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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
January 2012 - Newsletter
IF YOU WISH TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE FOUNDATION, PLEASE RING 0-3-477 2546,
EMAIL info@obhhsfoundation.co.nz OR WRITE TO US AT P O BOX 11, DUNEDIN 9054
From the desk of the Foundation’s Acting CEO, Andrew Moffat….
School’s back! Happy New Year everyone – let’s hope 2012 brings you everything you are hoping for. It will be a big year for the Foundation as we tackle the difficulties of being a charitable organisation in a world which is yet to fully recover from the economic doldrums of the past two or three years. But we will get there – the Foundation’s vision for the School is too important to give up on, that’s for sure!
Another matter that will become very important during the year ahead is the 150th Anniversary Celebrations which are now next year! It hardly seems any time at all since we were first discussing the Sesquicentennial and people were saying “it’s only 5 years away” – well, time has flown and now a major event in the School’s proud history is just 18 months from now.
Speaking of major events, this one from the past, I’d like to share a good story with you…..one of the great things about the work done in the Foundation office is the opportunity to link people together, and also to witness some truly great stories unfold. A recent example of this started when an email arrived from France with an enquiry about family members of an Old Boy, Brian McPherson (1936-1940). As many Old Boys will recall, Brian – Head Boy in 1940 – was one of two New Zealand officers killed on HMS Neptune when it sank in an uncharted minefield off Tripoli in the early morning darkness of 19 December, 1941. The other was also an Old Boy - Bruce Thompson (1924-1927). In total 763 sailors were killed – there was just one survivor. Over 150 New Zealanders died….sadly, eight of these were OBHS Old Boys which is a significant number from any one establishment.
In 2008, the hard work of Brian’s younger brother Nigel McPherson (1943-1947) and Bruce’s son Royden Thomson (1953-1958) was fulfilled with the unveiling of a memorial on Dunedin’s waterfront at Customhouse Quay, dedicated to HMS Neptune and to the 30 Otago men who perished when it went down. As an aside, another Old Boys’ connection now comes into play: the memorial was designed by Niel Wales (1940-1945).
The email received at the Foundation office was from the son-in-law of an English woman now living in the south of France who is a second cousin of Nigel and Brian McPherson, having met the latter in England during the war, when Brian was at the Naval College in Dartmouth. His loss at sea had had a great impact on her and now, at the age of 84, she had spoken to her son-in-law of her desire to contact Brian’s surviving family which prompted him to email us at the Foundation after an internet search revealed a connection.
The rest, as they say, is history with phone and email contact now established between Nigel McPherson and his long lost relative with hopefully more contact possible in coming months. With Nigel’s permission, we will keep you informed through the Newsletter of any further developments in this interesting and somewhat heart-warming story.
And as a footnote, Nigel advises that there is another similar story happening in his family at the moment as well. His father, John McPherson (1905-1906), served in the 1914-1918 conflict and was wounded at Gallipoli – recently Nigel has been contacted by the family of a good friend of John who served with him during World War I and subsequently was his best man in 1919. Another interesting story is in the offing….
John McPherson is not only an Old Boy but presented two cups to the School for Athletics. These cups are still being presented today, most recently at the Senior Prize-giving last November, for pupils in the 'intermediate' division: the Col. J. M. McPherson Field Events Championship Cup and the Col. J. M. McPherson Distance Championship Cup.
These are the stories which make the Foundation’s work so worthwhile – so, please, keep supporting the work being done for the benefit of your old School, and for the Old Boys fraternity of which you are a very important part.
All the best
Andrew Moffat
Acting CEO
MAKE SURE YOU ARE PART OF THIS HISTORIC EVENT. REGISTER NOW!
Come back to School from 1 to 4 August 2013 and celebrate the 150th Anniversary of OBHS. This promises to be a huge event, and one which you will not want to miss. For more information please go to the newly launched website www.obhs150th.co.nz, email us on info@obhsfoundation.co.nz or call +64 3 477 2546.
