Northside Magazine 2017 - 2018

LEWIS FRY AIMES Supreme Award Winner 2017

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL ISSUE 2017/2018 The annual magazine of the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust, celebrating the achievements of the exceptional young people of our region and the support they receive from the Club – Members, Sponsors and Supporters.

AWARDS

The North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust acknowledges the ongoing support of our fantastic sponsors…

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES AWARDS SPONSORS

WE’RE BUILDING NORTH HARBOUR SPONSORS

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENT & SUPPORT SPONSORS

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE AIMES WINNERS NETWORK

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB MEMBERSHIP SPONSOR

EXCLUSIVE TRAVEL PARTNER

NORTH HARBOUR BUSINESS HALL OF FAME SPONSOR

www.northharbourclub.co.nz

WELCOME

Above: The moment at the 2017 AIMES Awards Gala Dinner when 25 year old Lewis Fry was named the AIMES Supreme Award winner. The other category winners and parents of category winners unable to attend the awards look on.

CONTENTS

President’s Message...................................................................................................3 North Harbour Club Contacts: Gill Johnston Administration & Events gill@northharbourclub.co.nz Telephone 021 278 9915

Trustees 2017/2018...................................................................................................5

Christie Parkin Administration & Marketing christie@northharbourclub.co.nz Telephone 021 277 0699

Becoming a Member..................................................................................................9

Peter White Membership, Sponsorship & AIMES Applications peter@northharbourclub.co.nz Telephone 027 477 8485 PO Box 300 558, Albany, Auckland VISIT ONLINE: www.northharbourclub.co.nz Northside is published annually for the club by Benefitz.

VISIT ONLINE: www.benefitz.co.nz

Members 2017/2018..................................................................................................5 About the North Harbour Club....................................................................................8 Sponsors..................................................................................................................11 AIMES SUPREME AWARD WINNER 2017: Lewis Fry...............................................12 AIMES ARTS AWARD WINNER 2017: Melanie Bracewell.........................................14 AIMES INNOVATION AWARD WINNER 2017: Jun Bing............................................16 AIMES MUSIC AWARD WINNER 2017: Jacky Siu....................................................18 AIMES EDUCATION AWARD WINNER 2017: Lewis Fry............................................20 AIMES SPORT AWARD WINNERS 2017: Alex Maloney and Molly Meech................22 AIMES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER 2017: Alexia Hilbertidou....24 AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARD WINNERS 2017..............................................27 JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017.....................................................36

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Aidan Bennett aidan@benefitz.co.nz Telephone 09-477-4701 or 021-500-997

AIMES AWARDS GALA DINNER 2017.....................................................................44

CONTENT: Aidan Bennett; Heather Vermeer; Christine Young

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES WINNERS NETWORK.........................................50

ADVERTISING: Aidan Bennett.

DESIGN: Crystal Sharp PRINTING: Benefitz.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the North Harbour Club or the publishers.

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/TheNorthHarbourClub Follow us on Twitter: @NthHarbourClub

JUNIOR AIMES AWARDS PRESENTATIONS 2017...................................................46 AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS PRESENTATION 2017..................................48 AIMES AWARD WINNER UPDATES 2016-2013.......................................................55 AIMES AWARD WINNERS 1996-2012.................................................................... 84 NORTH HARBOUR BUSINESS HALL OF FAME.......................................................88 NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENTS – THE AFTER 5s IN 2017................................90 A Chat With Ben Bayly - LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE AMBASSADOR......................92 LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES 2017............................................94 THE LAST WORD – Andrea Davies..........................................................................92

Proud to produce Northside and to support the North Harbour Club. www.benefitz.co.nz NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 1

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www.benefitz.co.nz

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Aidan Bennett (left, holding the Sir Peter Blake Trophy), with good friend and North Harbour Club Life Member Gary Monk during the presentation of the AIMES Supreme Award in November 2017.

PROUDLY REWARDING EXCELLENCE Welcome to our 2018 issue of Northside magazine, our 14th edition. In this annual magazine we proudly highlight the achievements of our AIMES Award winners and the great work that the North Harbour Club is doing in the community north of the Harbour Bridge.

For the past three years I have had the double honour of both being the publisher (a role I have had for 14 years) and also leading the organisation as the President of the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust. This latter role comes to an end this year as a result of the healthy rotation policy we have established to ensure fresh leadership comes through as the organisation evolves. So please excuse all the official photos of me in the magazine – this is the last year this will happen!

As you will discover in these pages, the North Harbour Club is a group of leaders in the North Harbour region. The founders established the club in 1995 ‘for the good of the region’ and that remains the strong focus 23 years on. We are unashamedly parochial, we have fun at the many events during the year, but a clear focus remains on rewarding excellence. This is primarily through the AIMES Awards for youngsters 25 years and under, and also through the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame.

I have loved every minute of the 14 years I have been coordinating this magazine. It is a time of the year when I get

to contact all the youngsters we have given AIMES Awards to and ask them for reports on their progress. It always warms my heart to see what they are achieving and the difference the North Harbour Club has made to their lives. What is always evident as well is the strong support that these young people have from their families and support networks. I take my hat off to the parents, caregivers and others who are guiding and inspiring these outstanding young people. They would not be achieving without this support.

As President of the club I also want to say a big thank you to all our sponsors. They are well documented in these pages and most have been with us for the two decades. They are integral to allowing us to do what we do.

So sit back and enjoy the read. We publish Northside with Channel Magazine, we print standalone copies and this year we have also set up a brand new online version of the magazine called NorthsideLive (northsidelive.co.nz). As the name suggests this is a constantly live version that will be updated during the year with all the news from the North Harbour Club, its members and awards winners.

Aidan Bennett. QSM President, North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust Email: aidan@benefitz.co.nz n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 3

Find your perfect vantage point with Vantage Windows North Shore Enjoy the result of constant refinement and attention to detail.

Vantage Windows & Doors is a leading New Zealand brand trusted by homeowners and builders for over 40 years.

vantagewindows.co.nz 58 Ellice Road, Glenfield | Phone 09 444 7035 Paul Bayer, Director and proud to be a member of the North Harbour Club | paul@vantagewindows.co.nz

PAGE 4 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

OFFICE HOLDERS & MEMBERS

NHC MEMBERS 2017/2018 PATRON Peter Menzies

North Harbour Club trustees photographed at the 2017 AIMES Awards Gala Dinner:- Kevin Mclean, Mike Atkinson, Mark Jago, Tammy McLeod, Andrea Davies, Aidan Bennett, Phil Brosnan, Hugh Stedman, John Cobb.

Not photographed: Ngaio Merrick.

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB & CHARITABLE TRUST

TRUSTEES 2017 2018 President: Aidan Bennett Managing Director, Benefitz.

Email: aidan@benefitz.co.nz

Vice President: Phil Brosnan Managing Director, Brosnan Construction.

Email: phil@brosnanconstruction.co.nz Trustee: Mike Atkinson Director, Bellingham Wallace.

Email: mikea@bellinghamwallace.co.nz Trustee: John Cobb Director, Symonite.

Email: j.cobb@symonite.co.nz Trustee: Mark Jago CEO, Lexus of North Shore and North Shore Toyota.

Email: markjago@nst.co.nz Trustee: Sue Kohn-Taylor Personal Development & Wellbeing Coach, Open The Door Email: sue@kohn-taylor.co.nz Trustee: Kevin McLean Partner, Private Bank, Bank of New Zealand Email: Kevin_McLean@bnz.co.nz Trustee: Tammy McLeod Director, Davenports Harbour Lawyers.

Email: Tammy@dhlawyers.co.nz Trustee: Ngaio Merrick Business Manager, Lewis Holdings Limited.

Email: ngaio@quadrant.co.nz Trustee: Hugh Stedman Managing Director, 300 Richmond Limited.

Email: stedmans@xtra.co.nz

Colin Dale Andrea Davies Jan Dawson LIFE MEMBERS Tristan Dean Joan Finlayson Nick Delamare Peter & Michelle Wall Tony Dench Gary Monk Bert Denee Glen Denham Honorary Members Daryl Devereux John Bishop Stephen Dil Bob Jago Dave Donaldson Professor Ian Watson Bill Donovan Wade Downey BOARD OF TRUSTEES Terry Dunleavy Aidan Bennett (President) Eric Faesen Kloet Phil Brosnan (Vice-President) Simon Farland Mike Atkinson David Ferguson John Cobb Dean Flyger Mark Jago Fay Freeman Sue Kohn-Taylor Greg Frittelli Kevin McLean Don Galbraith Tammy McLeod Patrick Gale Ngaio Merrick Colin Gibbons Hugh Stedman Zane Gifford Bruno Goedeke AMBASSADORS John Gold Cameron Calkoen Craig Gregory Shane Cortese Paul Gunn Ian Jones Jane Guy Peter Montgomery Kirk Hardy Mike Hare MEMBERS Colin Harvey Max Abbott John Hastings Philip Adamson CJ Healy Paul Alexander Daniel Henderson John Algie Michelle Henderson Chris Allen Nick Hern Raymond Barnes Brian Hight Vicki Barrie Andrew Hill Paul Bayer Nick Hill Walid Bayouk Terry Holt Matthew Bellingham Gary Howarth John Berry Nick Howe-Smith Trish Blackmore Lorene Hurd Paul Blackwell Lyle Irwin Nicolette Bodewes Dima Ivanov Janine Brinsdon Steve Jurkovich John Broderick Annette Kann Julian Brown Nick Kearney Scott Browne Ben Kelsey Paul Brownsey Stephen Kendall-Jones Jonno Buckley Chris Kennings Graeme Budler Lloyd Kirby Kane Butler Dave Lane Sky Cai Steven Langerak Ian Calderwood Alan Le Noel Angela Cameron Bob Leveloff Graham Catley Sir David Levene Barbara Cavanagh Murray Lockwood David Charlesworth Kate Luxton Graham Collie Liam Lyons Clyde Colson Andrew MacKenzie Nixon Cooper Haydn MacKenzie Richard Coote Chris Maclean Steve Corbett David Macleod Neil Craigen Ron MacRae Mike Cruickshank Lynda Mann

Janet Marshall John Matthews Raewyn Matthys-Morris Bob McGuigan Forres McPheat Bob McRae Tracey Mehrtens Grant Murray Karen Murrell Murray Nancekivell Geoff Nash Tony Nicholson Bridget Nicol Mary Nixon Ken Noble Ann Old Brett O’Riley Tim Oughton Jugdis Parbhu Sean Parsons Jeremy Parsons Richard Poole Mark Powell Bob Quaid Alex Reed Chris Reeve Greg Remmington Ralph Roberts Paul Rodgers John Sandford Andrew Schnauer James Sclater Kate Shevland Gary Simpson Mike Single Rod Slater Bill Smale Greg Smale Nicola Smee Bill Speedy Bruce Spooner John Spooner Sue Stanaway Mike Stanley Jane Stanley David Stedman Irene Symes Jan Thomas James Thomas Andrew Thomson Ann Tod Bruce Tong Scott Travis Jonathan Tredray John Twomey Paul Vermaak Craig Waller Allan Watts Logan Whitelaw Lisa Whyte Alan Wiltshire Alex Witten-Hannah Greg Young Dean Young Ted Zorn

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 5

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB TRUSTEES

TWO NEW TRUSTEES IN 2017 At the 2017 AGM held in July, the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust welcomed two new trustees to the board that administers the charitable organisation – Sue Kohn-Taylor and Kevin McLean. They answered some questions for Northside after their first six months as trustees.

SUE KOHN-TAYLOR

KEVIN MCLEAN

Sue is a North Shore-based personal development and wellbeing coach who has vast experience in business. Sue says her mission is “to inspire and educate people globally on personal development and how it assists them to live a purposeful and powerful personal and work life” and her vision is “for all people to spend time on Sue Kohn-Taylor personal development throughout their life, so they can be the most powerful version of themselves”.

Kevin is a Partner at BNZ Private Banking, based on the North Shore. He is an experienced private banking professional whose career spans senior executive roles with multi-national organsiations to advising high net worth investors on investment strategies. His Kevin McLean specialties include investment portfolio design and construction for New Zealand and international investors including fixed income, international equity and alternative investments.

NORTHSIDE: How long have you lived on the north side of the bridge?

SUE KOHN-TAYLOR: Well I’m a true example of a passionate North Shorite! Born in Devonport and lived the majority of my life in Takapuna, Milford and Albany. I did try a stint in Parnell and Ponsonby in my 20’s but it just didn’t feel right and I yearned for the North Shore and came back. Takapuna is my special place and where I currently live.

NS: What do you love most about the lifestyle in general?

SKT: Oh how much space do I have! What’s not to love? My highlights are the myriad of stunning walks and outdoor activities, great schools, the variety of restaurants, bars and cafes with Street Organics being my current favourite, fabulous yoga studios, the friendliness of the people and business community, access to specialist shops as well as malls – really, it’s all here and in a relaxed atmosphere.

NS: How did you get involved with the NH Club?

SKT: Through my in-laws who were members and then my friendship with founders Ross and Joan Finlayson back in the 1990s. I assisted in organising the Club’s biggest fundraiser ever back then, which was after the 1995 America’s Cup win. It was an incredible event and I was blown away by the passion and the drive of the Club members to raise funds to acknowledge and reward youth talent on the North Shore.

I’ve been involved in one way or another ever since.

NS: What to you enjoy most about your involvement?

SKT: My business is all about unlocking individuals' potential so being part of a cause that celebrates and rewards excellence of youth is an area I particularly enjoy. It’s very inspiring to see how extraordinary people can be at such a young age. I also thoroughly enjoy the variety of events the Club runs and the friendships I’ve made with many members. All in all a great combination!

NS: What are your ambitions for the club during your time as a trustee?

SKT: I’d like to help keep the Club’s annual events upbeat and fresh as well as optimising the opportunities for the Club to raise funds for the scholarship grants. Together with the other trustees, I’d like to ensure the original vision and passion of the Founders is maintained and stays embedded in the Club’s vision.

NS: What AIMES Award would you have been closest to picking up if you were 20 again?

SKT: Hmmm I think if I exaggerated and fantasised about my abilities then perhaps the sport category for hockey or if there were other random categories perhaps an award for perseverance, cooking or socialising! The drive, ambition and vision of the AIMES winners is phenomenal – I didn’t click into that until I was much older!

Contact: sue@kohn-taylor.co.nz n

PAGE 6 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

NORTHSIDE: How long have you lived on the north side of the bridge?

KEVIN McLEAN: I was born on the North Shore, and have lived on the north side of the Auckland Harbour bridge all my life.

NS: What do you love most about the lifestyle in general?

KM: We have a wonderful beachside community spirit, which must be similar to living in a small town somewhere in provincial New Zealand where people really care for others in their region, with all the benefits of living close to a vibrant city that has grown up to be a culturally diversified “world” city over the past few years.

NS: How did you get involved with the NH Club?

KM: I was originally invited to an AIMES awards dinner and as a result of that experience and seeing so many talented young local people achieving their dreams and aspirations, I wanted to find out how I could make a contribution.

NS: What do you enjoy most about your involvement?

KM: Seeing the achievements of some of our local young people (in a small way sharing part of their success) and also from the wonderful relationships built up with the members of the Club.

I intend to make a contribution through my involvement with membership and finance to ensure the Club continues to be relevant and engaging to members and sponsors…

NS: What are your ambitions for the Club during your time as a trustee?

KM: I intend to make a contribution through my involvement with membership and finance to ensure the Club continues to be relevant and engaging to members and sponsors, so we are able to continue supporting talented young people from our region for many years to come.

NS: What AIMES Award would you have been closest to picking up if you were 20 again?

KM: I would not have been a candidate for an AIMES Award. I was more of a generalist and played many different sports rather than specialising in one activity. My real passion in my youth was sailing – a hotly contested award!

Contact: Kevin_McLean@bnz.co.nz n

INTERVIEW WITH PHIL BROSNAN

A CHAT WITH

PHIL BROSNAN VICE PRESIDENT, NORTH HARBOUR CLUB Dunedin-born Phil Brosnan has been a member of the North Harbour Club for the best part of two decades, joining when he first moved to the North Shore from the ‘mainland'. He became a trustee in 2008/09 and has been a strong leader of the organisation ever since. As the current Vice President of the club, he is earmarked to step Phil Brosnan into the president’s role in mid-2018 following the AGM scheduled for July. Northside caught up with Phil for a chat in early 2018.

Phil Brosnan first came to the North Shore to set up the Naylor Love Construction office in Auckland. The company had bought prominent North Harbour business Akita Construction and Phil was charged with leading Naylor Love's move into the Auckland market. He had previously completed a building apprenticeship with Naylor Love in Dunedin and progressed through to become a leader within the large construction business that is headquartered in Dunedin. Phil spent 23 years with Naylor Love, six of those establishing the Auckland business, becoming a small shareholder in the process.

“When I came to Auckland I knew very few people and happened to connect with Daryl Devereux of Bayleys Commercial Real Estate,” explained Phil Brosnan, when quizzed on how he first became a member of the North Harbour Club. “I asked Daryl how I could get to meet like-minded people and business leaders and he said I should join the North Harbour Club. So I did, and I have loved every moment of my involvement and I certainly got to know a wide range of people as a result of his sound advice.”

After six years with Naylor Love in Auckland, Phil’s hankering to establish his own business got the better of him, so he did.

“Naylor Love is a great business, but I felt I had gone as far as I could with them so decided the time was right to do something on my own. So we started Brosnan Construction in 2010, right in the middle of the GFC problems. I had developed some expertise in the repairing leaking buildings space so that was a focus when we first launched. We specialised in reclads and did pretty well.”

Now in its eighth year, the Brosnan Construction group has grown into an impressive business. In addition to Auckland, they now also have operations in the South Island, working predominantly in the Central Otago and Christchurch areas. Along the way a labour hire business has also been created (Bettabuilt), which specialises in the building sector. The group now employs over 200 people.

“We are thrilled with what we have achieved with the business in a relatively short time,” adds Phil. “I have learnt that a key ingredient in business success is relationships. They are very important. All of them. Be that with staff, with customers and those

in the supply chain. If you don’t get those right then you really don’t have a business.”

These days Brosnan Construction are very much in the wider commercial construction area. They still do well with repairing leaky buildings but are also involved in new builds and renovations for a range of projects such as hospitals and schools and have also found a niche in luxury lodges. A current project includes a $10 million luxury fishing lodge in North Otago.

So what has Phil Brosnan enjoyed most about his contribution to the North Harbour Club over the past 17 plus years?

“The relationships I have made and the people I have met,” explains Phil. “Daryl (Devereux) was spot on with his advice that this is a great way to meet people. I would recommend it to all local leaders. I enjoy interacting with the members and (AIMES) winners alike and particularly seeing the youngsters progress through the award system. I have really enjoyed the role I have had as chair and being on the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner organising committee. My project management experience has meant that it has been a good fit.”

What does the incoming president see as key focuses for the North Harbour Club to ensure a solid future?

“We need to ensure we don’t become a lot of things to too many people and deviate too much from our purpose. To be careful not to water down what we have achieved and keep the purpose of the club at the forefront. We also need to maintain a continuity of leadership. We have done some great work on this in recent times with our trustee rotation policy and bringing on new people. We need to continue to focus on that, while maintaining our organisational memory is also important.

“At the end of my tenure as president I see the depth of leadership in the organisation as being one of the key measures of my success. Other aspects will be general membership participation, the number of our (AIMES) alumni taking up membership and participation, and very importantly, the bank balance.”

To round out the chat we quizzed Phil Brosnan about whether he would have ever won an AIMES Award as a youngster?

“No, I don’t think so. I am a bit of a generalist really. I can do lots of things, but don’t do anything academically, musically or sportswise that would be considered exceptional. I do business well, but if I was to get close it would probably be in community service. I love what I do in the not-for-profit area. These include the North Harbour Club, the New Zealand Institute of Building Charitable Trust (NZIB), Riding for the Disabled (RDA) and Rotary.”

Contact: phil.brosnan@brosnan.co.nz n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 7

ABOUT US

Meet the team: Growth for the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust has led to a three-strong team looking after club operations. Peter White looks after Membership, Sponsorship & AIMES Applications; Christie Parkin (centre) Administration & Marketing; Gill Johnstone (right) Events & Administration.

ABOUT THE NORTH HARBOUR CLUB BACKGROUND

The North Harbour Club (and Charitable Trust) was established on 18 May, 1995.

A group of North Shore business people met and established a constitution with the following objectives: 1. To promote the North Harbour region.

2. For business establishments of the region to meet and network for the good of the region.

3. To form a Charitable Trust to raise funds and present scholarships to the youth of the North Harbour region through the trusts annual AIMES Awards. To qualify for the AIMES Awards, recipients must have shown outstanding ability or potential in the areas of the Arts, Innovation, Music, Education, Sport and Service to the Community.

The North Harbour Club is an association of Auckland’s North Shore and North Harbour leaders in local affairs, business, education, sport and social development.

Members of the North Harbour Club, who are all residents or have their businesses in the North Harbour area, have, among other stated aims, the desire to promote excellence by encouraging and providing financial assistance to the young people of the North Harbour region who have significant ability in their chosen field and display personal characteristics which make them worthy of our support.

OBJECTIVES

The annual AIMES Awards are the highest-profile face of the North Harbour Club, but the objectives of the club are five-fold: 1. To establish and maintain a club of non-political character for members to meet through regular lunches and social activities.

PAGE 8 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

2. To establish a charitable trust, known as The North Harbour Club Charitable Trust, to promote and develop local talent in the fields covered by the AIMES Awards.

3. To support cultural, sporting and recreational activities in the North Harbour Region.

4. To foster a spirit of pride in the North Harbour Region.

5. To foster a ‘good neighbour’ and ‘good citizen’ ethos in the North Harbour Region.

Membership of the North Harbour Club returns benefits to members as well as the young people the Club chooses to reward.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS A series of events throughout the year, including dinners, charity lunches and other functions/events, allow members to mix and mingle while enjoying good food and fine wine. In this way members receive an opportunity to meet each other, entertain clients and help our outstanding young achievers advance their careers at the same time.

The aim of these events is also to raise funds to enable the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust to continue to make grants to the young people who receive the annual AIMES Awards.

Financial contributions from members, through being involved in these events, are essential for ongoing funding of club.

