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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
As we edge closer towards the festive season and the end of the year it is time to start reflecting on the year that was and looking forward to the year that will be.
When I started in this role in January, I was working from home. My (and the Foundations) connection/presence within the school for the first 5 months was almost non-existent. Now a further 6 months on how things have changed.
We are well settled in our offices in the main tower block. Staff members have been terrific in supporting and getting to know us (my favourites being the canteen ladies – they make the best cheese rolls don’t they Shelly?). The Foundation is building interest inside the school by bringing more reunions and events onto school grounds. Students now knock on my door to ask for advice about applying for various Foundation scholarships, to enquire about Old Boys’ who may be able to mentor them; I have even had the ‘odd’ one or two sent up for a little ‘chat’. And parents often drop in to say hello.
So for me this year has been about building the Foundations relationship with the school. Building awareness of who we are and what our objective is. It has been about becoming a deeper part of the fabric of the Otago Boys’ High School community and looking at ways to engage our current students with more and more of the Foundations ideals.
So moving into next year I look forward to strengthening this relationship. I would like to thank Mr Rennie, senior management, the PTA, the Old Boys’ Society, prefects and The Foundation Board of Trustees for their ongoing support.
It has been tough again financially but we are positioned strongly to weather the storm. Thank you to our ongoing benefactors and to those new Foundation members who joined us in partnership this year. Your support of our ideals are greatly appreciated and never under valued no matter the level of contribution.
And that is the key – it is not all about the amount one gives but rather about playing a part. Next year all our Old Boys can play a small part. We have our very first ‘Annual Appeal’ going out early March where we will be calling for support from our Old Boys’ alumni to assist the school with certain projects.
But more about that next year…
Over the coming months we have several events and reunions that we are organising and I must stress that current students and parents are most welcome to attend any Foundation event – the Foundation should not and is not just for Old Boys. It is for the entire Otago Boys’ High School community.
I wish you all the very best for the festive season and look forward to continuing to rekindle your association with the best school in New Zealand – Otago Boys’ High School.
And one final word of advice - careful with your Christmas shopping – I found myself on the end of a witty sales assistant last week. I asked if I could try on the pair of trousers in the window and she said, “Absolutely not, you’ll try them on in the changing room like everyone else!”
Best regards,
Douglas Kamo
CEO – OBHS Foundation
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Click Here for More Information including Terms & Conditions
Or call Toll Free on 0508 011 737 and quote ‘Otago Boys’ High School’
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT – THANK YOU!
* Since the October 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
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.
Greg Turner (1976-80) played in the Bill Trewern Final Safari Golf Tournament fundraiser on Friday 19 November in support of students who are traveling to South Africa next year.
The team needs to raise more than $100,000 for the trip to play in the world schools tournament in Stellenbosch in April.
About 20 teams of four players competed in a teams stableford competition including Turner and Mahal Pearce (1989-93), both former New Zealand Open champions and Old Boys of the school.
An auction of sporting memorabilia and other items held in the clubrooms after the golf yesterday raised $16,000.
A bat signed by former New Zealand captain and Otago great Bert Sutcliffe sold for $840.
Jonathan Lemalu (1989-93) continues to make big waves in the world of opera with his latest portrayal of Porgy in Porgy 
& Bess at the Styriarte Festival in Graz.
Reviewers wrote, "the singers have charisma: Jonathan Lemalu: the quiet, reserved cripple Porgy, embraces the sounds and ideals of humanism that go far beyond the usual".
As Porgy, Jonathan, who was new to the opera, though many others in the cast were old hands said, "after all the research Harnoncourt (director of Porgy & Bess) had done he still wanted to hear our opinions. At first people would answer, 'Whatever you want, Maestro.' And he said: 'Look, we don't have time to be walking on eggshells. If you feel I'm doing something wrong, you need to tell me.'
He made us all feel the project was a collaboration, not his iron rule of law.
But always he would refer back to Gershwin's markings. I don't even know where he got the materials. He knew things that aren't in the printed score."
After nearly 50 years working with boats, you would think Jack Paterson (1960-61) would be looking forward to something a bit different in his retirement.
But, the 65-year-old just wants to spend more time on his own boat, when he knocks off work at Read Marine for the final time. "I'm looking forward to retirement. I'll be able to get out fishing on my boat a bit more often," he said yesterday.
