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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
He watches as the audience settles, their glowing cellphones go dark and their attention shifts to the silver screen. And then Russell goes to work, peering out from his perch high above the audience in the projectionist's box of the Regent Theatre in Dunedin, juggling reels of film, checking colours and sound.
At 1.15pm on the 5th of August, Russell had been doing this job for 50 years, at the Regent, and some of the country's other grand old theatres. He will mark his milestone in fitting style, setting the reels in motion for a screening of ‘The Killer Inside Me’.
It might be a far cry from his favourites - black and white westerns, musicals and classics like Casablanca - but that does not seem to matter. For Russell, it is not about watching the movie - it is about ensuring every thread of film finds its place, the equipment is cleaned and ready, and that - ultimately - the audience enjoys the occasion.
"I tell you, that does the heart good. It makes it all worthwhile," he said yesterday. "I have never wanted to do anything else."
And not even the advent of television, digital technology and home theatres can quell Russell’s enthusiasm. In fact, he embraces the changes - purring over the Regent's near-new Simplex 35mm projector, Xenon lamps and Dolby digital sound system more than the old 1940s Kalee 12 projector he once used.
"They were workhorses ... It was pretty rudimentary. "The Regent is lucky to have the facilities we have got [now]. Well, the Dunedin people are lucky," he said.
His passion began as a 16-year-old winding film and doing other odd jobs in Dunedin's Embassy Theatre. However, his enthusiasm for the job came earlier, after a visit to Gisborne's Kings Theatre ended with a tour of the projection box.
"I would have been about 6 or 7, and I was hooked. It was the heat, the smell of oil, the machinery running. It was exciting," he said. Since then, he has worked in theatres in Gore, Dannevirke and Matamata in the early 1960s, then Hamilton and Christchurch, before moving to Wellington to join the National Film Unit in 1972.
In 1990, he returned to Dunedin, moving about the city's theatres before joining the Regent in 1995.
He retired last year, but still works during the New Zealand International Film Festival.
And, despite reaching his 50-year milestone, he has no plans to call for a final curtain.
"I love it as much now as probably when I was that little 6 or 7-year-old boy."
We take a look at a man who was a former Otago mining student, Malayan tin prospector, prisoner of war and head of the School of Surveying at Otago University.
Now retired to Nelson, Professor John Mackie doesn’t get around so much any more, but he’s still got a mind like a steel trap. As instigator and former head of the National School of Surveying at the University of Otago, he has been responsible for training a whole generation of surveyors, with whom he struck up many warm and enduring friendships.
Mackie’s career was greatly influenced by his science master at OB’s, John Williams. “He was known as Barmy Bill or ‘Bammy’ as all scientists were then regarded by school boys as mad,” Mackie recalls. But his advice that Mackie join Otago’s School of Mines was far from crazy because it was here that he really blossomed, achieving a master’s degree in Geology (first class honours) and a Bachelor of Engineering.
On completion of his degrees at the end of 1934, Mackie was offered a job tin prospecting in Malaya and, within a few months, he was exploring some extremely remote parts of that country which was in those days a British protectorate.
He got to know the country and the people, including the Sakai, a very primitive people who hunted with blowpipes. There was a huge amount of tin mining: on the west coast alone there were, he estimates, over a thousand alluvial gravel mines and two hundred dredges. After just 18 months prospecting, Mackie then joined the Colonial Service as a mine inspector. His main concern was with mine safety – collapses were quite common – and control of the tailings. “There’s a lot of tailings from alluvial mining and, if you don’t keep a lid on this, there’s one hell of a mess.”
Mackie was keen to carry on his student hobby of rifle shooting but, in the absence of a rifle club, the best way to pursue this was to join the army volunteers. So, he joined a Scottish platoon in 1935 where, bizarrely for the tropics, they were issued with double-winter-weight kilts. He rose to the rank of captain.
“The most hazardous part of training was firing the Vickers machine gun. It would sit on a tripod and you’d sit on the ground behind it in your baggy shorts. The hot shell cases would fire out the back and up your shorts. You should have heard the yelling and swearing.”
Mackie was home in Dunedin when the war in Europe was announced in 1939 and, by 1941, he was with the British forces trying to defend the Malay Peninsula.
