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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
October newsletter –
Registrations for 2013 sesquicentennial
* The Foundation featured in the Otago Daily Times on Monday as the construction of the new Otago entertainment, sporting and educational complex at Logan Park gathers pace.
Our booking of the complex for several events associated with the school’s 150th celebrations in August 2013 was highlighted with it apparently one of the first looking that far ahead. We’re hopeful of up to 3,000 Old Boys and their wives and partners, former and current staff, and pupils at school at the time attending what will be an event like no other ever witnessed in Dunedin.
Interest in the sesquicentennial is high with registration numbers growing daily.
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 3/4778977), the message to include your full name and years of attendance.
A tentative programme comprises 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 will feature late registrations, 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.
Work is underway with travel agents and airlines, event management personnel, the local tourist industry and likely talent for the concert and the official dinner. A book will be published and a quality range of memorabilia produced.
Foundation members
* Since the September newsletter, the following Old Boys and connections with the school have made pledges or donations and have been registered as Members of the Foundation –
Innovative Foundation Membership
* Harry Jewiss (1951) has entered into an interesting and most welcome partnership with the Foundation.
Just as he deposits $5 a month into each of his grandchildren’s bank accounts, Harry has pledged to do the same as his contribution to the Foundation.
Already a Life Member of the Old Boys’ Society, Harry says that as long as he’s able the Foundation will benefit each month – and for that we are most grateful. With Harry only 72 years old and in good health, we see a long friendship ahead.
He, and we, encourage others to follow his lead.
In Profile
* As noted in the September newsletter, Otago Boys’ High School enjoyed high profile at the late-August Government House investiture of New Zealand Knighthoods with no fewer than four Old Boys kneeling before Governor-General Sir Anand Satayanand.
With the current National government reinstating titles, which were abolished between 2000 and 2008, recipients of the Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (PCNZM), Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM), Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) and the Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DCNZM) were given the option of taking up the titular designation of Sir or Dame.
Accepting the titles were internationally respected theologian Emeritus Professor Sir Lloyd George Geering (1931-35); visionary paediatrician Sir David Charles Mauger (1953-57) who performed the first bone marrow transplant in New Zealand; retired High Court judge Sir John William Hansen (1957-62); and the world’s best match racing yachtsman and former Olympic champion Sir Russell Coutts (1975-79).
Over the next few months we’ll profile each of our new Knight, starting in this edition with Sir Lloyd Geering, who is an Associate Fellow of the Foundation.
Sir Lloyd was born in Rangiora in 1918, educated at Otago Boys’ (where he was Dux in 1935 and awarded a Junior University Scholarship) and Otago University, and holds Honours degrees in Mathematics and Old Testament Studies.
Ordained as a Presbyterian minister, he served in Kurow, Dunedin and Wellington.
He held Chairs of Old Testament Studies at theological colleges in Brisbane and Dunedin before being appointed as the foundation Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.
He was married to Nancy McKenzie (deceased 1949), to Elaine Parker (deceased 2001) and to Shirley White of Christchurch in 2004. He has three children, nine grandchildren (one deceased) and five great-grandchildren.
Since his retirement in 1984 he has continued to lecture widely throughout New Zealand and overseas. He was a Regular Columnist on religious topics: Auckland Star (16 years), New Zealand Listener (four years). He was awarded an Honorary DD by the University of Otago in 1976, a CBE in the New Year Honours in 1988, made a PCNZM in 2001, and admitted to the Order of New Zealand in 2007.
Sir Lloyd’s chief publications have been God in the New World, Resurrection: A Symbol of Hope, Faith's New Age , Tomorrow’s God, The World to Come, Christianity without God, Wrestling with God, which served as his auto-biography.
High profile appointment
* David Mayhew (1967-71) has been appointed as the new Securities Commission’s Commissioner for Financial Advisers, his new role recently announced by the Commerce Minister Simon Power.
David will return from Britain in January to oversee the drafting, approval and implementation of a professional code of conduct for financial advisers. He will also automatically become a member of the Securities Commission.
In recent years David has worked for London-based Herbert Smith, a leading and full-service international legal practice with a 1,100-lawyer network across Europe and Asia, where he is widely recognised as a leading practitioner in contentious financial services regulatory work. He joined Herbert Smith having been Leading Advocate at the Financial Services Authority from 2001 and acting Director of Enforcement in 2005.
David has combined his significant experience of working for major financial services institutions with his experience of working at a senior level within the FSA. Recent work includes advising senior executives on appearances before the Treasury Select Committee inquiries into the financial crisis. He is also an experienced advocate and sat as a Recorder (part-time judge) in the Crown Court for six years.
Among his credentials are extensive experience in representing financial institutions in, and advising senior management on, regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, including multi-jurisdictional regulatory action (cross-border securities and derivatives trading); representing solicitors in disciplinary investigations and proceedings by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (e.g. the Law Society action against two Freshfields partners in relation to Marks and Spencer); he represented the FSA in most of its cases in the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal from implementation of the new regulatory regime in 2001 until 2005; he represented FSA Enforcement in the design, implementation and subsequent review of the internal decision–making process (report July 2005); and has extensive experience in High Court commercial litigation (eg: arising out of the collapses of a financial services group; the interest rate swap market for local authorities; and the International Tin Council).