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS TO DATE 487
The Foundation’s ever popular Golf Tournament is being held for the seventh year in 2012. Once again, it is to be hosted at the St Clair Golf Course – this year on Friday 30 March. It would be wonderful to see a full turnout of players, sponsors and other supporters.
If you’re keen to sponsor a hole we have just 3 left at this stage, or if you’re wanting to play, individual and team entries are now being accepted. Please ring the Foundation on 477 2546, or email info@obhsfoundation.co.nz for more details and an entry form.
Sponsoring a hole, which includes a team entry, costs just $500 incl GST, while playing entries are $200 incl GST for a team of 4, or $60 incl GST for an individual.
Get in touch soon – this field for this event traditionally fills very quickly each year.
Congratulations to the following Old Boys who were honoured by HM The Queen in the New Year’s Day Honours List 2012. Thanks to the ODT and The Gisborne Herald for the use of some of their material below.
THE QUEEN’S SERVICE MEDAL
Dr Ralph Bradley Allen (1962-1966), Dunedin, services to conservation
Dr Ralph Allen spent 10 years driving the community effort to establish the Orokonui Ecosanctuary as a lifeboat for threatened native species, including several years working as a full-time volunteer.
Many people have commented on his ‘‘sheer determination’’ to make the project s
ucceed, a description he does not disagree with. ‘‘I remember someone saying to me I would never raise the money to make it happen. I thought ‘bugger it, I will’,’’ the retired plant ecologist, conservationist and self-confessed environmental activist said.
Dr Allen (63) was a founding trustee of the Otago Natural History Trust which was established in 1983 to build a ‘‘giant aviary’’ in Dunedin to house native birds. The trust soon went into recess but was revived in 1999. Dr Allen was its long-time chairman but resigned last year because of ill health.
The 307ha ecosanctuary with its 8.7km-long predator proof fence was opened in 2009. So far, $5.5 million has been spent on capital developments, all funded without bank loans.
Asked about his honour, Dr Allen said it was a cliche, but it should be shared by the hundreds who had contributed. ‘‘I might have been the one who came up with the idea, but no-one does something like this on their own . . . And I couldn’t have done what I did without the support of my wife and family.’’
Dr Allen said he also hoped the honour also recognised some of his other ecological contributions over 40 years, including being part of the Save Aramoana campaign, Native Forest Action, and co-founding Dunedin’s first environment centre.
Trevor Alan Beaton (1964-1966), Christchurch, services to education
After 15 years as Principal of Cobham Intermediate School in Christchurch, Trevor Beaton retired at the end of Term 1 2011. However, he’s not putting his feet up just yet. Trevor is involved in the harness racing industry as a breeder, based on his property at Aylesbury, where he is enjoying life on the farm and is in the process of putting down a track.
Keep an eye out for “Mirthful Mac” a 4 year old pacer which Trevor owns in partnership with Ross McKerchar, a former pupil of Trevor’s. “Mac” has had 13 starts for 1 win, 1 second and 4 third places to date.
Graeme Ernest Mudge (1946-1951), Gisborne, services to the arts.
IT can’t be easy to embarrass the generally-gregarious Graeme Mudge but, when visited at his home this week, the Gisborne artist looked just that. “I don’t know how this could happen when, really, all I’ve done is what I wanted to do,” he says of being named a Queen’s Services Medal (QSM) recipient in this year’s New Year honours list.
Acknowledged for his services to art, he says that aside from a diversion into teaching, he always planned to work full-time as an artist. However, it could have been different.
As a primary school student growing up in Otago during World War 2, he and his good chum Ted Bullmore (1933-1978) — also an artist — would spend hours drawing various models of fighter planes shooting each other out of the sky. But when Mr Mudge actually got the chance to learn to fly a plane in his teenage years, it did not work out. “I went up six times and six times I spewed,” he said.
So art school it was — the start of a life that has for nearly 50 years been lived in Gisborne where the artist’s paintings, sculptures and murals are as much a part of the landscape as the landscape itself. Though a little bemused at his appointment, he says it is important that the arts be acknowledged, “and I hope it will be good for Gisborne, too. Perhaps I was selected because I have spent my life painting ordinary people and ordinary things. What I have provided is people’s art for the people.”
