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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
Otago Boys’ High School Foundation
June 2011 - Newsletter
The Otago Boys’ High School Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Doug Kamo is to step down from the role in July.
His resignation was “accepted with regret” at a meeting of the Foundation’s Board of Management this week.
Doug has obtained a new role as Event and Artistic Producer of the Otago Daily Times “Big Night In” community concert event to be held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in November, and whilst his enthusiasm and drive will be missed, the Foundation Trustees wish him every success in this new role and other future endeavours.
Doug has been with the Foundation since January 2010, and has overseen the continuing development of the Foundation’s activities and profile. Some of the key achievements during this time include:
Doug’s last day as CEO will be Friday 22 July but the Foundation’s Board is pleased to advise it has appointed Andrew Moffat as Acting CEO to take over from Doug with effect from early the following week.
Andrew was a pupil at Otago Boys’ High School from 1974 to 1977 and has been a member of the Foundation’s Board of Management since August 2007, which has given him a good understanding of the Foundation’s purpose and activities. He recently completed a 33 year career with The National Bank, having spent the last 7 years in Dunedin as an Area Manager with the Business Banking division. Andrew, who will spend some time in the coming weeks with Doug to ensure a smooth transition, is looking forward to the change of scene and to the chance to continue the excellent work of his predecessors at the Foundation.
My father once said, “Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth, take time to be an audience member but make the most of every opportunity you get to perform”.
This will be my last foreword in the Otago Boys’ High School Foundation’s newsletter as I will be moving on after being offered a great opportunity to re-establish my own event company and manage, possibly Dunedin’s biggest, free community event ever.
As I write this I have mixed emotions about my pending departure – excitement at the opportunities ahead but, a tinge of sadness that I am leaving behind such a wonderful group of colleagues and an institution that truly deserves to succeed.
Some of my fondest memories as Chief Executive are the simple things. A simple thank you from an Old Boy when they receive the newsletter, the pat on the back from an Old Boy who appreciates all that we do in our little office and understands how difficult that can be at times or the excitement from an Old Boy when we have contact details for another Old Boy he has been trying to find for some time.
But ultimately, it has been the friendships I’ve built with many of our Old Boys, staff and students that I will miss most.
Clive has been a tower of strength, as has Dougal McGowan (Deputy Rector). Together we have lifted the profile of the Foundation to new heights within the school by involving the staff and students more in our Reunion Programmes, Leavers Legacy, Annual Appeal and Special Events.
I thank my Board of Trustees for their understanding and support through what has been a tumultuous year of constant change and where new gifting has slowed considerably. The Foundation is in good hands with these governors at the helm and they will continue to work hard towards realising our dream of 2.5 million in the bank so we can ‘Provide for the Otago Boys’ of the Future’.
Yes, our role here at the Foundation is about raising funds to ensure Otago Boys’ remains atop the pedestal as the leading educational institution in the lower South Island but we cannot do that without a magnanimous amount of work in building the culture of giving and reconnecting you, our Old Boys back to your school.
Our UK Gathering will happen on 13 July and will be attended by Rector Clive Rennie. We have the Otago Boys’ / King’s combined rugby interschool function being held on 14 July at Carisbrook – an event that has seen outstanding popularity. We have our 1951, ‘61 and ‘71 Class Year Reunions to host this year, events that will see those Class Years return to their school for three days of embellished stories and laughter.
I’m proud of how we’ve created more opportunity than ever for you to do this – all we ask is for you continue to support these events and eventually the Foundation by making a contribution in the future.
I wish to convey one last request…
If you have read this article from start to finish you either have nothing better to do or are genuinely interested in your school - its past, and its future. If the latter is the case, I implore you to consider making a financial contribution to the Foundation.
The Foundation is not funded by the school, nor is it by any other funding agency. It is solely funded by our Old Boys. Boys like you who have taken the time to read this article in its entirety. Boys who valued their time at Otago Boys’ and the lifelong friendships they made.
If just 20% of the current 7,500 contactable Old Boys gifted the average of what the current Foundation Members have gifted to date ($3,000.00 – spread over approximately 5 years), the Foundation would exceed its first capital base target of 2.5 million – by almost 2 million.
Gentlemen, don’t let this be just ink you’ve read and not give it serious thought. Your school needs your help. Please consider playing a part.