School news
* There is a growing number of Old Boys currently involved with the school by way of mentoring Year 10 (4th form) boys as they decide what factors to consider in choosing subjects for their senior school.
Assistant Principal Lindy Marr reports that having Old Boys talk about what subjects are relevant and of benefit to their chosen industry is extremely helpful at this stage of the boys’ education.
Old Boys are also involved in the school’s community reading programme.
This programme opens the way for students in the junior school who struggle with reading and comprehension to work with a volunteer once a week for approximately 20 – 30 minutes.Volunteers give up an hour a week and work with three boys during that time.
For many of the boys who lack male mentors in their lives, having volunteers that are men is a huge asset. Not only do the staff see an almost immediate improvement in reading and comprehension but the formation of positive relationships as well.
If you are able to assist in either of these programmes, please make contact with –
Lindy Marr, Lindy.Marr@obhs.school.nz (speakers)
Michelle Brown, Michelle.Brown@obhs.school.nz (reading)
* Glenn Coutts (Year 13) is a member of the five-player Otago youth bridge team which recently competed at the New Zealand inter-provincial championships in Hamilton, finishing second equal with Canterbury.
Along with Sam Baily from King’s High, Glenn was the only school pupil chosen for the Otago side, which also included his brother Sam (2003-07).
There are several competitions to come in the months ahead with Glenn also hoping to be selected in the Otago team to contest the Pacific Asia Federation series in May next year.
Congratulations
* Looking at the list of previous winners helps put Duncan Croudis’ victory in the New Zealand under-19 golf championships at the North Shore club in Albany last month into perspective.
The Year 13 pupil joined an illustrious list which includes the likes of Grant Waite, Craig Perks, Michael Long, Adam Scott and Steven Alker when he shot 70 in the last round to become the first Otago winner of the Cobham Cup.
The tournament has helped launch careers and the 17-year old’s win has thrust him into the four-man New Zealand team to contest the world junior championship in China next month.
His final round of 70 may have clinched the title, but he set the win up with a solid 74 in difficult conditions on day two.
‘‘That second round was pretty good. Seventy-four doesn’t look that good, but it was windy and the course was playing quite tough.’’
Croudis was two shots back going into the final round and realised he was in with a chance of winning if he played well.
The Otago under-19 and under-23 champion started superbly with three birdies to take a share of the lead — not that he knew. Duncan decided not to look at the leader board during the final round and just concentrate on what he could control — hitting the ball cleanly and playing calculated golf.
‘‘I just wanted to play as well, and post as good a score as I could, so the leader board didn’t really matter.’’
The tactic paid off but once the crowd started following him around the course he knew he must be close to the lead.
Despite the gathering entourage, he kept his focus and played intelligently to shake off most of the other contenders except Waitemata’s Andrew Priestley.
The crucial break came when Priestley dropped a shot on the 16th to trail by one. The win capped off an impressive comeback after a first-round score of 71 left him in seventh place.
The Cobham Cup has helped launch careers and the win has thrust Duncan into the four-man New Zealand team to contest the world junior championship in China next month.
That caps an exciting time for him. As well as winning the Otago under 23 and under 19 winner titles, Duncan was the Otago senior club champion, was the senior player in the team which won the Otago Champion-of-Champions title, and played in the five man team in the annual SBS tournament.
But while he hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of the former winners and forge a professional career, his more immediate aim is to get a sporting scholarship in the United States.
‘‘I’ll stay at home next year and do commerce at Otago University, but I want to go to college in the States and hopefully get a golf scholarship.’’
And Duncan’s terrific form continued earlier this month with a commanding win in the race for the Otago schoolboys’ title.
Duncan beat Ashburton’s Cameron Grant 4 and 3 on the demanding Cromwell course, recording six birdies during his truncated round.
An example to us all
* Garth Gilmour (1939-41) was hoping to come to next month’s 1930s Reunion and catch up with some of his old class mates.
But the 84-year-old recently signed up to produce yet another book – on the history of Arthur Lydiard andthe world-wide cult of jogging that he inspired, as seen fromthe viewpoint of the Auckland jogging club, the world's first, which will be 50 years old in 2012.
Garth is the co-author of Lydiard's book Run to the Top and wrote Peter Snell’s Use It or Lose It. He has written more than 20 books.
He is also caught up in the politics of the great super city debate in Auckland through my secretarial duties of the organisation representing the 31 community boards involved in the six local bodies which are to be dissolved next year.
Garth is also a trustee of the Lydiard Legend Charitable Trust, which is now launching its major activity, the Lydiard Legend marathon, on to the world stage with the aim of making it New Zealand's first truly international race.
Fair to say then that he employs the philosophy expounded in Use It or Lose It and like the great champion Snell himself, who Garth describes as a ‘kid of 71’’ he pedals a bike up to 30 kilometres when possible, walks, gardens, mow lawns, trims trees, maintains his home anduses a rowing machine at home.
