either as a team of four ($140) or as an individual ($35).
Old Boys in the news
* Brent Ward (1967-71) has said goodbye on the last day of school many times in his 32-year career as an educator. But the end of this school year will be very different, he says.
The 55-year-old will retire from Tahuna Normal Intermediate School in Dunedin this week after 11 years as Principal.
‘‘I remember those tearful days of saying goodbye to my own class of youngsters — it was hard. There are special ties with our students. We follow their progress and successes for many years after they leave. But retiring from Tahuna will be a completely different ball game. I know now that I will have to do something quite different, somewhere else, at the start of school next year so that I don’t become too emotional about it.’’
During his career, Brent has taught at Tainui School, Tahuna Normal Intermediate, Kenmure Intermediate and Mosgiel Intermediate, serving as principal at Wyllies Crossing School, Tainui School and Tahuna Normal Intermediate.
Leaving Tahuna would bring mixed emotions, he said.
‘‘The biggest things I’m going to miss are the staff and the students, who are outstanding. The kids have a variety of interests and talents, and it has been rewarding to encourage them in those areas.’’
However, he was concerned about the future of Tahuna and other schools, because in recent years there had been a push for standardised testing of year 1-8 pupils in the education system.
‘‘I will worry about the future of schools if they go the way of over-testing students. By weighing a pig every week, it doesn’t help it to grow.’’
Despite his feelings, he was ready for retirement and was looking forward to spending time furthering other ventures. Brent is one of New Zealand’s best track and field athletics coaches who has trained many of this country’s best sprinters and hurdlers.
His plan now was to spend his retirement coaching ‘‘speed and power running’’ in athletics and team sports.
While being an educator and a coach had been challenging, each had complemented the other, he said.
‘‘I work better when there’s a bit of a challenge there. It keeps you going; it keeps you thinking.
‘‘[Athletics coaching] is a passion. Everyone needs an interest outside their work. It adds to a person’s whole character.’’
* Martin Dippie (1979-83) recently spent an exciting six days tearing up tarmac between Auckland and Wellington in his 305kW Porsche GT3 RS as a first-time Targa New Zealand driver.
At the end of the event Martin noted he was not only pleased to finish in one piece but was also rapt to end up third in the modern two-wheel-drive class.
He dubbed his orange racing machine a technically challenging car to drive due to its ferocious specifications — 0 to 100kmh in 4.2secs and a 310kmh top speed. Not that he got to fully wind it up as the 35-stage endurance event specified harsh time penalties for any driver exceeding 200kmh.
The restriction meant he and his co-driver, Aucklander Greg Ball, only ever reached fourth gear, drove most of the Targa in third, the tight stuff in second and had to back off repeatedly. His final time of 6hr 36min 34sec was good enough for 14th overall.
Martin had co-driven for his brother, Allan, in four Targas — two in New Zealand and two in Australia — in a 1967 MGC, giving him an appreciation for the older models competing in the event.
‘‘I enjoy classic cars and it was just as interesting chatting to the guys with the old cars as it was those with the new,’’ he said.
Shorts
* Steve Hayward (1971-75) is the Otago primary School Principals’ Association President and has been reported this week as being happy with the near-perfect zero in the number of supplementary reviews conducted by the Education Review Office through the province. Reviews are generally undertaken when ERO has concerns about a school and signals a follow-up examination within 12 months.
* Neville Grubb (1966), the Managing Director of Trail Journeys, is the new owner of Middlemarch Motors. While the pumps will still run, the site will also be a second base for Neville’s Clyde-based business which hires bikes and runs tours on the Otago Central Rail Trail.
* Forbury Park Trotting Club Life Members Harrison Hellyer (1942-43) and Viv Anngow (1939-41) have been viewed lately in the Otago Daily Times at the induction of new Life Member Fergus Mathieson.
* Emeritus Professor Roy Kerr (1946), a world-leading scientist in the field of relativity, was in the city recently. Roy is internationally acclaimed for finding the solution of Einstein's equations which describes the space outside a rotating star or black hole, with his study described as "the most important exact solution to any equation in physics". Shortly after Einstein wrote down his gravitational field equations in 1915, Karl Schwarzschild found a solution which describes a non-rotating spherical star or black hole. However, it is known that all stars rotate, and that Schwarzschild's solution is at best an approximation. Kerr's achievement of finding an exact solution for the rotating case - something many had doubted could be done and was hailed as a revolution in astrophysics. Roy was in Dunedin for a gathering of Rutherford medallists, which formed part of a science symposium at the University of Otago organised by Dr Allan Blackman (1977-81).
* John Christie (1982-87), the Chief Executive of the Otago Chamber of Commerce, has urged the Dunedin City Council to take a lead in stimulating the city economy by bringing forward planned spending and to ‘combat economic climate change’.
* Ian Dickison (1965-69) has been named the premier representative of the first 100 years of the Dunedin Bowls Centre, the rankings being published in a comprehensive history this month. Ian won the Australian Games singles title in 1985, the Commonwealth Games singles gold in Edinburgh in 1986, and gold in the triples and silver in the fours at the World Championships in 1988. He also took out 11 Dunedin Centre titles. Paul Girdler (1977-80), who played 192 tests for New Zealand between 1998 and 2004, was named at number 3.
