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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
Tracking Old Boys
* In the words of the old New Zealand telethons “and I challenge …”
Our tracking process continues strongly and Lawrie Currie (1957-62) is doing a terrific job in funding our ‘lost alumni’. But the school’s 150th anniversary celebrations are now under five years away.
So far we have about 6,000 living alumni on our newsletter database – a vast improvement on the 500 we knew about three years ago – but there are still about 10,000 living Old Boys who aren’t aware of the Foundation, the developments at the school and the plans for the 150th.
That being the case I would ask that all who have access to the internet to take the time to check the Class Lists. There you can see who is on the database and who isn’t.
If each Old Boy currently on the newsletter database offered a contact point for one Old Boy who isn’t, our numbers would double overnight. A replication of that process and the tracking job would be almost complete.
An email address is the optimum but any point of contact would be welcome.
Thank you. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Test match cricket is here!
* Richard Snell (1988-92), operations manager for Otago Cricket, is heavily involved in the promotion of the New Zealand versus West Indies test match, scheduled for Dunedin’s University Oval in mid-December.
Having successfully hosted its first test in January this year – against Bangladesh – the University Oval is fast becoming an important cog in New Zealand Cricket’s annual allocation of international matches. Hence, the awarding of the test against the West Indies from December 11th to 15th.
Various hospitality packages are available which will make for ideal pre-Christmas hosting. For details click here (this link takes you to the Foundation’s Home Page where you will see the Ultimate Christmas hospitality package advertised) or contact Richard directly at richard@otagocricket.co.nz
He will also be able to give an indication of when and where individual match tickets will be on sale.
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 –
School news
* With its sesquicentennial (150th) celebrations in sight, Otago Boys’ has enjoyed a stellar 2008.
And the efforts of its pupils this year at national level and beyond - in a wide range of activities - continues the trend of the last 145 years.
In the last few months Otago Boys’ has been proud to record the following –
Academic Awards:
Luke Trainor, NSW Mathematics gold medal; Eamon Fraser, high distinction NSW Science Competition; Andrew Sise, high distinction NSW Science Competition.
Year 9 2008 scholarship recipients - Academic: Vishak Balaji, Eamon Frazer, Samuel Gabbusch, Benjamin Hendry, Thomas McCabe, Ciaran McLaren, Louis Ritchie, Nicholas Tipa. Sporting: Samuel Ellis, Thomas Griffin, Cameron Howieson, Jack Hunter, Arthur Ibbotson, Thomas Wardhaugh. Cultural: Dominic Shogimen, Samuel Madden, Ben Taiawa.
Academic Blues, senior recipients 2008: Mostafa Amer, Michael Arnold, Nicholas Borren, Andrew Dickie, Andrew Dunbar, Nicholas Dunbar, Aaron Hendry, Joel Koh, Oliver Linsell, Elton Nguy, Fraser Prendergast, Kurt Purdon, Jae Pyun, Tat Sangchotchaungchai, Andrew Sise, Matt Stansfield, Stephen Trebilco, Tim Wilkinson.
Music:
Mitchell Smith, intermediate winner Gold Guitar Awards; Luke Trainor, Royal School of Music theory distinction, Trombone; Juno Pyun, violin/clarinet — show band, orchestra and chamber music performer, member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Orchestra.