Old Boys in the news
* Hugo Inglis (2007-08) has been named in the New Zealand men’s (Black Sticks) hockey squad after a fine showing for the Midlands side in this winter’s national league.
Hugo was the competitions’ joint top goal scorer.
He played for Southern last year but moved to Hamilton to study at the University of Waikato.
* All Black captain Richie McCaw (1994-98) has gained a new cap -- as a squadron leader for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
McCaw has accepted an invitation from the RNZAF to become an honorary squadron leader until December 31, 2011, with the position a possible indicator of Richie’s whereabouts post his playing days.
Flying is in his blood -- his grandfather was an RNZAF fighter pilot during World War II -- and Richie had flown since childhood.
He said there were similarities between being an All Black and being an Air Force pilot, and had talked with air force cadets previously about leadership. He noted he would also consider joining the air force in the future.
"Obviously over the next couple of years I'm playing and I have to do what I do to have the honorary position," he said.
"But hey, who knows what happens after that? With my interest in flying, you never know."
Shorts
* Alan Blair (1943-46) has been awarded Life membership to NZ Royal Agriculture & Pastoral Society for services and a lifetime of achievement.
* Brett Anderson (1977-81), general manager of the Christchurch Casino, has piggy-backed on Prime Minister John Key’s appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.
Among the PM’s top 10 reasons for Americans to visit New Zealand was “we had the loosest slot machines in the Pacific Rim”. The Christchurch Casino is now using that line in its advertising and Mr Key is happy that is happening, especially if tourists are attracted to our shores.
The elusive Lance Bardwell
* Lance Bardwell (1946-47) continually tells the Foundation office he lives in Peru.
He does this by sending his postal newsletter back with said information on the envelope. Yet he is regularly seen in Dunedin and earlier this month featured in Prester John’s Talk of the Times in the Otago Daily Times.
The story about Lance goes like this …
They say that confession is good for the soul so here’s a story that former police superintendent Lance Bardwell, of Dunedin, is hoping will clear his conscience after more than 50 troubling years.
Lance says it used to be a tradition for the police to donate a huge Christmas cake to the nurses’ home. These were no ordinary cakes either, about a metre by a metre and professionally baked and iced. Around 1956 or 1957 the cake arrived too early at the police station so was left to sit on the watch house floor for a week or so.
When it was time to deliver the cake Lance was given the job by his senior sergeant, which Lance was sure would earn him ‘‘Cop of the day’’ status from the nurses. But, to his horror, he noticed the cake was covered in fly dirt.
So he did what any bloke would do — got a damp tea towel and cleaned it off as best he could. When he finished he noticed the icing had become ‘‘off white’’ but to his ‘‘male brain’’ the cake still seemed presentable and didn’t smell, so down to the nurses’ home he went and got ‘‘more than a few’’ generous hugs and kisses after delivering the cake.
Now 77, Lance says with a laugh he’s been looking back over his life and thinking of a few stories to tell his grandchildren but decided he needed to ‘‘make peace with my conscience before I face God’’ by revealing the cake story. He offers his profuse apologies to the nurses who may have eaten the cake all those years ago and hopes none of them suffered any health problems.
‘‘As gentle as your feminine hearts can be, can you see it was the thought that was important and not the loathsome gift?’’ he says.
Recent deaths
* We extend our condolences to the families of the following Old Boys –
Robin (Kleon Robin Alfred) Harris (1955-59), died in Auckland on 24th May 2009 aged 67.
Bill (Cullen William) Thomson (1941-44), died in Dunedin on 3rd October 2009 aged 82. Bill was a retired industrial chemist.
* We also extend our sympathies to –
Alex Paterson (1943-45) whose brother Gordon Paterson died in Dunstan Hospital in Clyde on 25th June 2009. Gordon was the great-great uncle of William Kennedy (1996-2000) and Andrew Kennedy (1998-2001).
James Macandrew (1964-67) and Guy Macandrew (1972-76) whose mother Sadie died in Dunedin on 9th September 2009. Mrs Macandrew was the sister-in-law of the late Fraser Macandrew (1935).
Garrick Alderson (1989-93) whose brother James was killed in a motor bike accident at Punakaiki on 12th September 2009. James was the nephew of Ken Simons (1963-66), Geoff Simons (1969-73) and Ronson Alderson (1972).
Philip Murdoch (1974-78) whose mother Alison died in Dunedin on 13th September 2009.
Jim Edmonds (1947-51) whose wife Patricia died in Balclutha on 28th September 2009.
Greg McKean (1986-89) and Simon McKean whose mother Maureen died in Melbourne on 28th September 2009.
Zachary Webb (1997-2001) whose grandfather George Webb died in Glenfield on 29th September 2009.
Craig Tempero (1975-79) whose mother Patricia died in Wanaka on 1st October 1979.
Ewen Heather (1972-75) who father Arnold died in Dunedin on 2nd October 2009.
Dave Grimshaw (1974-77) whose mother-in-law Coral Hooper died in Dunedin on 4th October 2009.
Steve Davie
Chief Executive
