Newsletter - June 2006

09/06/2006

The Foundation’s progress continues on many fronts.

Most time-consuming is the tracking of the school’s Old Boys with that task proving both rewarding and frustrating – rewarding in that alumni are being found each day and frustrating with the time it’s taking to achieve the objectives set.

If you know of any Old Boys, please either pass on the Foundation’s contact details (website: www.obhsfoundation.co.nz, email: info@obhsfoundation.co.nz or ‘phone number: 03/4778977) or let me know where I can find them. More than 1,500 Old Boys, previously unaccounted for, have been traced in the last few months but with 16,000 to track, the bulk of that job is still to be completed.

Our various funding arms continue to gather strength with the majority of pledges and donations focussing on either the building or endowment options.

As noted in previous newsletters, we are extremely grateful to all of our early members, these now numbering 65, for their show of faith in the aims and ideals of the Foundation.

The Foundation marked its first anniversary on 1st June with progress over the initial first 12 months extremely encouraging. We are well and truly on the way with more than $500,000 pledged, our Old Boys’ contact growing daily, and an impetus with regard to the profile and presence the Foundation now has.

Our mission is simple – to make a significant point of difference for Otago Boys’ High School. Together this will happen, with the 143-year history of the school protected by the ensuring of its future for that time span again – and then beyond.

If you are interested in seeing a Foundation booklet and in discussing the membership options, please contact the Foundation office (03/4778977).

Foundation members:

Since the May newsletter, the following Old Boys have made pledges or donations and have been registered as Members of the Foundation –

Dr John Earwaker (1945-46) – Friend

Ben Naylor (1937-41) – Friend

Keith Ellwood (1961-65) – Friend

Emeritus Professor Brian Merrilees (1952-56) - Friend

Frazier Graveson (1951-54) - Friend

plus one donor who wishes to remain anonymous - Friend

School news:

Results from last week’s interschool versus Southland Boys:

Rugby: First XV: Southland Boys' 27, Otago Boys' 3

Second XV: Otago Boys' 17, Southland Boys' 8

Basketball: Otago Boys' 77, Southland Boys' 47

Badminton: Otago Boys' 5, Southland Boys' 1

Squash: Otago Boys' 3, Southland Boys' 2

Hockey: Otago Boys' 10, Southland Boys' 0

Trap shooting: Otago Boys' 177, Southland Boys' 171

Golf: Otago Boys' 3, Southland Boys' 3

Remaining term two interschool dates –

June 14th vs Christ’s College (home)

June 30th vs King’s High (away)

School production –

Otago Boys’ combined with Otago Girls’ once again to stage the annual dramatic production, which this year featured The South of Music.

The show played before an appreciative audience in the school’s auditorium over three nights in mid-May, with the musical and thespian talents of the cast given full exposure.

Old Boys’ Society:

The Society is continuing to develop a blueprint to raise its visibility within the school and the value it offers today’s pupils.

While all has not yet been confirmed, the Society is keen to work alongside the school’s management and staff in providing mentoring and expertise, along with inviting high calibre and entertaining speakers to school assemblies.

Further details as they come to hand.

Carmen:

The Otago Boys' High School Foundation will benefit from the University of Otago's presentation of Carmen in late-August.

In charge of the Southern Sinfonia during this four-night production will be Otago Boys' Old Boy Tecwyn Evans (1985-89), now an internationally acclaimed conductor.

The University has offered a special package deal for the performance scheduled on Monday, 28th August. For $250, guests will receive two dress circle tickets and a post-show function exclusively for Old Boys and Foundation members along with selected members of the public.

At this function, guests will be entertained by the cherubic but thoroughly irreverent University of Otago Sextet (of which Tecwyn was once a member and which, on this night only, will comprise former and current members) along with Tecwyn himself speaking, and an input from the school's current singers and entertainers. Drinks and nibbles will be complimentary.

Each package sold will result in a donation being made to the Foundation.

