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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 Daily Times reporter David Loughrey (1974-77) pays a tribute to his father with a remarkable story of the warfare on atolls and small islands in the Solomons whilst fighting the Japanese during World War 2. He writes…
Sharing cigarettes with Japanese prisoners of war; a lifelong problem with vertigo kicking in while climbing rope nets on the side of a ship; and the fear he experienced during night patrols in the jungle searching for the enemy are some of the stories told by my family concerning my fathers World War 2 experiences.
Another, told to me shortly before his death, was of the American pilots of a landing craft training their weapons on their Kiwi passengers - whom they deemed too keen on shooting at Japanese planes buzzing above - lest they draw fire.
My father was 5ft 6in (168cm), a gentle man and a gentleman, about as far from the soldier of popular imagination as it is possible to get.
But he was a part of the conflict that tore apart or ended the lives of so many, and Lance Sergeant Loughrey's war experiences echo those of so many others from families across New Zealand.
As part of 3rd New Zealand Divisional Artillery, my father's war was what has been described in as a "mopping-up" operation, clearing the Solomon Islands of Japanese after the Americans had taken Guadalcanal in a bitter campaign in 1943.
After the victory the Americans began to move north, and the New Zealand 3rd Division, garrisoned at New Caledonia, began its work.
My fathers story began a few years earlier…
A friend who served with him, had, with my father, joined the Territorials in 1937, training at St Kilda, where council housing now stands. He recalls…
"We were both in the 14th Battalion, artillery, at St Kilda. That's where we were, that's where we started out. A lot of people were in the Territorials. We joined up because we wanted something to do. That's where I met Keith. He was a signaller; I wanted to be one too. God, we had some fun reeling out the signal wire. Weekly parade was on Monday night, there were weekend camps at Mt Cargill and Whare Flat with mock battles, and week-long camps at Sutton. We would sleep in tents, and there would be live shooting up the back of the Lammerlaw Range. There were rocks that were painted white. We'd shoot those. Things changed when war broke out, and troops were sent to a three-month camp at Wingatui racecourse, We had great times out there. We'd get into town on leave; there was a train from Wingatui. We'd go back into town, into the Criterion pub. We had no right to be there, we were only 19 or 20. That was followed by a train trip back "as full as ticks".
Their next move was to Papakura, a military camp south of Auckland and then shortly after they were boarding the USS West Point, formerly the cruise ship America, with about 8000 troops, on December 27, 1942.
On September 13, the move began to Vella Lavella. The 3rd Division's operations on Vella Lavella ran from September 21 to October 9, 1943. The New Zealanders killed between 200 and 300 Japanese, with the remaining 589 Japanese personnel being evacuated on the night of October 6-7. Total New Zealand casualties were 32 killed and 32 wounded.
The regiment's next move was to Nissan, or Green Island where operations ran from February 15 to February 27, 1944. The heavily reinforced 14th brigade made an opposed landing on Nissan Island against dogged Japanese resistance on February 15. The small Japanese garrison resisted the invasion strongly but was overwhelmed by the much larger New Zealand force, with organised resistance coming to an end on February 23. New Zealand casualties were 10 killed and 21 wounded.
Beyond the fear and madness of war - it was the boredom that gnawed away at the men.
"We had a lot of free time, time on your hands to get completely bored. Most blokes were sitting around with some hobby; some would do great artworks out of old shell casings. Other "hobbies" included making "jungle juice", alcoholic concoctions made of everything from fruit juice to peanut butter”
With my father, another way to fill the time was by trying to remember every pub in Dunedin, and planning a day visiting the lot.
In early 1944 the New Zealand Government faced a manpower crisis caused by the demands of maintaining two divisions overseas while simultaneously maintaining agricultural and industrial production to meet the needs of the Allied countries. The decision was made to disband the 3rd Division.
Lance Sergeant Loughrey's war ended in July 1944, when he disembarked from a ship in Auckland, and his record shows him remaining with his unit, but his health by then meant he was "not fit for the tropics".
There was one final operation carried out, with two troops attempting to fulfil the island dream of visiting every pub in Dunedin.
They made it from Normanby as far as St Clair.
The new OBHS Foundation office is now open. The office can be found on the second floor of the main block at Otago Boys’ High School and anyone is welcome to pop in and say hello.
Just go to the main reception and the staff will point you in the right direction.