SPONSORSHIP Funding is also gained by the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust through sponsorships. These include sponsorship of the AIMES Awards categories (called letter sponsors), and also through a group of sponsors called ‘We’re Building North Harbour’. There are also support sponsors who provide products and services to the club. n

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB? You can find our criteria for application and download an application pack from www.northharbourclub.co.nz/membership or contact Peter White – peter@northharbourclub.co.nz HOW TO APPLY:

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP:

• Be nominated by an existing club member.

• Complete the Application Form and provide a current CV including employment and personal interests.

• Have a 'face to face' meeting with a trustee to discuss goals and expectations.

Membership of the North Harbour Club returns benefits to members as well as the young people the Club chooses to reward. These include: • Make a difference to youth striving for excellence • Fabulous speakers • High energy, engaging lunches • Introductions and connections to other North Harbour Club Members • Option to host or speak at an After 5' function or 'Boardroom Buzz' event.

• Standard Membership Directory Listing • Priority ticket purchasing for lunches, the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame Dinner and the annual AIMES Awards Gala Dinner.

The application is then submitted to the Membership Committee and forwarded to the Trust Board for approval at the bi-monthly Trustee Meeting.

CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP: To be a member of the North Harbour Club you need to:-

• Be a North Harbour resident, or have your primary business located in the North Harbour area, or be a sponsor for the North Harbour Club; and • Be a leader in local affairs, business, education, sport and/or social development; and • Be of good character with values and goals that align with those of the North Harbour Club and be nominated by an existing club member; and • Commitment to contribute in the order of $5,000 per annum in support of the club's goals, by way of regular attendance to club events, donation of goods or services for charity auction and/or sponsorship of the North Harbour Club.

• Support and understand the history of the North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust by purchasing a copy of 'The First Twenty Years of Excellence' book at $50+gst.

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS: Corporate Membership - $2,000 plus GST Two individual members from the same organisation as recognised members of the club.

Includes THREE tickets to each of the FOUR Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunches throughout the year (12 tickets in total) OR Standard Membership - $500 plus GST One individual member joined.

Tickets for each event purchased additionally. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 9

L

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7 SEATER VERSION

EXPERIENCE AMAZING

Lexus RX luxury is about to come with 7 seats.

The extended RX350L and RX450HL are landing at Lexus of North Shore in February.

OF NORTH SHORE 4 LINK DRIVE, WAIRAU PARK | 09 442-3670 Proud sponsors of the North Harbour Club Charity Lunches, since 2010.

WWW.LEXUSOFNORTHSHORE.CO.NZ

SPONSORS

OUR FANTASTIC SPONSORS Since it’s inception in 1995, the North Harbour Club has relied on support from generous sponsors to ensure the continued success of the Club and Charitable Trust. These sponsors, many whose logos have been there since the very early days have been instrumental in contributing to the incredible sum of $2 million that has been awarded to talented youth of the North Harbour region.

You will find these sponsors outlined throughout this magazine and we urge you to consider using them whenever possible in your own business.

AIMES AWARDS 'LETTER' SPONSORS Each ‘Letter’ Sponsor provides money that is awarded directly to their category winner who then goes on to use this to continue achieving excellence in their field.

Our current AIMES Awards Letter Sponsors are:

ARTS ASB

INNOVATION

MASSEY UNIVERSITY

MUSIC

YAMAHA HOME ENTERTAINMENT (SOUND GROUP HOLDINGS)

EDUCATION

KRISTIN SCHOOL

SPORT

AUT MILLENNIUM

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ALBANY TOYOTA

AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS BELLINGHAM WALLACE Recognising those 'emerging' in each AIMES category.

JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS NZ FORCE CONSTRUCTION & LIBRARY LANE Recognising those achieving excellence aged 10-13 years

BUILDING NORTH HARBOUR SPONSORS A concept created in 2006, our Building North Harbour sponsors are just that – local businesses committed to building and developing our region.

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENT AND SUPPORT SPONSORS Our support sponsors provide the club with various support around events, marketing and even gym memberships for our AIMES winners.

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB SPECIALIST SPONSORS We also have four sponsorships around specific events the club is involved in or supports:

North Harbour Club Charity lunches LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE Lexus of North Shore have been long time sponsors of the four Charity Lunches we host every year.

North Harbour Business Hall of Fame MILFORD ASSET MANAGEMENT In partnership we recognise those who have a story of achieving excellence in business and contributing greatly to their specific communities.

North Harbour Club Members Network RSM NEW ZEALAND Our members network fosters membership of the club. This is sponsored by local accountancy firm RSM New Zealand.

North Harbour Club AIMES Winners Network SIMPSON WESTERN LAWYERS This is our 'alumni' of AIMES Award recipients over 20 years. It is generously supported by law firm Simpson Western.

Business Excellence Network (BEN Breakfasts) This popular business breakfast programme is organised

by BEN with support from sponsors Schnauer & Co, BDO, Westpac and ATEED. For many years funds raised as a result of this breakfast programme have been generously gifted to the club to support the AIMES Awards.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 11

WINNERS 2017

WINNING THE SUPREME AIMES AWARD

BY LEWIS FRY, 2017 AIMES SUPREME AWARD WINNER

The lecturn was glaringly empty on The prospect of editing our DNA can be the stage of the Bruce Mason Centre, daunting. We have, in theory, the tools to when it was vacated for me to speak edit the building blocks of life. While science and unexpectedly accept the Supreme is some way off that yet, now is the time Award at the AIMES Awards dinner in to consider how we might want to use November. It took a moment to collect gene editing, and in what ways we might my thoughts – in front of me was a sea regulate this. What risk (albeit small) that we of tables and a glamorous audience. Yet might edit DNA in a place where we didn’t it was a celebration, there was a warmth intend to are we comfortable with? Where in the air, and towards the back I could is the line between the treating of disease, see my grandma sitting with my family, and human enhancement? How might looking on with a little pride. It was a these technologies affect different groups privilege to step forward to acknowledge in society? In what ways might this benefit the hugely supportive North Shore New Zealand, and what factors do we need community, the North Harbour Club and to consider in our context – specifically with Charitable Trust, Kristin School and my regards to Maori values and culture? family.

These ethical, moral and policy The North Harbour Club and the AIMES conundrums require leadership, and Awards have played a significant role in communication between scientists, my development over the last few years. In policymakers, and importantly, the public.

Lewis Fry speaks to the crowd.

2015, supported by a Bellingham Wallace Together, we must decide to what extent sponsored North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, I we should pursue the benefits of gene technologies for human took a year out from my medical studies to complete a year of lab health and disability, against the risks and ethical considerations. research in glaucoma, a common eye disease. Soon after beginning There is a breathtaking pace and momentum in gene editing this ‘taster’ year, I set my sights on doing further research. I love the and gene therapy research. Science may outstrip the speed spirit of inquiry, the challenges of creating new knowledge, and the at which we can regulate, particularly to build international brainstorming discussions with others. I even became accustomed consensus. The AIMES Supreme and AIMES Education Awards to the frustration of how things go wrong, often. Research enriched provide me with the opportunity to stay abreast of this fast moving my experience of medicine and healthcare, particularly when field. It is vital to attend conferences – journal articles can be two meeting patients. It is a fascinating perspective to be part of the years behind! Furthermore, I hope to use this funding to develop work behind the scenes that seeks to understand how disease as a leader through engaging in discussions at both ethical and occurs, and how we might treat it. policy levels. I am working on developing links to biotech startups Fast forward two years to today, and I have graduated from in Silicon Valley and to laboratories in China, where gene-editing my medical degree and have commenced my PhD (or DPhil, as it technology is developing at a rapid rate. is called) in Clinical Neuroscience, at the University of Oxford as a Aside from research, there is plenty going on in Oxford. I tried Rhodes Scholar and AIMES Award winner. my hand at rowing, I have started training in the Oxford Blues Around the time I started in the lab, the scientific world’s cricket setup, and I have bought a squash racquet to start my fascination with gene editing exploded. It was propelled by the tour of the many squash courts. The Oxford Union is a buzzing discovery of a technology called CRISPR-Cas9, a technique that centre for debate – I’ve heard talks from Anthony Scaramucci allows for cutting and even editing of DNA. This carries the promise (Trump’s disgraced communications director of 10 days), Jimmy of changing how we treat genetic disease. I quickly became caught Page (Led Zeppelin) and a former deputy director of the CIA. in the wave, and I saw moving to the University of Oxford as the Coffee with Helen Clark was also a highlight, amongst what was a best way to become involved in using this to treat genetic eye very busy first term. disease. Sight and vision impairment captured my interest due to At the awards, I was approached by someone with glaucoma, the huge impact they have on the lives of those they affect. excited for the prospect of future therapies like gene editing. It is The goal of my current work is to look at ways in which we might wonderful to see a hopeful community invested in this work, and safely develop CRISPR-Cas9 for use in inherited retinal diseases of is a personal reminder of why this is important. Sight really does the eye – now the leading cause of untreatable blindness in young change lives. There is a long road ahead for the development of people. The eye will likely be one of the first places it will be used – these treatments, before they might be used in humans. the FDA just approved the first gene therapy for genetic disease in With the help of the North Harbour Club and the AIMES the United States, for an inherited retinal disease. awards, perhaps I will be able to contribute to this future. n

PAGE 12 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

Lewis Fry was presented with his AIMES Supreme Award by North Harbour Club Life Member Gary Monk (right) and President Aidan Bennett.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 13

WINNERS 2017

MELANIE’S A CRACK-UP

AIMES ARTS AWARD 2017: MELANIE BRACEWELL, COMEDIAN

Comedian Melanie Bracewell grew up in the North Shore, developing a passion for performing arts through her school years and beyond. This passion started from playing the Wicked Witch of the West as a 10 year old at Kauri Park School (which to this day, she says is probably a highlight) to taking the main role of Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors in her senior years at Birkenhead College.

"There was one thing that remained consistent through those years – I knew I wanted to perform,” explained Melanie in her AIMES Award application. "I wasn’t sure if it would be acting, or singing, or television presenting, I just remember the buzz of performing, knowing those were the happiest moments of my life. Maybe I just love attention, who knows!”

Melanie was deputy head girl of Birkenhead College, delivering weekly speeches for the school, which she would always try and inject a bit of humour into.

"There’s nothing more boring than hearing about clearing up rubbish, but if I could do it and make people laugh at the same time, I knew I was doing a good job.”

In her time at Birkenhead College Melanie, a real all rounder, amassed a bunch of awards for academics, performance and sport. In her final year 2013 – Deputy Head Girl; Proxime Accessit Award (Second to Dux); The AIMES Arts Award was presented by John Twomey of sponsor ASB (left) and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

Sportswoman of the Year; Rizzo in Grease; Excellence in Acting; Trophy for Best Actress. 2012 – Excellence in Acting; First in Drama; Excellence in Vocal Performance and Dance; Most Inspiring on by my friends, I decided to enter. I had to make a video of myself Netball Player. being funny for a minute, which is surprisingly, really blimmin’ difficult.

Towards the end of high school she received the Significant Thankfully, my silly joke about checkout dividers was good enough Student Scholarship for AUT and decided she wanted to pursue and I was selected to be one of the six finalists. We all got to do a mini a Bachelor of Communications. Melanie majored in Television and 7 Days at the Classic Comedy Bar, and then it was up to the New Screen production, and had multiple short films that were chosen for Zealand public to decide. In the meantime, I decided to book myself for the FLAVOURZ annual short lm festival. She graduated with a degree a RAW comedy gig. My reasoning was, if I didn’t win, I wanted to have achieved with very high grades. something else to focus on. On the other hand, if I did miraculously "It was around November of 2014, my first year of university, when win, I didn’t want to look like some chick who just wanted to be on I tried stand up for the very first time. There was a competition at TV for two minutes while people struggled with their comedy careers. the time titled ‘7 Days Comedy Apprentice’ that, upon being egged Thankfully I won, and appeared on the show in November 2014.

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AIMES ARTS AWARD 2017: SPONSORED BY ASB

Unfortunately along with the prize was a corporate stand up gig for McDonalds. I had done one gig at that point and smashed it, so I thought it’d be easy. Hoo boy. No. Absolutely not. Oh man. Turns out 60 year old men in business suits trying to eat their dinner isn’t my demographic!

"Within a few months I entered the RAW Comedy Quest alongside hundreds of more experienced comedians and I won that too! It was an amazing feeling, and that’s when I knew that a career in stand-up was my dream. It’s something you don’t even consider as a girl growing up. I’ve met plenty of women in comedy that never thought of it as an option until it was basically thrust in front of them. Some of my male comedian friends, however, have told me that they knew they wanted to do comedy as young as 12. I think the biggest reason is representation. I loved watching comedy growing up, my Dad is probably my biggest influence, so I was obviously familiar with Richard Pryor and Monty Python but I never saw any women doing comedy on television growing up. It never even crossed my mind.”

Since then, Melanie has been performing regularly throughout New Zealand. In just a few short years she's amassed quite a few achievements in comedy, radio and television.

Melanie says her biggest and most recent achievement was being approached to write for a new television show which will be screening sometime in the new year. She has written an entire episode script and is eagerly awaiting its announcement.

After volunteering at Radio Hauraki for eight months she was offered a job as a producer for the Matt and Jerry show who have described Melanie as “a great New Zealander”. She now has her own show on Saturdays and Sundays.

So what is Melanie going to do with her AIMES Award grant?

"In terms of my future in comedy, I’d love to travel. Unfortunately travelling and putting on shows is expensive. I plan to perform for a full month in Melbourne for the Comedy Festival, but marketing and venue hire will most definitely add up to a net loss. My show will be one of more than 500 shows taking part in the festival, so I’ll need marketing to get audience cut through. Producing a show involves everything from organising venue hire, marketing and publicity, travel and accommodation, sourcing props and equipment, budgeting, ticketing, obtaining insurance and licences and much more. Registration alone (the fee just to apply for the festival) is $525 AUD. I also hope to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which is even more ridiculous. I want to be able to comfortably do what I love, and advance my career without ending up in awful debt. An AIMES Award would be an incredible asset, and would allow me to eliminate some of these financial concerns. This is all so I can become a better performer. I’ve managed to cultivate an audience in New Zealand, but overseas performances to people who have no idea who I am will force me to be the best I can be.

The Melbourne Comedy Festival runs in March 2018 and would cost me at least $8000, depending on which venue I am able to get.

Edinburgh is in August next year and will be almost double that. I am at a point where I want to be able to push myself, without returning to New Zealand in debt.”

Melanie Bracewell’s achievements include:WINNER: 2014 7 Days Comedy Apprentice; 2015 Raw Comedy Quest Champion; 2016 Best Twitter Comedy Guild Award; 2017 NZICF Best Newcomer Award.

NOMINEE: 2016 Best Female Comedian Comedy Guild Award; 2016 Best Breakthrough Artist Comedy Guild Award; 2016 Best Blog

Melanie addressing the audience when accepting her award.

Comedy Guild Award; 2016 NZICF Best Newcomer Award. OTHER: 2015-2017 Radio Hauraki Producer and Announcer; 2015 Nominated for a Shorty Award; 2015 Featured in Women’s Weekly. 2016 Appeared on the 4:30 Show; 2016 Appeared on The Moe Show; 2016 Piece on The Bachelor on The Spinoff goes viral; 2016 Performed Comedy at Rhythm and Vines; 2016 Reached 250,000 followers on personal blog; 2016 Tweets appeared on Buzzfeed, The New York Times, The Independent; 2016 Chosen as the face of SKY’S ‘Tiny Trailers’ which got nominated for a Webby Award; 2017 Selected for the TV3 Comedy Gala; 2017 Regular Appearances on 7 Days; 2017 Selected as a writer and reporter for The Project; 2017 Performed at the Comedy Store in Sydney. n

Melanie Bracewell reflects on receiving the 2017 AIMES Arts Award sponsored by ASB and a cash grant of $15,000.

What are your reflections on the experience of receiving the AIMES AWARD and the actual event of the award being presented?

It was pretty surreal. It definitely feels amazing to receive such a prestigious honour for something that people may not recognise as an 'art'. It was an incredible room full of multi-talented people so it was just awesome to be on stage alongside them. I hadn't planned a speech or anything, so I was quickly tapping away on my phone trying to think of something to say, and it wasn't too horrible so that was great.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why?

It's a very boring answer, but probably my parents. Without my dad showing me stand up while I was growing up, I don't think I would've even seen it as an option. My mum has also been extremely supportive, even letting me do a couple jokes at her expense, which is very lovely of her.

What will 2018 bring for you?

A bit of travel, and a few exciting projects. I'm continuing as a full time writer for The Project on TV3, making regular appearances on 7 Days and doing my weekend radio show. A show I wrote an episode for will be airing in the middle of the year, which is exciting. I'm doing my Billy T nominated show in the 2018 NZ Comedy Festival and even travelling to Brisbane to take part in the Brisbane Comedy Festival with my good friend Angella Dravid. So lots of stuff! Probably too much stuff, but we'll see. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 15

WINNERS 2017

JUN’S SET ON SILICON VALLEY

AIMES INNOVATION AWARD 2017: JUN BING (24), COMPUTER SCIENTIST This is the second AIMES Award for Computer Scientist Jun Bing; he was the recipient of an AIMES Emerging Talent Award back in 2011.

That award was made on the back of his achievements, which included being awarded the DUX for three years between 2009 and 2011 at Albany Senior High School (Years 11 to 13). In 2011 he was also chosen as one of the top 60 semi-finalists from 7500 teams representing 90 different countries that entered Google Science Fair. His project was the only one to be chosen from Oceania.

"I have decided to apply for an AIMES Award again in 2017 as I have a few exciting updates that I would like to share with the North Harbour Club regarding my progress in education and new projects that I have been working on,” explained Jun Bing in his application.

"This June, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Dartmouth College, a private Ivy League research university located in the state of New Hampshire, United States. I was fortunate enough to have received a comprehensive financial aid award from the school worth US $250,000 that covered my tuition, and room and boarding fees over the period of four years. My overall GPA was 3.7/4 with my senior year GPA being 3.96/4 which gave me a prestigious honor of being a Rufus Choate Scholar between 2016-2017, meaning that my senior year GPA was at the top 5% of my year group. I have also worked as a teaching assistant of two computer science/engineering classes in which I led weekly help hours and after-lecture teaching sessions in addition to answering questions on the course web forums and grading assignments.

"During my four years at Dartmouth, I discovered my passion for computer science and coding computer programs. Particularly, my interest is in the field of machine learning. Machine learning is an area of artificial intelligence and refers to computer programs learning from data without being explicitly programmed. Thus, the potential application of machine learning in many different fields and disciplines The AIMES Innovation Award was presented to Jun's sister, Emily Bing, by is enormous. I had a leading role in a project that involved Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley of sponsor Massey University (left) and North applying machine learning to predicting protein subcellular Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett. localization. The traditional methods of experimentally determining subcellular localization of a protein is laborious and time consuming but, with machine learning, the process can of the neural network over historical data. He says this was an be accelerated. Much to our pleasure, our results were often able enlightening experience as it helped him to realise how powerful to beat the prediction performance of existing research papers. data and its analysis through machine learning algorithms can be Jun interned at an artificial intelligence-based finance firm in a real-world environment. Experience that's going to benefit him as a software engineer during last year’s summer break. His over the coming years. responsibilities included research and development of a neural Another project that Jun has been working on during his time network to forecast daily high and low prices for NASDAQ stocks. at Dartmouth is the development of Agora (http://agora-react.

He also wrote software to backtest day-trading performance herokuapp.com/), an online marketplace for Dartmouth students.

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AIMES INNOVATION AWARD 2017: SPONSORED BY MASSEY UNIVERSITY

A recent photo of Jun Bing in the United States.

He explains: "The students at Dartmouth have traditionally used websites such as CraigsList to buy and sell used goods around campus. The problem with using CraigsList is that identity protection for its users is sparse and anyone with an internet access can see what is being sold and bought through the website. Thus, Agora was developed with the primary goal of creating a safe trusted online market exclusively for students at Dartmouth.”

The newest project that Jun has been working on is Pretty Music Maker, an online music maker that aims to make producing music accessible and intuitive through a simple and easy to use user interface. Music is created via the click-driven interface in which the users would click to set events on a timeline that would continuously loop over from start to finish. Users also have the choice of setting different synthesizer options and speed of the loop. While similar services already exist, Pretty Music Maker differentiates from the competition by allowing its users to save and share their music using a unique URL such that collaboration between multiple users is possible. Pretty Music Maker is currently fully operational and online and it can be accessed at http:// prettymusicmaker.io/. If time and resources allow, Jun wants to create a smartphone application for Pretty Music Maker as well.

Aside from academics and computer programming, Jun was involved in Dartmouth Humanitarian Engineering group of which he was an assistant project leader. Between June and August of 2014 he was in Tanzania as a Jane Goodall Institute intern along with four other team members to conduct a two month long sustainable energy project. The group worked with Jane Goodall Institute and other local organizations to build biomass converters and educate the local population about sustainable fuel production using these converters.

In mid-September this year Jun returned to Dartmouth to start on a one-year accelerated Master’s in Computer Science program. Based on his academic performance he received a full tuition scholarship for the Master’s program.

Jun's future aspirations, after finishing his Master’s degree, is to work in the Silicon Valley for a large technology firm.

"Ideally, I would want to dive right into the tech industry after graduation and work in the field of machine learning and big data for around 10 years. It is my plan to obtain sufficient knowledge

about the industry and the workings of tech startups in Silicon Valley such that after those years, I would have the business idea, skills, social network, and the resources to successfully start my own company. Once I have set up myself in the United States and have found relative success, my very-long-term goal is to migrate parts of my company back to Auckland so that aspiring programmers in New Zealand don’t necessarily have to fly across the Pacific Ocean to find well-paying software engineering jobs. After that, I also want to set up venture capital funds for technology startups based in New Zealand.”

Jun plans to use the AIMES Award grant funds for school costs, living expenses, textbooks, health insurance, project development (Agora and Pretty Music Maker), renting servers for a year, purchasing a web address and to pay an Apple Developer Program fee.

Jun was unable to attend the gala awards evening. His award was accepted by his parents on his behalf. n

Jun Bing reflects on receiving the 2017 North Harbour Club AIMES Innovation Award, sponsored by Massey University and a cash grant of $15,000:Receiving the AIMES award means a lot to me. Not only does the award money support my endeavors in the States, I take a great pride in being recognised for such a prestigious award. I wish that I was present in person to receive the award. My parents told me that they enjoyed seeing the clips of myself and others shown during the ceremony.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why?