Sport:
First Basketball, South Island champions: National championships in September
Badminton, National finals in September
Chess, National finals in September
Colts Cricket, National finalists, ranked 5th in New Zealand
1st XI Cricket, Gillette Cup finalists in December; ranked top 8 in New Zealand
Golf, national finalists; ranked 9th in New Zealand
1st XI Hockey, runners-up in Rankin Cup, ranked 2nd in New Zealand
Colts Rugby, national under-15 tournament
1st XI Soccer, national finalists in Napier
New Zealand representatives – 2008:
Jordan Bishop, New Zealand under-16 ice hockey; Hugo Inglis, New Zealand under-21 hockey; Todd Johnston, New Zealand youth athletics; Sam King, New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks; Cameron Howieson, New Zealand under-13 soccer; Lian Lan Sam, New Zealand under-13 soccer; Hayden Miller, New Zealand under-18 basketball; Morgan Nathan, New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks; Juno Pyun, New Zealand Secondary Schools Orchestra; Nick Ross, New Zealand under-21 hockey; Tom Rowe, New Zealand under-18 basketball; Kane Russell, New Zealand under-16 hockey; Tom Wilson, New Zealand under-16 ice hockey; Blair Tarrant, New Zealand under-21 hockey; Thomas Wardhaugh, New Zealand age group development programme — swimming; Ben Watts, New Zealand under-16 softball; James Watson, New Zealand under-16 soccer; Ashley Lovett, New Zealand under-17 equestrian.
New Zealand titleholders – 2008:
Todd Johnston, Toby Flett, Dillon Todd, Kane Russell, New Zealand junior 4 x 100m relay (NZ record); Kane Russell, New Zealand junior boys javelin; William Scorgie, New Zealand junior boys 3000m; Joe Latta, Robert Mears, New Zealand under-17 pairs — rowing; Adam Simpson, New Zealand age group, 400m freestyle; Matt Glassford, New Zealand age group, 200m breaststroke; Jarrod Marsh, New Zealand secondary schools wrestling, junior 54kg; Hunter Kim, tae kwon do — under-60kg gold medal.
Old Boys in the news
* Alistair Bevin (1964-68), Air New Zealand Dunedin Airport manager, bas been in the news a number of times recently commenting on the high winds which have closed air traffic on several days.
Gusty north-westerly crosswinds of up to 90 kph accompanied by high temperatures had caused problems on a number of occasions.
* Professor John McCraw (1937-42) has been honoured for his work in documenting Central Otago’s history.
Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson presented Professor McCraw with a special award at the Central Otago Community Awards in Cromwell late last month.
John’s five books - Mountain Water and River Stream, The Golden Junction, Gold on the Dunstan, The Fruitful Land and Early Days on the Dunstan provided a completely accurate history of the area, Dr Macpherson said.
‘‘John deserves a huge thank you for his work: it’s a lifetime achievement. Alexandra’s written history is mainly filled with John’s work.’’
The Central Otago community celebrates the success and achievements of its people at the Central Otago Community Awards each year.
John is a retired DSIR senior pedologist – pedology being the study of soils.
Where Are They Now?
* A recent visitor to the school was Christopher Norton (1966-69), the internationally acclaimed composer of the popular Microjazz books, who gave a presentation and hosted a workshop for senior music students and music teachers from many of Otago’s schools.
Christopher had piano lessons from Johannes Giesen, head of music at Otago Boys at the time and was confident enough as a composer by the age of 16 to play a piece he had written for piano and orchestra at the school's concert in the Dunedin Town Hall. The piece was subsequently arranged by Jack Speirs for the Dunedin Civic Orchestra and broadcast on the Concert Programme.
After leaving school, where he had been the pianist alongside his future best man John Jamieson, Christopher gained a first-class honors degree in music from Otago University in 1974. He then taught music in Wellington high schools, worked as a Composer-in-Schools for a year and free-lanced as a composer, arranger and pianist.
He traveled to the United Kingdom in 1977 on a New Zealand Government Scholarship and in 1980, embarked on a free-lance career. Within a short time Christopher’s work was published - first by Universal Edition, then by Boosey & Hawkes, with whom he has had a long and fruitful association. His Microjazz series has become the most popular way world-wide for students to learn how to play contemporary popular styles with it being on every major music examination syllabus as well as featuring on festival and competition programmes in many countries.
Christopher also works as a record producer for a variety of labels, most recently for EMI and Virgin in North America. He also works extensively as a writer of music for television, has made many production music albums and is also a publisher in his own right, most recently as a founding partner in Novus Via Music Group, the publisher of American Popular Piano, his latest venture.