THE NEW ZEALAND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE DECORATION
Sqn Ldr Keith Murray Bartlett (1989-1993), Auckland, RNZAF
After leaving OBHS, Keith Bartlett completed a Honours degree in Phys Ed and most of a Human Nutrition degree at Otago before joining the RNZAF in 1998. He completed pilot training in 2001 and after being in the Strike Wing until its abolition began flying P-3K Orions. During an initial 4 year tour he had 2 deployments to the Middle East and then returned home to instruct at the Pilot Training Squadron before returning to No 5 Squadron in 2008, to again fly Orions. Shortly after this Keith (by now a Squadron Leader) was posted to the Orion P-3 Systems Upgrade Project in Greenville Texas. At the time of the posting, he had no time to qualify as an Orion Qualified Flight Instructor. His deployment was continually extended due to unforeseen aircraft flight performance issues. These challenges required flight testing well beyond the scope, complexity and duration of the original flight test programme.
With no formal training and minimal preparation, he was also required to develop and verify flight deck instrumentation and automation procedures, train the flight deck crew and manage systems engineers and operators conducting mission systems integration testing onboard the modified P-3K2 aircraft. These were development testing events that a senior Qualified Flight Instructor would be unlikely to encounter during the entire span of a career. Squadron Leader Keith Bartlett’s contribution was instrumental to the successful completion of the P-3K2 aircraft project.
Adapted from www.nzdf.mil.nz
Lt-Cmdr Simon Campbell Griffiths (1988-1991), Auckland, RNZN
A FORMER Dunedin man says he is honoured to be recognised for a part of his naval service that has been the ‘‘absolute highlight’’ of his career so far. Lieutenant-commander Simon Griffiths is on leave after handing over command of offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington early this month and before he takes a promotion to his next position as commander of corporate services early in 2012.
Lt-cmdr Griffiths was born in Gore and attended OBHS after moving to Mosgiel at the age of 13.
Speaking from Auckland, he said to receive the honour for his time in command of Wellington, which had been the highlight of his naval career so far, and on the eve of his 20th anniversary with the navy, was particularly special. Lt-cmdr Griffiths led the ship through its introduction to service trials and readiness evaluations, culminating in the navy’s first operational deployment to the Antarctic for 40 years, in February. While there was much historical information on operations in the area, there was no practical experience in operating a vessel like HMNZS Wellington or up-todate knowledge of ice navigation in the area. While the ship was departing the Ross Sea, it spent 12 hours conducting an extensive, but ultimately fruitless, search for a recreational adventure vessel that put out a distress call soon after a significant storm.
Lt-cmdr Griffiths joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as a midshipman in January 1992. He is married with three children under 4 and still has family in Gore and Dunedin.
MEMBER – NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT
Terry Smith, United Kingdom, for services to New Zealand-United Kingdom relations
Whilst not an Old Boy of OBHS, Terry Smith deserves a mention in this article for his commitment to honouring the memory of one of our most distinguished former pupils. Terry never met Sir Keith Park (1909-1910) . But as a historian with a father who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF), he had long known about the man whose tactical expertise and calm under pressure resulted in Britain fending off the Germans during the first major air battle of World War 2. Sir Keith, commander of Royal Air Force 11 Group, was in charge of defending London and the southeast.
Mr Smith, now chief executive of a London financial firm, has invested countless hours of his time, gathered support from more than 10,000 people and donated between $NZ1 million and $2 million of his own money to a campaign for a memorial to Sir Keith. He is in no doubt Sir Keith deserves to be recognised and remembered.
As you’ll recall from the last newsletter of 2011, part of your Board’s deliberations on the Foundation’s forward thinking centres around the fact that whilst we have confirmed contact details for 7,531 living Old Boys, only 419 have so far made a financial contribution and have thus become Foundation members. We would dearly love to at least double that number (or better) because new members are the future of the Foundation. We need your support!