Carmen itself, which was first performed in 1875, is the story of a beautiful gypsy with a fiery temper. Not careful with her love, she is responsible for the downfall of many men. She woos the corporal Don José, leading him to mutiny against his superior. His infatuation causes him to join a band of smugglers, of which Carmen is a member. He is happy with Carmen for a brief period, but is driven to madness when she turns from him to the bullfighter Escamillo.

Old Boys, friends, family members and work colleagues who wish to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity should make contact with the Foundation office (03/4778977, info@obhsfoundation.co.nz)

Talking of the University’s sextet, it’s interesting to note some of the names of Old Boys involved over the years.

The school’s Life Governor and Foundation’s James Macandrew Society member Brian McMahon was in the Sextet in 1954; the city’s Mayor and Foundation Fellow Peter Chin appeared in 1959 and again in 1962 and ’63; Peter de Blois, now the Director of Music at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, was a constant member through the late-80s; Jonathan Lemalu, now carving out an internationally acclaimed career as an opera singer based in London, was involved from 1994 to ’96; long-serving staff member Arthur Naziris sang in 1972; Sir William Southgate appeared in 1964; and Tecwyn Evans himself was a member from 1990 to ’96.

Congratulations:

Alastair Rothwell (1957-58) has been awarded the ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to musculoskeletal medicine in this week’s Queen’s Birthday honours. Emeritus Professor Rothwell spent his final two years of secondary education at Otago Boys’ before studying medicine at Otago University, graduating and then practicing in the city. After completing research at Oxford University on a Commonwealth Fellowship, he returned to Dunedin in 1973 before heading to Christchurch and the newly-created department of orthopaedics at the university’s Christchurch School of Medicine almost a decade later. In 1997, Professor Rothwell was instrumental in setting up a national joint replacement register, which allowed the recording of the success or otherwise of operations, the longevity of joints, surgery complications and operation numbers. Information about more than 70,000 operations is now contained in the register with the knowledge gained allowing almost double the number of operations and associated funding. Since 1982 Professor Rothwell has been a member of the Burwood Upper Limb Research Group, which assists in the restoration of hand functions to tetraplegics, and is also a senior examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He is a past-president of the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association and has been a member of the association’s education committee and chairman of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand spinal cord injury committee.

Reunions:

A number of reunions are planned for later this year and beyond – with all details listed below:

Reunion of 1956, planned for September 2nd & 3rd 2006:-

An enthusiastic committee of 1956 Old Boys is currently organising a reunion of fellow entrants, this gathering to be held over the weekend of September 2nd and 3rd 2006.

The schedule of events includes a Saturday morning get-together in the school's auditorium, followed by refreshents and lunch in the Shand where there will be the opportunity to view school memorabilia.

A dinner with partners is planned for the Saturday evening.

The weekend will conclude with an informal lunch gathering on the Sunday.

After working diligently for some time, the committee has tracked the whereabouts of just over half of the 220 boys who enrolled in 1956. The time has arrived where the committee needs assistance in tracing the remaining number.

Anyone wishing to help or to register their interest in attending the reunion weekend is asked to contact - Matt Henderson (1956-61), 6 Saul Shrives Place, Waimate. Telephone: 03/6898946. Email: mandlh@xtra.co.nz

Reunion of the Class of VA (1953), scheduled for Labour Weekend, 2006:

An energetic committee has organised a reunion of the class of VA, 1953. It has also been decided to include members who were in this class in earlier years - 111B in 1950, 1VB in '51, and Vb in '52. Others members were in 111B in 1951 and 1VA in '52.

The programme comprises registration on the Friday night (20th October) including a welcome by the Mayor of Dunedin, Peter Chin (1954-58), the official opening of celebrations by the Rector on the Saturday morning, followed by photographs, a tour of the school and lunch, with dinner that evening. Own arrangements have been set down for the Sunday with special emphasis being on the suggestion of a visit to the Dunedin Railway Sattion, which will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of its opening over Labour Weekend.