American Popular Piano, co-written with Scott McBride Smith, focuses his talent for composing authentic, appealing, yet educationally sound pieces in popular styles at all levels of piano study, including early years.
Christopher is in high demand for his unique and creative presentations. He has offered sessions ranging from improvisation coaching for grade-school band teachers to adjudicating non-competitive piano festivals with literally thousands of student entries; from offering personal, intensive Masterclass sessions at all levels to lectures in advanced composition. Everywhere he goes, his fresh and uplifting approach to music never fails to inspire and enlighten all who attend. He has presented in literally dozens of countries around the world, with recent touring taking him from Indonesia to Ireland, Singapore to Serbia, Italy to Interlochen, and Ontario to Oslo.
As well as his presentation at Otago Boys’ last month, Chris was able to hear his latest composition, Octagon Overture, played in the Dunedin Town Hall as part of a 40th anniversary event for the Saturday Morning Music Classes.
Links:
www.christophernortonconnections.com
* When Pat Finnegan (1941-43) headed into the Auckland Star racing department several decades ago to settle a bet over a piece of racing history, little was he to know that his life would change.
Pat won the bet and was hooked on researching racing statistics.
Years later he can look back on a writing career which includes co-authoring the magnificent ‘Tapestry of Turf’ which traces the history of New Zealand horse racing from its earliest days through to 1988, the writing of ‘Racing with Radio Pacific’ and ‘100 Years at Wingatui’.
As well as currently completing a sequel to ‘Tapestry of Turf’ with John Costello, Pat is also working on the compilation of a statistical record covering more than a century of winning horses, jockeys, trainers, and sires.
In his earlier years, Pat was a sportsman of considerable talent – making the 1st cricket XI in his first year at Otago Boys’, representing Hawkes Bay as a 16 year old and going on to play for many years for the champion North Shore senior cricket side in Auckland through the 1950s.
He was also a more than useful rugby player and played golf off a five handicap before work on ‘Tapestry of Turf’ took all of his spare time. Pat worked for more than 20 years with Wiseman’s Sports Stores and played a large part in the organisation of New Zealand’s earliest professional golf tournaments.
His interest in racing dates back to his childhood when his publican father, Daniel Joseph Finnegan (1919) raced a number of – mainly slow – gallopers. Pat himself had success with a faster mare Royal Bourbon in the late 1970s.
‘Tapestry of Turf’, a tome of more than half a million words and 250 illustrations, covers the period from the arrival of the first thoroughbred in 1840 through to the mighty deeds of Bonecrusher in the 1980s. All the great gallopers are included – Lurline and Carbine, Desert Gold, Gloaming, Phar lap, Kindergarten, Mainbrace, Rising Fast, Balmerino, Showgate, McGinty and Bonecrusher.
The most successful sires, greatest horsemen and influential and visionary administrators are all given their dues as the book unravels the evolution of the sport in New Zealand – from an amateur day out to a billion dollar industry. The sequel promises to be equally spectacular.
Pat’s uncle Francis Winton Finnegan also attended Otago Boys’ from 1915 to 1917.
Pat lives in semi-retirement in Fairlie.
* After kicking truck tyres and sandbags to harden his shins, Erik Nosa (1995-98) is ready for the fight of his life.
The 29-year-old professional kickboxer will fight Felise Leniu for the vacant Australian heavyweight title in Sydney this month.
Erik has contested 27 fights for a record of 18 wins, seven losses and two draws. Ten of his wins came by way of knockout and he is the seventh-ranked heavyweight in Australia.
The fight with Leniu is the biggest of his career.
The Auckland-born Niuean will enter the bout as a firm underdog and is giving away a significant weight advantage.