Mr Paterson was 17 and just out of Otago Boys’ when he joined the company's parts department in 1963 - the same year present owner Latham Wardhaugh was born.
He later bought the company, but sold it three years ago.
The golden age of boating in New Zealand was the 1970s, he said, when the company was selling Glasscraft, Crestacraft and Plylite boats as quickly as new stock arrived. "We couldn't keep up with demand in the mid '70s.
The loneliness of a spell in isolation in Dunedin Hospital's oncology and haematology ward should be a bit easier for children and young adults after a $5,000.00 donation to kit out an isolation room with the latest gadgets.
Otago Boys' High School pupils raised money through head shavings, sausage sizzles, a hypnotist show and mufti days.
School council chairman Kyrin Gourley (2008-) said the boys chose to give to haematology and oncology because some pupils and teachers had been affected by cancer.
Kyrin's grandfather was in Dunedin Hospital receiving treatment for a form of lymphoma, while many other boys' families had also been touched by the illness.
Southern Blood and Cancer clinical leader Dr Blair McLaren, after receiving the cheque from the pupils at the hospital yesterday, asked them how they would like the money spent.
Pupils identified technological fixes to the tedium: flat-screen televisions, games consoles, DVDs, and iPods.
Kenny Kim (2006-10) was recently awarded a scholarship by the Otago branch of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers following a performance on the October 30 in the Mornington Methodist Church.
The scholarship was awarded to Kenny that included tuition fees and book vouchers’.
Kenny also gave an incredible performance at the recent senior prize giving holding the some 1000 strong crowd spellbound.
The branch presented it first scholarship for instrumental pupils at secondary school level in 1984. The list of winners includes many musicians who have contributed to the community locally, nationally and internationally.
The "Sherrins" are flying at Otago Boys' High School, and the boys kicking them are attracting some attention from across the Tasman.
The school, through physical education teacher Warwick Kain, formed an Australian Rules team a couple of months ago, and after a few practices and a game against some University of Otago students, went up to Christchurch to take on a side from St Bede's College.
Otago Boys' High School, which was up against a college team which had played the game for an entire season, did not let that lack of experience get in the way and beat the Christchurch school 42-26.
Otago Boys' scored six goals to St Bede's four and for its efforts picked up the Hawks Cup.
Six of the side - Ben Miller (14), Ash Wear (15), Daniel Murray (14), Luke Bishop (14), Chris McNoe (14), Luke Moeke (14) and Alec Chapman (14) - were the Otago players picked as part of a 24-strong national squad to play for the New Zealand Under-16 Australian Rules team.
Hamish Bond (1999-03) enhanced his status as one of the greats of Otago sport when he
rowed to the top of the world for a third time.
Hamish and rowing partner Eric Murray retained the men's pairs title at the world championships at Lake Karapiro recently after a titanic battle with Great Britain's Peter Reed and Andrew Triggs-Hodge.
Hamish won his first world title in the four in 2007.
Hamish (24) is a member of the North End club and values the help he has received from his first coach and mentor – Otago Boys’ Rowing Coach, Fred Strachan.
Greg Henderson (1990-94) is confident of getting a start in next year's Tour de France, and says the preparation for that race starts now, speaking of the recent Tour of Southland.
Greg was looking a likely starter for the Tour de France this year before he was dropped at the last minute for the Team Sky line-up. "I was pretty devastated to be honest. I couldn't believe it. Some of the directors of the team told me they couldn't believe their decision, but they went with Bradley Wiggins."
Wiggins had finished fourth in 2009 but this year never made any impact in the race, finishing well down the field.
Though 34, Greg felt he still had four or five years left in the sport in Europe. "I'm a bit different than a lot of them over there. I'm still relatively fresh, only been on the circuit for four or five years, not been slogging it out for 14 years."
He was back in Dunedin recently catching up with some old friends, for the first time in a couple of years. "Life is pretty good really. I live in Melbourne for three months of the year, then in Girona in Spain for the rest of the year. I've got a nice house there, living on a golf course in a nice area. I can't complain too much."
Sutcliffe Bat Goes Under the Hammer
A fifty year old cricket bat, personally autographed by the late Bert Sutcliffe, went under the hammer at the recent Bill Trewern Final Safari Golf Fundraiser.