After the fall of Singapore, Mackie joined 100,000 other POWs at the notorious Changi Prison before being transferred, after a year, to a camp in Borneo. He was kept busy chopping down rubber trees for the cookhouse fires and a make-shift library helped to keep him and his fellow POWs mentally active. The food was atrocious: no meat, very little fruit and the rice was full of weevils. His weight fell from 70 to 41kg.
They kept a secret radio under the hearth of the cookhouse fire. “This was enormously risky for the penalty for this, like that for trying to escape, was beheading,” Mackie recalls.
They started to get some inkling that the tide had turned in the Allies’ favour and this was confirmed in early 1945 when four American B52 bombers flew over. The Japanese told them about the atomic bombs dropped in Japan which they complained about bitterly as being most unfair. He says that mostly the prison guards were pretty nasty – it was nothing to get a bayonet in the backside or a rifle butt in the ribs.
After considerable prevarication they were eventually set free by the Australian Ninth Division. “One thing I shall never forget – fresh baked crust bread with butter – it was manna from heaven. People talk about freedom, but there’s nothing like freedom when you’ve been a POW,” he says.
After the war he promptly returned to his old job as a mine inspector. The war had caused a great shortage of tin and he felt honour bound to help to clean up the horrendous mess left by the Japanese.
However, mindful of his father’s failing health, Mackie resigned from the Colonial Service once the tin mining was rehabilitated. Resigning was regarded very much as “not the done thing” but he was pleased he did because his father died just a few days after he returned.
He married the late Sue Bacon, of Blenheim, in 1947 and they had two children: Andrew and Marguerite.
Mackie was drawn back to the School of Mines as a lecturer in surveying. “There’s a lot of surveying in mining – if you don’t know where you are when you’re tunnelling, you’ll run into all sorts of problems.” However, he became aware there was some ill-feeling from the local surveyors and realised that, although he was lecturing in surveying, he wasn’t a registered surveyor himself. The only way to do it in those days was to become an articled cadet to an established surveyor.
After seven long vacations out in the field and sitting exams set by the Survey Board, he registered as a surveyor in 1956.
An ambitious attempt to turn the School of Mines into a much bigger Faculty of Technology collapsed when it was decided that New Zealand didn’t have the home-grown industry to warrant it. It spelt the end of Otago’s School of Mines which Mackie describes as a great shame because “their graduates were sought worldwide. It was a very well
balanced course in practical and theoretical experience”.
Now in retirement he has remained active in community service work for the Territorials and the scouting movement.
In recognition of his contribution to the University of Otago and the surveying profession, Mackie received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University in 2000, and the Institute of Surveyors set up a trust in his name to encourage teaching and research in cadastral surveying. He was also awarded an OBE in 1995.
Clearly Mackie’s life experiences were the key to the rapport he enjoyed with his students: “When I started teaching some of the students were ex-war blokes. I’d been in a war too. We used to wear our battle dress in the field because it was warm. That’s how I got my nickname – Captain Jack.”
Otago Boys' High School and our famous ground of Littlebourne will be the place to be when Australia and New Zealand clash in the Secondary School Rubgy game on Wednesday 6 October 2010.
To mark this event the OBHS Foundation and the Old Boys' Society have joined forces to present a luncheon prior to the game.
TICKETS ARE $20pp & INCLUDE A LIGHT LUNCH & A COMPLIMENTARY BEER!
The luncheon will be held from 11.00am on the Wednesday 6th of October in the Shand at Otago Boys' followed by a guest speaker and then the game.
For tickets - please contact Darlene on 03 477 2546 or email admin@obhsfoundation.co.nz
The Foundation has fielded many phone calls over the past month from our 1940’s Old Boys enquiring as to when the 1940’s Decade Reunion will be held.
We are pleased to announce that work has finally begun on bringing our Old Boys’ back to the school and reconnecting them with their alma mater.
The reunion is scheduled for February 2011 with actual dates to be released once the 1st school term of 2011 has been set.
To pre-register - send an email to the below address with ‘Register 1940’s’ in the subject line
Please include your full name and the years you attended Otago Boys’.
Numbers are building nicely for the upcoming Old Boys’ gatherings being held in Sydney and Brisbane next month.
Remember - these functions are a great way for school mates to reconnect, reminisce and form new friendships.
It is also an opportunity for the Foundation to briefly update you on its progress and the incredible benefits it will bring to Otago Boys’ High School in the future; answer any questions you have about Otago Boys’ of the 21st century and to update you on what is happening back home in Dunedin.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE!