Both fighters are 180cm tall but Nosa is lighter than at any time in his career, weighing in at 97kg. That is relatively slight compared with Leniu’s 115kg. Leniu has been in the ring with some quality fighters, including Australia’s No 1-ranked kickboxer, Peter Graham, and is known for his power.
‘‘Hopefully it will be a good fight,’’ Nosa said.
‘‘He’s a good fighter with heavy hands, and he is a big bloke, too.
‘‘I think it is a fight that a lot of people will be wanting to see.’’
The pair are mates but will be putting aside their friendship when they step in the ring.
‘‘He’s a really nice bloke but we both agree that it is a sport and it will be all business once we put on the gloves.
‘‘It’s like any sport. We still respect each other, and at the end of the day, after we’ve beaten each other up, we’ll have a beer together and a bit of a laugh.’’
Kickboxers use their shins to strike opponents when kicking and Nosa has been hardening his by sparring with truck tyres and the odd sandbag, and even ropes wrapped around a column serve the purpose quite well. His lower legs bare the scars of those encounters but are nice and ‘‘numb’’ now.
Before Nosa took up kickboxing he played nearly 100 senior rugby games for Alhambra-Union and Zingari Richmond. He was also part of a talented Otago Boys High School 1st XV which shared the national secondary schools title with Rotorua Boys High School in 1998.
Nosa played No 8 in a loose forward trio which featured former Highlanders lock Filipo Levi at blindside and All Black captain Richie McCaw on the openside. Current Otago captain Craig Newby scored a try for Rotorua Boys’ in the 5-all draw.
Nosa joined the ‘‘brawn drain’’ three years ago after being approached by Bulldog Gym in Manly to join them and fight professionally. It had long been a dream of the articulate but softly spoken athlete. But after three years of fighting professionally in Australia, Nosa is keen to return to Dunedin next year and work towards another dream — setting up a gym for disadvantaged Maori and Polynesian youths. Nosa says sport has been a big influence on his life.
It has taught him focus and given him discipline and self-respect.
Those are lessons he is keen to pass on.
* Leading Alexandra businessman Russell Ibbotson (1954-58) has been honoured for his foresight and determination in bringing some of the community’s major projects to completion.
Russell was nominated for a special award by the Otago Chamber of Commerce and his award was presented by Mayor Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the chamber.
With property interests in Central Otago and elsewhere, Russell has been involved with many community organisations including Jaycees and St John, for which he received a national award in recognition of his services and was made a Life Member of the Vincent Area Committee in 1991.
Russell’s recent involvement with the Stadium Tavern and Cellar Door complexes, as well as Molyneux Estate subdivision, had added tremendously to the community’s amenities, Dr Macpherson said.
But his leadership role in the establishment of the Molyneux Aquatic Centre and Central Stories Museum were probably the most significant.
‘‘There is little doubt that without Russell’s determination to ensure that the grant made from the Clyde Amenities Fund for the establishment of the therapeutic pool [at the Molyneux Aquatic Centre] was put to its best use, we would not have the benefit of the wonderful facility which we now have.’’
A similar situation had arisen with the establishment of the Central Stories Museum complex. Significant funds needed to be raised within the community to secure the major funding required from the Central Lakes Trust and allow the project to proceed.
‘‘Russell played a leading role in this process and with his committee was able to secure the funding required and the results of his efforts are very clear to see for us all,’’ Dr Macpherson said.
Congratulations
* Old Boys continue to be honoured as part of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants centennial year celebrations.
National President, Dunedin’s Graham Crombie, a partner at Polson Higgs, has been traveling the country presented milestone membership certificates.
While in Wanganui recently, he presented George Malcolm (1934-37) with his 60 year membership certificate.
After serving with the RNZAF in the Pacific in WWII, George worked in the New Zealand Post Office and then with the Wellington and Wanganui Education Boards before becoming national secretary of the PPTA. He had 10 years with the Tourist Hotel Corporation and then worked as the bursar/registrar for Scots College in Wellington.
