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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
Early year momentum is building nicely for the Otago Boys’ High School Foundation and progress with both fund raising and our ever-growing calendar of events gives us great heart as we launch into the next phase of activity.
You will see below the list of new Foundation members, and we are very grateful to those Old Boys, and those who pledged their support last year, for their generosity and their early grasping of the Foundation’s ideals.
Our calendar of events has given a good deal of early-year entertainment with Peter FitzSimons delighting crowds in both Dunedin and Wanaka with his tales of facing the mighty All Blacks as a Wallaby player and his observations of sporting life in general; and the inaugural Foundation Golf Classic, staged in association with Colin Strang Financial Services, drawing an excellent field at St Clair.
The next event is the Not 1 But 2 Hypnosis & Magic Show in the school’s auditorium on March 20th and 21st. This show will provide two hours of side-splitting laughter and we urge you to book early through the Foundation or the school’s office.
Planned for later in the year is a luncheon with Contiki founder, John Anderson - this set down for Friday, 1st September. And it’s likely a May/June luncheon will also be held if an appropriate, high-quality speaker is found.
Quality is the keynote for everything the Foundation undertakes, just as a quality of education is the objective of the school.
One of the main tasks the Foundation and Old Boys’ Society is currently involved with is the tracking of all of the school’s Old Boys - dead or alive. Obviously those living are the subject of most attention as we look to build the most up to date and comprehensive register ever compiled in the school’s 143 year history. But those who have passed on also form a huge part of the school’s history and their details are just as eagerly sought.
As noted in the January newsletter, the tracing of the school’s alumni and the growth of the Foundation’s funds are seen as priority - and we would enjoy joining forces with you in both areas.
Since the January newsletter, the following Old Boys have made pledges or donations and have been registered as Members of the Foundation -
Geoff Stevenson (1956-60), Associate Fellow
Ross Gourley (1943-48), Donation
Jim Robb (1937-41), Donation
Russell Harris (1950-53), Donation
Neville Horne (1954-56), Fellow
Philip Kirk (1974-78), Associate Fellow
Lawrence Alloo (1981-85), Scholarship through Superior Minerals
Greg Strang (1983-87), Fellow
Warner Barber (1954-56), Associate Fellow
We are grateful to all of our Foundation members who have grasped the concept and have shown a willingness to back that belief in a tangible manner.
TICKETS ARE NOW being sold for the Not 1 But 2 Hypnosis Show to be hosted in the school’s auditorium on 20 th and 21 st March.
These shows will feature internationally renowned South African hypnotists, Dave and Wesley Upfold, and highly regarded magician Brent McLeod, a pupil at Otago Boys’ (1976-1979), the performances coming south with a reputation as one of the best ever to be seen.
Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $15 for students and pensioners. With only 460 able to be seated in the auditorium each night, these shows will sell quickly. If you wish to purchase tickets please make contact with me.
HIGH QUALITYLUNCHES are planned for each of May/June and September (Contiki founder John Anderson is booked for 1 st September), with the annual Foundation Dinner scheduled for October.
THE INAUGURAL ANNUAL Foundation Golf Classic was hosted in association with Colin Strang Financial Services and played at St Clair on Friday, 3rd March. Despite the wind playing havoc on the exposed parts of the course, a close to capacity field enjoyed the day and the prize giving afterwards. There was some excellent golf played and the tournament looks certain to be an integral part of the Foundation's annual calendar of events. Old Boys joined in force to sponsor the tournament and to provide a sought-after prize list. The prize list included trophy wine from Saint Clair Estate, Lamont and Quartz Reef, accommodation and meals at Larnach Castle , BP vouchers, Tui apparel, Radio Dunedin advertising, and all manner of golf equipment from Sharpies Golf.
The spoils of the day went to -
Closest to the pin - 4th - Phil Stephens;
Closest to the pin - 7th - Dave Cameron;
Closest to the pin - 13th - Adrian Cross;
Closest to the pin - 16th - Marc Ellis (yes, Marc Ellis of rugby, busines and television fame, who was a special guest of the HRV Otago/Southland team);
8th place - Otago Daily Times team, playing off a handicap of 8.125 and finishing with a nett of 63.875;
7th place - Steve Davie Ltd team, playing off a handicap of 5.375 and finishing with a nett of 63.625;
6th place - Sharpies Golf team, playing off a handicap of 1 and finishing with a nett of 63;
5th place - Royal Hotel, Timaru, team - playing off a handicap of 5.625 and finishing with a nett of 61.375;
4th place - Colin Strang # 1 team, playing off a handicap of 4.75 and finishing with a nett of 61.25;
3rd place - Colin Strang # 2 team, playing off a handicap of 4.15 and finishing with a nett of 60.85;
2nd place - HRV Otago/Southland team - playing off a handicap of 7.75 and finishing with a nett of 58.25;
1st place - (by lot) Kiwi Mortgage Market Ltd team, playing off a handicap of 6.75 and finishing with a nett of 58.25.
The Foundation is most grateful to all those who sponsored holes and who supplied or assisted with prizes. We look forward to next year's tournament with Colin Strang Financial Services agreeing to an involvement for at least the first five years.
The school has achieved a memorable result in the gaining of national scholarships from the 2005 examinations with no fewer than 12 scholarships being awarded to nine boys.