My parents. They give me great advice and motivation to push myself.

What will 2018 bring for you?

Hopefully I will be graduating this June! I want to seek out more opportunities to learn. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 17

WINNERS 2017

LIFE’S A SYMPHONY FOR JACKY AIMES MUSIC AWARD 2017: JACKY SIU (21), MUSICIAN, CELLIST

strengthened by the fond memories I have made here through performing,” explained Jacky in his AIMES Award application.

"I always felt like I owed something back to the community that brought me up so I proactively looked for ways to perform in public. These included performing at cultural events, music festivals, casual gigs and rest homes. These were all vital in building my confidence as a performer and at age 16 I was awarded a full scholarship to study at the University of Waikato under James Tennant.

I am still actively performing when I am in the country, for example with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – New Zealand’s top professional music organisations.”

Jacky has also been Associate Principal Cellist of the National Youth Orchestra, Principal Cellist of the Auckland Youth Orchestra, finalist of the University of Waikato Concerto Competition, winner of the University of Waikato Chamber Music Competition, Principal Cellist of the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra and recipient of two Performing Arts Blues Awards. He was also a founding member of the cello quartet ‘QUATTRO’ which won the Pettman/Royal Overseas League Chamber Music Scholarship in 2014. As part of the award, he completed a concert tour of the UK, playing in such venues as St Martin’s in the Fields. During the tour, Jacky received lessons from world renowned musicians such as Gregor Horsch, Enrico Bronzi and the Kuss As Jacky was overseas the AIMES Innovation Award was presented to Jacky Siu’s father, Daniel Siu, Quartet.

by Bob Leveloff of sponsor Yamaha Home Entertainment/Sound Group (left) and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

As a soloist, he has played at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Lake District For former Westlake Boys High School student Jacky Siu this Summer School Festival. Other highlights include performing a fouris his second North Harbour Club AIMES Award. The cellist concert tour of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.1 as the winner won an AIMES Emerging Talent Award in 2016. of the Auckland Youth Orchestra Soloist Competition.

In 1997, Jacky and his family immigrated to New Zealand in Most recently, Jacky has been selected as an annual Fellow search of a more liberating lifestyle and education system. They for both the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and New Zealand settled down on the Shore and after 20 years have all developed a Symphony Orchestras. Through these programmes he has been strong connection with the area. Jacky's first introduction to music receiving contract work with the best orchestras in the country and came from the local music centre in Birkdale, where he began learning how to be a true professional at his craft.

Saturday morning cello lessons. He has never looked back and is In 2016 he was awarded a scholarship worth $20,000 to about to complete his second year of Masters in Orchestral Artistry complete a specially designed Masters degree at the Guildhall at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

School of Music and Drama in London. Based on his progress "My strong connection to the North Shore has been and grades, the scholarship was renewed for 2017-2018. The

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AIMES MUSIC AWARD 2017: SPONSORED BY YAMAHA HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Jacky Siu reflects on receiving the 2017 North Harbour Club AIMES Music Award, sponsored by Yamaha Home Entertainment and a cash grant of $15,000:-

programme was designed with one of the top orchestras in the world – the London Symphony Orchestra. It aims to train young emerging artists for professional work upon completion of their studies and will be vital for Jacky to achieve his goals. These include playing in the top chamber and orchestral ensembles in Europe. Through the programme, Jacky has played in concerts alongside the London Symphony Orchestra in venues such as LSO St Lukes and the Barbican. Eventually he wants to find his way back home with these skills, to work for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and teach at a University.

"Receiving an AIMES Award has been a goal of mine since leaving New Zealand to pursue my studies in London,” said Jacky when he heard that he had won the AIMES Music Award for 2017. "I have seen many fellow musicians and friends who I look up to, receive an award from the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust. To be a recipient of this award shows me that I am on the right path towards my long-term career goals, and ties all my achievements thus far in the form of this prestigious award.

"Musicians are shaped by their surroundings, and I have always been proud to have grown up in the North Harbour Region. I gained a lot of my musical inspiration and education here and to be recognised by a major organisation located in my home-town is extremely special."

Since applying for the award Jacky has had the great privilege to work with Sir Simon Rattle in a recent project with the London Symphony Orchestra/Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and selected younger students from East London. He was involved in the coaching of the younger kids. “Teaching is something I am extremely passionate about as I am aware of how powerful it can be. We did our final performance at the renowned Barbican Centre.”

Jacky was unable to attend the gala awards evening.

His award was accepted by his parents on his behalf. n

I remember feeling extremely excited when I received the official email from the North Harbour Club and my first reaction was to share this excitement with my parents and siblings.

I had been anticipating the result for a long time, particularly because I had first applied for this award in 2016, where I received an AIMES Emerging Talent Award. In a way, being a successful recipient of the 2017 AIMES Music Award had been two years in the making. As the excitement faded, my emotions shifted into a mix of happiness and satisfaction, as this award symbolises the many hours I have put into achieving success in music. As I mentioned in my speech, there are just as many low moments as there are high, when pursuing a creative art.

Most aspiring musicians would back me up on this. The establishment of an award system which recognises and rewards ‘youth achieving excellence’ is therefore extremely important as it can often give us that extra push to turn our dreams into reality. Of course, you should never pursue anything with materialistic intentions. However, to have my achievements formally recognised is something special – especially by an organisation located in an area where I spent most of my life.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner as I had commitments in London. While I was disappointed to miss the ceremony, having my parents attend this event was very important to me as this was all a result of their hard work, support, and love. I know that seeing their son recognised at a high-profile event filled them with pride and I hope that I can continue to make them proud in the future.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why?

There have been so many important influences in my life so to pick one would be impossible. The music teachers I had in New Zealand (Rosalind Dodd, Alison Jepson, Dr. Anita Gertseema, James Tennant) have all played a huge role in my development as they provided a foundation for my technique and musical ideas that will stay with me forever. My current teacher, Adrian Brendel, is an extremely important influence at the current stage of my studies. His passion and selflessness towards music is extremely inspiring and the vast knowledge he has always surprises me. He has thrown so many ideas at me in the past 18 months and this has unknowingly broadened my own depth of thought.

There are also various public figures who I gained a lot of inspiration from, particularly athletes; such as UFC fighter Conor McGregor and NBA legend Kobe Bryant. The work ethic and persistent drive both these athletes have displayed through their careers is admirable and there is something for everyone to learn in their unique and positive mindsets.

Often, you don’t even realise how much influence a teacher or public figure can have on you until you really stop and think about it. This is perhaps reflected in how different all the people I have listed in this segment are.

What will 2018 bring for you?

I was recently accepted on to the prestigious String Experience Scheme with the London Symphony Orchestra – something which I mentioned auditioning for in my interview. This will allow me to work closely with one of the top orchestras in the world and perform in programmes with them during the coming year. This will be a huge step for my career as eventually, I would like to have a full-time position in a world-class orchestra. Aside from that, I will be completing my Masters of Music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama which will involve a large amount of performing in London. During the second half of the year, I will be looking at auditioning for orchestral jobs in Europe and further study in Germany. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 19

WINNERS 2017

AIMES EDUCATION AWARD 2017: SPONSORED BY KRISTIN SCHOOL

A LEADER IN MEDICAL SCIENCE

AIMES EDUCATION AWARD 2017: LEWIS FRY (25), DOCTOR/SCIENTIST/TEACHER This is Lewis Fry’s second award from the North Harbour Club. In 2014 he received an AIMES Emerging Talent Award.

That award enabled him to take a year away from medicine to complete a BMedSci degree, a highly successful one-year research project into vision loss from glaucoma.

In 2017 the ex-Kristin School pupil and DUX took up a Rhodes Scholarship at The University of Oxford, undertaking a DPhil (PhD) in Clinical Neurosciences. In his words "spending the next three years working on how to use CRISPR (a gene editing technology) to edit DNA to treat incurable blindness”. CRISPR (pronounced ‘crisper’) has changed the game for genetic diseases.

"With this power to alter DNA however, comes a responsibility to use gene-editing technology ethically,” said Lewis in his AIMES Award application. "I plan to use my experience as a doctor, scientist and scholar to become a leader in this rapidly evolving landscape and guide how we use this technology.”

Lewis explained that CRISPR can be used to cut and paste genes precisely. The promise CRISPR offers is that it allows scientists to identify, replace and change the DNA that causes disease. Unlike technologies that have gone before it, CRISPR is cheap, accurate and relatively easy to use.

"Herein lies the need for leadership,” added Lewis. “In a future environment that is challenged by balancing the promise, and also the threat, of progress. I see myself over the next five years as being uniquely positioned to help guide the global and scientific community in how we apply science in an ethical but progressive manner. I hope to bring together my work at the bedside as a doctor, the laboratory bench as a scientist, and use these experiences to develop a philosophical and ethical approach to how to best use these new technologies.”

Lewis Fry has a strong background in academic excellence, leadership and community service. He graduated from Monash University (Melbourne) in the top 1% of Victorian medical students, winning the university prizes for coming first in Surgery, Geriatrics, and Ophthalmology. He worked as a junior doctor at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. He has published a number of peerreviewed scientific papers, with others currently in development. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Medical Student Journal (AMSJ).

"Today, innovation moves at a pace beyond that of policy and regulation. I hope to harness this to help those with incurable blindness. However in this time of rapidly developing scientific capabilities, we must have leaders that use publicly funded scientific knowledge openly, and in ways that society is comfortable with.

This will require global cooperation and global conversation. To this I hope to provide a Kiwi voice."

In addition to his medical studies, Lewis is a tutor, a keen

PAGE 20 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

The AIMES Education Award was presented to Lewis Fry by Tim Oughton, Executive Principal of sponsor Kristin School (left) and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

photographer, bushwalker and talented cricketer.

Lewis Fry received the North Harbour Club AIMES Education Award, sponsored by Kristin School and a cash grant of $15,000. n

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NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 21

WINNERS 2017

ALEX AND MOLLY – CHASING GOLD IN TOKYO

AIMES SPORT AWARD 2017: ALEX MALONEY (25) & MOLLY MEECH (24), OLYMPIC SAILORS

The North Harbour Club AIMES Sport Award for 2017 is shared by sailors Alex Maloney and Molly Meech. They won a silver medal sailing together in the 49erFX class at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and have their eyes set firmly on gold in Tokyo 2020.

Alex Maloney is well known to North Harbour members and supporters. Alex first received an AIMES Emerging Talent Award back in 2007. She comes from a yachting family. Her brother Andy has previously won AIMES Emerging Talent and Sport Awards and was a cyclor and sail trimmer with Emirates Team New Zealand when they won the America's Cup. Alex is the helmsman of the 49erFX. Alex’s 'sailing mate' Molly Meech has lived on the Shore for six years. She attended Massey University in Albany, completing a degree at the end of 2016. Originally from Tauranga, Molly also comes from a talented yachting family. Her brother, Sam also competed for New Zealand at the 2016 Olympics, winning bronze in the Laser class. Molly has been described as "the tall, powerhouse on board New Zealand’s 49erFX women’s ski crew”.

Alex and Molly are both members of the Yachting New Zealand High Performance team and are now campaigning towards the Olympics in Tokyo 2020. Having won the silver medal in Rio, they are pursuing gold in Tokyo.

Alex had this to say in her AIMES Award application. “Last year I had the honour of representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games bringing home a silver medal with Molly. The experience was completely awe-inspiring and motivating. It was amazing to see the impact it had on the country as well as the younger sailors throughout New Zealand. Receiving an AIMES Emerging Talent Award 10 years ago helped bridge the gap between Junior and Olympic sailing. Additional help will help drive our new campaign towards the next level – Olympic Gold!”

"For me to achieve this goal involves a lot of mental and physical preparation and attendance at major regattas around the world throughout the continuous sailing season,” explained Molly Meech in her application. "Logistically and financially this is difficult. I am supported in my endeavours by Yachting New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand, but need further financial assistance to cover the deficit. Sailing at this level is a full time job, and I am unable to supplement this with part time employment, although I do try to coach and give back to younger members while in New Zealand.”

For Alex and Molly this campaign is more than just about making the boat go fast. They aim to inspire through living what they love, pursuing their goals and sharing their experiences with others. Earlier this year they had their first girls “Have a Go” day where they took 50+ girls out sailing on two High Performance Olympic dinghies. For many it was their first time learning to trapeze and there were plenty of smiles as they learnt the need for speed.

"Hearing the feedback was truly great,” said Molly. "We hope to inspire more Kiwis to get out and pursue their dreams through various platforms.”

PAGE 22 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

The AIMES Sport Awards were presented to Molly Meech (second from left) and Alex Maloney by Mike Stanley of sponsor AUT MILLENNIUM (left) and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

"Alongside these aspirations, our main focus is pursuing excellence on the world stage,” explains Alex. "With this goal, we also have the realities of running a high performance sailing campaign. Our 49erFX teams budget costs exceed $100,000 a year, not including living costs. We are fortunate to have an allocated budget from our sporting federation Yachting New Zealand and have also worked hard to secure some sponsorship. However this doesn’t cover everything like the costs of our boats. A 49erFX is valued at $27,000. The additional funding via an AIMES Award would go towards the cost of purchasing a new boat in 2018 for our sailing team." n

AIMES SPORT AWARD 2017: SPONSORED BY AUT MILLENNIUM

Molly Meech and Alex Maloney (talking) addressing the audience when accepting their awards.

Alex & Molly reflect on receiving the 2017 North Harbour Club AIMES Sport Award, sponsored by AUT Millennium and share a cash grant of $20,000.

MOLLY: I feel very honoured to have received an AIMES Award, and truly proud to represent our North Shore community both nationally and internationally. The event itself was very special for me as it showed not only the calibre of talent emerging from the North Shore among our peers, but it highlighted the amazing support that the North Harbour Club provides to us all.

ALEX: My reflections on receiving the AIMES Award are firstly around pride. To be recognised as a talent worthy of support from our community is a huge honour, and it also reinforces our sense that our journey towards trying to win Olympic gold is a worthwhile pursuit. The actual event was a great night and it was definitely inspiring to be amongst the other awards winners.

What is unique about the North Harbour Club’s AIMES Awards is that it supports the youth of North Harbour across such a wide variety of fields. To be exposed to highly driven peers that are pursuing their dreams in their own areas of life was truly inspiring.

My reflections are a mixture of pride and inspiration!

top sporting coaches Nathan Handley. But have no fear, Dad will always be behind the scenes helping us pack our centre board case if we ask him to.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why?

MOLLY: I think my parents have had the biggest influence on my achievements to date. Without them and their amazing support I would not have been able to come this far. Not only were they the ones to buy my first ever dinghy and drive me all around the country when I was just starting out, but they have been there every step of my journey to where I am today - and they are still there supporting me through the highs and lows of competitive sailing.

ALEX: If I had to narrow it down to only one person, that has had the biggest influence on my achievements to date I would have to say my Dad, Jim Maloney. It always takes a community to raise a kid, but for me my Dad was always a consistent person who not only believed in me, but was always ready to back me when I asked. Being a parent he always has to walk a fine line to balance between being overbearing vs. passing on his expertise, but 99% of the time he gets it perfect. He was our coach for the 2016 Olympics and to share the journey with him quite intensely the last 2.5 years of the Rio campaign was pretty special. After the Games we all felt as a team it was time for a change and are now super lucky to be working with one of New Zealand's

What will 2018 bring for you?

MOLLY: 2018 is going to be a really exciting year for us. We have a lot of competitions planned overseas, including the first of the Olympic qualifiers (where we can qualify for a spot at the Olympics in our class), and also an event in the Olympic sailing venue in Japan – which is going to be great to spend some time there learning the venue.

ALEX: 2018 is an exciting year for Nathan, Molly and I. Our peak event is the Aarhus Sailing Worlds, where all the Olympic classes will come together in August to race for their countries Olympic spots. It is the first chance to secure a NZL spot in the 49erFX, and Molly and I are aiming to do it in good fashion. We will also have a few World Cup events to tune up our racing skills prior to the Aarhus Worlds and then following, we have an opportunity to test the Olympic waters in Enoshima, Japan. There's a lot to get done this summer with equipment testing etc. but after a refreshing summer break, we are ready to take on this action packed year.

In regards to career, I am slowly ticking away with one paper a semester to finish my undergraduate BSci degree in Psychology, and, as a team, we are also open to exploring other sailing pathways. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 23

WINNERS 2017

INSPIRING WOMEN TO CHANGE THE WORLD

AIMES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD - ALEXIA HILBERTIDOU (18), ACTIVIST/ENTREPRENEUR

people throughout New Zealand.”

18 year-old Alexia has delivered on those plans.

In 2017 she has taken the bold step of working on her social enterprise initiative full time. Alexia is the founder and CEO of GirlBoss, an organisation with one key mission in mind - to inspire, empower and equip New Zealand girls to become the change makers of the future.

GirlBoss encourages girls to:- Embrace male-dominated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) fields; Develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills; Connect with other likeminded youth; Aid and enable their communities.

It’s aimed at supporting young women from 13 to 18 years-old into STEM careers. It is New Zealand’s second largest young women’s network with around 8000 members.

“I might have studied at university with others my age, or even worked at a large company so that I could make mistakes and learn on someone else’s watch,” said Alexia in her 2017 AIMES Award application. “But I have discovered my ‘why’ and it compels me."

“Every day New Zealand women of all ages sign up to become GirlBoss members and supporters.

They are united by the understanding that if we are going to improve outcomes for women we will need to work hard and be there for each other.”

Recently Alexia received this email from a student. "I am very fortunate to be a recipient of the Vice Chancellors Significant Student Scholarship and a Microsoft Student Partner. All this would not have been possible without the motivation and determination that the GirlBoss community has given me.”

“Whether it is in a change of direction, a determination to stick to the hard path or in setting up GirlBoss clubs in their school, it is these ripples The AIMES Service to the Community Award was presented to Alexia Hilbertidou by of impact which remind me that GirlBoss is making Russell Churchill of sponsor Albany Toyota (left) and North Harbour Club President a difference,” says Alexia.

Aidan Bennett.

Alexia lists her recent milestones as:- Doing an internship at New Zealand Treasury, she led a comprehensive research project investigating diversity practices in the public This is the second time Alexia has received an AIMES sector; Working with Brisbane Girls High School to launch the Award from the North Harbour Club. She was a recipient Australian version of GirlBoss (ChangeMakeHer); Being selected of an AIMES Emerging Talent Award in 2016. Back then

by United States Ambassador Scott Brown and NASA to be Alexia was in her final year at Albany Senior High School. part of their Stratospheric Obsevatory for Infrared Astronomy Her aim was "to take a gap year in 2017 to focus on her Project (SOFIA). This involved being onboard NASA’s 747 (the organisation. This will include touring the country and world’s largest flying observatory) during a mission to seek out establishing Tech and Leadership Workshops for young

PAGE 24 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

AIMES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD SPONSORED BY ALBANY TOYOTA new stars and planets; Presenting my project to expand GirlBoss internationally at the Future of Work Conference in Malaga (Spain), New Zealand’s first Eisenhower young fellow to do so; Being named a 2017 Global Teen Leader and representing New Zealand at the 7-Day Just Peace Summit in New York; Assisting Dr Michelle Dickinson and Joe Davis (of Nanogirl Labs) with the running and performance of science shows.

Future aspirations that Alexia has outlined are:- To cement the economic sustainability and impact of GirlBoss through workshops in schools, businesses and organisations across New Zealand; Launching GirlBoss Awards for 11-18 year-olds and have secured TradeMe as major sponsor and Derek Handley as a judge and advocate; Growing the GirlBoss mentoring programme through technology advancements (online mentoring etc.). Currently have 45 senior level executive women as mentors and are partnering with Mai Chen’s Super Diverse Women on a project.

“There are a number of key steps I could take which would enable me to make even more of an impact with GirlBoss,” explained Alexia, when quizzed on how she will spend her AIMES Awards grant money. “I would like technical assistance to setup online access between my mentors and my young GirlBosses.

Membership and access to our monthly newsletter will always be free and funding allows me to provide these whilst I build up a sustainable business model. Funds would also enable me to exhibit at the 2018 Career’s Expo’s around New Zealand and the U-Learn Teachers conference – aimed at membership growth nationwide. They will also be used to help establish trademarks in new markets around the globe, such as China, Indonesia and the UK.” Alexia has spoken at or promoted GirlBoss at around 40 schools and events to date in 2017. She has also been a finalist in, or won or received, no less than 16 awards or scholarships in 2016 and 2017. n

Alexia Hilbertidou reflects on receiving the North Harbour Club AIMES Service to the Community Award, sponsored by Albany Toyota and a cash grant of $15,000:Receiving an AIMES Award was an incredible privilege and I truly felt a strong sense of community and support on the Awards Night. As the Gala Dinner coincided with Armistice Day, it was a powerful opportunity to honour the bravery of the men and women who fought in our wars. I would like to thank the North Harbour Club – the members, the sponsors, and the lifetime patrons. I believe in the unlimited possibilities for women to change the world. And in presenting me with this award you send a message which says that “you too believe in that potential.”

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why?

My mother, because from a young age she introduced me to social equity and community involvement. She taught me that I am never too young to evoke change and to always take action when I see an injustice.

What will 2018 bring for you?

Thanks to the support of the North Harbour Club, with this

Alexia addressing the audience when accepting her award.

AIMES Award, I am enabled to continue my work with GirlBoss New Zealand next year. We will be continuing to grow our membership and work towards our vision of every young women in New Zealand being part of the GirlBoss community. We will run our Changemakeher workshops in at least 35 high schools around the country.

Through receiving an AIMES Award I have seen how impactful an award scheme can be and hence, in 2018, we will be launching the GirlBoss Awards – a nationwide search for high school aged women creating change and defying stereotypes. Just like the AIMES Award winners, the GirlBoss Award winners will receive a cash grant, networking opportunities, and support.

I have been chosen as a 2018 Queen’s Young Leader.

This is an award given to 60 Commonwealth community leaders per year. As a winner I will receive bespoke training, mentoring and networking opportunities, and will take part in a residential leadership development programme in London run by the University of Cambridge. In July, I will visit Buckingham Palace to be conferred with the award by Her Majesty the Queen.