For further details, contact Allan Finnie (37 Braemar Street, Mosgiel; 03/4847415; email: amfinnie@paradise.net.nz)

As an aside, anyone with any details about John Pettigrew Bryson (1950-53) is also asked to contact Allan. It seems John moved to Perth at one stage and possibly then to Scotland. The trail goes cold at that point.

Reunion of 1958 Upper VI, planned for October 2006:

A reunion of the Upper Sixth of 1958 is planned for October 2006.

Time has marched on since the last official gathering of this group in 1980 and an energetic committee is hard at work organising this year’s assembly.

A get-together is planned for the Dunedin Town Hall on Friday, 27th October with the MC being a member of that alumni group, Dunedin’s Mayor Peter Chin. Various other functions are scheduled for both the Saturday and Sunday. The initial point of contact for those wishing to attend is Keith Buswell – ‘phone 03/4544815 or keith@buswell.co.nz

Reunion of 1967 3A1, '68 4A1 & '69 5A1, planned for October 2006:

John Judge (1967-70) is organising a reunion of the above classes of 1967, ‘68 & ’69 and is happy to receive registrations of interest. John’s contact details are: telephone (business) 09/3774790; email: john.judge@nz.ey.com

Reunion of 1960 First Rugby XV, proposed for 2011:

Geoff Stevenson (1956-60) emigrated to Canada in 1968 and now lives in retirement in Victoria, British Columbia. After working for the Otago Daily Times, Geoff went on to become managing editor of two of Canada’s largest daily newspapers. He is married to the former Anita Watson and they have one son, Brad, who is a manager with Microsoft in Seattle. Geoff is keen to organise a 50th reunion of his 1960 First XV, although he now thinks that may be easier during the World Cup of 2011. Geoff can be contacted through his email address – geoff-stevenson@shaw.ca

Where are they now?

Brian Merrilees (1952-56) – graduated in French from Otago University in 1960 and a year later left for Paris to further his studies. After completing a Doctorat de l’Universite in 1964 Brian took up a position at the University of Toronto where he remained until retirement in 2004. He held several administrative positions at the university, including chairmanship of the Department of French and as academic Vice-Provost. Over the years Brian has published a large number of books and articles on medieval French and he continues to undertake research on the French language along with directing graduate students. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2002. Away from the university he retains a life-long interest in track and field and still occasionally competes in Masters pole vault competitions. He and his wife Pam avoid much of the Canadian winter now by spending the early months of each year back in New Zealand.

David Pine (1975-79) has been dubbed New Zealand's first rock & roll diplomat. A member of the 1980s Dunedin band Sneaky Feelings, David is a career diplomat who is just days into his job as New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines, based in Manilla. He is keen to strengthen New Zealand's links with the Philippines, this country's eighth largest trading partner, and is particularly enthused about the prospects for Dunedin and Otago businesses in that part of the world.

Allan Dippie (1978-81) will have some stories to tell when he returns to New Zealand, having just completed an 8,000 kilometre car rally across the 'roof of the Andes'. Allan and his co-driver Ian Begg have finished a creditable fifth of 25 starters in the inaugural La Carrera Sudamericana, which raced through Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, following the route of the famous Fangio race sof the 1940s and '50s. Only 16 cars finished the 21-day event. Driving a Toyota Corolla and contesting the 'C' class, Allan traveled for much of the race at altitudes higher than 5,000 metres and on roads and mountain passes said to be dicey at best. However, there was an upside - with rest days he and the other crews were able to visit the lost city of the Incas at Machu Picchu in Peru and Bolivia's La Paz, the world's highest capital city. With floating cars on rafts across lakes, spending time airborne, helping other crews negotiate their way through borders having had their passports and cash stolen, and ever-alert to the prospect of bandit gangs, the last three weeks have been an adventure of epic proportion.