To the staff of the school – Clive, Dougal, Lindy, teachers and the canteen ladies, you can’t get rid of me that quickly. I will pop my head in from time to time for a cheese roll, cup of tea and a good bit of gossip on who is in the bad books outside ‘Sir’s’ office.
To my Board of Trustees – I am a phone call away and ready to help at the drop of a hat.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you all – I wish you all the very best.
Now to the newsletter – happy reading…
Regards,
Douglas Kamo
CEO – OBHS Foundation
Neill Baker (1959-1964, staff 1976-2011) has been on the sideline at Otago Boys' High School rugby matches for more than three decades. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to the former teacher who is now enjoying retirement.
Neill Baker says spotting talent and which players will go on to bigger things is not simple.
Baker should know. For 35 years he has been involved with rugby at Otago Boys' High School.
He has spent countless Saturdays putting up the flags at Littlebourne, making sure pupils get on buses to go up country and even had time for some coaching.
He has seen the likes of Richie McCaw and Byron Kelleher come through the school and then go on to blaze a trail in international rugby.
He said McCaw was a good player when at the school.
"But you wouldn't have picked what he would have done. He was a bloody good flanker, make no bones about that.
"But he wasn't the biggest guy there, maybe 85kg tops at school.
He put on a lot of weight when he went to Canterbury. He was one of those guys who always gave you everything. He'd always have a bleeding nose.
"A good trivial question is 'who captained the Otago Boys' team which drew with Rotorua Boys in the national final in 1998?'. Most people think it was Richie but it wasn't. It was Ryan Martin, the halfback, who is now coaching our firsts."
Baker said players developed at different times and some took a while to get better.
"I remember Tom Palmer, who came to us as a Scottish exchange student and is now playing for England. When he first arrived he was a gangly, gumby, unco-ordinated guy. He used to slap the ball back 5m from the lineout. But in two years he started to show his skills and eventually made it into the New Zealand schools team."
Otago Boys' is a school where rugby is still important and Baker had been there since 1976. He retired at the end of the first term, though he still went to school games.
Never trained as a teacher, he fell into the job after completing a masters degree with honours in geography at the University of Otago.
He initially taught at Kaikorai Valley High School and Otago Boys' before journeying around the world for three years, and followed the All Blacks 1972-73 tour and went to the Munich Olympics.
But he eventually found himself back at Otago Boys', where he had previously been in the First XV in 1963-64 as a tight forward.
He taught geography but then moved into careers training.
His coaching career started at a young age.
"It started when I was at high school. I was looking after junior teams. I was never a prefect but part of my senior role was looking after teams. One of my neighbours was [former All Black player and manager] Charlie Saxton and I think him and the old man [Baker's father] wanted me to look after teams and keep me out of trouble."
When he got to Otago Boys' in a teaching role he coached junior sides and then took over the first XV from 1984-89, when the side enjoyed considerable success, scoring its first win for 20 years over Southland Boys in Invercargill in 1989.
Times, though, were different then.
"You'd never struggle to get coaches. Coaching was seen as part of your professional development. More emphasis was put on it by the principal. And I do not think the sporting range was quite as diverse. There was no ice hockey, all these other sports.
"And, dare I say it, the sex ratio wasn't what it is now. There are a lot more women involved at school now."
Baker moved on from coaching the First XV to the Otago Colts which was unbeaten for three years.
He then helped coach South Island age-group sides and national age-group sides.
"We beat the North Island under-16 side at Carisbrook, the first time for many years. We had [North Otago's] Ross Hay in our team. We had to pick the New Zealand team afterwards and they were all going on about this Mealamu [current all Black hooker Keven Mealamu] kid, who had played on the openside for the North Island. Raving about him.
"But I said, 'hang on, we've just won the game and had this skinny white guy rule at the breakdown and help us win the game. He had all the skin off his knees, run himself ragged. He'd never let you down."
Baker has helped run the Otago Boys' High School rugby club, and that involved plenty of work off the field.
School teams has gone out to the provinces, so bus travel was a big part of rugby, as was finding coaches.
Saturdays would start at 8am and finish after the final school game in the afternoon, and then he'd be worrying about all the buses coming back from across Otago.
Twenty years ago buses did not have to go inland to find games as there were enough teams in Dunedin to play.