In 2018, I will also relaunch our mentoring programme, host a GirlBoss conference, and organise a GirlBoss Fundraising Gala. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 25

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2016

Congratulations to all the AIMES rising young stars Bellingham Wallace are proud sponsors of the AIMES Emerging Talent Awards

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PAGE 26 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

2017 AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARD WINNERS

Zoe White

ZOE WHITE (18) BALLET DANCER

In September 2017 Zoe White was accepted into the Rambert School of Dance in London to study a three-year BA/Honours.

Media reported that Zoe was "jumping for joy" when she found out she'd been accepted into the Bachelor of Arts programme at the school, which was founded by Ballet Russes dancer Marie Rambert in 1920 and is regarded as one of the best dance schools in Britain. It was a dream come true for Zoe, who has been dancing since she was three.

"I aim to become a professional ballet/contemporary dancer and choreographer, as I can't imagine dancing, creating and performing not being a part of my life,” said Zoe White in her AIMES Award application. "It has always been my dream to be a ballerina, but over the years I have also developed a passion for contemporary dance and choreography, which led me to accept my placement at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, after applying via video audition for several European schools, "I’m really excited about going to London. There is so much to learn and look forward to. I hope to really develop as a powerful, expressive and versatile dancer; able to move audiences with my dancing and choreography.

"I hope to bring something back by inspiring other Kiwis to follow their dreams and especially to educate New Zealanders about the intense training, skill and exciting opportunities involved in a dance career. I think this is important because there are so many talented Kiwi dancers who don’t get the recognition they deserve, and I think as a culture New Zealand could develop a higher appreciation of performing arts.”

Zoe will use the award grant to go towards the cost for Rambert School that will help prepare her for an exciting and successful future.

Annual fees for the school are in excess of $30,000 per annum.

Zoe White’s ballet achievements include:- Passing all the RAD exams from Grade 1 to Advanced 2 with Distinction; Being nominated to compete in PACANZ Young Performer of the Year Awards 2016; Receiving the 2016 'Triple A Award' for Attitude, Aptitude and Artistry from my current full time ballet school; KMS Dance Studio - Dancer in Development Full Time Programme; Placing 2nd in the 14+ Ballet Variation Award (March 2017), held by the Bays School of Dance Competition Society; Becoming a Movitae ambassador (May 2017), through Westmere Dance Pilates; Receiving placement offers this year to Northern Ballet School (Manchester), the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance (London); Getting invited (through a live audition) to the Alberta Ballet School’s July 2017 Summer School in Canada, as the next stage to audition for their Professional Training Division.

Zoe White reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:I was so amazed and excited to receive the AIMES Award.

It’s such an honour to have been selected and I’m so grateful for the contribution towards my pre-professional dance education.

Unfortunately I was unable to make it to the awards presentation as I had already moved to London and was in the middle of my first term at Rambert School. I would have loved to be there but I’m glad my parents could attend the event and accept the award on my behalf.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? I’ve had many amazing people involved in my journey up to now who have all helped me hugely to reach my goal.

Without my parents and my amazing dance teachers I definitely could never have come this far. Their incredible support along the way has got me through all the ups and downs of competitive dance training and reminded me that in the end it’s all about my love of dance and performing which makes the hard work so worth it. My parents have been incredibly encouraging from the start and have made so many sacrifices to support me in following my dream. I’ve also been so lucky to have such experienced and inspiring teachers who have taught me so much and pushed me to become the best dancer I can be.

What will 2018 bring for you? In 2018 I will complete my first year at Rambert School. As part of assessments this year I will be performing a ballet solo and choreographing my own solo to present to the rest of the school. I plan to choreograph a group piece to perform in either the May or December student showcase in front of a public audience. This would be a significant step for me towards choreography as a career.

I plan to become a much stronger and more versatile dancer by the time I enter my second year, during which the training ramps up and we need to start thinking about careers. At the moment my dream would be to get into Rambert Company or Nederlands Dans Theatre.

Through training at the school many exciting opportunities come up. For example my year group is currently working with Combination Dance Company towards a project to celebrate the centenary of women 30 years and over receiving the vote. We are performing a professional flashmob-style contemporary piece at Victoria Station to mark the occasion (it’s meant to be a secret!), which will be an amazing performing experience.

BLAKE TOLMIE (15) INVENTOR

In 2015, Westlake Boys High School student Blake Tolmie was the inaugural winner of a North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award for Innovation. In 2017 the judges believed he was worthy of an AIMES Emerging Talent Award.

Blake arrived at his 2017 AIMES Award interview with a working beehive and a draft prototype of his innovative beehive cover, which aims to keep the hive warm over winter which will result in a more productive hive over the warmer months.

While researching his concept, he identified only one other similar product in Canada. He is wanting to develop a working prototype so he can then look to market the cover. He currently has 20 hives which he hires out to an avocado orchard to improve pollination. He plans to go to schools to increase others' knowledge of beekeeping.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 27

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

Blake Tolmie (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award

by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

Blake has been beekeeping now for almost three years. He has started up his own business called the Bee Brothers. He is also an on-call swarm collector for the Auckland Beekeeping Club over the summer months.

A Bee Hive is a group containing thousands of individual insect organisms collaboratively working together to survive. Under the rule of the queen, the hive works hard during the summer to produce the rich honey nectar needed to survive during the cold wintery months.

To make half a teaspoon of this golden substance a bee will sacrifice its life of which is typically three weeks long. Over the course of four to five months, during the heart of summer, beekeepers extract this substance to create New Zealand’s $315m industry.

"Since I have started beekeeping everyone has told me that winter is the hardest season for a beekeeper and their bee hives, of which I have found to be extremely true,” explained Blake in his AIMES Award application. "Over the winter months if hives are not strong enough they can suddenly die, usually from either disease, queen loss or colony collapse. I have pinpointed the problem to be the temperature within the hive."

"After discovering this on a very cold morning, I started trying to think of ideas that would be cost efficient, provide easy installation and removal, while also being able to be easily stored. At first, I thought possibly something electric powered – possibly from solar power, although this idea became very expensive quickly. Eventually, I thought of the hive warmer idea that I want to develop into a marketable product I can sell both inside and outside of New Zealand and have developed into a product."

"I am applying for this AIMES Award to kick start this business idea on to the market. I need funds to patent, market and develop my idea.

I would like to grow my hive business to help self-fund this project and possibly need a mentor to work with to help market and develop a sellable product. The funds would also go towards the initial supplies to roll out the first few hundred products.”

Blake Tolmie reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:Blake Tolmie The AIMES Award night

PAGE 28 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

was a really memorable night with getting the AIMES Emerging Talent Award, the funds to work with toward my bee idea, talking to so many interesting, hard-working people that also got awards (especially the two ex-Westlake Boys High School students), and then to even get a year's gym membership to the AUT Millennium Gym was huge.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? I have a couple of people that have influenced my achievements with bees: My parents have helped me a lot and supported me in many of my ideas and the bee business. Mark Frear (a commercial beekeeper up North) helped me to get into beekeeping in the first place and has allowed me to sometimes help with his commercial beekeeping, which has been extremely beneficial and has allowed me to learn heaps and consequently think about ways to improve bee hive production. Martin Garside (the President of the Auckland Bee Club) has also been extremely helpful always giving me tips and inspiring me to create bee projects.

What will 2018 bring for you? I am a high school student so I will be focusing on my school work and road cycling season next year, but at the same time I plan on expanding my bee hive business and start initiating the beehive product idea further with the help of some of the members of the North Harbour Club.

LAUREN BENNETT (21) VIOLINIST

Lauren Bennett is a recent graduate from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours.

She has a strong affinity with the North Shore, having lived in Birkenhead her entire life, attending Birkenhead Primary, Takapuna Normal Intermediate and Westlake Girls’ High School.

"My time at Westlake Girls was a crucial time for my musical development, as the strong music scene at both of the Westlake schools allowed me to develop my orchestral and chamber music skills with the other talented musicians at the schools,” explained Lauren in her AIMES Award application.

Lauren has become a celebrated musician, having won contests as part of a string quartet and travelled to China, Germany and United Kingdom to perform. She has also been an associate player in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. She has been the recipient of many scholarships, including the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Arts Excellence Award, the Judith Clark Memorial Fellowship Award, the Kathleen Mary Reardon Travelling Scholarship in Music, and the Anne

Lauren Bennett (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

Bellam Scholarship.

In September, Lauren commenced a two-year Master of Music in violin performance at Yale University School of Music, in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. This realised a long-term goal to study overseas. She undertook a series of auditions for music institutions in the United States and London, and after having received a number offers, chose Yale.

Yale is a very competitive Lauren Bennett university to gain entrance into, with the School of Music’s acceptance rate being 8%. As a graduate professional school, approximately 200 students make up the School of Music student body. The Yale School of Music is also unique among the Ivy League schools, having the only School dedicated to music. Aside from its fantastic faculty, the Yale School of Music is also highly sought after as a place of study due to it being tuition free to all accepted students. This allows its students to be under less of a financial burden which often comes with overseas study.

"The teacher whose studio I will be joining is Head of Strings, Syoko Aki. Syoko Aki is highly regarded as a soloist, concertmaster, and teacher, and I am very excited to start my studies with her,” added Lauren. "One of the aspects I am most looking forward to during my studies at Yale is collaborating with the other students in chamber music and in the Yale Philharmonia. Chamber music is a huge passion of mine, and I believe it is one of the most rewarding forms of music-making.”

"My goal whilst at Yale is to learn as much as I can from the professors and my peers whilst gaining as much performing experience as possible in New Haven and in New York. Long term, I will possibly undergo further study after finishing my Masters degree at Yale, and then hopefully return to New Zealand to work in an orchestra or in a chamber ensemble. My absolute dream job would be to join a pre-existing or form my own string quartet. I hope that through my studies in the US I will be able to find like-minded people with whom I can realise this dream."

Although the tuition at the Yale School of Music is free for Lauren, the AIMES Award grant will go towards other costs such as living expenses, books and music.

Lauren Bennett reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:I found the experience of the AIMES community very welcoming and found it a true inspiration to see how talented young kiwis are today. I was lucky enough to perform in both the Emerging Talent Award function and the main AIMES Award function, and was really thrilled by the audience’s response to my playing and took it as great encouragement and support.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? The biggest influence on my achievements to date would definitely be the teacher I learnt with from age 12-20, Dimitri Atanassov. Dimitri helped me build a solid foundation of technique and musical exploration, whilst constantly inspiring me with his wonderful playing in my lessons and as concertmaster of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. I don’t believe I would be where I am now if I

hadn’t studied with Dimitri for that critical time in my life.

What will 2018 bring for you? In the first half of 2018 I will be completing my first year of a Master of Music at the Yale University School of Music. I will be participating in many orchestra programmes at Yale, including Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, whilst also doing much chamber music and solo playing. I hope to spend my summer break developing my orchestral skills and gaining experience, and later in the year I am planning to audition for an international violin competition.

MATTHEW BEARDSWORTH (18) MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER

Matthew is born and bred on the North Shore and in 2017 was in his final year of secondary school, being schooled at home in Albany through Te Aho O Te Kura Poumanu – The Correspondence School.

He says music calms him, defines him and drives him.

Music is his passion.

Matthew has played piano since age four and violin since age six. He wrote his first composition at age 10, started Matthew Beardsworth playing viola at 13 and double bass at 15. He has been a member of North Shore Youth Music since 2012 and has attended the APO Orchestral Summer School each year since 2014. He has arranged and composed orchestral pieces for North Shore Youth Music. More recently he has entered multiple Play It Strange and APO competitions.

"At age 10 I discovered the joy and excitement of writing and arranging my own music,” explained Matthew in his AIMES Awards application. "Many of my arrangements and compositions I have shared with North Shore Youth Music who have gone on to perform my pieces on tours throughout the North Island as well as performances in the Bruce Mason Centre and Auckland Town Hall.

"Last year I submitted one of my contemporary songs ‘Can’t Stop Thinkin’ About You’ for the Play It Strange Lion Foundation Secondary Schools Songwriting Competition 2016. My song was placed one of the top 47 finalists, and released on the Play It Strange album for 2016. This year I submitted my interpretation of Goldenhorse’s 'Maybe Tomorrow' for the Play it Strange Secondary Schools Who Loves Who Competition 2017 and was awarded first place. I look forward to recording my arrangement at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios.

"In 2016 I applied for special entry to the Waikato University summer school and enrolled in their Introduction to Songwriting Paper and completed this with a grade of 90%. Through the skills and experience I gained from this, I have gone on to compose three new songs: “A Different Way” which tells of how my autism affects my world which I have entered into the Play It Strange Lion Foundation Song writing Competition 2017, “Beautiful World”, an idealistic anthem representing my ‘green’ views and encouraging all people

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 29

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

Matthew Beardsworth (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

to take care of the planet, and “The World We Live In,” which I have entered into the Play it Strange Peace Song Competition.

"Earlier in 2017, I was invited by Mike Chunn to participate in the “Play it Strange – A Concert for Autism”. For this I wrote, arranged and performed my original composition 'Concertino No. 1 in A Minor' on violin. An article celebrating the success of this event was screened on Seven Sharp on TV One." Matthew's other passions include karate, sailing and conservation of the New Zealand flora and fauna. He has also excelled academically, working hard, and has been recognised for his academic success by his school through awards such as the Janet Marsh Memorial Prize for Outstanding Effort in Technology, Janet McKenzie Memorial Prize for Excellence in English, Prize for Excellence in Mathematics and the Judith Waugh Prize for Excellence in Latin.

Matthew Beardsworth is inspired and motivated by the music and creative genius that is John Williams, the composer of iconic soundtracks for blockbuster movies such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Superman. He is also inspired by the music of other composers of film scores such as James Horner (Titanic, Balto) Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Interstellar) and Michael Giacchino (Star Trek, Rogue One).

“In 2018 I would like to undertake a music degree at Auckland University majoring in composition and would use the award grant to help off set the cost of my university fees and instrument tutoring fees.

Once I complete my undergraduate studies in New Zealand, I would like to consider Post Graduate studies overseas specialising in Film Scoring. I hope to make a career composing music for Hollywood movies, writing orchestral melodies that fit and shape the emotion and spirit of each scene in a motion picture; to follow in the footsteps of people such as John Williams and be part of the next generation of great film composers.”

Receiving the AIMES Emerging Talent award for music is a huge honour for me – it was really gratifying to receive recognition and a scholarship for my musical work.

Matthew Beardsworth reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:At the awards ceremony I had the opportunity to perform one of my compositions on violin with my piano teacher and mentor Ben Fernandez accompanying me on piano. I was able to meet and mingle with the other extremely talented AIMES Emerging Talent and Junior Award winners, including previous two time recipient Eliza McCartney.

I performed another of my compositions, backed by a professional

PAGE 30 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

orchestra, at the AIMES Award Gala Dinner at the Bruce Mason Centre. It was a massive privilege to share the stage with other talented performers such as the Royal New Zealand Artillery Regiment Band and Robbie Ellis, and to mingle with the esteemed members and alumni of the North Harbour Club.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? There are many people who have supported and influenced my music and achievements – my family, my composition tutor Erin Fagan, my music teacher Hayley Yoon from The Correspondence School, my mentor Mike Chunn from Play it Strange, my various instrument mentors, and so many more … (not to mention the famous composers who inspired me to begin composing, John Williams and John Powell.)

The biggest influence so far on my music has been David Kay, a horn player in the APO and the conductor of the North Shore Youth Music Orchestras. When I started composing and arranging music for orchestra he chose to perform my pieces, which gave me invaluable experience in hearing different instrument combinations in a live setting. David gave me direction and positive feedback to help me hone my skills, and in turn gave me the drive to continue composing and to set my sights higher.

What will 2018 bring for you? I will be studying at University of Auckland School of Music for my first year of a Bachelor of Music majoring in Composition, to further improve and refine my craft. I will also actively seek out opportunities to write more music and have it performed by various groups. So far this year I have been commissioned to orchestrate two songs for the Auckland Symphony Orchestra’s bracket at the Seeport Festival, held in late January.

Mike Chunn from Play It Strange has invited me to perform again at this year’s “We Are One” concert, raising funds for Autism NZ and the Tourette’s Association of New Zealand. As part of this I will arrange for backing string orchestra a medley of classic hits by The Beatles and Judy Collins for a bracket of the concert. The We Are One 2018 concert will be held on April 14th 2018 at Sacred Heart Boys College, Glendowie.

COURTNEY DAVIES (21) MICROBIOLOGIST

Former Long Bay College student Courtney Davies was in her final year of a Masters of Natural Sciences at Massey University in 2017, with her passion being applied microbiology and virology. She was the only student of her year to be invited into an accelerated masters programme. She was also the winner of the Massey University three-minute thesis competition, and went on to represent the University at the New Zealand competition, which she won. She will represent New Zealand at the Australian competition.

In late 2016, she was selected as a Sir Peter Blake Trust NIWA Freshwater Ambassador, which resulted in an internship at the NIWA base in Christchurch.

"My passion is science Courtney Davies and more specifically applied

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

microbiology and virology,” explained Courtney in her AIMES Award application. "I really enjoy science because it has so many capabilities to improve the modern world and has a solution to almost any problem. My main goal within the foreseeable future is to become a qualified microbiologist allowing me to conduct further research within my field of bacteriophage genomics and their applications.”

Bacteriophage (phage) are simple viruses with a host range of specific bacteria – as opposed to antibiotics with a broader host range. Courtney’s master’s thesis looks at the mechanisms within these viruses that enable them to infect bacterial pathogens and isolating these mechanisms from a viral database to then be expressed through a plasmid onto biodegradable nanobeads which can be used as a prophylactic treatment option against many Mycobacterial pathogens – including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) which kills 10.4 million people a year, as well as Mycobacterium bovus (TB in cattle) which can have disastrous implications on the New Zealand dairy industry.

"I have always had a passion for agriculture and throughout my undergraduate degree have researched many of the threats facing New Zealand’s dairy industry; including mastitis, increased usage of prophylactic antibiotics as well as viral outbreaks in milk fermentation units and bovine tuberculosis. It was from my involvement in agriculture that I began to look beyond the traditional realms of farming to preserve and promote the industry – both from an environmental and economic approach – which lead me into microbiology.”

From discovering that bacteriophage, Courtney was invited as the top student to attend the international SEA-PHAGES symposium held at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s prestigious Janelia Research Campus in the United States of America last year. From 80 universities, she was the first and only participant invited outside of the United States.

Future Problem Solving is another activity Courtney is heavily involved with. She was part of the National Champion team in 2008, 2013, 2014. She qualified for the International Competition in the USA in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014. When representing New Zealand at the International Finals she was placed 3rd in 2013 and 3rd in the adult teams in 2014.

In November last year, Courtney was selected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Voices of the Future Youth Conference in Lima, Peru. She says this was a phenomenal experience meeting other young leaders from 21 APEC nations with the ability to also attend the APEC CEO Conference held concurrently, listening to speakers such as Mark Zuckerberg and Christine Lagarde. "We were fortunate to have a private dinner soiree with former Prime Minister John Key and ABAC member Stephen Jacobi, both of whom gave us some great pieces of advice as to how to make a difference in our communities."

Courtney's immediate goal is to graduate with her Masters in 2018, then apply for a position to study an MBA at the University of Oxford. Beyond this, she would love the opportunity to go into further post-graduate study exploring viruses and their impact on our current world in a more extended sense for her PhD within the next 10 years.

Her postgraduate study is in sub-contract with AgResearch in Palmerston North which means frequent travel between Auckland and Palmerston North. "AIMES Award grant funds will go towards this study and basic living costs enabling me to continue this life changing research."

"Thank you for this fantastic opportunity to share with you my

Courtney Davies (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

passion for microbiology and the potential it has for ultimately saving the world – both environmentally and economically. As antibiotic resistant bacteria will overtake cancer as the leading cause for death by 2050, I believe it is extremely important to educate and encourage the study within this field.

"Everything I do is for a better tomorrow. Whether it be helping to find a preventative treatment for tuberculosis, helping furnish young New Zealanders with the tools and ability to be successful in agriculture and science through to getting involved in conservation projects that reiterate the importance of protecting our natural resources. I am a firm believer that leadership and change starts not only tomorrow, but today.”

Courtney Davies reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:The evening reception for the AIMES Emerging Talent and Junior Excellence Awards was most definitely a night to remember! One of the highlights was sitting in the audience and having the privilege to listen to the incredible biographies of the recipients being announced.

This was a truly inspirational moment to bask in the knowledge, success and pure passion that is exuded by the young people within the North Harbour region. On reflection, I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to be one of the 2017 AIMES Emerging Talent winners and cannot express my gratitude enough to the judges, Bellingham Wallace and the whole North Harbour Club community, not only for their financial support but for the continued connection and encouragement long after the awards evening concluded. It was really neat to be able to catch up with past winners at the 2017 AIMES Alumni soirée shortly after and I received fantastic advice whilst making life long friends.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? Throughout my life there have been people whom have made significant impacts and whom have been extremely influential. The greatest collective have been the people who have told me "it can't be done" thus giving me a challenge to overcome.

Motivation, inspiration and innovation have influenced me to proceed and succeed in my achievements. Motivation in the form of my parents who have supported my decisions from day one (albeit how bizarre - playing with viruses and cows!) continuously encouraging me to step out of the box, inspiration in the form of the teachers and mentors who saw my desire to succeed and nurtured it and innovation from my university, peers and friends (both two legged and four legged). It is the collective people I surround myself with who

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 31

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

have given me the tools and resources to be able to craft a better tomorrow, today. I have ultimately been influenced by those who have remained complacent in this ever changing world, an indication that now is the time to step up and create the change that will put us in greater stead for our future.

What will 2018 bring for you? ​I am extremely excited for 2018!

I will be submitting my Masters thesis as well as several journal articles that I have been working on throughout the course of my post graduate degree. The support of the 2017 AIMES Emerging Talent Award means that I can delve into a few extra areas within my research as well as presenting at several conferences. This will be accompanied by the ever elusive search for potential PhD projects both within New Zealand and abroad, focussing on international scientific relations in conjunction with the basis of microbial methods.

I thoroughly enjoy volunteering with the undergraduate biology classes at Massey University and will continue to assist in the teaching labs throughout the semester. Beyond science, I will be representing New Zealand at the Royal Adelaide Show later in the year in the Merino Fleece Judging Competition as well as continuing to strive for excellence in breeding and showing of my cattle stud, Inca Ayrshires.

Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

MICHAELA SOKOLICH-BEATSON (21) NETBALLER

Netballer Michaela Sokolich-Beatson was born and raised on the Hibiscus Coast, attending Whangaparaoa College.

The high achieving 21-year old plays for the SKYCITY Mystics and captains the New Zealand Under 21 team. She is also studying towards a Bachelor of Physical Education at the University of Auckland.

The gutsy defender represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2015 before going on to be selected in the New Zealand Under 21 squad. She captained that team at Netball Youth World Cup 2017 in Botswana.

Michaela still lives on the Hibiscus Coast and maintains a heavy involvement in the North Harbour community, giving back by coaching netball at holiday programmes run by Michele Wallace at Netball North Harbour. She also does specialised coaching clinics at Kristin School.

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Michaela Sokolich-Beatson

This year, she’s earned a regular spot in the starting seven for the Mystics; her fast, mobile style complimenting the hugely experienced Anna Harrison in the defence circle.

"My future aspirations are to continuing playing for the SKYCITY Mystics and representing the Northern zone,” said Michaela in her AIMES Award application. "By the year 2019 I would like to be in the Silver Ferns squad. By the year 2020 I would like to the in the Silver Ferns netball team. By the year 2020 I want to have graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Physical Education with an overall GPA of 7.00 (A-).”

Michaela also plans on developing her leadership skills and communication skills. She plans to do this alongside her study in 2018-2020 by attending weekend workshops through the University of Auckland. The workshops she intends to do are:Emotional intelligence – Engaged leadership; Communicating confidently through assertiveness; Effective communication skills.

The AIMES Award grant will be used to assist with this and other areas.

"My Mystics contract is for six months, therefore there is six months of the year where I do not earn any income and I start studying full-time again. Whilst studying full-time I am also required to train everyday which often means travelling across Auckland.

Due to this I find it difficult to hold down a part-time job as my commitments to netball and study in the off-season require too much from me. The AIMES Award grant would mean that I would not have to stress about finding part-time work and I could focus on my training and my study."

Michaela Sokolich-Beatson reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:I am so honoured to have been chosen to receive an AIMES Award. The award has helped me to focus on my rehab and training with 100% of my attention and effort to be in the best possible shape for next year’s ANZ Premiership and hopefully Silver Ferns trials. The event where the awards were handed out blew me away.

The amount of talent that is in the North Harbour region through all the categories is exceptional. I am very proud to call myself an Aucklander and to be a part of the North Harbour Club.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? Definitely my parents, I know that I wouldn’t have been able to get this far without them. Shipping me to and from trainings from the Hibiscus Coast all over Auckland all days of the week and weekend. Paying the fees and cheering on the side-line at every game. Without all of their support there is no way I would be in the position I am in.

What will 2018 bring for you? 2018 is a big year for me in terms of netball. The year will start with the ANZ Premiership. Then hopefully there are opportunities for me to contend for a spot in the

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

Silver Ferns squad, before starting pre-season for the next ANZ season in late 2018. I think 2018 will be a year that will consist of a lot of training and hard work to try and achieve my goals of becoming a Silver Fern.

Cameron Webster

CAMERON WEBSTER (22) ROWER

Born and bred Greenhithe rower Cameron Webster is tipped for big things in the sport. The Westlake old boy is in the New Zealand Men’s Rowing Eight squad, recently received a High Performance Sport New Zealand Emerging talent grant for up and coming athletes, and was selected to be part of New Zealand Men’s Sweep squad to compete in the European Campaign, and was most recently in Florida for the World Rowing Champs.

Cameron attended Pinehurst School for eight years, taking part in soccer, basketball and various other cultural activities, before moving to Westlake, taking up rowing as a third former in 2008. In his third year of rowing, 2011, he was part of a Westlake Under 16 coxed four crew and an Under 17 eight that won gold at the North Island and New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Champs (the Maadi Cup).

In 2012 Cameron posted an erg test (2,000 metre rowing machine) time of 6:09.4 which was an all time record for a schoolboy at Westlake (he broke it again the following year). That earned Cameron a trial for the New Zealand Junior team to contest the 2012 Junior World Champs being held in Bulgaria. He was selected in the Coxed Four, a crew that included fellow Westlaker and AIMES Award winner Michael Brake, which won gold with a dominant performance, leading from start to finish. In that same year he was Auckland Rowing Association’s Junior Rower of the Year.

In 2014, Cameron kept up his punishing training schedule but concentrated on his first year of study at AUT where he is doing Law and Business. He began sculling for the first time, in a single, and competed in that boat at the North Island Club Champs, representing North Shore Rowing Club.

At the 2014 New Zealand Champs he was part of the North Shore Rowing Club Men’s Premier Coxed four who won the gold medal and with it a coveted New Zealand Champion “Red Coat” and one of New Zealand’s oldest and most sought after rowing trophies, the “Boss Rooster”.

In 2015 Cameron was selected to represent New Zealand in the team to attend the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in

Plovdiv, Bulgaria. This entailed a four month relocation moving from Auckland to Cambridge. He won a silver medal at Plovdiv. Back in New Zealand, Cameron represented North Shore at the nationals and gained two golds and a silver respectively. He then gained the spot in the New Zealand Under 23 Coxed four to compete in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

During the summer Cameron also applied and was successful in obtaining the HPSNZ Emerging Talent Grant for up and coming athletes.

After the New Zealand Elite trials Cameron was selected to be part of the New Zealand Men's Sweep squad of 10 to compete in the European Campaign (World Rowing Cup 2 & 3, and Henley Royal Regatta). After a campaign in the Coxless Pair, with immense development Cameron was ready to come home and trial for the squad to travel to Sarasota, Florida for the World Rowing Championships. He was selected to row in the Coxless Four at the World Championships in September.

Cameron will use the AIMES Award grant funds to establish a base in Cambridge, the home of New Zealand Rowing. He will also use it for training purposes, as this would give Cameron a lot of freedom in terms of nutrition and recovery and also enable him to maintain his Single Scull ski .

Cameron Webster reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:I was extremely proud to receive the AIMES Emerging Talent Award because it was a very humble recognition of the work that I have put in over the years by the region that has nurtured it over that time. The actual event was amazing. Seeing all the different talents that all of the recipients had, as a sportsman, not often seeing the top tier of musical and arts and especially the commerce sector. Also the venue at The Wharf was spectacular.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? The people that have had the biggest influence on my success are firstly my parents, without their amazing support I would never have been able to excel in this field. In the sport I can put it down to two people, Mike Stanley and Barrie Mabbott. Mike was my coach at Westlake Boys for my last few years and taught me a lot of the fundamental things needed to move a rowing boat fast.

Barrie has been a NZ age group selector and now elite team selector, and the subtle guidance and unwavered encouragement over the last five years has helped me maintain my love for the sport.

What will 2018 bring for you? The plan for 2018 is to continue on with my Bachelor of Laws and to compete in the Men's squad at the World Cup series and World Championships later in the year.

Cameron Webster (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 33

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

Olivia McTaggart (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

OLIVIA MCTAGGART (17) POLE VAULTER

"Olivia McTaggart could be New Zealand's next pole vaulting star after shattering Olympic bronze medallist Eliza McCartney's New Zealand under-17 record in Auckland on Saturday.” That was the newspaper sub-heading that would warm the hearts of those in the North Harbour area who were already buzzing about the achievements of our 2016 AIMES Supreme Award recipient, signalling that we have another pole vaulting champion in our region.

The Kristin School student cleared the bar at 4.22m, 11cm better than Eliza's previous mark and 22cm better than her previous personalbest she set just a week before. Not surprisingly, McTaggart is coached by Jeremy McColl, who also coaches Eliza. And not surprisingly she trains at the wonderful AUT Millennium facility. Olivia says AUT Millennium has been very supportive in providing the best training environment and continues to support her growing sport with great facilities.

"My overall dream is to be standing on the podium of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games representing New Zealand for pole vault,” explained Olivia in her AIMES Award application. "This Dream has been on going since the age of five and I have worked over 20 hours a week for about a decade and know that it will take many more hours to get there. This 'dream' I look at more of a goal because for me I know it can happen and have a clear and focused mind of what I need to do to get there physically and mentally.”

"My whole childhood and teenage years have been dedicated towards achieving this goal and it’s starting to look a lot more likely as I come up in the ranks in the sport of pole vault. Before pole vault I was an artistic gymnast for 10 years at a high national level until injury forced me to stop. Although this wouldn’t discontinue my love for sport, I started looking for alternative sports to fuel my adrenaline type desire and what better than pole vault. So months after, I joined my ex-gymnastics teammate and came on board to the pole vault group coached by Jeremy McColl to then quickly fall in love with the thrill aspects and friendly environment of the sport.”

Olivia is currently looking towards the 2018 World Junior Olivia McTaggart

PAGE 34 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

Championships (Finland) as a key event and to be selected into the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team for the Gold Coast 2018.

"This past season has been very rewarding and has taught me a lot about myself as an athlete, getting to be a part of new experiences such as my first few senior international competitions. Whilst I am in Europe I will be training and competing with Eliza McCartney to further my aspiration of Commonwealth Games selection.”

As she was applying for an AIMES Award, Olivia had just returned from her first European season. Competing at four competitions and placing at three of them. She plans to use the AIMES Award grant to advance her sporting career. She says expenses include coaching and entry fees, fuel or car expenses for going to and from trainings and competitions and getting the right nutritious foods to fuel an active body. Also, part of being an athlete comes with some injures or niggles which is where medical bills and physio or massage visits add up monthly. Olivia also acknowledges her very supportive parents who have been by her side the whole way and have paid for all travel expenses themselves to date. As she starts looking at international competitions and more intense training situations the expenses start to build up and the AIMES Award funds will really help with progress looking towards selection into big world class events.

Olivia McTaggart reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:The night of the awards was such a cool experience getting to see so many other aspiring and inspirational people doing some really cool stuff in the community! To have the variety of sports, music, dance, academics etc, is a big insight into the future of New Zealand's stars.

To be one of those people was an honour and the event was put on very well so that everyone could interact and learn about each others stories and the hard work that has been developed overtime to create these achievements.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? A variety of people really, mainly my parents as I would not be where I am today with out them and their unconditional support financially and emotionally and excitement for all my achievements and evident hard work. Then there are a few of my role models such Eliza, along with Lisa Carrington and my boyfriend Michael Bias, also an aspiring sportsperson, who supports me and my goals. Also my gymnastics team who helped develop me into the athlete I am today starting from such a young age.

What will 2018 bring for you? 2018 is going to be a big year for me! With two big main competitions of hopefully Commonwealth Games and also world junior championships in Finland mid year which I will have a good chance at. These will be awesome learning experiences just like everything is, but also to be at my first multi sport games as a first of many to come. In 2018 I am fully focusing on training so no studying but there is a possibility of a Youtube channel to show New Zealand and the world what pole vault is all about and just play around with some exciting things in a new field I haven't worked in before will be a good challenge.

IAN LIM (19)

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Former Westlake Boys student Ian Lim is currently a second year student at the University of Auckland, undertaking a conjoint programme comprising a Bachelor of Commerce and

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

a Bachelor of Science; majoring in Economics, Accounting, and Statistics. Ian was born in Malaysia and came to New Zealand with his family to settle on the North Shore. Nine years on he’s being awarded for his contribution to the community.

Ian Lim In 2017 the judges have chosen Ian for his community work as part of the DevonportTakapuna Youth Board, the Shore Junction Project Steering Committee, and Auckland Ultimate Incorporated.

The Devonport-Takapuna Youth Board is a group of young people who provide strategic advice to decision-making authorities on matters of special importance to local youth. Ian was a Founding Member of this organisation (at age 13) and has been involved for five years. Their role includes collaborating with high-level organisations such as Panuku Development Auckland to ensure that their Takapuna Strategic Framework Plan reflects the interests of the young people who will ultimately inherit the consequences of those planning decisions made today. They are endorsed, supported, and resourced by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board of Auckland Council. In addition to capturing and conveying youth voice, they organise and deliver events which help develop the life skills, knowledge, and community belonging of local youth.

Shore Junction is a youth innovation hub being developed in Takapuna. It is a community amenity aspiring to provide a catchment of local and sub-regional young people with access to leading facilities and technologies like never before; stimulating and fostering our next generation of Kiwi creatives, entrepreneurs, business leaders and ultimately, positive change-makers. Shore Junction is a youthled, community-resourced, cross-sector collaboration. The space is nested within an Auckland Council-owned building, leased out to the YES Disability Resource Centre who are working with the Devonport-Takapuna Youth Board and a network of youth service providers as subject matter experts and prospective future delivery partners. In his capacity as a youth advisor on the Shore Junction project steering committee, Ian and others have worked hard to ensure that the people for whom Shore Junction is being brought to fruition play a lead role in its creation, and have their voices heard by the committee throughout. This is fundamental to our belief in co-design, co-development, and co-delivery. Another significant facet of his responsibility on the Project Steering Committee has been to market and promote Shore Junction to both a plethora of important stakeholders, as well as to the public at large. This saw Ian assist significantly in the development of the Shore Junction website, funding prospectus, as well as the monthly supporters’ newsletter.

Auckland Ultimate is the regional governing body for the sport of Ultimate in Auckland. This is a sport that Ian competes in and also helps to administer. This is a non-profit organisation with the strategic directive of growing Ultimate in Auckland in a manner that is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Auckland Ultimate supports a community of over 800 members. They host a diverse range of tournaments and leagues creating opportunities for people of all interests, abilities, and lifestyles to learn, participate, and compete in Ultimate. Additionally, Auckland Ultimate operates a youth programme to encourage early-

adoption at secondary schools, and works with New Zealand Ultimate and other regional affiliates to further national objectives. Ian is the Treasurer of Auckland Ultimate for July 2017 to June 2018.

Ian Lim reflects on winning the North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace and a cash grant of $7,500:What I found most profound about the experience of receiving my award was how inspired I was by the success and character of everyone else. I felt empowered by the stories of my fellow recipients; reminded through the richness of their experiences that with ambition, the willingness to work hard, and the support of good people - we can all achieve great things in our lives and in our communities.

I see receiving an AIMES Award as not a personal achievement, but a collective one. In many ways these awards reflect the excellence of the many people who have nurtured us, and invokes within us a responsibility to help develop our next generation of leaders and positive changemakers.

The awards ceremony itself was excellent. It was very fun and I applaud the North Harbour Club for hosting everyone for an evening of fantastic food, wonderful networking, and exciting celebration.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? I have had the fortune of being supported by many extraordinary people in my life to date.

A key influencer has been Joe Bergin, whom I had worked with closely in my prior role as Chairman of the Devonport-Takapuna Youth Board. Joe’s bold visions, spirit of service, and confidence in his convictions resonated with me greatly. It gave me the audacity to believe in what I could achieve; fundamentally redefining the parameters of how I established goals and expectations for myself.

What will 2018 bring for you? In 2018 I would like to focus on the development of Shore Junction, which is scheduled to open midway through the year. I am extremely excited to see this remarkable project materialise, and plan to extend my efforts to add more value to the facility and what it offers to our young people.

This year I am also a member of the University of Auckland Case Programme. I hope to help my team succeed at our head-to-head case competition against AUT in semester one, and to be selected to represent the University at a Trans-Tasman or international tournament during semester two.

Finally, having just concluded a sensational campaign competing at the World U24 Ultimate Championships, I would love to help further support the growth and development of ultimate in Auckland and New Zealand. I plan to stand for election to the role of President of Auckland Ultimate, to offer my services in leadership and governance to a community that I care so greatly about.

Ian Lim (centre) was presented with the AIMES Emerging Talent Award by Mike Atkinson of sponsor Bellingham Wallace and North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 35

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS 2017

Jasmine Jared (centre) was presented with the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award by Michelle Fan of sponsor NZ Force Construction and Peter Wall, North Harbour Club life member.

JASMINE JARED (13) INNOVATOR/APP DEVELOPER

Northcross Intermediate student Jasmine Jared has designed a unique app and software package to help prevent speeding. iSpeed is a tool in real time for speed limit signs on the road and announces the speed limit to the driver. iSpeed is to help the driver focus on the road instead of checking the car speedometer all the time, because iSpeed announces the current speed when the speed enters next higher speed range.

This way the driver always knows their current speed range (eg.

40-50km/h, 50-60km/h and so on). For example, if the previous obtained from ECU speed value is 48km/h and the new value is 52km/h the application will announce ‘Fifty-two’.

Using iSpeed the driver can maintain their speed in a certain range without the need of checking their car speedometer.

"I was not able to find an application using computer vision to find speed limit signs, reading data from the car computer at the same time and announcing the findings to the driver,” said Jasmine in her award application. "This makes iSpeed unique. The closest applications are signalling when the speed limit is exceeded, but they are not very helpful in the real world. These applications are based on Maps – imagine if you are having an outdated map and you rely on the application? What about the temporary speed limit signs – they are never on the maps!”

"Many people are ignorant to the speedometer, because they are trying to keep their eyes on the road. As a result, very often people are over speeding without knowing it. They need an app that can tell them the speed limit and how fast they’re driving so they can drive safely and avoid fines, while keeping their eyes on the road. My app contains a split screen of how fast you’re driving and what is the current speed limit on your phone using the devices Bluetooth, camera and speakers.”

"First thing I had to do to make this project work was to research how to load an image for my first prototype. Then I had to learn how to do colour filtering and blob counting for a circle. Lastly, I had to research how to make the “text to speech” part where the program is saying the speed. I used c++ at the beginning, but after realizing that it was too complicated, I continued with c# as a main programming language for this project.”

Jasmine explains that her app is simple to use. An assistant for any car manufactured after 1997. All you have to do is get the app

PAGE 36 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

open and it is ready for use. When the app is open you will see two screens. They will both speak data related to what their purpose is. For the right screen, you will hear the “true” speed of the vehicle. “True” speed, because most cars speedometers are showing a 10% higher value than the actual speed, which makes it very diffcult to maintain proper speed on the road. For the left screen, you will hear the speed limit if a speed sign comes up. iSPEED is safe for use in cars.

"This is a functional prototype and I will try to publish to Windows Store. I will try to optimize the traffic signs recognition. I will also add more features on it, like recognising traffic lights and recognising school signs. Because iSpeed is just an app that you use on your phone, it can be easily “distributed” to the market.”

Jasmine's Principal and Teacher provided the award judges with glowing reports on her achievements at school. Jasmine speaks five languages, has above average academic achievements and has a sustained interest in Engineering and Computer programming.

She earned a Gold Medal at this years’ North Harbour Science and Technology Fair and Mechatronic competition.

With her iSpeed app Jasmine is a finalist in the Bright Sparks competition and is a national finalist in the FPS (Future Problem Solving) competition.

Jasmine says that this Junior Excellence Award means that she can continue extending her science fair project as much as possible, hopefully in the near future, to a business. She can try to do things with her science fair project that a 12-13 year-old can’t really do without the assistance of funds from the award.

Jasmine Jared reflects on receiving the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award, sponsored by NZ Force Construction and Library Lane, and a cash grant of $3,000:I was in awe that I even received an award like this, but when I got on to the stage, I just felt happiness. It was an experience to remember, it was amazing to see so many people interested in just a science-fair project and that for that I was getting an award, which was altogether just spectacular. It was amazing and it will be an experience that I will never forget.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements up to date and why? It is my Dad. For example, in this project he has helped me to learn how to code and gave me helpful suggestions along the way regarding features in the app like the colour filter and Lucy.

What will 2018 bring for you? Trying to make this app a global app that is used in cars all around the world. I have already taken my first step by launching it in the Windows store. My next steps will be advertising and then hopefully in the near future if Windows is a success, launching it into Apple and Android. I’m also going to Rangitoto College in 2018, which will be a challenge within itself.

Jasmine Jared

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

Jesse Oh

JESSE OH (13)

MUSIC, SINGING, PIANO, VIOLIN, VIOLA

Music is 13 year-old Rangitoto College student Jesse Oh’s passion. He is currently a year nine student at the school, where he sings in two choirs; The Fundamentals and Mainly Men. Additionally, he plays the viola in the Rangitoto Sinfonia Orchestra, the leader of the section.

"My grand plan is to further my musical career on the international stage however to achieve this goal I must continue with my current studies,” explained Jesse in his award application.

"If I am fortunate enough to obtain an award, my musical education is what it will be used for."

Jesse performed in the children’s choir for New Zealand Opera’s Auckland performance of Carmen. This followed two previous highlights of performing in New Zealand Opera’s Turandot and Tosca in 2015.

He gained Distinction in ABRSM Grade 8 Piano, Grade 5 Violin and Grade 3 Singing. As well as these accomplishments, Jesse gained three third places singing in the North Shore Performing Arts competition and both acted and sang in the school production of Peter Pan. As a Year Seven student at Murrays Bay Intermediate, Jesse was involved with the Opera Factory. This included performing in their production of A Christmas Carol and gaining 1st prize in their Opera Idol competition.

Jesse also recently gained 1st place in Rangitoto College’s 2017 Annual Piano Competition in the Junior Section.

A number of Jesse's role models have been opera singers who he has been fortunate enough to work with. These include Simon O'Neill and Orla Boylan and, more recently, Nino Surguladze who sang the role of Carmen.

"I admire them for their dedication and determination and for the work they have put into developing their astounding voices. While I have never had the privilege of meeting him, Pavarotti is more than a role model, he is my hero. His stage presence and voice are beyond compare. Additionally, one of my favourite pianists is MarcAndré Hamelin as his fingers seem like they melting into the piano keys. It is because of world renowned pianists such as Hamelin that I have been inspired to give of my utmost at the keyboard.”

To attain his goal of performing on the world stage as a singer, Jesse says it is imperative that he continues music lessons in both singing and piano. These are intertwined disciplines, one aiding the development of the other. His Junior Excellence Award will be used

Jesse Oh (centre) was presented with the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award by Michelle Fan of sponsor NZ Force Construction and Peter Wall, North Harbour Club life member.

for tuition fees with teachers.

Jesse Oh received the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award, sponsored by NZ Force Construction and Library Lane, and a cash grant of $3,000.

CAITLIN O’REILLY (13) SWIMMER

To simply say that Caitlin O’Reilly is a swimmer is selling her well short. She’s actually the youngest New Zealander to swim the Cook Strait. The Cook Strait – at just 12 years old!

The youngster is not stopping there. She has big aspirations for the future. She believes in the ‘You can do anything’ motto.