The bat was made by Stuart Surridge of England and is a “New Zealand XI Bert Sutcliffe Autograph” bat signed in ball point pen with the inscription “Good Luck, Bert Sutcliffe” on the back.
The bat was owned by Otago Boys’ High School Golf Master Bill Trewern and was put up to raise funds for the school golf team to play in the World Schools’ tournament in Stellenbosch in South Africa next April.
“There are ten boys from school going on the tour and each one has to find $6500 for all of the travel and tournament expenses,” Bill said.
For Bill’s twelfth birthday, his father Jack took him into the Sutcliffe and Cederwall sports shop in Princes Street to buy the bat. Bert spoke to Bill at length and personally autographed the bat wishing him good luck for his cricketing career.
But it was not to be as Bill became engrossed with the game of golf and has spent most of his spare time involved with that sport in various capacities ever since.
“There were some pretty quick bowlers around and not much padding in those days and I remember coming home battered and bruised after facing the late Jim McDonald in the nets.”
And so the bat, which is in mint condition, had little use but Bill grabbed it from his parents’ home when he got married in case he had a son. “I wish I had also taken my collection of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck comics as they would now fund the entire trip for everyone.”
The auction of sporting memorabilia and other items held in the clubrooms after the golf tournament raised $16,000. The bat alone sold for $840.
UNUSAL COMMISSION OF ART
The wonders of the World Wide Web have led to an unusual commission for artist Ron Esplin (1962-1963).
After finding examples of Ron’s work on the internet, the United States based authors of a children’s book commissioned him to paint several landscapes based on the Dunedin area.
Entitled Uno Mundo [One World], the book will show the adventures of two young characters playing a game of Uno around the world. Authors Aliya Caler and Aviva Palmer have commissioned artists from places as diverse as Bali, Tunisia, Mongolia and Thailand to contribute images of their own countries. The characters — drawn by Kenya Von Zepplin — will be digitally overlaid.
‘‘It’s a fascinating process, I have really enjoyed being part of it,’’ Ron said.
While he was initially wary of being approached via the Internet, Ron found the project checked out and the authors had a Dunedin connection. ‘‘Back when they were students, the authors did volunteer work on an organic farm here,’’ Ron said.
With a background in studying conflict resolution and sociology, the authors were focused on giving the book an international feel.
‘‘They really wanted to include Dunedin in their book, which was great. It’s comforting that New Zealand is regarded as exotic,’’ Ron said. He chose to paint scenes from the coast near Taieri Mouth. ‘‘Along with views of the real coastline, I have added extra elements from the story — such as a sea lion and a local farmer.’’
From initial contact in August, the project has moved swiftly — the paintings are complete and the book will be published in 2011.
The Otago Rugby Football Union has set up a apprentice programme to help it keep young talent in the province and 4 current Otago Boys’ students have been selected to join the intake.
Troy Callander, Brodie Hume, Josh Renton and Michael Collins have all succeeded in joining the programme which Union commercial manager Mike Kerr said had been started so promising schoolboy players around the province could be given a targeted training programme by the union, and hopefully go on to make senior Otago sides.
"If this programme was around when Richie McCaw was coming through then we wouldn't see him today playing for Canterbury," Kerr said.
The players would have training camps through the summer, be given a gym programme and individual coaching.
ONLY 50 TICKETS LEFT - FAULTY TOWERS - END OF YEAR COMEDY NIGHT
There are still good seats available for the upcoming end of year comedy night on Wednesday 8 December. If you have not seen this show we strongly advise you get a group together and get along – it is funnier than the word funny.
This show is exclusive to all Otago Boys' Old Boys', staff, parents and their connections (in other words anyone you know!)
Basil and Sybil are off on holiday but find their restaurant in full of diners. Always keen to make a buck Basil launches head first into action, Sybil is screaming at Basil for booking all the guests and where is Manuel?
Show includes 3 course buffet dinner, 2 hours of hilarious entertainment and a guaranteed stomach workout!
Book now by contacting the Foundation Office on admin@obhsfoundation.co.nz or calling 03 477 2546
Dates have been released for this wonderful occasion which will see our Old Boys’ from the decade of 1940 return to their school some 60 to 70 years on.
The reunion is scheduled for 21 & 22 February 2011 to coincide with the Christ College interschool & 125th anniversary cricket match between the two foes.