Contact me on info@obhsfoundation.co.nz no later than 30th August 2010.
SYDNEY
Friday 3 September
Fringe Bar - Paddington
6.00pm - 7.30pm
BRISBANE
Friday 17th September 2010
Victoria Park Golf Complex
5.30pm - 7.30pm
Graphic Designer – The Foundation is looking for an Old Boy that is willing to help with some basic graphic design duties for upcoming events, reunion’s and specific campaigns.
This may be a current student who wishes to extend their design capabilities by working on actual projects or an existing designer that wishes to lend a hand to Otago Boys’ High School.
If you are able to help we would very much like to hear from you – Contact Doug Kamo on info@obhsfoundation.co.nz
Office Meeting Chairs – The Foundation is on the hunt for two traditional arm chairs for its meeting room. If you have anything similar to the displayed picture or anything at all we can look at and wish to gift to the foundation or get rid of please contact info@obhsfoundation.co.nz
* Since the July newsletter, the following Old Boys and connections with the school have made pledges or donations and have been registered as Members of the Foundation –
We are genuinely appreciative of their continued support and belief in the Foundations objectives. If you wish to find out more about how you can make a pledge or donation please click here or contact info@obhsfoundation.co.nz
Registrations are growing nicely for this reunion so if you haven’t registered your interest make sure you do.
The event has been scheduled for 8 & 9 October 2010 and is a wonderful opportunity to rekindle friendships and your connection with the school.
For A Full Registration Pack - CLICK HERE
MAKE SURE YOU ARE PART OF THIS
HISTORICAL EVENT BY REGISTERING NOW!
Contact the Foundation admin@obhsfoundation.co.nz with ‘Register 150th’ in the subject line or a call +64 3 477 2546, and leave a message. Include your full name and years of attendance.
All Foundation card holders receive 5 cents perlitre discountto the national pump price for petrol and diesel. Discounted petrol and diesel can be purchased at all BP,RD Petroleumand most Gasoline Alley retail sites along with Truck Stops.
HOW IT WORKS:
If today the national price for a litre of 91 octane is $1.729 cents. The cost to you would be $1.679 cents. If on the West Coast 91 is currently priced at $1.909 cents per litre and on the Coromandel Peninsula it’s sitting at $1.959 cents per litre – those with Foundation fuel cards will still pay $1.679 cents per litre. That’s a 28 cpl saving!
This offer is open to all Otago Boys' High School - Old Boys' and their immediate family members so please pass this on to a New Zealand based family member you think may well benefit from joining the program.
There is an annual fee of $20.00 + GST per card of which $10.00 comes directly back to the Foundation in the form of a donation from RD Petroleum. On top of this RD Petroleum gifts 0.05 cents for every litre poured. There are no additional transaction fees.
Cards are linked to a bank account with all payments being made by direct debit. Fuel bought one month will be billed for the 20th of the following month. Card holders will receive an invoice giving ample notification of the amount to be debited against their account.
If interested in joining please download the appropriate forms below and return directly to RD Petroleum, PO Box 1487, Christchurch 8140 or if you have any queries call them on
0800 44 00 14.
Important:
Individual Application – Click here
Limited Companies Application – Click here
HIGHLANDERS 1st XVSaturday 21 August was not a good day for the Otago Boys’ 1st XV when it clashed in the final against Southland Boys' High School losing 50-14 against a side that clearly had winning as its only priority.
Southland Boys' did not lose a game in the competition and coach Alan Bailey said his side played its best match of the season against OB’s in the final.
Southland Boys’ led 17-7 at the break and pulled away in the second half, scoring seven tries in all.
Otago Boys' suffered from a lack of ball and tired near the end of the game as the weight of tackling proved too much.
Backs Lance Taylor and Marcus Tanuvasa scored the tries for Otago Boys', while loose forward Brodie Hume had one of his best games of the season.
Southland Boys', which won the title last year, will play St Bede's College in Christchurch to decide the South Island representative for the top four competition.
Daffy Duck and a dramatic double-16 made history at Otago Boys' High School in Dunedin recently. 
Luke Moratti (2007) and Charles Fraser (2007) contested the school’s first darts championship and it went to a sudden death play-off, before Luke clinched the title with a double-16.