While in the capital he was actively involved with the Wellington branch of the Otago High School Old Boys' Society, including a period as branch secretary, before moving to Wanganui in 1979.
George is a Friend of the Foundation.
* Ryan Martin (1995-98) barely had time to slow down to win the Otago Volunteer Coach of the Year award in late-September.
Such is his dedication to sport, both playing and coaching, the Outram School teacher has little time free.
He is the coaching coordinator for junior rugby at the West Taieri Rugby Football Club, coaches basketball at the Outram club, administers and coaches touch, and helps out with the West Taieri Netball Club.
He also finds time to play three modules of touch, and have a game of social basketball every week.
Ryan was also persuaded to play another season of premier rugby for Pirates this year, and the halfback did well enough to win the player-of-the-year award for his side.
The 28 year old said he was trying to wind down the playing side of sport and put more focus on coaching.
‘‘But a few people told me you are a short time playing, a long time coaching, so I thought, ‘why not keep playing?’’’ he said.
He also had the role of being a sports parent, with his daughter, Courtney (9), taking up basketball.
‘‘Being on the sideline when you’re a parent can be pretty tough. But it’s given me a different perspective on how parents feel when you make selection changes and other stuff.’’
He had previously coached at a school in Papatoetoe in South Auckland and then Rosebank Primary School in Balclutha.
Captain of the Otago Boys’ High School First XV in 1998, which shared the national secondary school’s title with Rotorua Boys’ and which included current All Black captain Richie McCaw, Ryan said he set high standards in his coaching, and seeing the development in teams and people was the biggest buzz in coaching.
‘‘It’s great to see teams come together and move forward. You can see it affect people in so many other ways than sport. They can become better people and improve in their school work.’’
He said in the long term he would love to get involved in professional coaching, but for now he would be busy on the sports field, and he rarely got an afternoon off.
Boxing coach Bruce Bond(1961-63) was presented with a lifetime coaching award, after more than 35 years as a trainer.
The Wattie’s national volunteer coach award will be announced in November.
Recent deaths
* We extend our condolences to the families of the following Old Boys –
Arthur Eric Fulton (1942-44), died in Christchurch on 12th September 2008. Arthur played in the 1st cricket XI and 1st rugby XV in 1944, the rugby team known as the ‘Giants’ with the average weight of the team being 14 stone (90kg). At that time, schoolboys of that weight – and a team averaging those proportions – was a rarity.
Peter Thomas John Allen (1948), died in Wellington on 14th September 2008, aged 73.
Rhys Campbell Bonney (1987-91), died in Wellington on 14th September, aged 35. Rhys was the brother of Iain Bonney (1983-87) and the brother-in-law of Kurt Bowen (1989-93).
Ivan John Mahs (1944-45), died in Dunedin on 15th September 2008, aged 76.
Colin Kinvig Melville (1925-29), died in Dunedin on 20th September 2008, aged 96. Colin was a retired accountant and was the Factor for the Otago Foundation Trust Board from 1953 until he retired in 1977. He was also a Friend of the Foundation.
Jack (William John) Thomson (1939-41), died in Dunedin on 24th September 2008, aged 83. Jack worked in the wool and skin industry before completing his accountancy examinations, rising to the positions of both a chartered accountant and chartered secretary. He served with Provident Life Assurance for 20 years, with WEC Reid & Co (now Deloitte) for 10 years and then with Tomkinson Wood Adams (now Wood Adams Lawyers) for a further decade before retiring in 1985. Jack was a keen sportsman – playing cricket, tennis, golf and bowls at various stages of his life and he was also an avid and successful fly fisherman. He was involved in a number of church and dancing groups and provided honorary accounting and auditing services for many clubs and societies throughout his lifetime. He also enjoyed photography and was a great traveler, returning from his latest excursion, three weeks in south east Asia, just days before his death. Jack was a Friend of the Foundation.