The Netherworld Dancing Toys - those at school in the 1980s reveled in the fame the Netherworld Dancing Toys were generating. With a couple of the school’s Old Boys in the group – Brent Alexander (1977-81) on drums and Graham Cockcroft (1976-80, Head Boy in 1980) playing bass guitar – and two others – David Houston (1977-80) involved with the sound and Ged Taylor (1976-80) in charge of the lighting – Otago Boys’ alumni were leading the way in the music industry. A seven-strong group, which featured a three-piece brass section, the Netherworld Dancing Toys were, for a time, the most popular band in the country. The Toys had a huge live following and with a series of catchy singles, they raced from being an Otago University-based band to the top-selling group after just a couple of releases. Debuting in February 1982, the band achieved Gold record status and, in 1986, cleaned up the New Zealand music awards, winning six categories – including best band, best album ‘Painted Years’, best single ‘For Today’ (by public vote and which still receives air time) and best producer. The Toys last official public performance was in June 1990. And there is another link with the band and the Foundation. Matthew Trbuhovic, from Third Eye Design & Graphics in Dunedin, who played saxophone in the lineup, is the man behind the Foundation’s website design. And where are they now? Brent Alexander has thedesignstudio in Dunedin, Graham Cockcroft works for British Gas in Rio de Janeiro, David Houston has recently returned to the city and Ged Taylor is living in Wellington.

Recent deaths:

Duncan Leishman Garvan (1941-42), died in Dunedin in April, aged 78. Duncan, one of six children born in Oamaru and raised on a farm at Ngapara, worked in the stock and station industry all his life. After leaving school at 15, he began work as an office boy at Dalgety New Zealand Ltd in Oamaru before transferring to Heriot with Donald Reid & Company. He moved back to Oamaru to work for Stringer & Co and became manager in 1962. That same year, Stringers was bought by Donald Reid & Co and Duncan rose to Managing Director of that company in 1979, a position he held until 1992. At that time he became Chairman of the Board and remained in that post for five years until retiring. Upon retirement, he took up several directorships and was also involved in mentoring. During his time in the industry, Duncan oversaw several mergers while fending off takeovers of his own company. He was noted for his loyalty to farmers and his staff, and loved nothing better than to mix with both.

Thomas Morton Robb (1940-41), died in Dunedin 25 May 2006. Tom was one of three Robb brothers at Otago Boys’ in the 1930s and early-40s, his brothers Andrew (1931-33) and Jim (1937-41, a Friend of the Foundation) preceding him through the archway. Tom worked as a linotype operator at the Evening Star newspaper and, when the Star shut down in 1979, then moved to the Otago Daily Times, spending 45 years in the industry. Andrew died in Dunedin shortly after the World War II while Jim, a Friend of the Foundation, remains hale and hearty and living in Roslyn. Tom’s son Neil attended Otago Boys’ (1976-80) and two grandsons, twins Julian and Fraser Prendergast, his daughter Jeannie’s children, are currently Year 10 pupils (fourth form) at the school.

Gerald Charles Ditchfield (1946-47), died in Bonogin, Queensland, Australia 31 May 2006. A printer by trade, Gerald was 75 when he passed away peacefully.

FIFA soccer World Cup – 2006:

Many of us will be enthralled over the next month with the World Cup being staged in Germany – and there is a way Otago Boys’ can benefit.

Television New Zealand is running its own competition. By logging on to the competition website – www.tvnzvirtualfootball.co.nz – and nominating Otago Boys’ there is a chance the school will receive a significant amount of sports equipment.

This is not so much about the ability to pick the games correctly – it’s more about the number backing each school with the winner being the total AGGREGATE score, not the average. Even if the players don't successfully make all the picks, the more there are the higher the school’s chances of winning $5000 worth of sports gear.

At last look, Otago Boys’ is halfway on the ladder when it comes to the number of players with about 50. Wellington College and Auckland Grammar are sitting around the 130 mark.

Be in!

Please continue to pass on our website address – www.obhsfoundation.co.nz - or my telephone numbers to all Old Boys you know. If you haven’t updated your own details, please also use this site.

As noted earlier in the newsletter, any contacts you are able to pass on – email or postal addresses, or telephone numbers – will be gratefully received.

And any news about Old Boys and their connections for publication in the monthly newsletter would also be welcome.

Steve Davie

Chief Executive