Since our last newsletter, Ian Connor (1950-1954) who had previously supported last year’s Annual Appeal, has now become a Friend of the Foundation and has also taken up membership of the Archibald McIndoe Bequest Society. Ian is these days a semi-retired paediatrician and lives in Canada. We appreciate your donation Ian.
Peter Warren (1965-1966) has taken up the Old Boys’ Society Lifetime Membership option – his support is very much appreciated.
We have also had a further pledge payment from Grant Bowie (1971-1975) who lives in Macau, under his Trustee Membership of the Foundation – we are very grateful for Grant’s ongoing and extremely generous support.
And our latest new Member of the Foundation is also a current Board Member – Paul Twemlow (1991-1995) who has taken up Associate Fellow Membership of the Foundation. Thank you Paul.
We are genuinely appreciative of the continued support and belief in the Foundation’s objectives shown by those Old Boys who have become Foundation Members. If you wish to find out more about how you can make a pledge or donation please contact the Foundation Office on 0-3-477 2546.
Old Boys are constantly featuring in the Otago Daily Times, whether they be cricket coaches in Kenya like Mike Hesson (1988-1992) or long-time St Clair residents like E A ‘Sam’ Newton (1934-1936) who both appeared over the holidays for example. Prester John’s Talk of the Times is always a good source of Old Boys’ news….as shown above! On December 7th, four Old Boys were mentioned in 3 separate articles: Dylan McTaggart (1989-1993), Jolyon Manning (1947-1951), Clark Isaacs (1945-1949) and Graeme Jenkins (1942-1947).
Another ODT article which attracted our attention before Christmas was in the page 2 Q&A section where Paul Sharp (1974-1978) was the focus. The article is reproduced below with the kind permission of the ODT…..
Red Cross work gives to community
Paul Sharp is a mild-mannered computer graphics artist at Animation Research. But when he logs off, he is the Dunedin Red Cross emergency response team leader. He tells Nigel Benson how he got into volunteer work.
Why did you become a volunteer with the Red Cross?
‘‘My wife, Janine, saw an ad in the newspaper in 2003 looking for volunteers. We both joined and she is the office administrator here now. One of the principles of Red Cross is volunteers. They’re our lifeblood.’’
What does your position involve?
‘‘I look after the operations of the team and make sure they’re prepared for emergencies. It includes things like training the team in Dunedin and making sure everyone’s happy and ready to do what we have to do. We also do first aid at events, typically on weekends.’’
Why do you find it rewarding?
‘‘There’s a great camaraderie in the team. It’s a very diverse group of people coming together for a collective purpose. Working in a team with a commitment to doing something positive for the community.’’
What is the time commitment required?
‘‘We train weekly for two to four hours and there’s regular training throughout the year. You’d do half a dozen training weekends a year, easily.’’
Has it changed since you started?
‘‘There was more of a focus on LandSAR work in the past, but that’s become less of our role and it’s more about the welfare side of things now. We went to the two earthquakes in Christchurch. We were doorknocking around the suburbs, taking people water and supplies, among other things, and making sure everyone was OK and didn’t need anything. But it felt like you were doing something positive. We’re trying to get a model consistent around the country, so if we have to respond to something in another area and join up with members of other teams we have all received similar training and know what everyone’s capable of.’’
What have been some of the challenging aspects?
‘‘You have to have a commitment to training. It’s an ongoing thing and you have to balance that with work and family commitments, otherwise family can suffer a bit.’’
Have there been any emotionally difficult times on searches?
‘‘It was emotional in Christchurch to visit an elderly lady and she burst into tears when she opened the door because she hadn’t seen anyone in five days. But callouts can be very diverse. My first active callout was rescuing a dog that fell off the cliffs at Tunnel Beach.’’
Has your volunteer work put you in any interesting places or situations?
‘‘I get to do a bit of search and rescue work with LandSAR and MarineSAR, flying around in helicopters and things. I’ve been very lucky to get involved in that. I have a passion for aircraft and flying.’’
And also in the ODT recently….