"I usually always aim for the 19, because it's the easiest one to get," he said, clutching his trophy. He also revealed a secret advantage - using Daffy Duck flights on his darts. "They're my lucky charm," he said.
OBHS chemistry and science teacher Tim Ashdown introduced the sport to OBHS three months ago.
"When I moved here from England a couple of years ago I was surprised no-one had done darts here before. It had never been offered as a sport in Otago Boys' history. So, I brought a board along and it's proved very popular with the boys.
"It's an excellent game. It's got the essence of sport. The success or failure is right there to see and there's no-one to blame but yourself. You can't blame the weather, or the conditions, or the referee. It also provides the opportunity for a bit of banter, which is fun."
The New Zealand Darts Council had supported the initiative by donating two dartboards to the school.
"It's been popular across [the school]," Mr Ashdown said. "The boys' skills have really improved since we started. It's been very competitive and some of the boys are very good now."
Plans were now afoot to start a Dunedin inter-school darts competition, he said.
Liam Edwards (2005) has a lot of rugby nous. He knows how to pick winners. He made $190 on a multi-bet on the TAB this month and four years ago, he won two memberships for life to Carisbrook for picking 14 of the 15 players in the Otago Daily Times competition that celebrated 125 years of rugby in the province.
Edwards also does his bit on the field as a key member of the Otago Boys' High School First XV. He is an accurate goal kicker and has scored 209 points in the Highlanders First XV competition this season. This includes 26 tries.
Edwards is the son of Bruce Edwards, who played more than 100 premier games at fullback for Pirates and regularly topped 100 points in a season.
His father tutored him with his goal kicking when he started playing rugby for the Dunedin club's junior teams at the age of 6.
"I've wanted to be an All Black since I was a wee kid," Edwards said. "Rugby is my game and I want to go as far as I can."
He pinned a poster of All Black Jeff Wilson on the bedroom wall to give himself inspiration and help him achieve his dream. He has attempted to model himself on two other All Blacks since his primary school days - Andrew Mehrtens for tactical kicking and Christian Cullen for counterattacking from his specialist position of fullback.
Edwards has been selected in Otago age-group teams for the past eight years. He is also talented at cricket and has been a member of the Otago Boys' First XI for three years and is captain this year.
He is a hard-hitting batsman and has been in the Otago Under-17 team for the past two years.
Edwards demonstrated another skill at the Otago Boys' athletics sports this year when he finished fourth in the 100m.
If you find a story on an OB’s Old Boy share it with us all!
Send it to info@obhsfoundation.co.nz and we will do our best to include it in the next newsletter.
Hawkdun Idaburn Irrigation Company chairman Ken Gillespie (1965-67) said little progress had been made on the Mt Ida dam near Oturehura over the past six months and significant hurdles would have to be cleared if it was to go ahead.
"At this stage, it's looking like it's probably too expensive. The whole project has to be financially viable for it to proceed. If we could borrow money at a cheaper rate than is currently available then it could be done. What we need is capital."
The proposed dam, on the Ida Burn between Wedderburn and Oturehua, would be of a similar height to the Falls dam on the Manuherikia River. It was expected to store up to 15 million cu m of water - enough to irrigate about 2200ha. For the dam to operate satisfactorily, the Mt Ida water race would need to have its capacity increased by two-thirds from Hills Creek to the new dam site, a distance of about 20km.
Since the project was first proposed, its estimated cost had risen from $10.8 million to $12.6 million, an increase Mr Gillespie said was not significant if increases in inflation were taken into account.
The consensus of opinion at the company's most recent annual meeting, held about a month ago, was to continue to investigate possible funding options at minimal cost, Mr Gillespie said. "We have already incurred a lot of costs just to get to where we are now," he said.
Earlier this year, the Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, told Mr Gillespie and representatives of other proposed Central Otago irrigation projects, that while he would not rule out government funding for irrigation schemes, the Government would need to be satisfied that all other funding opportunities had been exhausted.
Fortunately, farmers in the area that would be supplied by the Mt Ida dam were in a relatively good position when it came to soil moisture as they headed into spring, Mr Gillespie said.
"I can't remember when the ground has been so wet. We've only been out of snow for two weeks over the last three months and once that thawed, the soil got unbelievably wet. The water table is very high.
"A lot of people around here are struggling to get sheep dry and through the yards for shearing."