Dux for 2005 Matthew Caradus won scholarships in both English and History while Allan Brent and James Rodger, who jointly held the title of Proxime Accesit, also won dual scholarships - Allan in Statistics and Geography, and James in Statistics and Accounting.
The school’s other scholarships went to Tom Benny (English), Andrew Chang (Japanese), Kevin Chen (Statistics), Christopher Geddes (Physics), Ben Jaquiery (Geography) and Chris McMahon (Chinese).
The 2005 scholarship results represents an outstanding effort by Otago Boys’ High School and is a credit to the boys and their teachers.
After much deliberation, the 2006 Prefects have been selected. This year's Head Boy is Sachithra de Silva who will be assisted by Deputy Head Boy Peter McLeod. Cameron Rutherford is the Head of School House with his two Deputies being Robert Dickie and Grant Fahey. The main body of Prefects comprises - Adam Alexander, Callum Alexander, Evan Caygill, Adam Cowie, Hac-Kon Kim, Matthew Radford, Derek Shanks, Conrad Wong, Sumukh Paranjpe and David Waddell. David is also the Student representative on the Board of Trustees and sits on the Curriculum and Marketing committees.
March 13 & 14, Timaru Boys (home)
March 23 & 24, Southland (away)
March 23, Parents’ Association Annual General Meeting
March 24, Year 9 & 10 reports issued
April 13, Jumbo Day with King’s High at Otago Boys’
Unfortunately, the annual Sports Day was compromised by poor weather.
The cricket and tennis were cancelled with only the golf being played. There the Old Boys were thrashed out of sight by the present-day pupils.
Alastair Neaves (1969-73), the University of Otago Surveying School’s senior technical officer, who is the first recipient of the school’s Award for Excellence in staff assistance in field courses. The award was the result of a student vote for the tutor they felt had given them the most educational value in last year’s surveying field camp. Alastair has been involved with surveying for 30 years, the last 20 at the university.
Long-serving Otago Boys’ High School rowing coach Fred Strachan, whose service to the sport has been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Halberg Awards. Fred has filled just about every capacity in rowing in New Zealand and continues to give magnificent service to the sport at an age when most others are well and truly retired. Otago Boys’ rowing is exceptionally fortunate to be able to call on his expertise.
Staying with the rowing theme, and not surprisingly with Fred’s involvement, the school continues to generate national profile. At the recent South Island regatta the pair of David Waddell and Grant Fahey took out the under 19 title and were awarded the Lindstrom Trophy as a result. This trophy was also captured by Olympian Carl Meyer during his time at the school, Carl now in harness with 2003 Head Boy Hamish Bond, as Hamish looks to make his mark in the senior ranks.
David Thompson continues to grow in stature in his track and field career. After a solid showing at the national secondary school championships in December, David took a stride forward at the recent junior nationals in Hamilton winning the 19 & under long jump (6.88 metres), the 16 & under high jump (1.92 metres) and the 16 & under triple jump (12.69 metres). David also finished second in the 16 and under long jump (6.80 metres).
The Foundation’s website has been relaunched and we’re delighted with the ability we now have to update detail and content on a daily basis.
As the website further evolves, we plan to add new features including an employment page and a forum, which will allow Old Boys to establish and maintain contact with fellow alumni.
Please take a look at the new site - www.obhsfoundation.co.nz
An enthusiastic committee of 1956 Old Boys is currently organising a reunion of fellow entrants, this gathering to be held over the weekend of September 2nd and 3rd 2006.
The schedule of events includes a Saturday morning get-together in the school's auditorium, followed by refreshents and lunch in the Shand where there will be the opportunity to view school memorabilia.
A dinner with partners is planned for the Saturday evening.
The weekend will conclude with an informal lunch gathering on the Sunday.
After working diligently for some time, the committee has tracked the whereabouts of just over half of the 220 boys who enrolled in 1956. The time has arrived where the committee needs assistance in tracing the remaining number.
Anyone wishing to help or to register their interest in attending the reunion weekend is asked to contact - Matt Henderson (1956-61), 6 Saul Shrives Place , Waimate. Telephone: 03/6898946. Email: mandlh@xtra.co.nz
And John Judge (1967-70) is organising a reunion of the classes of 1966, ‘67 & ’68 and is happy to receive registrations of interest. John’s contact details are: telephone (business) 09/3774790; email: john.judge@nz.ey.com
Thanks to all who assisted with contact details for John Tisdall. Through emails from a number of Old Boys and telephone calls to John’s family in Middlemarch, we’ve tracked his up to date details in the United States .
The Foundation passes its condolences to John Macdonald (1967-68) and his family with news of the passing of John’s father, Enoka. A marvellous sportsman in his prime, perhaps best known for his rugby and rugby league exploits, Enoka Macdonald was one of nature’s gentlemen and his ready smile and interest in others will be sorely missed. One senses he enjoyed every day of his 80 years.
The Foundation also passes its condolences to the family of Stewart (Stu) Buttar (1968-71) who has passed away in Christchurch . A terrific rugby and cricket player while at school, Stu went on to fashion a successful international bowls career as firstly a player and then as national coach. He died last week, aged just 51.
Please continue to pass on our website address - www.obhsfoundation.co.nz - or my telephone numbers to all Old Boys you know. If you haven’t updated your own details, please also use this site.
The tracking process continues to gather momentum but please don’t assume we know where all Old Boys are.
Yours sincerely
Steve Davie