Ex-Dunedin man finalist in UK NZer of Year
A passion for promoting New Zealand abroad has resulted in former Dunedin man Kent Gardner (1985-1989) becoming a finalist in the UK New Zealander of the Year Awards. Mr Gardner was born and raised in Dunedin and, after attending OBHS received commerce and law degrees from the University of Otago.
He has lived in London for the past 10 years and was a founding partner of property fund manager Evans Randall. The company has £4 billion ($NZ7.6 billion) of assets under management, including the Gherkin building in London.
Mr Gardner is also a commissioner of the Crown Estate Paving Commission and a trustee of the UK Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
Last May he created Step Up 4 Christchurch, a charity stair run up the Gherkin, which raised about £325,000.
Other finalists include another Evans Randall partner, Paul Kendrick, formerly of Stratford and New Plymouth, now of Horsell Common, and Bronwen Horton, formerly of Christchurch, now of the UK, both of whom were also involved in the stair run event.
The award will be presented at the New Zealand Society’s annual Waitangi Day charity dinner in London on Februry 10.
Those of us who were able to make it to our luncheon in early December with Brigadier Dr Brian McMahon were treated to a wonderfully interesting and extremely humorous expose of Brian’s time spent working as a surgeon in war zones around the world and as a teacher at the medical school here. I have spoken to many of those present who enjoyed catching up with old school mates they hadn’t seen for a very long time - and that’s what the Old Boys’ Society is all about. We will be holding a few more functions throughout the year so please keep an eye out for more information and I look forward to seeing you there.
I must confess to feeling a little emotional when I sent my 15 year old son, Nick, off to school on Monday for his first day as a senior (Year 11 / 5th form). The uniform has changed since ‘our day’ – the juniors have no jacket & the grey jersey of old has been replaced by a nice navy blue one. The seniors still wear the white shirt and long grey pants but they all have a smart navy blue blazer now which I recall previously was the preserve of the prefects or blues recipients. My father, Frank (Old Boy 1944-46), laments the days when they all had to wear caps but this has long since been done away with. So the present day uniform is very smart but I’m sure it will only be a matter of weeks for the jackets to be discarded and the shirts to be untucked. Remember it’s not what you wear it’s how you wear it that counts!
I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a great year. Many of us have been through a tough time in business but there will be opportunities arise that we need to capitalise on in the coming months with the knowledge and fortitude that we have built up over the last few years. Things will never be the same so get used to it. It’s up to us to make the most of what we have and to make 2012 a success.
Happy New Year.
Brent Alexander
President OBHS Old Boys’ Society
We acknowledge the recent passing of the following Old Boys of the School:
Barry McKenzie Hill (1942-1946) – in Auckland on 17 November, aged 82
Alan Alfred Joel (1935) – in Salisbury, England on 18 November, aged 90
James Eric (Jim) Murray (1945-1950) – in Mosgiel on 29 November, aged 80
Alan Ronald (Ron) Quennell (1946-1948) – in Tauranga on 13 December 2011, aged 79
John Russell Brown (1951-1953) – in Tauranga on 14 December 2011
Dr Stuart Wendon Agnew (1936-1941) – in Auckland on 28 December 2011, aged 89
Thomas Lewis (Tom) Morgan (1941-1944) - in Alexandra on 1 January 2012
Desmond Dynes Sharp (1941) – in Wellington on 6 January 2012, aged 85
Rodney Bernard French Eastgate (1929-1932) – in Christchurch on 7 January 2012, aged 95
Kenneth Foster Nicholson (1932-1935) – in Wellington on 10 January 2012, aged 94
Donald George Alfred Munro MBE (1927) – in Adelaide on 18 January 2012, 8 days after his 99th birthday
In last September’s newsletter, we acknowledged the passing of Professor James Lawrence (“Laurie”) Wright, father of Bill Wright (1960-1964) but in doing so, inadvertently omitted to mention that Laurie was also an Old Boy, having attended OBHS 1928-1931. An obituary reprinted from the ODT now appears on our website in the “In Memoriam” section.
We will remember them….