Caitlin O’Reilly showed an interest in competitive swimming at just nine years old while she was having lessons with Dean Kent at Northern Arena in Silverdale. She joined the Coast Swim Club based at that venue and it was immediately evident that she had found her passion.

A year later Caitlin qualified to swim at the New Zealand Junior National Championships as a 10 year-old. The following year Caitlin won her first national title in the 100m Butterfly – a goal she had set herself. She was well placed in backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and medley which showed her versatility. In the 100 butterfly Caitlin also qualified for the National Age Group Championships which is a 13 years and over event. In January 2016 she competed in the Anthony Moss Classic and won four golds and one bronze medal.

At the end of 2016 Caitlin was ranked 5th Nationally for 11 year old girls based on points awarded by New Zealand Swimming for performances across a combination of events.

Caitlin O’Reilly It was that same

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 37

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

Caitlin O’Reilly (centre) was presented with the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award by Michelle Fan of sponsor NZ Force Construction and Peter Wall, North Harbour Club life member.

year that Caitlin (11 years old) announced that she had a dream to swim the Cook Strait and be the youngest female to complete it.

Caitlin’s coach John Gatfield had completed this swim at 13 years old. It was a momentous and ambitious dream for an 11 year-old but the dream was achievable.

Caitlin started her long distance swim training in March 2016 which consisted of eight swim sessions per week. Often this was 12-14 hours of weekly swimming covering a weekly distance of around 35-40 kms per week. On top of this Caitlin would also train, play games and tournaments for Carmel College Year 8 Waterpolo and on occasion play for the Under 14’s Hibiscus Coast Waterpolo team. Caitlin competed at the AIMS Games for the Carmel College Year 8 Waterpolo team and won a bronze medal in the girls category.

Caitlin has always had a love for swimming in the ocean, competing in her first 2.8km King of the Bays swim from Milford to Takapuna at just 11 years old. In late 2016 Caitlin won the nonwetsuit category for the 2.9km Auckland Harbour Crossing in the 15 years and under category and won the same category in the 2017 2.8km King of the Bays – Milford to Takapuna. Both at 12 years old.

In January 2017 Caitlin competed in her first long distance ocean swim competition in Taupo. The Epic Epic 17.5km Ocean Swim consists of three back to back races – 5kms, 10kms and 2.5kms with just a few minutes between each race. This is an open age group event and Caitlin achieved 6th place overall and 2nd female for a total swim time of 5 hours 45 mins. She also received 3rd place for the 10km race for 15 years and under category. While most swam with wetsuits, which has a considerable advantage of buoyancy, Caitlin swam the entire race with no wetsuit. Caitlin had proven herself as a strong marathon swimmer and it wasn’t just about her physical ability it was just as much about her mental ability to keep going when the going gets tough and push through the pain.

One week later Caitlin competed in the Wellington Summer Swim Championships where she won two silver and three bronze medals. Seven races were top six places and five personal bests.

In February 2017 in the New Zealand Junior National Championships Caitlin competed as a 12 year-old. In the Auckland region she won two gold medals (200 butterfly and 200 back), one silver (400 Medley) and two bronze (100 back and 100 fly) medals.

Phil Rush is well known in New Zealand ocean swimming as a marathon swimmer and runs the Cook Strait swim programme.

Following Caitlin’s 17.5km swim in Taupo, he was eager to get Caitlin across the strait before she turned 13. He knew she

PAGE 38 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

was capable, fit and used to swimming in the cold water. More swimmers fail to complete the Cook Strait than complete. For an adult it is a difficult swim at the best of times.

At 2pm on the 24th February 2017 Caitlin started her swim from Ohau Point on the North Island. The sea was choppy for the first hour but Caitlin soon got in to her rhythm. She was stopped every 30 minutes by Phil Rush and coach John Gatfield for food and to check her wellbeing. She battled with jellyfish and the thought of sharks was never far from her mind.

Her family and friends from all over the world were watching with anxious anticipation on the GPS tracker which showed her progress.

As the South Island got closer the sun got lower and at around 8pm Phil Rush set Caitlin up for swimming in the dark. He added glow sticks to the boat and to the back of her togs and head.

Caitlin was truly terrified but she overcame her fear of swimming in the deep ocean in the dark. She decided to dig deep and picked up the pace even though she was exhausted from six hours swimming already. She believed with every bone in her body that she could get to the end. The last 75 minutes of her swim the sea was pitch black. There was no moonlight, just the sound of John and Phil’s voices guiding her onwards.

At 9.22pm Caitlin reached Perano Head in the South Island and became the youngest New Zealander and youngest female to swim the Cook Strait at 12 years old. The swim took seven hours 19 minutes 56 seconds. The average Cook Strait swim is eight to nine hours. Caitlin had a phenomenal swim and was more than an hour faster than her coach John Gatfield when he completed at 13 years.

News of Caitlin’s Cook Strait epic achievement reached news stories around the world including NewsHub, TV One, Channel7 Australia, Olympic Channel, and CNN. Caitlin’s has future aspirations of representing New Zealand and medalling at the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and World Championships.

Caitlin would like to pursue her passion of ocean swimming and pool swimming by travelling to international events to gain experience and knowledge. Together with her coaches John Gatfield and Steve Kent she will continue to develop her skills and actively seek development programmes in New Zealand and Australia. Caitlin will move in to the age criteria for New Zealand Swimming development squads over the next two to three years.

Caitlin has opportunities within the next 12 months to train with St Peters Western Swim Club in Brisbane, who are currently Australia’s top Age Group Club. AIMES Award funds will be used to make these opportunities possible together with specialised coaching and performance analysis.

"Caitlin is not only an exceptional athlete, she is an amazing person and team member in which we are very lucky to have compete and train for Coast Swim Club,” says her coach John Gatfield. “As a New Zealand representative Swim Coach and ex New Zealand representative athlete I know exactly what it takes to be successful on the world stage. Commitment, dedication, and passion are but a few traits Caitlin demonstrates in spades and at such a young age, the future is extremely bright for Caitlin.”

Caitlin has also excelled at Waterpolo and Surf Life Saving.

Caitlin O’Reilly received the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award, sponsored by NZ Force Construction and Library Lane, and a cash grant of $3,000.

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NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 39 Proud to be sponsors of North Harbour Club’s AIMES Winners Network

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

Chantelle May

CHANTELLE MAY (13) FENCER

13 year-old Torbay youngster Chantelle May has an ultimate goal of representing New Zealand at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in the sport of fencing.

The born and bred Shore girl attends Diocesan School for Girls and attended Kristin School through to year seven. It was during the 2012 summer holidays, at the age of seven that she watched Puss n Boots and was inspired to learn to Fence.

Today, aged 13, Fencing is her passion.

"My dreams and goals are to represent New Zealand in Fencing at the next Commonwealth Cadet (U17) and Junior (U20) Championships, World Cadet and Junior Championships (2018) and Junior Olympics (2018),” explained Chantelle in her AIMES Award application. "My ultimate goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.”

Chantelle is a real all rounder though. "I believe that being involved in a variety of activities helps keep me well balanced and rounded as an athlete and person and provides opportunities to have fun away from my fencing friends. This year I have been selected as a member of the Dio choir, Year eight netball team as well as a member of the Dio Secondary Schools Fencing team. I am also taking part in the William Pike Challenge. As well as Fencing and playing netball for the school I swim, have weekly piano lessons and passed my Grade Two exam in May with Merit.”

Fencing is Chantelle's passion and number one sport. To improve her skills and have the opportunity to fence a variety of people of all ages and skills she fences three days a week. On top of this she has two private lessons a week with her coach to develop and fine tune existing skills and learn new techniques.

The lessons range from 30 to 50 minutes depending on what they are working on. When possible she tries to help some of the beginner fencers improve their fencing.

Chantelle has already competed internationally and says she has made a lot of friends throughout New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam and Singapore through fencing and enjoys catching up with them at the various tournaments. The AIMES Award grant money will be used to fund her growth, making it easier to attend international competitions and training camps with her coach. Fencing is a non-funded sport in New Zealand.

PAGE 40 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

In 2015, 2016 and 2017 Chantelle has established an enviable list of success and Fencing titles, including New Zealand Under 15, Under 17, Under 23 titles and an international title on the Asian Cadet Circuit this year. She is still only 13!

Chantelle May reflects on receiving the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award, sponsored by NZ Force Construction and Library Lane, and a cash grant of $3,000:By just being a part of the AIMES Awards community is a massive privilege for me. It really makes me feel that someone is willing to support what I'm doing and it gives me the motivation and drive to do better in every fencing experience I have undertaken since receiving the award.

The night of the award presentation was incredible because it gave me an opportunity to meet all the other winners of the different AIMES Awards. I thought that the evening was going to be very formal and very serious but it was completely different. Everyone was very friendly and kind and it wasn't serious. Seeing everyone’s talents during the presentation was also amazing, from the boy who created a device which helped beekeepers keep their bees warm and from stopping them dying, to the girl who pole vaulted and had beaten one of Eliza McCartney’s records.

It was an amazing and exciting experience to be a part of something as big as this; from going nervously into the interview and then being presented the award; it was a very special moment for me.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements up to date and why? I am inspired by Valentina Vezzali, an Italian foilist who has won six Olympic medals and 14 gold medals at the World Fencing Champs. I find her inspiring because she never gives up, and always tries no matter what the score point difference is. She is always prepared for any challenge, and most importantly believes in herself and her abilities.

My coach also inspires me to believe in myself, always do my best, have fun and reach outside my comfort zone.

What will 2018 bring for you? 2018 has a lot in store for me. I have been selected to represent New Zealand at the Asian Junior (u20) and Cadet (u17) Championships this February.

I also have been selected to represent New Zealand at the Junior and Cadet World Championships in Italy at the beginning

Chantelle May (centre) was presented with the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award by Michelle Fan of sponsor NZ Force Construction and Peter Wall, North Harbour Club life member.

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

of April, which will be my first ever World Championship competition.

I also have my normal New Zealand competitions coming up, starting with the Auckland under 15s and 17s and then New Zealand U15 and 17`s late April. The open age group competitions in both New Zealand and Australia follow this, and may have more people competing than normal as people try to secure places for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in November and also the Junior Commonwealth Champs.

A big challenge for me this year is trying to get my knee stronger, to stop it from dislocating. I also have to overcome the challenges of keeping up to date with school work whilst I am away fencing, and as well starting my very first year of exams.

MAGGIE SQUIRE DIVING

(12)

Maggie Squire, who attends Belmont Intermediate, displayed a talent for sports from an early age and excelled in swimming, athletics, cross country, trampolining and gymnastics.

In her primary school years Maggie competed in interschool trampolining, interschool gymnastics, Peninsula Maggie Squire swimming, and Peninsula athletics and never failed to gain a placing in any event she entered. In her final year at Primary School she won the Sports and Art Cups.

Maggie maintains academic excellence and was selected for maths extension studies at Belmont Intermediate School.

Maggie started diving at the age of eight and shortly thereafter was selected to join the North Harbour/Auckland Diving development squad and has been competing at national and international competitions since the age of 10.

She has shown sustained excellence in diving and is the current New Zealand champion in all four Under 13 events and also in two Open Women’s events.

In 2017, competing in 40 events, Maggie’s medal total was 29 gold, seven silver and one bronze. For the past two years, as a 10 and 11 year old, she has won the Eckho Memorial Trophy awarded to the highest ranked 13 and under girl at the New Zealand National Diving Championships. She also holds two New Zealand records.

In the Australian National Age Group Championships in 2016 (Under 11), Maggie’s results were gold in one metre. 2017 (U13), gold in one metre, platform, three metre synchronised.

In the Singapore National Championships in 2017 competing in the U13s, she got gold in one metre and one metre synchronised and silver in three metre and platform.

Maggie aims to compete internationally in future Grand Prix

Maggie Squire (centre) was presented with the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award by Michelle Fan of sponsor NZ Force Construction and Peter Wall, North Harbour Club life member.

events, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Olympic Games. She is inspired by other New Zealand divers who have achieved these goals and also by her coach Steve Gladding a former British Olympic coach. Her intention is to gain a diving scholarship to a United States university which would give her the unique opportunity to simultaneously compete at a hub of college diving in the United States, study towards an academic degree, and to represent New Zealand at World Championships, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics Games.

Maggie will attend two international competitions in 2018 as steps towards achieving her ultimate goals. She intends to compete in New Zealand national events, Singapore National Championships, and will also step up and attend her first elite diving competition at the Australian National Elites. She says a Junior Excellence Award will assist greatly.

Maggie Squire reflects on receiving the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award, sponsored by NZ Force Construction and Library Lane, and a cash grant of $3,000:I was excited and also incredibly nervous – I have never had an experience like this before. At the awards event I met so many people who had such encouraging things to say to me – I will never forget this.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? There are some amazing divers out there that inspire me, but the biggest influence in my life are the people who do the little everyday things to help me achieve my dreams.

My family and friends who give their time, my community who continue to support me in my fundraising, the neighbour who has saved all their loose change for a month to put towards my travel, my past teachers and their encouragement, and of course my coaches who push me and make me believe in myself. When I compete there is really a whole family of people behind me and wishing me well – and now I can add the North Harbour Club to this family – I really feel very lucky!

What will 2018 bring for you? This year I will be really busy competing across New Zealand and in Singapore and Canada.

My challenge will be in balancing my diving and school. It is really important to me to achieve my goals in diving but also to continue to do well at school. At the end of last year I got the top academic award for my class and I want to work as hard again this year.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 41

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

George Rush

GEORGE RUSH (12) SAILOR/YACHTING

Young Takapuna sailor George Rush attended Belmont Primary School and is now in year eight at Kristin School.

George started sailing as part of his water and sailing-mad family at age 10 and sails in the Optimist Class which caters for sailors under 16 years of age. The 2016/2017 season was his second season racing in the open fleet division of the Optimist in New Zealand. George sails out of the Wakatere Boating Club at Narrow Neck and is now one of the senior members of the Wakatere Optimist racing team despite being only 12.

In his short career George’s sailing has taken him to regattas throughout New Zealand, including Picton, Lyttleton, Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth, Taupo, Bay of Islands, and numerous locations around Auckland, and overseas to regattas in places like Australia, the Caribbean and Thailand.

George’s sailing achievements to date have been very unusual for someone of his age, and have been the result of a significant amount of hard work and training.

George has won the prize for 1st in his age group in every single New Zealand Optimist ranking regatta held over the past two seasons. He has never placed anything lower than 1st for his age in New Zealand in every national ranking regatta entered since he began sailing.

In the 2015/2016 season (George’s first full season in the Optimist Open fleet) he finished the season ranked 12th in New Zealand (out of all sailors aged under 16). He was then selected for the New Zealand team and travelled to Antigua in the Caribbean to represent New Zealand at the Optimist North American Championships.

At the end of the season he was awarded the trophy for highest placed sailor at his first NZ Nationals in addition to 1st in age and membership of the New Zealand team.

This season (2016/2017) George finished ranked 4th in New Zealand again out of all sailors aged under 16. George turned 12 just before the end of the season. He was again selected for the New Zealand team – this time the World Champs team to Thailand this year. In doing this George qualified to attend the World Champs at the same age as Peter Burling.

George has won or had top places in numerous other regattas both local, regional and national. He placed 1st in the most recent (2016) Sir Peter Blake Regatta in the Optimist class and

PAGE 42 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

was placed 1st in his Club Champs. He has also represented his school at local schools regattas with similar success.

In addition to his sailing, George is a very keen and adept musician (piano and drums), football player, runner and athlete generally.

George’s talents aren’t limited to on the water. In his spare time George is working on establishing a small business – Rush Rigging – making and selling modern textile soft-rigging components for sailing dinghies and larger yachts.

George has some pretty firmly stated goals:- To make the New Zealand Optimist Worlds team again in 2018 and 2019; To win the Optimist Worlds; To progress on to a fast crewed boat such as the 29er, and then a 49er or Nacra (catamaran) Olympic class, and seek New Zealand representation in that boat and success overseas; To represent New Zealand in sailing at the Olympics; To compete in the Americas Cup; the Volvo Ocean Race; to continue to develop Rush Rigging.

The award funds received will be set aside to go towards George’s next overseas regatta trip representing New Zealand.

George Rush reflects on receiving the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award, sponsored by NZ Force Construction and Library Lane, and a cash grant of $3,000:I wasn’t able to attend the awards ceremony itself because I was at a sailing regatta in Taupo, which I couldn’t miss. However, I was very happy to receive the award – the money will be a huge help towards my goal of attending another World Championships next year. Also, the other major plus which I didn’t fully appreciate would come with the award was having the chance to meet lots of other like-minded sportspeople and other interesting and motivated people from all sorts of fields. It is inspiring to meet these people and they can give you all sorts of useful advice because they have been where you are going before.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? My Mum and Dad. Because without them I would first, not be alive, second, not have been brought up so well, and third, not have had such driven and hard-working parents who never stop doing stuff even if they don’t get anything from it. They have driven me, helped me, and paid for pretty much everything in my life so far. Without them I would be lost. So, thanks to Mum and Dad. Even if I don’t show it sometimes, I am extremely grateful.

What will 2018 bring for you? A lot of challenges. I am starting a new school (Westlake Boys), which is exciting as I have a lot of friends there already and the school has a fantastic sailing

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

team. I am also looking forward to all of the sailing regattas next year. The new year starts off very quickly on the sailing front – I fly out to Brisbane for the Australian Optimist National Champs regatta which starts on 1 January! But mainly I am excited for 2018 generally – a new year is always full of hope and plans. I am very driven to do well in 2018. I want to excel at the highest level possible and make sure that I am making the most of the opportunities that are being given to me. I hope everyone has a good holiday and makes the most of next year.

LOGAN SOMERVILLE (11) KARATE

Mairangi Bay School pupil Logan Somerville started learning karate at Fushin Ryu Karate Club in Browns Bay when he was five years old and has been competing in kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) since he was six. Logan is the current New Zealand National Champion in both kata and kumite for his age group and three time New Zealand Open champion (kata and kumite).

Logan has also had success competing overseas, winning gold medals at the Australian Open in 2017 (kumite) and Australasian School Age Championships in both 2016 and 2017 (kata).

His greatest achievement to date came in September 2016, when at age 10, he represented New Zealand at the Oceania Karate Championships in New Caledonia for both kata and kumite, and won a gold medal for kumite.

After his success at the New Zealand and Australian Opens earlier this year, he was again selected for the New Zealand team to go to the 2017 Commonwealth Karate Championships in Durban, which was unfortunately later cancelled. He is now focussing on gaining national selection for the 2018 Oceania Karate Championships which will be held here in Auckland next May. Since karate was approved as an Olympic sport for Tokyo 2020, its popularity is rapidly increasing in New Zealand and there is a lot of competition for New Zealand national selection.

Logan trains under Sensei Duane Monk (Karate New Zealand Head Coach) at the dojo at least four times per week. He attends monthly club tournaments, regular regional and national tournaments throughout the country, as well as three national karate camps per year, in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Logan Somerville

Across Australasian, New Zealand and Auckland competitions Logan has now won 11 golds and one silver medal.

Logan has set his sights on following in the footsteps of fellow Fushin Ryu club members by winning a medal at the 2021 World Junior Karate Championships. Then in 2022, there is the Youth Olympic Games. His long term goal is to represent New Zealand at the Olympics and to win New Zealand’s first medal at the World Karate Championships.

Logan competed his final year at Mairangi Bay School in 2017, where he is a student leader. He is attending Murrays Bay Intermediate in 2018.

He is a talented sportsman and loves to be involved in sports at school and club level. He has recently represented, or is currently representing his school, at basketball, Rippa rugby, soccer, athletics, swimming, Flippaball, athletics, and cross country.

Logan Somerville reflects on receiving the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award, sponsored by NZ Force Construction and Library Lane, and a cash grant of $3,000:At the AIMES award presentation, I was really impressed by all the award winners stories and proud to have won an award alongside them. I was also very happy when Sue Stanaway came to my school and was proud to be re-presented with my award in front of my friends and teachers.

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why? My achievements are influenced by my coaches, especially Sensei Duane Monk who continually pushes me to work hard and aim high. My parents for signing me up for karate in the first place, encouraging me to have goals, and providing the opportunity to compete at local and international tournaments and trainings. Lastly, I am influenced by the other kids I train with and compete against. I train with very talented kids who encourage and respect each other and we all push each other to be better.

What will 2018 bring for you? I will start at Murrays Bay Intermediate School. My karate training starts up again in the middle of January and I have a lot to work towards. Thanks to the AIMES Award money, I will compete at both the US Karate Open and Junior International Cup in Las Vegas in March. This is the first time I will have competed outside Oceania. In April, I will compete at the New Zealand Open in Christchurch for the 4th year running.

In May, Auckland will host the Oceania Karate Championships and Oceania Cup. In June, I will turn 12 and move into a 12/13 year old division which will bring new challenges.

Logan Somerville (centre) was presented with the North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award by Michelle Fan of sponsor NZ Force Construction and Peter Wall, North Harbour Club life member.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 43

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2017

AIMES AWARDS GALA

COMMEMORATES ARMISTICE DAY 2017 AIMES AWARDS GALA DINNER AT THE BRUCE MASON CENTRE The 2017 North Harbour Club AIMES Awards Gala Dinner fell on Armistice Day, Saturday November 11th. So this was the theme chosen for the event. Guests dressed up appropriately for the occasion and the room and entertainment reflected the theme. Some guests even wore their own or family medals.

The evening was all about showcasing the young talent we are fostering in the North Harbour region. The MC for the evening was wellknown media personality and North Shore local Judy Bailey, who was wonderful. The Royal New Zealand Artillery Band was a highlight of the evening as were performances by AIMES Award recipients Lauren Bennett (violin, Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Seans); Matthew Beardsworth (composer, March in E Minor); Robbie Ellis (singer/musician, And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda); Clarissa Dunn (soprano, I Could Have Danced All Night).

23 young people received AIMES Awards grants valued at $200,000 in 2017 across the AIMES, AIMES Emerging Talent and Junior Excellence categories. The North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust has now made $2 million worth of AIMES Awards grants since its inception. The AIMES Supreme Award for 2017 went to Lewis Fry, a doctor, scientist and teacher who is currently undertaking a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford.