"You'd just go down to the local park, play your game for a couple of hours, and then go home. Now you're up to Upper Clutha, down to Telford. It had to happen - there simply weren't enough teams. "
Baker said society had changed and he acknowledged rugby did not have the same hold on people.
"Rugby is not the main sport of every person any more. There is just so much more to do."
But it was still a big part of his life.
"To me the most important thing was seeing how guys develop and moulding them into young men. It was a thrill to see a young man develop and become a success in their life. They still give me a wave from their BMW and say 'hey Ox, how's it going?' "
Baker declined to name a First XV from all the players he had been involved with at the school.
"It's just too hard, really - too many to leave out." He felt former Waikato forward Richard Jerram was the unluckiest player he had coached to not become an All Black.
He denied Otago Boys' poached players from other schools, saying players eyed up the opportunities they could get at the school.
"These guys know who is going to come back next year and see they might be able to develop their talent at Otago Boys'. But we don't head-hunt, never have, never will.
"The Otago union has never tried to steer certain players to one school. Not like in other provinces where players are told what school to go to. Is that good for Otago rugby? I don't know.
"The one thing I would say is with the Highlanders competition we are back playing in an under-18 competition while we used to play in an under-20 competition and one year an under-21 competition. Now we are playing against schools which used to play against our Second XV and our Second XV is playing in the under-20 competition."
Since the May 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 Foundation’s objectives. If you wish to find out more about how you can make a pledge or donation please contact the Foundation Office on 03 477 2546.
Officer Of The New Zealand Order Of Merit
John Turner (1956-1958) - Services to the meat industry
John Turner still constantly thinks about the meat industry.
Mr Turner (68), who has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, was a director of Alliance Group from 1987 until 2007, which included serving as chairman from 1998 until 2007.
He helped guide the company through a recovery from being in a weak financial position to becoming the world's largest sheep meat processor and marketer, with a turnover of more than $1 billion.
News of the honour came as "a bit of a surprise", he said, and he accepted it on behalf of all shareholders and suppliers.
He enjoyed his involvement with the industry and the people in it and, after going "full throttle", there was a "bit of a vacuum" when he left.
He was a strong advocate for the co-operative principles of ownership allowing farmers to become involved in the meat industry beyond the farm gate, encouraging them to become knowledgeable about the end-user of their products, thus ensuring quality.
While chairman, he initiated a range of programmes that encouraged farmers to be on the leading edge in the production and quality of their product.
He was renowned for his ability to examine situations from multiple angles and make sound commercial decisions.
He has also been a Southland district councillor and is a long-serving and active member of the Lions Club.
Now semi-retired, Mr Turner divides his time between the Mossburn farm, which his son has now taken over and where he still lends a hand, and Te Anau. Directorships on various private companies also keep him busy.
OBHS Old Boys vs King’s Old Boys Annual Bowling Match April 2011
It is now eight years since the start of this annual event, the last two seeing a full green of 64 players including our Rector Clive Rennie (1958-1961).
The last two years we have lost but only by a small margin (3 or 4 points).
Poor weather forced the use of our wonderful indoor stadium.
Once again the Old Boys’ Society made a generous donation towards the costs of the after match function, thanks Brent Alexander (1977-1981).
Thanks for the photo to Don Barkman (1947-1948) and to Ian Johnson (1948-1951) with his helping in organising the day.
Fierce Concentration At Interschool Competition
Emerging chess players gathered to contest the Otago-Southland Interschool Teams Chess Championship at Otago Boys' High School during the weekend.
School classmates came together to try to achieve the most prized chess move of all - the checkmate - against their opponents at the two-day competition.
Championship director Quentin Johnson said 36 chess teams of four players were involved with the event, in which the primary and intermediate competition was held on Saturday, while about 10 secondary teams competed yesterday.
Rising Otago Chess Club player Ben Clayton, of Tahuna Intermediate, was a study of concentration in his first round match, alongside team-mates Zac Mitchell, Naveen Sivasankar, and Grace Allan.
"I just go into my own world and zone out to concentrate," Ben said about his favourite chess strategy.
Tahuna Intermediate A won the intermediate grade (years 7-8), and John McGlashan A was second.
The composite Enrich E team, of Invercargill, won the primary grade (years 1-6), and Maori Hill Blue was second.