Alan Matchett (1971-76) DCC Botanic Garden and Cemetries team leader says construction of Dunedin Botanic Garden’s newest project, which boasts one of the best views in Dunedin, is set to be completed by the end of the month, when the planting of European plants will begin.
The garden, which had been on the Friends of the Botanic Garden’s wish list for some years, overlooked the city and was set to include a paved terrace, a water feature, sloping grass terraces and natural rock retaining walls, Mr Matchett said.
The Botanic Garden also has gardens from South Africa, North America, South Asia, Central America, Northeast Asia, the Himalayas and Australia. Mr Matchett said the concept of having gardens from throughout the world came from the Victorian era.
‘‘All the plants from these gardens are the plants that grow in the temperate climate that Dunedin has. They are all species not hybrids. The main idea is to grow plants that grow wild in these countries so we can say that plant is that and it comes from that region, and we can follow its history and lineage through our plant record database.’’
Other items in the garden’s wish list included a sub Antarctic island plant house, an alpine house, a new tropical glass house and a waterfall garden. Mr Matchett said they also wanted a children’s garden which would be located by the present playground and would help educate children about botany and encourage them to engage more with their native environment.
A major volunteer effort to develop the new ‘‘Wakari Creek’’ mountain biking track was the brainchild of keen mountain bike rider Tim Cleminson (1981-85).
The just-completed 3km loop of track winds through a gently sloping area of forest above Ross Creek — from Wakari Rd up to ‘‘the Redwoods. ‘‘I felt that area of forest was a good potential site for a mountain biking track — especially one with a nice, easy gradient,’’ he said.
Permission to build the track was granted by Dunedin City Council and City Forests in October last year and the track building project quickly moved into full swing.
Mountain Biking Otago members, including Tim and friends, community members, and Otago Polytechnic students have put more than 1500 hours of voluntary effort into building the track, bridges and boardwalks, and spreading 65 tonnes of gravel.
‘‘The great thing about the track is that the gradient is easy, it’s nice and wide, and easy for anyone to ride,’’ Tim said. ‘‘It is going to be a great beginner track — and families are already discovering it.’’
Hugo Inglis' (2007-08) head has hardly stopped spinning since he made his debut for the Black Sticks.
Two years ago, Hugo was a quiet senior at Otago Boys' High School, leading one of the finest hockey teams in the school's history to a shock place in the elite Rankin Cup final.
Now, he's a regular member of the New Zealand team, and the last few months have been a frenzy of travel, games against top nations, and more travel.
"I've played 33 games in eight or nine months, I guess. It's gone pretty quick," he said. "We started in Invercargill, then Argentina, then we went to India, then England, Belgium, France, Germany and finally Holland. It's been a pretty amazing time. The whole thing has been awesome."
A striker, he has had a handful of starts and has also seen plenty of time off the bench as a back-up for more experienced players up front. He has scored six goals but is hungry for more to ensure he keeps getting selected for major tournaments such as the World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the Commonwealth Games.
He has already played in India - he was there for the World Cup in March - so he knows what to expect when he attends the Commonwealth Games in October.
"I've seen a few players come and go from the team, and it feels good to have kept my place. But I've got to keep working hard, and I'd like to put a few more balls in the net."
He has been joined in the Black Sticks by another Otago Boys' High School old boy, Blair Tarrant (2004-08).
Hugo is studying two business papers by correspondence through Massey University.
Two current Otago Boys’ have been acknowledged in the ODT’s 2010 Class Act Awards.
This identifies and celebrates the excellence of our young people in the province. Starting in 2000 with 26 of the 29 High Schools participating, each school was asked to select one or two pupils to join that year’s class.
This year Andrew Curtis-Black (2006) and Jonas Lobitz (2006) are the recipients of the award which saw them receive their certificates from the Rt Hon John Key at an afternoon tea at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Thursday 26 August.
Andrew Curtis-Black – Achievements
NCEA level 1 and 2 endorsed with excellence. 1st in English, History and French (2009); academic blues (2009-10), fencing blues (2009), music blues (2009); peer support leader (2010); year 10 school camp leader (2010); Mount Aspiring Leadership Camp (2009); Deep Thought Marine Biology Programme (2008)
Jonas Lobitz – Achievements
Head Boy (2010); OBHS ski blues (2008-10) and ice hockey blues (2006-10); NCEA level 1 and 2 with merit; 1st in maths (2009); peer support; 2nd NZ Men’s Open Hang Gliding Championships (2009); 6th World Air Games (2009); NZ up and coming pilot of the year (2009); Forbes Open most promising pilot (2010); NZ Men’s Hang Gliding team member (2010)
We congratulate these young men on their outstanding performance and contribution to Otago Boys’ High School and society.