Interest in this reunion is outstanding with 96 Old Boys’ and 42 partner/companions registered to date.
The official 1940’s Registration Form and Programme will be available online shortly
To pre-register send an email to admin@obhsfoundation.co.nz with ‘Register 1940’s’ in the subject line or call the Foundation office on +64 3 477 2546. Please include your full name and the years you attended Otago Boys.
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 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 $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', 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 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.
Individual Application – Click here
Limited Companies Application – Click here
Fred Henderson (1944-47) passed away on 20 October 2010 in Auckland. He was 79 years of age.
New Zealand Golf lost one of their game’s great contributors recently in Fred Henderson.
Fred was internationally renowned as a golf referee who played a major role in the development of the sport in this country over the last 30 years.
He became President of New Zealand Golf, a position he held for six years and was awarded a Life Member of New Zealand Golf in 2007.
Fred spent two decades as a senior rugby referee in Auckland, before taking up golf and decided a better understanding of the rules would assist his game. That led to a position of chief handicapper at the Remuera Golf Club which in turn led to a similar position with the Auckland Golf Association and a role with a trial of modified course rating and handicap systems which were implemented nationally in 1984.
Fred piloted into general use the New Zealand version of the American Slope course rating and handicapping system.
He was a high profile referee that took him on duties around the world. He refereed at a World Cup, the World Matchplay, 10 British Opens, five Irish Opens, several European professional tournaments and two Eisenhower Trophy world amateur events.
At the 1996 British Open at Royal Lytham, Fred was assigned to the group comprising Tiger Woods, Darren Clark and Retief Goosen and a couple of years later walked Royal Birkdale with Jack Nicklaus and Payne Stewart.
He was an advisory member of the rules of golf and amateur status committees of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and also was still an active member on the same committees for New Zealand Golf.
Fred is survived by his wife Jill, daughters Tracey and Torie, son-in-law Brent and grandson Nick. His funeral will be held at St Mary’s in Holy Trinity, Parnell, Auckland on Friday at 2pm.
Lex (Alexander Colin) MacDonald (1930-34) died in Dunedin on 11th October 2010 aged 93 years.
He was born in Dunedin and went to Maori Hill School and then onto OBHS. He played tennis for OBHS and later joined the Balmacewan Tennis Club. Whilst studying at Otago University part-time he was awarded a University Blue for tennis.
He was employed his entire working life by the National Mortgage and Agency Company starting as an office boy and eventually becoming the trading manager in charge of imports and exports. He retired in 1973. After his family, his main interests were music and sport.
He was very involved with St Pauls Cathedral singing in the choir for 15 years and also on Vestry, Chapter and the Diocesan Trust Board. He was a member of the RSA choir for 26 years.
He joined the Otago Golf Club when he was 20 playing there until he was 80 when he had to resign due to ill health. A highlight was a hole in one at the 12th (The Mount) in April 1991 aged 74. He played many times in the Old Boys vs Present Pupils golf tournament.
Lex was president of the OBHS Old Boys Society in the early 1970’s and was a Friend of the OBHS Foundation. He was president of the Old Boys’ when Sir Keith Park and Sir Douglas Baden visited for the opening night of the film ‘Reach for the Skies’.
Lex is the father of Bruce MacDonald (1966-72)
Willis Robert Weatherall (1949-50) -passed away in Roxburgh on 29 September 2010 aged 75 years.
Ron (Ronald) Chisholm (1943-45) - Passed away peacefully on the 29 October 2010 aged 81 years
Douglas Stewart (1935-1936) – RNZAF passed away on the 14th November 2010
Bernard Haslemore (1941-1942) - Passed away on the 15th November 2010
Gerald Williden (1941-1942) - Passed away on the 16 November 2010, aged 83. Uncle of Max Williden (1966-70), Bryce Williden (1969-73) and Greg Williden (1969-73)
Steve Davie (Past Foundation CEO and Foundation member) whose mother Heather passed away at Dunedin Hospital on October 29 aged 77 years.
Graham Dawson’s (1956 -1957) - wife Jocelyn passed away on 31 October 2010
Allan Evans (1936-1937) – wife Jeanette passed away on the 17 November 2010
The Otago Boys’ High School Foundation acknowledges the assistance it receives from
Konica Minolta with all of its office printing requirements