Neville Douglas Freeman (1932-34), died in Christchurch on 25th September 2008, aged 91. Neville was a retired commercial pilot and enjoyed a number of business interests. He was a long-time supporter of the North Canterbury (Christchurch) branch of the Old Boys’ Society. During the war years Neville served with the RNZAF as a bomber pilot, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and also Mentioned in Dispatches. The citation for the MID read "8th June 1944. In recognition of distinguished service and devotion to duty, while serving with 14 Squadron RAF”, while the citation for the DFO read “8th May 1945, 180 Squadron RAF. During his first tour of operational duty Flying Officer Freeman was engagedon sea reconnaissances in the Mediterranean theatre of war. He invariably showed great skill and tenacity in pressing home his attacks in the face of enemy opposition.During one engagement his skillful airmanship enabled his gunners to destroy two enemy fighters. On another occasion, he shadowed the Italian fleetfor over eight hours. Nowon his second tour this officer has attacked many strongly defended targets. As a leader of a formation he has displayed a high standard of leadership and courage. Several times his aircraft has been damaged by fire from enemy defences but coolness and skill have inspired the crew withconfidence”. During his first tour, Neville flew Blenheims and Marauderswith 14 Squadron RAF on reconnaissance, torpedo and bombing sorties in the Middle East. During one flight, while searching for a dinghy, he was jumped by two Me 109s and a Reggaine 2000. His crew shot down one Me109 and damaged the other two aircraft. After the war Neville joined National Airways and flew several aircraft - DC 3s, Friendships, Viscounts, and 737s. Heretired after serving as a Senior Pilot.
Ray (Raymond Bruce) Strang (1949-52), died in Dunedin on 29th September 2008, aged 72.
Ross (Robert Ross) Manning (1942-46), died at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde on 3rd October 2008, aged 80. Ross, a retired medical practitioner, was the brother of the late Horace Manning (1926-29), John Manning (1928-32) and the late Graham Manning (1933-36).
* We also extend our sympathies to –
Adrian Thyne (1984-85) whose sister-in-law Rebecca Thyne died in Wellington on 14th September 2008.
Malcolm McHoull (1961-63) whose father Arch died in Hamilton on 14th September 2008.
Julian Huggins (1987-91) whose father Nelson died in Dunedin on 16th September 2008.
Craig La Hood (1979-84) whose father-in-law Rodney Grater died in Dunedin on 19th September 2008.
Nelson Ede (1968-72) whose brother John died in Warkworth on 20th September 2008. John was the uncle of Scott Ede (1998-2002).
Glen Knol (1980-84) and Tony Knol (1987-91) whose grandmother Alice Knol died in Dunedin on 20th September 2008.
Kevin Rogan (1967-71) and Brian Rogan (1969-72) whose father Pat died in Dunedin on 23rd September 2008. Pat was the grandfather of David Rogan (1998-2001) and Jason Rogan (1998-2001).
Keith Toomer (1961-64) and David Toomer (1964-67) whose mother Anne died in Dunedin on 25th September 2008. Anne was the widow of William Evans Toomer (1934-37) and the grandmother of Brendon Toomer (1992-96), Andrew Toomer (1994-98), Christopher Donnelly (1995-99) and Matthew Donnelly (1998-2002).
Eddie Bray (1954-56) and Kevin Bray (1974-78) whose mother Ollie died in Dunedin on 27th September 2008.
John Thorn (1985-88) whose grandfather Sir John Thorn died in Dunedin on 27th September 2008.
Roger Kan (1947-52), Reginald Kan (1951-53), Neville Kan () and Desmond Kan (1958-60) whose brother Ken died in Dunedin on 27th September 2008.
Sydney Melville (1944-46) whose sister Alice died in Dunedin on 2nd October 2008. Alice was also the sister of the late John Melville (1946-50).
William Lake (1998-2002) and Mitchell Lake (1998-2002) whose mother Anne died at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde on 8 October 2008.
Steve Davie
Chief Executive