The Otago-Southland Cancer Society has appointed Mike Kernaghan (1969-73) as its new chief executive.
He is excited to be appointed to lead an organisation that made a difference in people's lives.
Mike was formerly deputy chief executive of Badminton New Zealand. He has also been deputy chief executive of New Zealand Football, and chief executive of Triathlon New Zealand.
For several years, Mike has commuted to Wellington and Auckland for his roles with sports bodies. He will now be based permanently in his home town of Dunedin.
David Skeggs (1976-80) is excited about his Akarua Winery near Bannockburn opening a new tasting room.
“It was necessary due to the present economic climate and the challenges that placed on the wine industry” he said. "We've been successful since our infancy in producing good quality wine, which is acknowledged beyond New Zealand. But we wanted to make more of a concerted effort to, ourselves, sell more of what we produce." That involved targeting new markets, he said.
Akarua would continue to specialise in premium wine but would broaden the range of what it sold, he said. "Our reputation is for good quality wines but we also must have diversity. We need to be satisfied that we are meeting market demands. Offering cheaper varieties will help us to continue to achieve success. We must cover the field from top to bottom. However, we are fortunate that we do have quality, particularly in pinots."
Akarua, was established by David’s father Sir Clifford in 1996 and was one of the first large Bannockburn vineyards, now covering 50ha.
Organiser of the inaugural FIS World Junior Snow Sports Championships Arthur Klap (1965-68) said the $500,000 championships had attracted an "exceptionally high" quality of athlete.
"It is quite outstanding really. It is almost like a senior world championship. The depth in the snowboarding is really very good…If people come up to watch in September they should see some fantastic athletes," Mr Klap said.
The FIS congress has already voted to promote the snowboard slopestyle and freeski halfpipe and slopestyle events on to the programme alongside snowboard halfpipe.
Mr Klap said the expensive event soaked up human and financial resources from Snow Sports New Zealand, but should bring money into Wanaka. The New Zealand Winter Games cost $3.2 million to host last year, while a world cup standard event would cost about $180,000-$200,000 to hold, Mr Klap said.
Otago all-rounder Sam Wells (1998-2002) is one of only two newcomers in the newly selected Otago Volts squad.
For Wells the recent announcement was recognition of some impressive performances. In particular, his outstanding summer having skirted the side for a couple of seasons, he emerged as a genuine game-breaker, surprising just about everybody.
In the Plunket Shield he took 21 wickets at an average of 24.42, including two five-wicket bags. He averaged close to 60 with the bat, scoring two centuries and three 50s.
With Otago's leading all-rounder Nathan McCullum likely to miss a lot of domestic play while on national duty, the Volts will be looking to Wells to build on his success.
Born: Wellington 29 January 1911
Died: Dunedin, 16 July 2010
Percy came from a family with a very long family tree and a tradition of living into the nineties. He certainly maintained that tradition having lived to the age of 99.
Percy was born just before World War One and had memories of troops going overseas. Born in Wellington, his family later shifted to Christchurch where he started school.
Then in 1917 the family came to Dunedin where he got his primary education at Forbury School. While there he played hockey and was selected for the Otago team to play in the Hatch Cup Tournament.
Bad illness meant he played little sport at Otago Boys High School.
When he left school, he entered an accounting course at Otago University. This had its practical benefits as he could do work at the same time. After finishing the accountancy course he went on to do the full commerce course and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1936. These were the depression years and jobs were non-existant so he started up a practice on his own and gradually took on clients. Times were hard but he was ambitious.
In 1935 he built a lovely house at 24 Henry St in Maori Hill which he let until December 1939 when he married Eunice. Tennis was perhaps what bought them together but married life was not to last long because World War II was to start in two years. With it the Government introduced many war-time regulations and restrictions which affected business.
As he was able to obtain the services of a retired accountant to supervise the practice and Eunice was able to assist in the office, he decided to volunteer. When the Japanese surrendered on the 15th August 1945 it was not until October that he returned to Dunedin.