Tahuna A and Maori Hill Blue qualify for the national finals in Mt Maunganui in September.
In a tense, last-round clash yesterday, Otago Boys' High School A beat defending champion Logan Park High School 25-24.5 in the secondary section. Otago Boys B was third.
Interschool results for Otago Boys’ vs Christ’s on Monday 13 June held at home…
OBHS |
CHRISTS |
|
SQUASH |
4 |
1 |
SMALLBORE |
564 |
568 |
DEBATING |
249 |
257 |
BASKETBALL |
89 |
67 |
HOCKEY - Game 1 |
2 |
1 |
Game 2 |
2 |
3 |
FOOTBALL |
2 |
1 |
2NDXV RUGBY |
26 |
15 |
1STXV RUGBY |
55 |
0 |
OVERALL RESULT |
6 |
3 |
Interschool results for Otago Boys’ vs Timaru Boys’ on Monday 22 June held at home…
OBHS |
TBHS |
||
GOLF - GROSS |
484 |
525 |
|
NETT |
445 |
437 |
|
SQUASH |
2 |
1 |
|
TRAPSHOOTING |
254 |
254 |
|
HOCKEY |
2 |
2 |
|
FOOTBALL |
3 |
1 |
|
CROSS COUNTRY |
WIN |
||
DEBATING |
257 |
256 |
|
BASKETBALL |
121 |
48 |
|
1STXV RUGBY |
22 |
12 |
DRAWS |
OVERALL RESULT |
7 |
1 |
2 |
Celebrating Excellence
Relay – Ross Campbell, Hamish Cooper, Ben Wardhaugh, and Chris McNoe
The OBHS Junior Relay Team took top honours in the 2011 Caversham Harriers High School Relay. The team completed the course in 24 minutes 10 seconds with Hamish Cooper recording the fastest lap of 5 minutes 35 seconds. This is the 2011 fastest time. Hamish was followed by relay team mate Chris McNoe who came in third with a time of 5 minutes 44 seconds.
Junior Leadership – Sean Bellamy
Sean went on the Southland Area Junior Leaders course in April. The course was designed to teach leadership skills. Sean completed the course and was awarded the Endeavour Award for outstanding leadership development.
Milk Cup Squad Selection – Jackson Mitchell, Thomas Kindley, Avatar Singh, Jesse Smith, Lian Lam Sam and Shay Kerry
These boys were selected by Football Otago for the Youth Development Milk Cup Squad 2011. The team members are all talented players who will benefit from the intensive training their selection will offer.
Futsal Success – Ross Howard
Ross was selected and played for New Zealand in the World Youth Vikings Futsal Championships that was held recently in China. Playing nine games the New Zealand team finished in 2nd place behind China. The trip was an amazing experience which Ross will treasure for years to come. The team was based in Chengdu, with a population of eleven million people. To be in a city of that size was overwhelming. As the only tourists in the city the team provided a lot of interest for the locals who stared at them wherever they went.
Chamber Group Competition – Trio von Weber
Henry Hailes: piano, Tom Mottershead: flute and Dominic Shogimen: cello (Weber’s Trio Op. 63 1st Movement) competed in the NZ Community Trust Secondary Schools’ Chamber Music Competition (Otago Region) last weekend. Dominic: cello, and Tom: piano each competed in a second group with students from other schools. Their very fine performances reflected many hours of individual and group practice. They are all to be commended for the way in which they have managed their time and worked together during the last couple of months. Not only have they been rehearsing with their instrumental groups, but also with the Choirs. From the 41 groups who entered, Trio von Weber were placed in the top 4 and were one of the 3 to receive a Highly Commended Award.
Choirs
Boys have rehearsed very well for The Big Sing. Their commitment to performing with excellence is impressive. We can be proud of the standard our Choirs have reached to date. This year a record number of 22 Choirs entered the Otago/South Canterbury Regional Finals and our Boys’, Barock and Combined Choirs gave stunning performances. Three Choirs were highly commended - Otago Boys’ and Otago Girls’ High Schools combined choir Barock, Otago Boys’ High School Choir and Craighead Diocesan’s Craighead Choir. Four others were commended - Columba College’s Cantus Columba, Otago Girls’ Southern Hesperides and Otago Boys’ and Otago Girls’ High Schools combined Choir Tutti. The Barock Choir won the Millennium Trophy for the Best Pre-1930’s European song (Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs – Handel). The Boys’ Choir won the John Leslie Trophy for Choral Excellence (Masochism Tango - Lehrer). We await the selection of the top eighteen choirs from around New Zealand who will attend the National Finale in the 3rd week of August in Wellington.