Armistice Day: After four terrible years, the First World War finally came to a close with the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allied Powers on 11 November 1918. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns famously fell silent. n

2017 AIMES Awards recipients who were in attendance, from left, Melanie Bracewell, Alexia Hilbertidou, Alex Maloney, Molly Meech and Lewis Fry.

Dave Peryman, Margaret Peryman, Phillip Howe, Maxine Pye, Paul Bayer, Pam Bayer..

PAGE 44 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

Blair McPheat, Jan McPheat, Mike Mathews, Michelle Anthony, Marlane Elley, Mark Elley.

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2017

Cam Calkoen, Lesley and Gary Monk, Rick Nelson, Carolyn Jameson, Edna Swart, Harry Ferreira, Marie and Adrian Hirst.

Clive Ellis, Helen Ellis, Robbie Ellis, Jennifer Stuart, Colleen Boon.

Composer and AIMES Emerging Talent Award winner Matthew Beardsworth performs March in E Minor with the orchestra.

The Royal New Zealand Artillery Band.

AIMES alumni Robbie Ellis performing.

Jo-Anne Thomas, Alan Kent, Nick Kearney and Anne Nicolle.

MC Judy Bailey.

AIMES Supreme Award winner Lewis Fry with Gary Monk, Andrea Davies (AIMES Awards Judging Chair) and Aidan Bennett.

The Royal New Zealand Artillery Band drummer.

Local MP Maggie Barry gave a moving address reflecting on Armistice Day.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 45

LIBRARY LANE JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2017

CELEBRATING JUNIOR EXCELLENCE!

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB JUNIOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017, NOVEMBER 9TH, THE WHARF, NORTHCOTE POINT The North Harbour Club introduced the Junior Excellence Awards programme in 2015, recognising excellence being achieved by young people of the region aged between 10 and 13 years old. Previously the AIMES Awards programme had only covered young people from 14 years. The 2017 North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Awards were held at The Wharf at Northcote Point on Thursday November 9th, in conjunction with the AIMES Emerging Talent Awards.

For the second year these Awards were sponsored by progressive local construction business NZ Force Construction and their Library Lane development. Michelle Fan of NZ Force Construction was on hand to present the awards along with former North Harbour Club President and Life Member Peter Wall. The awards were announced by Sue Stanaway, the chair of the Junior Excellence Awards judging committee.

In 2017 seven North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Awards were presented to:- Jasmine Jared - Innovator/App Developer (Innovation); Jesse Oh - Singing, Piano, Violin and Viola (Music); Caitlin O’Reilly - Swimmer (Sport); Chantelle May - Fencer (Sport); Maggie Squire - Diving (Sport); George Rush - Yachting (Sport); Logan Somerville - Karate (Sport). Each received the award and a cash grant of $3000. n

2017 Junior Excellence winners.

Junior Excellence Award winner Jesse Oh performing.

Sue Stanaway, Catherine Lamb, Eliza McCartney.

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Junior Excellence Awards Judging Chair Sue Stanaway announcing the 2017 recipients.

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BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

2017 AIMES Emerging Talent winners.

AIMES EMERGING TALENT RECOGNISED

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017, NOVEMBER 9TH, THE WHARF, NORTHCOTE POINT The 2017 North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Awards signalled a decade since the category was introduced to the awards programme. In 2007 the club recognised that the number of awards applications were growing and so too was the calibre of the applicants. It was decided to widen the recipients with the introduction of the Emerging Talent category.

Since that time the Awards have recognised applicants who haven't been chosen for the ultimate awards, but who the judges believed were worthy of support to encourage them in their careers and to come back and apply again. Many AIMES Award recipients have done just that, including four of the past six AIMES Supreme Award winners – Lewis Fry, Ben Sanders, Eliza McCartney and Lydia Ko. They have won Emerging Talent Awards and then gone on to win the supreme award in later years.

The North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Awards have been sponsored for many years by leading accountancy firm Bellingham Wallace. Partners of the firm include former president Matthew Bellingham and current trustee Mike Atkinson.

Mike Atkinson was on hand to present the awards, along with the club Vice President Phil Brosnan, at the special function held at The Wharf at Northcote Point on Thursday November 9th. The award winners were announce by AIMES Awards judging chair Andrea Davies.

In 2017 nine North Harbour Club Emerging Talent Awards were presented to:- Zoe White – Ballet Dancer (Arts); Blake Tolmie – Inventor (Innovation); Lauren Bennett – Violinist (Music); Matthew Beardsworth – Musician and Composer (Music); Courtney Davies – Microbiologist (Education); Michaela Sokolich-Beatson – Netballer (Sport); Cameron Webster – Rower (Sport); Olivia McTaggart – Pole Vaulter (Sport); Ian Lim – Community Champion (Service to the Community). n

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BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2017

AIMES Emerging Talent Award winner Matthew Beardsworth entertained the audience.

AIMES Awards Judging Chair Andrea Davies announced the Emerging Talent Award winners for 2017.

Joanna and John Cobb, Wendy and Hugh Steadman.

AIMES Supreme Award winner in 2016 and Olympic medalist, Eliza McCartney was interviewed by club president and evening MC Aidan Bennett.

The crowd mixing and mingling at The Wharf.

Violinist and AIMES Emerging Talent Award winner Lauren Bennett performed with support from her mother on piano.

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NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES WINNERS NETWORK

Eliza McCartney (2014, 2016), Jaden Movold (2015).

Daryl Devereux, Alexia Hilbertidou (2016, 2017), Sue Stanaway.

Molly Meech (2017), Joan Finlayson, Jo Aleh (2007).

Lachie and Mike Cruikshank, Miller (2016) and Elliott Christensen-Yule (2011).

Alexia Hilbertidou (2016, 2017), Sarah (2012, 2013) and Stephanie Mitchell (2010), Nodira Khoussainova (2003, 2005), Vicky Crawford.

AIMES WINNERS NETWORK GROWS STRONGER

BY DIMA IVANOV, AIMES AWARD WINNER 2006 (IT INNOVATION & SCIENCE) AND ORGANISER AIMES WINNERS NETWORK I remember the freezing morning when Cam Calkoen and I were talking down at the Beachside Health Club, pondering why the AIMES winners don’t really get together regularly after winning their AIMES Awards. It was like going on a first date, loving everything about the evening – only never to meet again! Us Kiwis don’t like to brag, but we still pay a huge amount of respect to the AIMES Award judges that pick out some amazing North Shore talent – and therefore, we are probably a pretty bright bunch of young people. It didn’t make sense to Cam and I why the North Harbour Club wasn’t running a network for the past winners, so we could all keep in touch and benefit in our various ways from this interaction.

Shortly after, we approached Peter White with the question – who said – “Why don’t you guys run it?”. Enthusiasm is punished, huh? But Pete had a good point – who better to run the network than two previous AIMES Award winners who liked to mix and mingle, and knew how to throw a casual party (in huge contrast to the glitz and glamour of the black-tie AIMES Awards night, you’ll find us in boardies and jandals for the AIMES Winners Network catch-ups).

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We’ve been going for a few years now. We’ve had a lot of catch ups – maybe 10 or so? And not only in New Zealand – we had two or three over in London and a couple on the West Coast of the US. Cam and I figured that the past winners don’t always stick around, so we brought the network to them.

Last year, we had two events for the network on the North Shore – the AIMES Winners and Sponsors Event, held on 27th March at Kristin School and the catch up on 15th November at Regatta Bar in Takapuna.

At the March event, all up, we had around 70 alumni and sponsors in attendance. Apart from the sheer number of the AIMES Award Winners that attended (thank you once more!), what made the event special was an idea by Club President Aidan Bennett, where the tables were turned, and this time, presentations of ‘Thank you!’ certificates were made by the winners to the sponsors.

At the November event, held just days after the AIMES Awards night, we welcomed our newest winners to the AIMES Winners Network, and caught up with a lot of friends. Personally, it always fascinates me to talk with other winners from sports, music, arts

Loren O'Sullivan (2007, 2013), Joe Bergin (2012, 2016), Joan Finlayson, Lewis Fry (2014, 2017), Rebecca and Daniel Playne (2007, 2008, 2009).

Haydn Mackenzie, Dima Ivanov (2006), Chiara Soons.

Joseph Bergin (2012, 2016), Moses McKay (2011), Terenzo Bozzone (2000, 2001, 2002).

Nodira Khoussainova (2003, 2005) and Mark Jago.

Lise Movold, Matthew Beardsworth (2017), Blake Tolmie (2015, 2017), Jaden Movold (front, 2015), Kerry McLeod, Darren.

Gary and Diane Simpson, Bridget (2013) and Mary-Jane Costello.

Terenzo Bozzone ((2000, 2001, 2002) and Peter White. and science etc, (I’m in business), just to find that despite us leading very different lives, the challenges we face on a daily and yearly basis are nearly the same. In a way, it shows that striving for excellence is difficult, no matter what path we ultimately choose.

We have four events tentatively scheduled for 2018 – two club events (same as 2017), two Winners’ events hosted and potentially some overseas get togethers. And Gary (Simpson) – THANK YOU and your team at Simpson Western for your support of the AIMES Winners Network. Sounds cliché, but we couldn’t pull it off without you.

Have a wonderful 2018 everyone!

– Dima Ivanov, January 2018.n

Gary Monk, Justin Bird (1998), Michelle and Peter Wall, Anabelle.

Terrie, Maggie Squire (2017), Fay Mason, Dean Flyger, Nadia (2016) and Mike Evans.

Paul and Pam Bayer, Moses McKay (2011).

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Joel in TV's 'True Story with Hamish & Andy', 2017.

JOEL GRANGER A CLASS ACT

The world’s a stage for AIMES award recipient Joel Granger. His theatrical talent was recognised in 2016 with the AIMES Arts Award, and earlier, in 2013, when he was presented with an Emerging Talent Award. Here’s his ‘what happened next’ story…

Grateful to be surrounded by a strong support network in a vibrant big city, where theatre and arts experiences are plentiful, Joel Granger is carving out the career of his dreams.

As a 17 year-old, Joel sang to Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

He performed songs from Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar to it’s creator for a televised UK talent show, after sending an audition tape in following his performance as Jesus of Nazareth in Kristin School’s 2011 production. The plaudits he received were catalytic and the all-round achiever honed in on a career in the arts.

In the 2016 year of his AIMES Arts Award, Joel was chosen to star in three musicals in Australia, and has since chosen to base himself there.

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Television credits began to roll in for Joel in 2016, with his first part being in an ABC show called Please Like Me, where he played the supporting lead character…

He says: “I started that year playing Zacky Price in ‘Big Fish’ at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney (based on the Ewan McGregor movie), before moving on to playing the role of Warren in the musical, ‘Ordinary Days’ in Melbourne. I finished the year playing the role of Harry Beaton in the Lerner and Lowe musical ‘Brigadoon’ at the Arts Centre in Melbourne.

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

2016: Joel Granger received his North Harbour Club AIMES Arts Award from Maree Laurent of sponsor Auckland Live-Bruce Mason Centre and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

“As an actor, you need to be prepared to move around for work (I spent the first half of 2017 in Sydney), but I’ve kept Melbourne as my base because I love the culture and vibrancy of the city, and I’m very lucky to have a great support network here.”

Joel grew up in Orewa and went to school at Kristin - Year 4 through to Year 13 - where he shone: The deputy head boy was awarded DUX three times, received the prestigious Foundation Cup for overall Kristin School spirit, and placed in the top 5% in the world for his International Baccalaureate Diploma score.

One of only three students to be accepted into the WAAPA (Western Academy of Performing Arts) directly from school, Joel was thrilled to follow in the footsteps of previous students Hugh Jackman, Tim Minchin and Lisa McCune. He left with several awards under his belt, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theatre with High Distinction.

He has since starred in numerous stage productions including playing one of his dream roles of Tobias Ragg in New Zealand Opera’s production of Sweeney Todd, starring in Australian musical The Gathering with Vic Theatre Company, playing Harold Bride in StageArt’s Titanic The Musical, and a starring role in Brigadoon at Melbourne’s State Theatre.

Television credits began to roll in for Joel in 2016, with his first part being in an ABC show called Please Like Me, where he played the supporting lead character, this was followed by a performance on US television in a show called Pivot.

2017 brought more television work Joel’s way. He says: “I

played the lead role of ‘Jack’ in Hamish and Andy’s series, ‘True Story with Hamish and Andy’, airing on Channel Nine in Australia and on TV3 in New Zealand in November.

“This opportunity allowed me the chance to work closely with Hamish and Andy, as well as comedians Kitty Flanagan, Colin Lane and Ed Kavalee.”

Receiving an AIMES Award has shaped Joel’s journey considerably, as he explains: “Winning an AIMES Award was paramount in allowing me to continue training. My role in ‘Brigadoon’ was heavily dance based, so in order to prepare for that I was able to take consistent dance classes as well as two part-time dance courses.

“The Award also allowed me to continue consistent private singing tuition, as well as attend three film and TV masterclasses.”

And, looking ahead, does he have his eyes set on working with anyone in particular?

“Two of the artists I most look up to in the Australian music theatre industry are Anthony Warlow and Caroline O’Connor. I would also love to work with stage and screen actress Virginia Gay (from ‘All Saints’).

“Ultimately, my international idols who I would love to meet one day are comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Dan Levy (writer of Netflix TV show ‘Schitt’s Creek’) and Ellen DeGeneres!”

Joel would sum up 2017 in the three words: “Unexpected, joyful, and rewarding.” And by the end of 2018 he hopes, ‘to have taken the next step in my career.” If his track record proves anything to go by, that next step will be one paved with gold. n

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BOARDROOM BUZZ LUNCHES WITH PATHFINDER

MEMBERS BUZZING ABOUT NEW LUNCH INITIATIVE A completely new initiative was introduced to the events for members in 2017. Boardroom Buzz was an initiative that came from newer members that has gone on to gain good traction with the two events that were held in the second half of 2017, with a third event coming up in early 2018.

Boardroom Buzz is a series of “boardroom lunches” for 12-16 members to gather, share a small lunch and discuss a topic of the day with an invited speaker.

The idea came from John Berry and Paul Brownsey of Pathfinder Asset Management who also agreed to be the sponsor.

The first event was held in the boardroom of Quadrant Properties in September, hosted by Ngaio Merrick, with the guest speaker being Michelle Dickinson, aka NanoGirl. The subject was 'The Implications of Future Technology’ and the lunch proved to be very informative and thoughtprovoking.

The second event was held in the Takapuna boardroom of Bayleys Commercial Real Estate in November, hosted by Daryl Devereux. The title of the lunch was ‘The Future of Media and Digital Advertising’ and the guest presenters were Nathan Laing (Director of Strategic Partnerships at NZME) and Nick Boulstridge (Digital Media Director at BNZ).

The third event is to be hosted by Club member Craig Gregory of Canon in February 2018, with the theme being ‘Human Biases: Decision Making and Investing. A subject presented by Paul Brownsey of Pathfinder Asset Management.

Attendees to each event get a delicious corporate lunch, and working with ‘Eat My Lunch’ their contribution means a lunch will be given to a kiwi kid in need. A lunch that tastes good and does good at the same time!

The first Boardroom Buzz for 2018 was scheduled for February 21st.

For further details contact Gill Johnston:- gill@northharbourclub.co.nz n

From left: Daryl Devereux (Bayleys North Shore Commercial); Paul Brownsey and John Berry (Pathfinder); Nathan Laing (NZME); Aidan Bennett (Benefitz and President, North Harbour Club); Nick Boulstridge (BNZ).

Attendees at the Pathfinder sponsored North Harbour Club Boardroom Buzz event held at Bayleys Commercial North Shore premises in Takapuna on Wednesday November 29th. The subject was The Future of Media, with guest speakers being Nathan Laing, Strategic Partnerships Director at NZME and Nick Boulstridge, Digital Media Director at BNZ.

Since 2007 the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust has received significant annual financial contributions from the Business Excellence Network (BEN). This support has totalled well over $120,000 over this decade.

BEN organises regular business breakfasts on the North Shore and engage high quality business speakers. Any surplus profits from these business breakfasts go to charity and the North Harbour Club has been very grateful to have been their charity of choice for a decade.

The official presentation of the 2017 donation was made to the club by the Business Excellence Network at the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner in November. The presentation was made to North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett (left) by BEN sponsors Andrew Hill (BDO), Andrew Thompson (Westpac) and Nick Kearney (Schnauer & Co.).

PAGE 54 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

As has been detailed in this issue of Northside, the North Harbour Club was formed in 1995. Since that time the club has made grants of over $2 million to the youth of the North Harbour region through the annual AIMES Awards. The first grant was made in that first year, 1995. The inaugural AIMES Award dinner was held in 1996 and this hugely successful annual event has been the focus of the club’s activities ever since. In the following pages we have provided an update from most award recipients from the past four years, back to 2013.

It is a thrill to North Harbour Club members and stakeholders that the AIMES Award recipients continue to achieve at the highest levels.

CATCHING UP WITH THE RECIPIENTS 2016 TO 2013...

2016

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Award recipients 2016:Supreme ($15,000) & AIMES Sport Award ($15,000) – Eliza McCartney, Arts Award ($15,000) – Joel Granger; Innovation Award ($15,000) – Sian Simpson; Music Award ($15,000) – Miller Christensen-Yule; Education Award ($15,000) - Michael McDonald; Service to the Community Award ($15,000) – Joseph Bergin; AIMES Judges Special Award ($15,000) - Avalon Biddle.

AIMES Emerging Talent Award recipients 2016 ($5,000 each) – Emma Lane, Andrew Coshan, Scott Wilson, Jacky Siu, Alexia Hibertidou, Florida Fatanitavake, Kate and Greta Stewart (shared $8000).

Junior Excellence Award recipients 2016 ($3000 each) - Satine Finer- Neuhauser, Henry Meng, Rico Bearman, Nadia Evans, Daniel Stoddart, Northcross Kapa Haka Group.

ELIZA MCCARTNEY - POLE VAULTER

AIMES Supreme Award & Sport Award 2016 (& AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2014) The 2017 year proved to be a tougher one for pole vaulter Eliza McCartney. But then reaching the heights of 2016 – that included an Olympic medal – was always going to be a big ask.

The 20-year-old AIMES Supreme Award winner had been hoping to add a world athletics championships medal to the Olympic bronze she won in Rio. But it was not to be as McCartney was never able to find her best. She was hampered by injury that had restricted her buildup, bowing out at a disappointing height of 4.55 metres to finish ninth in London in August last year. This was well below her season's best, and

Oceania record, of 4.82m she cleared in Auckland in February.

Eliza was hampered by the achilles tendon injury that severely restricted her world champs buildup and left her unable to train fully.

She told the press at the time that is was "hard to say" how much it had restricted her. "It's fine now and I can't feel anything so we got it to a really good place. But what's hard to work out is all the training I missed and how much of an effect that had. It was probably a factor.”

But that was 2017. 2018 is a new year and Eliza now has her sights set on a World Indoors and Commonwealth Games double. She is focusing on the positives as she prepares for a 2018 campaign that will have a major focus on a "home" Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Eliza hopes to attend the world indoors championships in Birmingham in early March, then take in the national championships less than a week later in Hamilton followed by Athletics New Zealand's revamped international series to follow soon after as a build-up to the Commonwealth Games.

In early 2018 she told local press that "We're just working through the rehab programme. It takes time, and I've been strengthening it (the problem achilles tendon) so we've got a really good base – future proofing so it won't be a problem again hopefully.” She said she was tracking "full steam" to hit the ground running in February.

While she has been getting over her injury, McCartney has been able to work on other aspects of her vaulting that she believes will have positive spinoffs in 2018.

"I've been doing a lot of technical training, a lot of drills that hopefully will mean I've made some good improvements. Plus I've had the chance to work lots on the upper body.”

She’s excited about the Commonwealth Games.

"This is the closest I'm probably going to ever get to a home Games, and that's what so exciting for me. Yes the competition maybe isn't as great, but there's something very special about competing in front of a 'home' crowd.”

Eliza continues to make her community proud.

She enjoys a high profile and busy life but is always willing to get involved in giving back to the North Harbour Club, which is greatly appreciated. She was on hand to address attendees at the 2017 AIMES Emerging Talent and Junior Excellence Awards held at The Wharf in November.

Eliza McCartney

Sian Simpson

SIAN SIMPSON ENTREPRENEUR

AIMES Innovation Award 2016 (& 2015) This year has been a big one for sure and, self-proclaimed, the best yet. A friend of mine in 2016 said that 2017 was going to be 'the year I unleashed my best self on the world' reflecting back on the year at large - I'd say he was right.

Kicking off the year with my video production and creative work being displayed on 30 ft LED screens in front of 10,000 people in San Francisco at the SaaStr Annual (Software as a service) conference. Not only did I play a large part in the on stage production design, I also got to interview 100 leaders in software, technology and venture capital. Notable mentions that the North Shore community would perhaps know, would be the co-founder of Facebook - Dustin Moskitvitz and Trello's founder Michael Prior. This was the third year I've worked for the conference, produced

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AWARD WINNER UPDATES

their videos and interviewed their amazing speakers.

The Kiwi Landing Pad has continued to go from strength to strength, with the community crossing over 4,000 members in 36 countries around the world. We also celebrated six years of helping New Zealand technology companies expand into the US market, and two years of our cornerstone program the Sales & Marketing Jams, which brings US experts to New Zealand every six months to share learnings and experience with our startup community on the topics of Sales, Marketing & Product Management. We also have a thriving content program seeing me on a webinar every single week hosting Kiwi Founders such as Xero's Rod Drury, and Wildfires Victoria Ransom, through to experts sharing domain specific knowledge - we've had 40 webinars this year, with 2500 people tuning in from 105 locations around the world and answering 350 questions that our community wanted to know.

While I was too old for an AIMES Award this year, I was incredibly surprised and humbled to be announced as this year's 2017 New Zealand Global Women of Influence, after being a finalist in 2015 and 2016. The Kiwi Landing Pad also picked up the American Chamber of Commerce bilateral services award for our contribution strengthening trade ties between New Zealand and the United States. And just recently, as of December I was named as the Young Enterprise Trust Emerging Alumni for 2017 (for a program I did at Pinehurst when I was 10!). This was pretty exciting.

On the speaking front, I spoke to my largest audience yet, sharing my personal journey at Festival for the Future speaking to 1300 youth, followed on by many speaking engagements, ending chatting with 200 teachers at the young enterprise trust's it's business time conference about mental health, community and the future of work.