* Robin Bates (1969-70), Dunedin’s Crown Prosecutor, has successfully led his team in the conviction of two of the city’s businessmen on charges of defrauding the Otago District Health Board of almost $17 million. It is believed to be the largest employee fraud case to come before a New Zealand court.
* Dylan Rushbrook (1992-96) is currently the assistant manager at the Dunedin’s Scenic Circle Southern Cross Hotel.
He was spotted this week, sampling a new wine vintage, especially produced by Gibbston Valley to assist with fundraising for the Royal Albatross colony at the head of Otago Harbour. Just on 7,000 bottles of pinot noir, pinot gris and chardonnay has been produced with the vintage to be repeated each year in the foreseeable future.
It’s hoped somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 a year will be raised for the Otago Peninsula Trust, which oversees the colony’s operations.
The Southern Cross has put the wine on its listings.
* Eddie Gillies (1954-56), a member of the Dunedin City Slickers – a group of well experienced saxophonists – is in for a busy summer.
The Slickers will play on Sundays at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens through until May on rotate with the Salvation Army Brass Band, Kaikorai Metro Brass Band, Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra and the Mosgiel Brass Band.
Recent deaths
* We extend our condolences to the families of the following Old Boys –
John Glengarry (1960-65), died on 9th November 2008, aged 61. John is the son of Noel Glengarry (1937-42).
Darrell Lee Joseph Walker (2006-), presumed to have drowned in the Clutha River on 11th November 2008, aged 16.
David Chandos Billing (1945-49), died in Oamaru on 15th November 2008, aged 76. David was the brother of the late Graham Billing (1949-53) and was a retired secondary school teacher having taught at Waitaki Boys’, Napier Boys’, Burnside High and Christ’s College. He was a keen mountain climber and was the archivist at Otago Boys’ until retiring recently due to ill health.
John Hunter Randle (1935-39), died at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde on 25th November 2008.
Irwin Wallace McGregor (1941-43), died in Dunedin on 25th November 2008, Irwin was a retired Otago Daily Times linotypist and was the father of Peter McGregor (1969-73).
Alan George Williams (1951-52), died in Dunedin on 30 November 2008 aged 71. Alan was a cost accountant with Horwath Hunter Brocklebank, now merged with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He was the brother of Warren Williams (1953-54), Ken Williams (1955-56) and Douglas Williams (1959) and the uncle of Justin Williams (1989-93), David Williams (1991-95) and Logan Hinds (1985-87).
John Roger Hutchison (1959-60), died in Dunedin on 1st December 2008.
Don (Walter Donald) Kennard (1961-63), died in Dunedin on 7th November 2008, aged 63. Don worked in land operations for Air New Zealand for almost 30 years before becoming a taxi owner/operator. He was the father of Scott Kennard (1982-86), Wade Kennard (1985-89) and Glenn Kennard (1987-91).
* We also extend our sympathies to –
Matthew Grant (1980-84), Hamish Grant (1982-86), Lachlan Grant (1987-91) and Rory Grant (1991-96) whose father Bruce died in Dunedin on 15th November 2008.
Daniel Binnema (2002-03) and Taj Binnema (2003) whose grandmother Doet died in Dunedin on 16th November 2008.
Graeme Mewhinney (1973-77), whose mother Alison died in Dunedin on 17th November 2008.
Matthew Parry (1986-88), whose grandfather Ronald Parry died in Whakatane on 17th November 2008.
Carl Teunissen (1976), whose father Hans died in Mosgiel on 22nd November 2008.
Rob Lorden (1965-69) whose son Jeremy died in Sydney on 24th November 2008 as the result of an accident. Jeremy was the grandson of the late Allan Lorden (1927-29).
Warwick McArthur (1967-71) and Stephen McArthur (1973-77) whose mother Oy died in Dunedin on 26th November 2008. Oy was the grandmother of Brendan McArthur (1996-2000).
Max Garden (1963-67) whose father-in-law Bruce Dawson died in Invercargill on 28th November 2008.
Duncan Montgomery (1959-61) whose brother Don died at Sawyers Bay on 29th November 2008.
Christopher Vernon (1971-75) whose father Bill died in Dunedin on 30th November 2008.
Michael Irvine (1995-99) and Blair Irvine (1998-2002) whose grandmother Noni Irvine died in late-November.
John Hayward (1966-69) whose mother Ethel died in Dunedin on 1st December 2008.
Doug Boyes (1961-63) and Jeff Boyes (1962-63) whose mother Elsie died in Mosgiel on 7th December 2008.
Mervyn Clearwater (1965-70) whose mother Jean died in Mosgiel on 8th December 2008. Jean was the mother-in-law of Noel Davie (1959-64).
Leon Jorgensen (1985) whose father Helmer died in Dunedin on 8th December 2008.
Peter McNab (1970-74), David McNab (1973-76) and Andrew McNab (1976-80) whose father Bill died in Dunedin on 10th December 2008. Bill was the grandfather of Lyndon McNab (2000-04), Clarke McNab (2003-07) and Baden (2006-).
Steve Davie
Chief Executive