Chess
During term one the annual Otago Boys’ Chess Championships were held to determine who the school champion would be both in the senior school as well as the junior school. Even though the number of entries were down on previous years the quality of entrants was better. Some very close games were played at lunchtimes and eventually it came down to Tom Mottershead playing Elliot Munro in the final of the senior competition and Joseph Brown playing Joel Smith in the junior champs. There was a high standard of chess played in the finals and the games were very even, especially in the senior finals with Tom being crowned the senior champion. Joseph played well to win the junior champs. For the first few weeks of the second term all the players from the championships played each other to determine the composition of the different school teams for the Otago Secondary School Champs to be held later in the term.
The teams were:-
A Team: 1 Elliot Munro 2 Tom Mottershead 3 Joseph Brown 4 Joel Smith
B Team: 1 Hossein Mohseni Mofrad 2 Josiah Hunt 3 David Morrati 4 Sam Guest
C Team: 1 Michael Baker 2 Patrick Sinclair 3 William Pelet 4 Tom Baker
The Otago Champs were held during this past weekend and our teams performed very well. Our B team started off very well by holding the mighty Logan Park team to a narrow 2 ½ to 1 ½ loss which helped our A team tremendously in the latter stages of the competition. There were some excellent games of chess played during the day and with one round to go the OBHS A team had a half point lead over Logan Park who they had to play in that last round. In a very tense final round the two teams fought out a 2-2 draw therefore enabling OBHS to be crowned the new Otago/ Southland Secondary Schools champions. The OBHS B team finished a very creditable 3rd and our C team finished in 5th position. Outstanding individual results for the tournament were Joe Brown and Joel Smith who won all their games and Tom Mottershead and Sam Guest who won 6 out of their 7 games. The win has qualified the A team to take part in the National Champs in Mt Maunganui in September. Congratulations must go to all the players who took part in a very successful tournament for OBHS.
Now living in England, John Garth (1961-65) took the time to answer the request from Mike Waddell (Chair Parents’ Rowing Committee) to write in about their rowing successes whilst at OB’s. He writes:
My life at OBHS began in1961 and I joined the rowing club in 1962. I rowed for the school until 1965 then went on to row for the Otago Rowing Club.
From memory, my crew wonmost of our schoolboy races or at least came second or third. During the summer holidays of 64/65 I rowed for the Otago Rowing Club which included regattas at Riverton and Oriti.
During one school holiday, Maurice (Spike) Jones (1934-39, staff 1962-1981) asked me and my crew to paint the corrugated iron roofon the Otago Rowing Club's training tank. It was a hot day and the four of us shared a couple of tins of paint that Spike had poured out of a larger tub. We spent the entire time painting that roof moaning like mad and comments like "I'm never going to do Spike a favour again" were repeated constantly. It was like trying to paint tar on to blotting paper!
The following Saturday, I went down to the Otago Rowing Club, as I often did, to teach myself single sculling. As I went to lift the single sculler off the rack, I spotted the big pot of paint that we had been using. Naturally, to satisfy my curiosity, I grabbed the tub and read the label. Dear Spike had supplied us with marine varnish.
We all know Spike’s favourite saying if you upset him in class. "Take your books and get out." or "Go on, get out." Well one sunny Saturday morning I was stroking with three novices behind me and Spike was cox/coach. I was repeatedly hit in the back by the end of an oar and, as one does, groaned every time this happened. After half a dozen such incidents, Spike told me to stop moaning. Many hits in the back later I could not refrain from indicating my displeasure any longer and let rip. Spike shouted at me "go on get out!". I stopped rowing and when the boat had nearly stopped moving, threw my right leg over the side. Spike shouted at me "Garth what do you think you are doing?”I replied "you told me to get out sir". Spike shouted at me, "Garth, don't be sostupid and get back in this boat now!"
Having won my last school raceon the North End course we put the boat away and walked back to join all the other crews. As I passed Spike I said, "two and a half lengths, that's not bad sir!"