New Contact Details:
Douglas Kamo
Chief Executive
Otago Boys’ High School Foundation
PO Box 11 – 2 Arthur Street – Dunedin
New Zealand
P: + 64 3 477 2546
F: + 64 3 477 5468
M: + 64 027 272 2980
Since the April 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
Planning is well underway for the 50th reunion of the intake of 1960. This event has been scheduled for 8 & 9 October 2010 and is a wonderful opportunity to rekindle friendships and your connection with the school.
Registrations are open and we are expecting a great turnout for this 50th reunion. Please register your interest early with Ray Hay (1960-62) on +64 3 474 5853 or ray@ciigroup.co.nz
The proposed programme is:
Friday Evening Catch Up Drinks
Saturday Morning Registration
Official welcome
Photographs
Saturday Afternoon Lunch
School Museum Display
Saturday Evening Drinks and Official Dinner
Sunday Farewell Brunch
Depart at leisure
More details will follow including accommodation options, tourist activities and a full programme itinerary. Please stay tuned to the website and newsletter or contact Ray Hay (1960-62) on +64 3 474 5853 or ray@ciigroup.co.nz
* Registrations for the 2013 150th celebrations continues to grow
If you wish to note your interest in being involved, please do so through an email to the Foundation (info@obhsfoundation.co.nz) or a telephone call (+64 3 477 2546), the message to include your full name and years of attendance.
A hard-working committee is already deep into planning for the event with a tentative programme comprising the registration and an associated cocktail party on Thursday 1st August along with the playing of the Commonwealth’s oldest rugby interschool against Christ’s College; Friday also featuring registration, the chance for tourist activities and an evening concert showcasing some of the school’s best musical talent – past and present; Saturday’s activities will centre on school tours, photographs and the official sesquicentennial dinner; and on the Sunday there will be a church service or services and a final farewell.
OBHS Old Boys and Kings Old Boys contested the annual lawn bowls competition at Balmacewen Bowling Club on 14 April. This competition has been contested now for 7 years and Kings has had the upper hand. However, the worm is turning, the OB’s defeat this year was by only 2 points.
Great weather and for the first time a full green was achieved (64 players) including OB’s Rector Clive Rennie.
After the bowls an enjoyable social hour took place with afternoon tea provided by the Ladies of the Club, capping off a splendid afternoon.
More players are always welcome and needed – contact Bill Butler on 03 467 5667 or Ian Johnson on 476 7758.
DAVE BOND – STAFF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Dave Bond (1965-69) was the 2009 recipient of the Otago Boys’ High School Foundation Staff Development Scholarship enabling the winner to undertake additional training in a subject of their choice. Dave is using the scholarship to attend ICOTS8, an international conference held every 4 years on the Teaching of Statistics. This year the conference is being held in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and runs from Sunday July 11th to Saturday July 17th.
Of particular interest to Dave are a series of papers on teaching at the secondary school level, and the use of technology in the teaching of statistics. The opportunity to meet people who are driving changes in statistics and to hear of new directions and focus will no doubt be an invaluable experience.
Dave has taught mathematics at Otago Boys’ for 34 years and is currently deputy to the Head of Department and responsible for junior mathematics. He also teaches statistics at year 13 and Rector Clive Rennie (1958-61) says he would challenge anyone to find a teacher with more scholarship winners to their name in Otago.
Dave has also organised all Otago Boys’ cricket teams for 25 years, he coaches both rugby and cricket each year and he also manages the school skiing team to the annual South Island championships.
TREBLE WIN FOR OB’s LAUGHTON
She grew up in the country and had never heard of surf life-saving until she went to university.
Open heart surgery gave Otago Boys' physical education teacher at Carla Laughton a new lease on life and she has made the most of it by achieving a significant milestone in New Zealand surf life-saving.
Carla is the first life-saver to win gold medals at all three national championships. In 2007, she won three gold medals in the pool championships at the Kilbirnie Swimming Pool in Wellington. She completed the treble last month when she joined sister Stephanie (23) to win the tube rescue at both the surf championships at Ohope Beach, in Whakatane, and the IRB championships at Waipu Cove, north of Auckland.
Carla was a keen pool swimmer in her early teenage years but was forced to give up the sport at the age of 15 because of congenital heart problems. "There was a narrowing of the valve to the aorta and I couldn't pump enough blood," she said.
Carla got back into pool swimming with Duncan Laing's squad at Moana Pool when she was a physical education student at the University of Otago, but is now starting to work on her kayaking skills.
