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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
School news
* The winter interschool dates for terms two and three have been released, so please mark your calendars accordingly –
Foundation members
* 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 –
Finding our fellow Old Boys
* I’ve mentioned from time to time the progress made with tracking Old Boys.
When the Foundation was launched in June 2005, we had accurate and up to date contact details (mainly postal) for fewer than 500 Old Boys. We now know the whereabouts of about 4,000 (that number comprising 3,000 email addresses and a 1,000 who have postal addresses only). That increase represents good progress but the bare facts are we still have contact with only 25% of the living alumni.
I would ask that you look in the Class Lists (top left hand side of the Foundation’s website home page – www.obhsfoundation.co.nz) where you can delve into any year group from 1863 to 2006. There you will see a clear indication of our progress – those who have a yellow tick alongside are on the Foundation’s database and are receiving the newsletter, while those who have died are marked accordingly.
It’s the gaps where we need help.
If every boy with whom we have contact passed on the accurate details for one other for whom we don’t, we would double our numbers. If that exercise was then repeated, with those newly ‘found’ also playing a part, we would have tracked all 16,000 living alumni.
Any assistance you’re able to provide – email or postal addresses or even a ‘phone number – would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Help!
* As we continue to track the ‘missing’ Old Boys, we occasionally lose contact with alumni with whom we had rekindled a link.
In recent times, slipping off the radar have been –
John Grant (1969-74) who was living in Auckland;
David Reid (1962-64) whose last address was Ilkley in Queensland, Australia;
Graeme Wilson (1961-64) who was living in Timaru; and
Graeme Pepper (1963-64) who was living in Waimate.
If anyone has any contact details for these Old Boys, we would appreciate receiving those, allowing the reconnection to be made.
Anzac Day hymn
* Those who attended last month’s Anzac Day dawn services in Wanaka and Paraparaumu were privileged to hear for the first time an Anzac hymn written especially for New Zealand services.
Colin Gibson (1946-50), Emeritus Professor of English at Otago University, penned the words to the music written by prominent lyricist Shirley Murray. The hymn was written in memory of Ms Murray’s uncles, Norman and Jack, who served with the Otago and Southland Regiment at Gallipoli, along with the conscientious objectors of war, such as the Rev Ormond Burton, who became a Christian pacifist after his heroic wartime exploits at Gallipoli and at the Western Front.
Since the early 1990s, Ms Murray had sent copies of her lyrics to Professor Gibson who set them to music for piano. The recent collaboration resulted in the creation of the hymn tune Anzac and picks up elements of the Last Post, reflecting the sorrow of war.
Now in the hands of New Zealand Hymn Book Trust chairman John Thornley for publishing, its spread throughout the country has gained momentum. It will be offered to all brass bands and RSA branches for playing at next year’s Anzac Day servicesand its seems there is a very good chance it will also feature at the 2008 commemoration at Gallipoli itself.
Reunions
* Momentum is building towards the staging of a reunion of the 1957 third form intake with the dates being 12th and 13th of October. This is the weekend prior to the Labour Day holiday.
A deadline of 30th June for registrations has been set and the organisers urge Old Boys who are keen to be involved to make their intentions known sooner rather than later. Assistance in tracking alumni not known to the Foundation is also critical.
* It is also not too early for plans to be set in motion with regard to the intakes of 1958 and 1959, with much of the early energy being expended in tracking Old Boys and ensuring as many as possible are given the opportunity to attend.
The Foundation can help with supplying the contact details for those already on its register along with assisting with some of the logistical work (the likes of posting notices on its website and in newsletters, along with arranging venues and catering in Dunedin).
If there are Old Boys from the 1958 and 1959 intakes willing to assist in this planning of reunions for these years, please contact the Foundation office.
Congratulations
* A number of Old Boys attended a recent New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants function in Dunedin to mark their longevity in the profession, all those in attendance having been active members of the institute for more than half a century .
Percy Wellington (1925-28) was the oldest of the assembly and is the longest serving member in Otago, with 74 years to his name. He is the third-longest standing member in New Zealand.
Having retired nearly 30 years ago, the 96-year-old maintains his annual subscription and his interest by keeping up to date with the legislation and following today’s trends.