Spike replied, "Garth, that boat was slowing down when it crossed the line!" Little did I know then what an influence that comment would have on the rest of my life. Thank you Maurice (Spike) Jones.
I was determined to end my schoolboy rowing days with a win and told the crew before the race that 2nd place is not an option. If we had not won I would have had to go back to school for another year. Thanks lads!
While on the subject of Spike I have to say that I always had the utmost respect for the man andwas disappointed not to be able to attend his funeral to pay my respects. However,on the day of the funeralI paid my respects bygoing out in my recreational single sculler for two and a half hours.
As I keep my sculler on Wootton Creek, I sculled up to Wootton Bridge, back down to the creek entrance and out into the Solent. I decided touse the jetty of the company I work for as the finishing line and that I would sprint through the line. I sprinted ten strokes past my imaginary linebefore easing off. As I sat there letting the boat slow, I looked up at the lovely clear blue sky and said, "Now try andtell me that boat was slowing Maurice”. Thanks for everything and rest in peace.
Following this scull, I went to my yacht club (Royal Victoria Yacht Club) which several Old Boys have visited with me in the past, and started to recover after a few pints.
I have a copy of a newspaper photo showing my four at the end of a race that we had just won, I think this was ‘65, my last schoolboy race and a photo of the entire school rowing club in 1963. I also have a photo of one of my crews returning to the Otago Rowing Club after a regatta. The names of this crew were as follows; Cox - J Williamson, Stroke - J Garth, W Campbell,G Frost, P Perriman.
Otago Boys’ High School Foundation has joined the Otago Alumni Connect programme along with other High Schools across the region. Alumni Connect is a service that helps High Schools establish and run an ex-student association.
The Otago Boys’ High School Foundation has one of the largest Secondary School Alumni databases in the South Island and has been a key supporter of the Otago Alumni Connect programme by providing advice and guidance to those schools joining the service. Alumni Connect is an initiative developed by the Dunedin City Council, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Otago Polytechnic and Tourism Dunedin. The sponsors’ goal is to highlight Otago and promote the region as a vibrant place to live, work, study and do business.
Programme leader, Stuart Dillon-Roberts has high hopes for the project. “Otago does punch well above its weight for the entrepreneurs and innovative businesses it produces. The Back in Dunedin website lists a few of these.Otago is also home to a large variety of events and we hope that Alumni members will visit the region and enjoy the events and activities on offer.The Alumni Connect programme is thankful for the advice and guidance from the Otago Boys’ High School Foundation.”
The programme’s websitewww.alumniconnect.co.nz lists the schools that have joined so far and it also explains the service more. Contact the Foundation Office if you want to hear more about this service.
The George Medal Winner from Otago Boys'
Dr Kenneth Edwin Tapper G.M. O.B.E. M.B. Ch.B, Dph (Oxon)
The origins of this family go back to Hampshire, England, where Henry and Harriet Tapper had two daughters, and two sons. A grandson, Robert, came to New Zealand and lived in Wadham House, Invercargill. Edwin Alfred Tapper was christened in St Mary's Church, Reading, on 7 March 1847, and married Elizabeth Cross before coming to New Zealand. The family business in Invercargill was in wood, wooden products, and iron merchandise.
Edwin and Elizabeth moved to Dunedin where Kenneth was born on 3 December 1889. As the family lived in Granville Terrace, Mornington, young "Eddie" attended High Street School from 1896 and then Otago Boys' High School from 1904 until 1908. Then it was to Otago Medical School from where he graduated with his degrees in 1914. On 19 April 1914, his father, Edwin Alfred, was drowned at St. Kilda beach.
The First World War had started, so Kenneth Edwin commenced his work as a house surgeon at Wellington Hospital, but soon enlisted in the New Zealand Ambulance Service and was sent to Samoa, Egypt, and Gallipoli from where he was invalided out to Malta and then England. After a few months sheep farming in Australia, he tried to join the Australian Army and then the Navy, but was rejected as unfit. He then became a ship's doctor with the mercantile marine, and sailing on a return trip from Sydney to Brisbane, his ship was converted into a transport, and Australian troops embarked for Durban, with Kenneth Edwin as assistant medical officer. Cerebro-spinal fever broke out; the senior medical officer was a carrier, so was put off, and Kenneth took charge. He stayed with the Australian Army and travelled to England where he became President of the travelling Medical Board for the New Zealand Forces. He was sent to Marseilles to evacuate a hospital ship; was awarded the rank of Major; appointed Deputy Assistant Director to the New Zealand Forces in England and was awarded the military OBE.