EXCEEDING ‘GREAT EXPECTATIONS’ - DRAMA
Young actors from OBs’ and OGs’ exceeded expectations when tackling the enormous task of staging Charles Dickens - ‘Great Expectations’ – the combined college’s production for the year.
Director Emily Duncan (Drama & English Teacher OBs’) says the play adapted for stage by Dean Parker was a “challenging and engaging piece of theatre that was an ambitious choice for the young actors and actresses”. The actors included Sam Madden (2008-), Nick Tipa (2008-), and from Otago Girls’ – Katherine Graham and Millie Lovelock.
Incredible support was given from students and staff of both schools to develop the set, wardrobe, props and performances. Equally so, the support shown from the community both in the form of ticket sales and appreciation at the final curtain was outstanding.
Great Expectations ran for 4 performances from 29 April.
HIGHLANDERS FIRST XV COMPETITION
Every game means something to Otago Boys’ when it begins the Highlanders First XV competition this year. The competition consists of a full round-robin, after which sides will split into three sections of four.
However, there is a slight change from last year; the teams that finish at the top of each pool will play two home games. Their only away games will be against the teams at the bottom of their respective pools. The change means there is more reward in finishing top of a pool.
The competition, which is sponsored locally to the value of $100,000 is battled out between 12 teams from Southland, Otago & North Otago.
Otago Boys' was hard done by last year, just missing out on the final by a bonus point, but looking at the results of the two games played thus far you must wonder if there is any competition at all.
On 1st May OB’s played Verdon College in Invercargill and won 62 – 0 whilst on 8th May they must have wondered why they bothered when an absolute lesson was given to St Kevin’s College with a cricket score of 103 – 3 at Carrisbrook.
Grant Sneddon takes over as coach from Bevan Townsend, and he will be assisted by Brian Free.
Old Boy, Hayden Parker (2004-08) is one of three Otago players to be picked for the New Zealand Colts to play at the Junior World Championships in Argentina in June. The Taieri first five-eighth will be one of the 26-strong New Zealand squad. The selection process, which began in November last year, has been a grueling experience. Ninety players were initially picked, then narrowed down to the lucky few at the end of April. Hayden was a member of the Otago Under-19 team in 2009. Originally from Kurow, he was a flanker until halfway through his time at OBHS, where he was switched to first five.
Arthur Klap (1965-1968) chief executive of the New Zealand Winter Games, believes obtaining Government funding is the “key” to ensuring their future. Non-commercial sponsors were needed to provide about 40% of funding for there to be confidence to go ahead, he said. The first New Zealand Winter Games were held successfully in August last year.
Highlanders chairman, Ross Laidlaw, (1963 -1967) has expressed disappointment in crowd numbers for home Super 14 games this season. With only two wins for the side out of nine games and sitting 11th on the table, spectator numbers had failed to meet expectations. Laidlaw said he believed the situation could be salvaged if the Highlanders could win their last four games.
Dunedin City Councillor, Michael Guest (1963-67) expressed surprise recently that some property owners could be required to collect sheep droppings accumulating on their land. He claimed that the rule had been ‘missed’ during councillors’ initial scrutiny of a draft bylaw aimed at protecting neighbours from nuisance, odour or threat to public health and safety. The droppings would either have to be stored in a fly-proof container and disposed of, or buried under 50mm of soil. Cr Guest said there were clearly some anomalies that would need to be addressed.
Dunedin Fire Brigade Society chairman Paul Clements (1963-67) said it was "fantastic" to have one of Dunedin's oldest surviving motorised fire engines back in the city after an absence of many years.
The engine was built in 1916 and the next year became the first of three Dennis fire engines to start operating in the city.
It was the first fire engine in the city that could pump water from a hydrant, the machine much later ended its firefighting career with the Ravensbourne Volunteer Fire Brigade, being decommissioned in 1953.
The fire engine was later converted for use as a tar spreader and risked being broken up for scrap when bought by the students.
A restoration is underway with plans for its completion to allow the engine to take part in the 150th anniversary of the Dunedin Fire Brigade next March.
Peter Chin,(1954-1958) is one of three mayors to lead a delegation of 22 Otago leaders later this month at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. Mr Chin said it would be a chance for Dunedin to strengthen its sister city ties with Shanghai, and a chance to showcase a slice of Dunedin and Otago life to the world.