A PAGE FROM HISTORY
Donald Munro
Donald's career began in 1938 when he first performed as a baritone in New Zealand. He then travelled to wartime London to study at the Royal College of Music, where he was awarded the prestigious Tagore Medal -awarded annually to the outstanding student of the year. He later travelled to Paris to study with the legendary baritone Pierre Bernac from 1946 to 1948.
Donald returned to New Zealand in 1951 and began teaching in Dunedin. A move to Wellington followed where he continued to teach, whilst performing many works including those of Douglas Lilburn.
Donald is celebrated for establishing New Zealand's first Opera Company in 1954. His primary goal was to "take opera to the people", ensuring that rural districts were visited as often as the city centres. This bold venture was kept afloat by Donald's ambition and drive - and sometimes his own pocket. Under Donald's management, the Opera Company was allowed a Maori cast in the production of Porgy and Bess. They were the first company in the world to have the Gershwin family relax its ruling that the cast be entirely Negro. This opera was a huge success in New Zealand and helped establish the careers of many Maori singers.
As the Opera Company grew and prospered, Donald was able to accept opportunities such as a Government Bursary to study opera production and management at Glyndebourne. He was involved in the production of many significant New Zealand works including Ngaio Marsh's A Unicorn for Christmas with music by David Farquhar, performed for the Queen during the Royal Tour of New Zealand in 1963. In 1960, Donald was awarded an MBE for services to opera.
When his involvement with the New Zealand Opera Company ceased in the mid-1960s, Donald accepted an invitation to lecture at the University of Adelaide, where he became Dean of Music from 1974 to 1978. During this time Donald was appointed to various government arts funding bodies in Australia.
Donald Munro lived in Willunga, South Australia but until 2010 still managed to visit New Zealand annually and participated in the life of the Arts Foundation. Never one to fully retire, Donald was still teaching singing aged 98!
In early January, Donald celebrated his 99th birthday with a few select friends, his four children, two of his five grandchildren – and he was also introduced for the first and only time to his great grandchild (Rose Martens, born just a fortnight earlier) as shown in the photograph. Donald passed away just eight days later in his sleep.
Another new year and what looks like an increase in the roll. We are confident that we will settle at between 930-940 students. Our Year 9 enrolment is down marginally but the increase comes from a very high retention of boys in Year 12 and 13. The Year 13 number looks to be around 185. This seems to be a reflection of the economic climate with very few jobs available.
Staffing has been very stable with three new staff, only one of which is a replacement. Dave Henderson, one of our young staff elected to go on his OE at the end of 2011. George Kay has returned after a year in the Middle East.
Early in 2012 we will have a major upgrade of our cabling and IT capability, a spend in the region of $500k. This recognises the importance of electronics in the modern educational environment. Later in the year we will also have broadband capacity brought into the school.
At this point I am not able to make comment on the quality of results from 2011 because the NZQA seem to be having some difficulty putting together the combined results for schools. However our knowledge of individual results would indicate a better level than in 2010.
We have had a busy week with senior students and their parents coming in to confirm or negotiate courses for this year. Deans and Senior Managers have set standards and guided students into the appropriate subjects and levels.
One of my major goals this year is to ensure that the community do not have misconceptions about our number one priority. Yes we have a very good reputation as a sporting school but more importantly we are aiming for academic excellence and reinforcing our reputation as an academic school.
I hope you all have enjoyed a good break and have come back refreshed and revitalised ready to rip into the New Year. Dunedin was certainly the place to be this summer. Who would have ever thought that was possible.
Clive Rennie
Rector
As fuel prices remain high 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 anyone you think may well benefit from joining the programme.
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND START SAVING ON ALL YOUR FUEL PURCHASES!
Individual Application – Click here Limited Companies Application – Click here
Newsletter researched and compiled by Andrew Moffat
Click here for a copy to print
The Otago Boys’ High School Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of
the Otago Daily Times from which some of the articles and photos in this publication are sourced, and also acknowledges the assistance received from Konica Minolta with all of its office printing requirements