Kenneth Edwin Tapper married Ethel Napier Paxton Horsburgh in St. James' Church, Muswell Hill, London on 12 June 1917. Their daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Tapper, was born in London in 1918.
Following the war, he gained his public health degree from Oxford University and worked in Dorset, Lincolnshire, Nuneaton, and then, in 1927, to Bromley in Kent where he became the Medical Officer of Health. When the Second World War broke out, he became head of Bromley ARP casualty services.
In 1941, he was awarded the George Medal for - "great gallantry in his efforts to relieve suffering among air-raid victims. Dr. Tapper has on many occasions during enemy air attacks crawled under wreckage to search for and give treatment to injured casualties pinned down by debris. When people were buried beneath the wreckage of a German aeroplane and two houses, Dr Tapper gave medical aid to the victims while large unexploded bombs were removed. (This was in Johnson Road, Bromley, in November 1940.) Dr. Tapper has attended over 50 incidents, and his disregard for danger and desire to relieve suffering has been a source of inspiration to the Casualty Services. Those who have been associated with him in his work feel the honour is richly deserved". He responded by saying that he was only doing his job. He was proud but it was by chance that he received the honour and he considered it an honour to the casualty services.
Dr. Tapper and his wife, Ethel, retired to Keston, in Kent, and then Sidlesham near Chichester in West Sussex in the early 1970's. He died in 1981 in a nursing home in nearby Selsy, Hampshire, the County of his ancestors. His wife, Ethel, died in 1985 at the age of 91. In Bromley, their house was appropriately named "Mornington". Dr Tapper's brother-in-law, Dunedin-born Dr. James Horsburgh, also served with distinction in medical services in England, and was awarded the George Medal also.
During May/June, the Foundation Office sent an email to those Old Boys we know are residing in the UK. The purpose was to gauge interest as to whether they would attend an Old Boys’ gathering in July which coincides with Rector Clive Rennie’s visit to London.
To date we have 25 Old Boys registered and a total of 32 attending an event taking place on Wednesday 13 July at Suze in Mayfair.
Adam Dowsett |
1990 |
Gary Stevens |
1981 |
Kent Gardner |
1985 |
||
Adam Edgar |
1994 |
Geoff Davies |
Foundation Trustee |
Leighton Cassidy |
1987 |
||
Alistair Jeffery |
1979 |
Hamish Barclay |
1987 |
Lloyd Ibbotson |
1976 |
||
Alistair Wishart |
1990 |
Hamish Edgar |
1990 |
Nick Madden |
1995 |
||
Andrew Wills |
1979 |
Ian Youngson |
1989 |
Richard Ascroft |
1980 |
||
Campbell Gilbert |
1988 |
Jason Hope |
1983 |
Richard Keyse |
1973 |
||
Clive Rennie |
1958 |
John Garth |
1961 |
Rob Meredith |
2001 |
||
Derek Hope |
1956 |
John Taylor |
1981 |
Thomas Walton |
1990 |
||
Dexter Krol |
1968 |
Ken Baird |
1957 |
If you are living in the United Kingdom but did not receive this email, please make contact with the Foundation Office on admin@obhsfoundation.co.nz stating your full name and years of attendance at Otago Boys’ and letting us know whether you can attend this event.
60th, 50th and 40th Class Year Reunions will be held later in the year for the Class Years of 1951, 1961 & 1971 (respectively) which will see many Old Boys return to the school to reconnect with their alma mater.
Reunions have been very successful at the school since 2005 with decade reunions having now been held for the 1920’s, 1930’s, 1940’s. Class Year Reunions have been held for 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960 with the 1962 boys getting together in 2007 along with 1964-67 year groups.
However, the 1951 and 1961 Class Years are yet to meet so the Foundation is excited about bringing these groups back together. Equally so, we are looking forward to establishing our ‘40 Years On’ reunions starting with the 1971 Old Boys.
If you started Otago Boys’ High School in the 3rd form during these years make contact with the Foundation Office to register your interest to attend.
Class of 1951 – 60th Reunion
Calling all Old Boys from the Class Year of 1951 to join us for several exciting days catching up with old school friends and reconnecting with your school.