Among those invited to attend receptions hosted by the delegation in the New Zealand pavilion was the Mayor of Shanghai, Han Zheng, and other top political figures. “It’s an opportunity to say welcome to our place at your place,” Mr Chin said. “I will be meeting Shanghai officials at a level that only the Prime Minister can. That’s the nature of the sister city relationship – that’s the importance of it.”
Otago University Professor and senior research geologist, Dave Craw (1966 – 1970), believes politics will determine whether there is gold mining in the Coromandel or the West Coast. Both the Coromandel Peninsula and around Reefton were areas which were technically capable of being mined he said.
Professor Craw was attending a Science Media Centre briefing for journalists on the debate over the sustainability of mining. He said that not a lot of science went into decisions like whether or not to mine. “It is political. It is driven by the community,” he said. The historical Coromandel gold deposits were much richer than those in the South Island, and the gold was easier to extract. “I have a suspicion that’s why the mining industry is quite keen to get back into the Coromandel.”
Professor Craw runs a programme on the environmental effects of mining. He said that “keyhole mining” could extract the most valuable portion of an ore body. But in some cases it might be more economic to use opencast techniques to take out more of the ore.
Duncan Croudis (2005-09) has again been in the 
headlines for his remarkable golfingachievements. Recently being profiled in the Academy OtagoTalent Xcelerator he spoke of his goals and accomplishments to date.
“I’d like to be a successful professional golfer. I train, on average, 15 hours a week. I compete in tournaments around New Zealand all year long and in 2009, I competed for the first time overseas in China.
Academy Otago is providing him with assistance, support and services across several areas that will enhance his performance.
“I am privileged to be the current recipient of the Sir Bob Charles Scholarship. My greatest sporting achievement so far has been winning the New Zealand under 19 title in Auckland, in September 2009”.
In the short term, Duncan says his sporting goal is to continue to play for New Zealand whilst his long term vision is to become No 1 on the New Zealand men’s order of merit.
There is no doubt he is well on target to achieve all his ambitions.
Tom Wilson (2008-) has just returned from Mexico winning a gold medal for Ice Hockey in the U18 NZ National Ice Hockey team. The International Ice Hockey Federation division 3 World Championships tournament was held in Monterrey, Mexico from March 14-20. Tom has a list of achievements in ice hockey having played for Thunder (the premier men’s team) as the youngest player last year and playing again this year, winning gold at the nationals in Auckland last year, and on the winning OBHS A team Schools League last year.
Robert Mears (2006-) was invited to trial for the NZ Junior Rowing team at Lake Karapiro near Cambridge on the 6th to 13th April. The team, once selected, will compete at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic in early August this year. It is testimony to Robert’s hard work this year, and the work of his coaches Fred Strachan and Royce Wilson.
At the end of last term Matt Aitken (2006-) travelled to Wellington as part of the inaugural Athlete Leadership Programme – Global Messenger for Special Olympics NZ. Matt will attend four workshops during the year with AUT Shine Sport facilitating the programme, the first has been held with goal setting and leadership being explored.
Prime Minister John Key launched the programme at Parliament where he presented certificates and spent the evening chatting with the ten athletes. PM Key talked to Matt and surprised him by knowing that he is a pupil at OBHS, he also talked to Matt about life after school.
Bryce Smith 1941/46 writes in response to Wilf Simenaur (1943-46) recollections from the April newsletter.
It took me back 73 years to Mornington School - Standard 3 - 4 when two refugees landed in our class room - Bill Wallace was the teacher - and these two boys spoke little English. Yes they were Frank and Wilf. In later years I remember Frank as a determined"Fives" player and later Wilf an accomplished Cellist.
Wilf mentioned biking with John Matheson another fine musician who was in my form. He and Ray Windsor with good music reading skills forced me to develop playing by ear as we all played together in Roy Spackman's Wednesday lunchtime violin lessons.
In the following years I gave up the violin, concentrating onMidder Northey's Gym group and Beau Botting's Rugby. Thanks for the memories!
Living Like Royalty
Ken Baird (1957-61) and his wife Marie are off on a new adventure! They are going to the UK to manage an old house for the London owners, who come down to the Cotswolds at weekends from their Kensington apartment. And?...
Well, we think OBHS is old – but the house Ken & Marie are looking after was built in 1690 – between the time Abel Tasman discovered New Zealand and Captain Cook’s first voyage. It is not a large house – only 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, but the whole ground floor is for entertainment – a reception lounge, family lounge, entry foyer (with pictures painted directly on the walls depicting Faith, Hope & Charity, Summer & Winter), dining room and billiard room. The top floor is one large room designed for the ladies to walk up and down for their exercise during inclement weather. There is an attached 3 bedroom house for the minders. Ken & Marie are looking forward to providing for the owners and their (sometimes Lords and Ladies) guests as well as some chauffeuring duties as the owner does not drive. We wish them all the very best with their new venture.