With first class medical assistance and normal family living, he recovered and gradually rebuilt his accountancy practise, which eventually became Wellington, Ellis and Gardner.
His main personal business interests were in Snowhite Laundries and in Newtone drycleaners, which later amalgamated with Preens. Because he was a qualified secretary, he provided services for the Otago Retailers Association, Dunedin Stock Agents and Woolbrokers Association, Otago Proprietors Association and Selwyn College.
He was appointed by the Government to be the Southern District Transport Licensing Authority, a position which he held for eight years.
Finally he decided to give up public practice and concentrate on the family interests in dry-cleaning and laundry.
He joined the Dunedin Rotary Club in 1966. For several years he was Governor of the J R McStengie Trust for Education. A major task was with Sir Laurie Francis in founding the Dunedin Rotary Club Trust for charitable purposes. For his long service he was made a Paul Harris fellow in 1988.
He was very much a royalist and gave long service to the Royal Commonwealth Society and the English Speaking Union of which he was President for many years. He was also President for the National Board and also a member of the International Council in London. In 1936 he joined Lodge Otago No 417 Scottish Constitution founded in 1861. He became Master of the Lodge in 1962.
His hobbies were reading, gardening, genealogy, bowls and fishing. He loved Wanaka and built a holiday home there in 1958.
Perhaps his greatest award was receiving the Queen Service Medal at Government House in Wellington. The Govenor General presented him with the award for public services.
Eryn Grace (1984) who passed away at his home on 25th July 2010
Frank Warren (1929 -1930) who passed away on the 27th of July 2010 at the Oaks Retirement Village, Christchurch in his 95th year. Dearly loved husband of the late Evelyn (OBE)
Douglas Smith (1930 -1933) 7265, Lt, RNZN who passed away on July 31st, 2010 at Dunedin Hospital in his 94th Year. He served in the war between 1939 - 1945.
Kenneth Wynn (1938 -1940) who passed away on 1st August 2010.
Kenneth Paterson (1933 -1938) passed away on Tuesday 17th August 2010 at Elmslie House, Wanaka aged 91 years. Ken was awarded a New Zealand University Blue in athletics for excellence both on and off the field of play. He also served in the War (1939-45) for five and a half years rising to the rank of major and winning the Military Cross. Ken was an Old Boys member and one of our much respected Foundation Members.
Stewart Scoones (1934 -1935) passed away on the 16th August 2010 at Ross Home, North-East Valley in his 90th year.
Gwyn Richards (1934 -1936) passed away peacefully on 16th August at The Oaks retirement home, Christchurch aged 91. Gwyn was an Old Boys member. He served in the war between 1939-45 35095 regiment 2nd NZEF, Divisional Signals.
Donald (Don) Harley (1959 – 1961) passed away peacefully on the 17th August at Otago Community Hospice aged 64 years.
James (Jim) Bond (1934 -1937) RNVR, Coastal Forces MV194. D-Day (Omaha Beach) Jim passed away on the 12th August 2010 at Birchleigh Rest Home, Mosgiel aged 89.
George John FLAMANK (1943 – 1945) passed away on the 19 August at his home in Clyde, aged 80 years.
John Sligo (1958 -1962) passed away on the 20th August 2010 at St Vincents’s Hospital, Sydney.
Graeme Smith (1950 – 1953) passed away recently at his home in South Sydney (August 2010) aged 74 years. Graeme was a renowned raconteur, dedicated pharmacist, enthusiastic imbiber of wines and similar medicines, had a wide circle of Dunedin friends, was a longtime stage manager of and occasional actor at the Globe Theatre. He moved to Australia in 1990.
Graeme McFarlane (1967 - 1969) and Brett McFarlane (1996 - 2000) whose mother and grandmother Olive passed away on the 10th August 2010, in her 90th year.
Brent Sherriff (1978 - 1981) and Andrew Sherriff (1981 -1985) whose mother Beverley passed away on the 26th July 2010
Lloyd Langley (1938) whose wife passed away on the 2nd of August 2010
Arthur Chapman (1931 -1935) whose wife passed on the 4th of August 2010
Blair Gough and (1979 – 1983) and Graeme Gough (1975 -1978) whose mother Noelene passed away on the 20th August at St Andrews Home aged 85 years.
Newsletter researched and compiled by Douglas Kamo
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