Old Boys’ from 1951 who have registered thus far are:
Alex BOAG |
Fraser BODDY |
|
Alister MCLENNAN |
Ian MARTIN |
|
Allan LYALL |
Keith ROBINSON |
|
Bruce HAY |
Roly JOHNSON |
|
Dave HENRY |
Ronald PARRY |
|
David RYDER |
Dates have been set for 14-16 August 2011. Please register your interest by clicking here
Class of 1961 – 50th Reunion
The year which saw the baby boom peak with 65,000 babies being born in New Zealand. It was the end of capital punishment in New Zealand, although the cane was still being flung by Rector Edward (Teddy) Aim, and the first Golden Kiwi Ticket was sold. But it was also the year those in the Class Year of 1961 started at OB’s and it is time to bring you all back.
Old Boys’ from 1961 who have registered thus far are:
Bruce BEATH |
John PASCOE |
|
Bryan WRIGHT |
Keith TOOMER |
|
Dai GILBERTSON |
Kevin HUNT |
|
Errol MACDONALD |
Murray MCKNIGHT |
|
Gavin CRAW |
Peter SMITH |
|
Graeme BOND |
Roger STEPHENSON |
|
Ian McCLYMONT |
Steve PILE |
|
John CROCKER |
Dates have been set for 30 September – 2 October 2011. Please register your interest by clicking here
Class of 1971 – 40th Reunion
John Lennon, James Taylor and Michael Jackson are all at the top of their game musically, Apollo 14 landed on the moon and an anti Vietnam War protest saw 35,000 take to the New Zealand Streets. Some of you may even have wagged school to attend the march but we hope you won’t wag this event.
Old Boys’ from 1971 who have registered thus far are:
Andy SOMERVILLE |
Hunter STEVENSON |
|
Geoff MORGAN |
John MARSH |
|
Geoff STEVENS |
Stuart McLAUCHLAN |
Dates have been set for 9-11 September 2011. Please register your interest by clicking here
IN ALL CASES WE ARE LOOKING FOR TWO OLD BOYS FROM EACH CLASS YEAR TO ASSIST WITH FINDING FELLOW CLASS MATES OF WHOM WE HAVE NO CONTACT DETAILS FOR.
IF YOU CAN ASSIST PLEASE CONTACT THE FOUNDATION OFFICE AT admin@obhsfoundation.co.nz
REGISTERED SINCE LAST NEWSLETTER 9
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS TO DATE 472
MAKE SURE YOU ARE PART OF THIS
HISTORICAL EVENT BY REGISTERING NOW!
Contact the Foundation Office admin@obhsfoundation.co.nz with ‘Register 150th’ in the subject line or call +64 3 477 2546, and leave a message. Include your full name and years of attendance.
As Fuel Prices Continue To Soar Out Of Control The OBHS Foundation Has An 
Exclusive Fuel Card Offer Available To All Old Boys, Past Staff And Their Immediate Family Members.
All Foundation card holders receive 5 cents per litre discount to the national pump price for petrol and diesel. Discounted petrol and diesel can be purchased at all BP, RD Petroleum and most Gasoline Alley retail sites along with Truck Stops.
HOW IT WORKS:
If Today the national price for a litre of 91 octane is $2.159 cents, the cost to you would be $2.109 cents. If on the West Coast 91 is priced at $2.389 cents per litre - those with Foundation fuel cards will still pay only$2.109 cents per litre. That’s a 28 cpl saving!
This offer is open to all Otago Boys' High School Old Boys, staff, parents of a student and their immediate family members so please pass this on to a New Zealand based family member you think may well benefit from joiningthe program.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND START SAVING ON ALL YOUR FUEL PURCHASES!
Individual Application – Click here
Limited Companies Application – Click here
John Victor (Jack) Evans (1934-1936) who passed away in Tauranga on 7 May 2011 aged 90.
Ernie Sharpe (1958-1962) aged 66.
Newsletter researched and compiled by Julie Cheyne and Douglas Kamo
The OBHS Foundation greatly acknowledges the support of the Otago Daily Times
from which many of the photos in this publication are sourced.
The Otago Boys’ High School Foundation acknowledges the assistance it receives from
Konica Minolta with all of its office printing requirements