For a view of the house go to www.places-to-go.org.uk/burford_greathouse.htm
War Bride Stories on Show
A new exhibition that has opened at the Dunedin Settlers Museum tells of the story of thousands of war brides who waited anxiously at home for news their intendeds had survived the conflict, before boarding ships to sail thousands of miles to start a new life.
Otago bride Terrie Southgate was one such bride who met her former husband Nisbet James Scott (1935-36) on a blind date. She arrived in New Zealand on the bride ship the Empire Hague as one of 28 brides, and spent her married life on a farm with Mr Scott in Central Otago where the couple had 10 children.
High flying Dave Gerrard, a local and national sporting hero to generation of Old Boys, has been honoured yet again. Gerrard was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the end of April. The former Olympic and Commonwealth Games head received the honour at a function hosted by Government sports funding agency Sparc in Wellington.
The annual Baldwin St Gutbuster event, held on the world’s steepest street, has been scrapped after 21 years. Numbers have dwindled in past years and it is believed that the popularity of the annual Baldwin St Jaffa races may have had some impact on declining numbers.
The gothic ruin on St Clair’s clifftops, Cargill’s Castle, should soon be undergoing stabilisation. Cargill’s Castle Trust is keen to develop the area as a clifftop park and visitor attraction. It is ultimately planned to have it incorporated in a coastal walkway.
Pat Finnegan (1941-43) passed away on 7 April 2010, aged 83.
We can look back on Pats achievements through his writing career that includes co-authoring the magnificent ‘Tapestry of Turf’ which traces the history of New Zealand horse racing from its earliest days through to 1988, the writing of ‘Racing with Radio Pacific’ and ‘100 Years at Wingatui’.
In his earlier years, Pat was a sportsman of considerable talent – making the 1st cricket XI in his first year at Otago Boys’, representing Hawkes Bay as a 16 year old and going on to play for many years for the champion North Shore senior cricket side in Auckland through the 1950s.
His book ‘Tapestry of Turf’, a tome of more than half a million words and 250 illustrations, covers the period from the arrival of the first thoroughbred in 1840 through to the mighty deeds of Bonecrusher in the 1980s. All the great gallopers are included – Lurline and Carbine, Desert Gold, Gloaming, Phar lap, Kindergarten, Mainbrace, Rising Fast, Balmerino, Showgate, McGinty and Bonecrusher.
Both Pat’s father and uncle attended Otago Boys’ - Daniel Joseph Finnegan (1919) and Francis Winton Finnegan (1915-17) respectively.
Ron (Ronald) James Reid (1931- 1933) passed away at Redroofs Rest Home, Dunedin on May 7, 2010, aged 92. After leaving OBHS he qualified with a Diploma of Agriculture from Lincoln before becoming a farmer. He was father to James Reid (1964-67)
Bruce Andrew Cartwright (1975-1978) at Christchurch Hospital died suddenly after a short illness on 3 May 2010, aged 48.
Edwin (Eddie) Arthur Bray (1954-1956) passed away on 25 April 2010, aged 69.
Raymond John Watts (1934-35) passed away on 12 April in Wellington aged 88 years. He started work as a Customs Officer in Dunedin before becoming a well respected businessman in Wellington.
Hugh Charles Dickson(1931-33) passed away on 25 January in Dunedin aged 93 years.
John Robert Veitch (1952-54) passed away on 20 December 2009 aged 72 years. John played first class cricket for both Canterbury and Otago spanning the years of 1957 through to 1965.
Colin Dimmock (1946) passed away on 12 October 2004 aged 77. Colin was a retired school teacher in Invercargill.
Euan Kay (1951-52) whose brother-in-law Leslie Murphy passed away on 16 April 2010
Address: c/- S. Inder,, Box 39, Ranfurly
Denis Claridge (1968-71) whose mother Jill Claridge passed away on 17 April 2010
Address: P.O.Box 337.Alexandra.
Russell Barnett (1954-56) whose wife Irene Barnett passed away on 19 April 2010
Address: 113 Dukes Rd, RD2,Mosgiel
Researched & Compiled by Doug Kamo