* Doug Davies (1940-42) and his wife Melba celebrated a significant milestone in their married lives last month.
Doug and Melba celebrated the diamond anniversary of their marriage on April 23rd 1947. The couple have three daughters,two sons, 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
A retired agronomist and farmer, who spent much of his working life with the DSIR, Doug along with Melba has retired to Auckland’s North Shore.
Old Boys’ Society
* Following the establishment of a new branch of the Old Boys’ Society in Wanaka and the revitalisation of the South Canterbury and Auckland branches, there are moves afoot to reinvigorate the Wellington enclave.
Watch this space!
Where are they now?
* Gerald McGhie (1953-58) continues a hectic lifestyle from his Wellington base.
Currently Chairman of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, a Foundation Trustee of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation, and a Board member of the New Zealand Chapter of Transparency International, Gerald’s early working years were spent with Shell Oil (New Zealand).
He graduated from Otago University in 1964 with an honours degree in History and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the following year. Since that initially appointment, Gerald has spent time in posts as far-flung and diverse as Samoa, New York, Moscow, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Korea.
He was Consul General in Hong Kong, High Commissioner in Papua New Guinea and Ambassador in Moscow and Korea, and with the Ministry he has been involved in and responsible for Middle East and African Affairs, External Aid activities, United Nations work and Public Affairs.
In 1999, he was granted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fellowship to attend Victoria University of Wellington where he was a Joint Fellow of the Institutes of Public Affairs and Asian Studies. After returning briefly to the Ministry, he became the Acting New Zealand High Commissioner in Zimbabwe and later Tonga. He also led the New Zealand component of the Australia and New Zealand peacekeeping mission to Solomon Islands immediately following the Townsville Agreement in 2001.
In 2002, Gerald became the Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, retiring from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that same year. In 2003, he became Interim Director of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and continues as a Board member.
He was awarded the Queens Service Order (QSO) in 2004.
Gerald is also Chairman of the New Zealand Chapter of the Berlin based anti-corruption organization - Transparency International (TINZ). TINZ, among other things, administers on behalf of NZAID a substantial sum to assist Transparency International’s Pacific Chapters. He is a fellow of the Asian Studies Institute of Victoria University of Wellington and is on the Editorial Board of the International Review, the only publication in New Zealand dedicated to the discussion of international affairs and New Zealand’s foreign policy.
A sought-after speaker on international affairs, Gerald has also published widely on subjects relating to the Pacific, Russia, terrorism and United States Foreign Policy.
His interests, when time permits, include reading, classical music, cricket, mountain biking and walking the dog.
Recent deaths
We extend our condolences to the families of the following Old Boys –
Euan Gordon Grigor (1961-65), died in Rakaia on 17th March 2007, aged 59. Euan was the brother of Dr John Grigor (1954-57), who now lives in Wellington, and Ross Grigor (1955-59), who died in 1999.
Donald John Sim (1935-40), died in the Montecillo Veterans’ Home in Dunedin on 12th April 2007.
Denis Alexander Potter (1929-32), died in Nelson on 21st April 2007, aged 92. Denis served with the 5th Field Regiment during the Second World War.
Doug (Walter Douglas) Holt (1931-32), died in Dunedin on 27th April 2007, aged 88. Doug worked in the carrying industry. Our sympathy to Doug’s son, Stuart Cole (1965-66).
Noel Russell Ellison (1934-36), died in Dunedin on 27th April 2007, aged 86. Doug served in the Second World War with the RNZAF and was an accountant in civilian life.
Roland Chase Anderson (1936-38), died in Tauranga on 29th April 2007, aged 84. Roland served as a Flight Sergeant with the RNZAF during the Second World War and worked for much of his civilian life with the Inland Revenue Department.
We also extend our sympathies to –
Peter High (1963-66), whose mother Jean died in Auckland on 21st April 2007.
Grant Shanks (1962-66), Selwyn Shanks (1964-67) and Neil Shanks (1967-70), whose mother Clara died in Dunedin on 22nd April 2007.
Murray Sheat (1974-75), whose mother Ann died in Christchurch on 26th April 2007.
Matthew Direen (1990-94) and Simon Direen (1996-2000), on the passing of their grandfather Alexander, who died in Dunedin on 28th April 2007.
Steve Davie
Chief Executive