Personally it's been a tremendous year in terms of health, I finally got my sleeping up to 7 hours a night, up from 3 hours a night. Most exciting would be my extraordinary travel for the year. I would imagine there aren't many people in the world that could say they hiked the Great Wall of China and were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights in the same week - that was pretty priceless. I've also visited 15 countries this year for the most part taking my work with me some of my favourites were Shanghai, Paris, London, Singapore, Provence, New York and Vienna, even squeezed in a few islands!

In October, post experiencing on mass phenomena, I held and hosted the first USA screening of the film 'My Year With Helen' with a personal appearance and live Q&A with both the Right Honorable Helen Clark and award winning film maker Gaylene Preston. The screening was a huge success. I also curated and held a small intimate 'Dinner with Helen' and invited some of New Zealands foremost female technology entrepreneurs and minds to enjoy an evening of conversation and connection. The youngest was 22 the oldest 71. I'm on a mission to make technology the number one export, given the opportunity to have this conversation with extraordinary women, and outside of New

Miller Christensen-Yule

Michael McDonald

Zealand I jumped at the chance - the discussion was thoughtful and lively - a true highlight.

That pretty much sums up my year, it's been a big one. I can't wait for 2018 where I'll continue to strive at the Kiwi Landing Pad and personally, I have planned the entire year already, with an overly ambitious strategy. I can't wait to see where we end up. I want to be a CEO, I want to buy/build a house (or two) and continue helping New Zealand to be the best little country it can be where people thrive in business, life and environment.

MILLER CHRISTENSENYULE - SINGER/ SONGWRITER AIMES Music Award 2016

Since receiving my AIMES award in 2016 it’s been up and down! A couple of weeks after the awards evening I headed out on tour with American music legend Ben Harper as the special guest support act. It was a total dream come true! Each show was special in its own way. The tour kicked off in epic style at Auckland’s Spark Arena. Napier was our second stop playing on an outdoor stage to thousands at Church Road Winery. Lastly, we performed at the intimate Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington. Oh, and Ben is the nicest dude you’ll meet.

Back to Auckland and my day-job work ended for the year. I decided to take annual leave for the month of January. Not for an extended holiday but to crack into recording new material. I locked myself away in my dad’s studio and got to work writing, recording and playing each instrument myself – just like I did for my 2016 EP ‘Shoot Me in The Heart’. However, hindsight is 20/20 and I probably should have taken a holiday! I ended up biting off more than I could chew, the month of January ended and I didn’t have a finished product to release. I was burnt out and feeling very overwhelmed but what I did have was 15 rough demos showcasing my new ideas and the new direction I was heading.

We took the demos to Chris van de Geer (guitarist from the band Stellar*) with the intention that he could help develop, produce my new material and take me to the next level. Fast forward some discussions and I’m now signed to one of his record labels to record and release five new songs. From the 15 demos, ‘Diamonds’ was chosen to be my 2017 single. We got to work and

it was a total weight off my shoulders to have the help of Chris and his team. Instead of playing and recording everything myself, I was able to focus on my part knowing that I had the backing of great musicians taking over the other parts.

‘Diamonds’ was released on November 30th and is definitely a step up and in the right direction for me, my song writing and my sound. The single release show at The Wine Cellar was probably one of the best performances I’ve done. It was lovely to end the year surrounded with supportive friends, family and fans.

Despite all this focus on ‘Diamonds’ and despite my hungry desire to keep releasing new material, this year I have really benefitted from being patient developing my song writing, my vocal technique, my image and working hard making sure of my next step. Essentially, I still spend a lot of my time in my bedroom with my lyric book!

You’ll be happy to hear I’m taking most of January off again… BUT this time I will actually be on holiday with my family taking a break. Next year I’d like to release more music, music videos, play more shows and generally keep striving to write better songs to be the best artist and performer I can be.

‘Diamonds’ is available on all major platforms.

Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Apple Music.

Thank you once again North Harbour Club!

MICHAEL MCDONALD SCHOLAR/ENGINEER AIMES Education Award 2016

2017 has been a very busy year for me. I submitted my PhD thesis in March, which was the culmination of four years of hard work and research at the University of Melbourne. My thesis discussed the intricate turbulent flow dynamics of a fluid passing over a rough surface.

I developed a novel framework in which the very expensive computations of such fluid flows can be conducted at a much reduced cost, which will help in aiding designs of engineering systems involving roughness. My thesis was examined by internationally recognised researchers, who recommended I be awarded my PhD without any further examination or amendment. I therefore recently graduated in December, which I celebrated with my wife, parents and friends in Melbourne.

Since submitting my thesis in March, I stayed on

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AWARD WINNER UPDATES

KATE AND GRETA STEWART - SAILORS

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2016 In September we all moved home from Bermuda, and are now back living on the wonderful North Shore, in Devonport. Both the girls are overseas competing at the moment, so I have provided this report on their behalf (Tessa Stewart).

The girls are having a very successful year.

As you know, they finished up last year with a bronze medal in the Youth Worlds (held in Torbay, New Zealand). As Kate had just turned 18, this was the final year she was eligible for the youth classes. Greta is only 17, so she can compete in youth classes for a further two years. So, they have split up to sail separately this year. However, what was a real thrill for them, was that last month Yachting New Zealand awarded them the prestigious award of 'Volvo Young Sailor of the Year' for their performances together in the youth class (two medals 2015, 2016) so it was a wonderful way for the girls to celebrate the end (for now) of their time competing together in the

at the University of Melbourne as a postdoctoral research assistant. I was continuing the research I had conducted during my PhD, including writing two journal articles that I recently submitted. I also presented my research at an international

same boat.

Kate Stewart – Kate this year moved into the Olympic classes and is now sailing the 49er FX with Erica Dawson (a very accomplished sailor also from the North Shore, who has been competing in the boat for 3 years). They have had a very successful year, considering they have only just started sailing together.

In July they placed 15th in the European Championships, in August they were 13th at the World Championships and then in October they won bronze at Enoshima Olympic Week in Tokyo. They are currently in Australia competing in Sail Sydney.

Greta Stewart – Greta has moved into a Nacra 15 (a smaller version of the Olympic boat, Nacra 17). She is sailing with Henry Haslett (very skilled sailor also from Devonport). They competed in Australia in September and won the New South Wales Youth Championships. They then won the NZ Youth Trials to qualify for a place in the NZ Youth Team to compete in China at the Youth Worlds. They are there now as I provide this report.

conference held in Chicago in July, as well as a workshop held in Auckland in November. During this time, I also married my lovely wife, Julie, during a ceremony held in Kumeu in August.

Next year, I will be moving to Pasadena, California to join the Aerosol and Cloud Science group at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Here I will be researching cloud formation and break up, which is critical to meteorological and climate prediction models. Coming from an engineering background, this is quite a change in research fields although the fundamental physics is the same. I am looking forward to learning the different research approaches and techniques used by the group, as well as exploring Los Angeles with my wife.

JOSEPH BERGIN LAWYER/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

AIMES Service to the Community Award 2016

Joseph Bergin

Avalon Biddle

This last year has marked a fairly significant transition for me; from the the public office I spent the past quarter of my life serving, to the next stage in my career and life. In October last year I finished my term as Chairman of the DevonportTakapuna Local Board and shortly after began my long planned travels through Europe and America.

It’s an endlessly repeated truism that travel broadens the mind and fosters a greater understanding and appreciation for other cultures. With this in mind, and thanks to the generous support of the North Harbour Club and the Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, I took the opportunity to focus my travels through the first half of 2017 on visiting youth innovation and entrepreneurship hubs across Europe and meeting inspiring youth workers in these fields.

Of particular note this took me to places such as the Factorià Joven de Merida in Spain, then to secretariat of the World Youth Bank in Belfast and the San Francisco headquarters of both Twitter

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Greta Stewart (left)

Kate Stewart (left)

and Google.

My final research report, which will be published early in the new year considers where there are opportunities for us to learn from the wealth of international experience in this field as a North Shore community, as a country and specifically in the development of Shore Junction - the new youth innovation hub for the region. The Junction of course continues to be a very important project for me and thanks to the ongoing enormous generousity of the North Shore community and extraordinary leadership of both the project steering committee and the Yes Foundation, resource consent is only days away.

There was also the not-so-little matter of the general election this past year also and as the Chairman of the North Shore Electorate National Party Campaign Committee, it’s safe to say that this was one of the toughest elections I’ve been involved in. For a large part of the year this saw me, our re-elected MP and our amazing volunteers eat, sleep, and think nothing but canvassing every last inch of the electorate.

Finally, but by no means less significantly, this year I commenced practise at Kensington Swan in the Environment and Planning and Major Projects and Construction teams. Following my admission, I have been incredibly excited by all the new challenges and opportunities that this has provided me and am looking forward to continuing to practise in this area that so closely aligns with my passions.

AVALON BIDDLE - MOTOR CYCLE RACER AIMES Judges Special Award 2016

2017 was a hugely eventful, and hugely challenging year in my career. I started 2017 by achieving my long term goal of signing for a team to race in the World Supersport 300 Championship, run inside World Superbike. This is the pinnacle for motorcycle racing worldwide. I

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was one of two females racing against a grid full of 40 males, mostly from countries such as Spain, Italy and Holland, but also stretching as far as Brazil and Indonesia.

After racing the European Championship for the past two years I felt well prepared to tackle this challenge and left New Zealand in March to base myself in the Netherlands for the rest of the year. Unfortunately the team I was a part of was not as well prepared as I was, and the season was an uphill battle. In April I had my best finish of the season – 19th place at Assen TT Circuit. This is still a huge feat to race in a world championship against the males, and beat at least half of them!

I returned to New Zealand in October and started back at work immediately to try raise funds to race the 2017/18 New Zealand season. My love for racing means I can't stay away from the track too long! For the past two months I have been preparing and practising on my brand new Kawasaki ZX6R supersport 600cc bike which I am racing in the 2018 New Zealand Championship. These bikes go 260km/hr, weigh 170 kilograms and produce 130 horsepower – so I've been training extremely hard in the gym also!

The New Zealand Championship runs over four weekends throughout January to March, and after this I am aiming to head back overseas for some more events in Asia and Europe.

Thanks to everyone in the North Harbour region for your continued support.

EMMA LANE - BALLET DANCER

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2016 The past 12 months have been exhausting but everything I could have ever dreamt of. I have spent my days dancing from 8am till about 9pm, working on my technique and rehearsing for performances in the evening.

I ended my second year performing a piece of repertoire by Hofesh Shechter a world renowned choreographer, working with some of his company members and then performing the piece on Bonnie Bird Theatre stage. To make it even more special my mum and dad flew over form New Zealand to see me after not seeing me dance in years. I have now just finished my first term of my third and final year at Trinity Laban. We went straight into commissioned works which is where a choreographer comes in to work with us. This involved rehearsing almost 12 hours a day.

I was chosen to be in the ballet piece working with Hubert Essakow. The piece was challenging technically and pushed me to new boundaries. We then toured this piece around areas of England.

Third year also requires us to complete a dissertation. I am focusing on how the mind becomes as important, if not more important than physical training does once a certain physical level is reached.

I want people to see how becoming aware and working to achieve your goals through mind gym can help you. This is something I became aware of at such a young age and is definitely something that has helped me to get to where I am today.

I am now in the process of auditioning for jobs after my degree ends. This involves many auditions for companies and I am looking all over the world. I am

Emma Lane currently in Sydney about to start a placement with Sydney Dance Company, opportunities like these will help me to create contacts in the industry and will improve my overall dancing. I plan to go back to London to start my second term of my final year with auditions and other placements around Europe and America.

I am still so grateful to the North Harbour Club for giving me the AIMES Emerging Talent Award in my second year. The money helped me to pay for my second year of education which took huge pressure off me to work as hard as I was in my very limited spare time and to my parents who continue to help me live my dream.

My long term goals of going back to New Zealand to open my own dance school one day, giving back to the community and helping younger kids become aware of the dance world on the other side of the world remain strong and I am more than ever inspired to make it happen after recently providing a workshop to some of the students at my old dance school.

ANDREW COSHAN SINGER/DANCER/ACTOR AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2016

About to enter his third year in the Music Theatre course at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Andrew Coshan is thriving more than ever. Having just completed second year, Coshan describes it as “the ‘Trial

by Fire Year’. First year is all about building the foundation and improving your weaknesses to match your strengths. Then second year is where they throw so much at you that you basically never leave – Classes 9am-6pm, plus homework outside of that, plus working to pay for rent etc. – you’re so busy that you don’t even realise how much you’ve improved until it’s over. It’s the hardest year, but the best year.

But in third year they give you a bit more time for self-focused practice, but then because you have this extra time they expect everything to be much more polished. It’s the year to really make sure you’ll be industry ready by graduation.”

Other than the workload, the biggest difference between first year and second year is that second year students get to be in WAAPA productions – which has allowed Coshan to flourish above many of his classmates.

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Andrew Coshan This past year Coshan has been a part of three major WAAPA productions – most of which he has had a lead or supporting role. He began the year in a theatrical adaptation of William Golding's The Lord of the Flies playing Jack the antagonist, to critical acclaim. Next the WAAPA cohort took on Perth's Regal theatre with a sell-out season of 42nd Street, where Coshan's tap dancing expertise brought him to the forefront of the 40-person ensemble. The final production of the year was the historical black comedy Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson based on the life of 7th US president Andrew Jackson, where Coshan played antagonistic vice president John C. Calhoun.

But to top these notable accolades, Coshan has already received the romantic lead for his first WAAPA show of 2018: The role of Benny in WAAPA's production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's In The Heights opening on March 17th 2018.

Coshan reports that he is greatly looking forward to being a third year in 2018 and can’t wait to focus on refining the details, adding the polish of his performing, and eventually try his hand at auditioning for professional productions, which third years are allowed to do.

When asked about the world beyond 2018, Coshan said: “It’s terrifying knowing that you’re only a year away from being out in the world, marketing yourself as a professional musical theatre performer – a career that so many people fail at – But my lecturers have said that they are confident that I will be very employable by graduation so I guess I just have to trust that – while working as hard as possible to become the best that I can be."

Andrew Coshan would finally like to thank the North Harbour Club once again for the AIMES Award and their contribution to his studies and their ongoing support throughout his time at WAAPA.

SCOTT WILSON MECHATRONICS ENGINEER AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2016

These last 12 months have been busy but great! I have spent most of my time working towards my Masters of Mechatronics Engineering degree at Massey University in Albany. My Masters degree (restricted by confidentiality) is focused around

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NADIA EVANS - ATHLETICS Junior Excellence Award 2016

Scott Wilson robotics, in particular, working with industry to develop an autonomous robot that will help remove hazardous exposure and heavy labour for a particular application. The application involves many decisions usually performed by the operator, and so these decisions must be captured and replicated by the robot in some way. My research focus has been working towards how we can replicate the operator’s decisions for process control into the robot based off the environment around the robot and any information available.

Recently, I presented some of my research at the Mechatronics and Machine Vision in Practice (M2VIP) 2017 international conference held at Massey University, Albany. My presentation was on scanning the floor using a mobile robot and a 2D laser scanner. The aim of the research was to see if it is feasible to utilise relatively cheap 2D laser scanners to create a 3D map of the floor for prior knowledge. This prior knowledge can then be used to improve the navigation and control of the robot. We found that the system was able to provide a quick overview of the floor profile, however, does have some limitations around the accuracy of the scanner and we identified some challenges we are hoping to overcome. These include; difficulties with various material reflectivity and robot localisation. Similar systems could help navigate uneven and difficult terrain.

Currently, I am working on further developing the robot as well as simulating aspects of the robot using fundamental concepts to further improve the control. Next year, I have secured a graduate Engineering Position at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, working on a new product. This is exciting as it will challenge my abilities whilst providing many learning opportunities along the way. In addition, my goal as an engineer is to improve the world around me, and I hope to build towards this by developing new and improved healthcare products. As an Engineer, I am lucky to have the opportunity to shape the world we live in, and this is a challenge I welcome with open arms. I am excited for what the future holds and how technology can help us be better. I would like to thank AIMES and the North Harbour Club for helping open up opportunities and hope we can continue to inspire people to success.

The beginning of the year saw its fair share of challenges as Nadia encountered a series of injuries related to a growth spurt. Despite this, Nadia battled on and was still able to compete in all the major athletics events. In January, Nadia competed in her 5th North Island Colgate Games. She won Gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m. She also won Bronze in the Long Jump and Silver in the 4 x 100m 12 year girls relay.

For her achievements at this event she was awarded the John Hamlin Trophy by her Club for the 3rd year in a row for best performance and sportsmanship at North Island Colgate Games.

In February Nadia competed at the Auckland Champs and won Gold in the 100m, 200m and Silver in the Long Jump.

In late March (as a 12 year old) Nadia travelled to Sydney Australia to compete in the 100m and 200m at the Australian Athletics Championships in the Under 14 girls age category. This meant she was racing against athletes older than her.

Due to her injuries and lack of race fitness she was unable to qualify for the final of the 200m.

She qualified for the final of the 100m and placed 6th in a personal best time of 12.82s. This was good enough to break her Club Record for the 12 year girls. She also got to support fellow AIMES Award winner Eliza McCartney and other athletes from NZ. Nadia was selected for 12/13 Auckland InterProvincials team who competed at Masterton in April over the Easter break. The team were overall winners and Nadia placed 2nd overall in points for her age group out of about 150 athletes. This November Nadia competed for Northcross Intermediate for the Year 8 girls at the North Harbour Zone Day and won the 100m, 200m and Long Jump and broke all three North Harbour Records for these events.

She then went on to compete at the Auckland Intermediate Champs where she won the 100m and 200m. Unfortunately the Long Jump was cancelled due to scheduling issues. She broke the 100m record in a personal best time of 12.56s and the 200m record in a personal best time of 26.27s. She now holds both the Year 7 and Year 8 Auckland Intermediate records for both the 100m and 200m which is quite an achievement.

Nadia is now preparing to compete in both the North Island and South Island Colgate Games to

HENRY MENG - PIANIST Junior Excellence Award 2016

Since I won an AIMES Junior Excellence award last year, big plans concerning my career have been happening.

My talent for composition has led me past 200 works offering a diverse instrumental range, based on music from the 1600s to the present, and also I witnessed the first and second pieces from my own work, ‘Adventures in Planet Ardigoyle’ win first prize in the New Zealand Composers Class of the 2017 Festival of the North Shore Performing Arts Competitions Society.

Nadia Evans be held in Auckland and Timaru in January 2018.

She will be competing in the 100m, 200m, 400m and Long Jump and hopes to medal in all events at both Games. She also hopes to be once again selected for the Auckland Inter-provincials Team which will compete in April 2018 in Taranaki. As Nadia is starting College in February 2018 she will compete in the Secondary School Athletics and hopes to make it to the North Island Secondary School Champs in April in Wanganui. It will be a busy season for Nadia and she hopes to prepare well with her sprint coach Steve Erkkila who has had a big influence on Nadia’s achievements over the last 6 seasons.

We look forward to keeping you updated with Nadia’s results over the rest of the season.

I also debuted at the PumpHouse Theatre playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto in B flat Major accompanied by the Westlake Chamber Orchestra. I was also given an automatic entry to the Pettman National Junior Academy of Music, a collection of the elite young musicians of New Zealand.

Later in the year, I also debuted at the Auckland Town Hall. My performance was rewarded with hearty applause.

I am an integral member of the school Rock Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra and String Ensemble. In June I was also chosen to represent Takapuna Normal Intermediate School in the New Zealand

Henry Meng

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Northcross Kapa Haka Group

NORTHCROSS KAPA HAKA GROUP Junior Excellence Award 2016

The Northcross Kapa Haka Group were very busy in 2017. Early in the year we used our AIMES grant money to purchase new outfits for our group, complete with piu piu. These have made a tremendous difference to not only the groups appearance but also in the way the girls move during performance. They now create movement to accentuate the movement of the piu piu and this has certainly made us more attractive to watch and energetic.

Rico Bearman

This year we have performed at the opening of the Torbay Boat Club, at the Dairy Flat Cultural day, the Northern Bays Music Festival, Onepoto Cultural Day, Kaipara Festival, performances for two early childhood centres, Torbay Market Day, North Harbour Club Americas Cup Luncheon and the Murrays Bay Matariki Festival. We had a trip to Kamo to farewell a staff member, provided prematch entertainment at an international basketball game at the North Shore Events Centre and a welcome for the students from Takigawa School, Japan.

Next year will see our group performing at a huge variety of situations and venues. It's something we love to do!

Rockshop Bandquest competition, and won the Best Keyboardist award. I was also chosen to attend the school – run Roadshow, which toured many schools in the North Harbour region, where I also featured as a First Violinist, and was the chief sound effect performer, improvising original and special sound effects with my violin.

In the past 12 months I won two 1st prizes, six 2nd prizes, one 3rd prize and four trophies from numerous competitions and events around Auckland.

I aspire to attend next year’s Wallace National Junior Piano Competition, and later on I plan to compete in the Wallace National Piano Competition.

RICO BEARMAN - BMX Junior Excellence Award 2016

Daniel Stoddart

The start of the year was pretty busy with juggling soccer and BMX with both sports having some major events early on.

I participated in four Australian national series races for BMX throughout January-April and managed to make the finals in all of these events.

I didn’t mange to get a win in these events but managed a 2nd as my best result. In one of the rounds I was racing in A pro which is a 14+ age group and had a big crash over the pro straight which set me back for the rest of that weekend.

In April I travelled as part of the Forest Hill Milford soccer team to compete in a soccer tournament in Dallas, Texas. This was a week long age group tournament attended by teams from all over the world. Unfortunately after four tough games we were unlucky to not make it out of pool play but managed to play another few friendly games to gain experience and to make the most of the trip.

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The level that was played at the tournament was a level above what is played here in New Zealand and has given us plenty to work on for future games overseas.

In July I travelled to America to compete in the World BMX championships and along the way I went to a USA national round in Las Vegas where I managed to place 2nd on the first day and 3rd on the second day. The world Championships didn’t really go to plan and I was knocked out in the semi finals after colliding with another rider from Chile which ended my chances of progressing into the final event.

Once I returned it was back into soccer for a short period to finish off the school season for Westlake Boys. We managed to go unbeaten for the season and take away the title for Year 9 for the Auckland area.

The North Island champs were the next BMX event on the calendar which is the 2nd biggest race behind the national champs. I managed to win my class on the Sunday after finishing 2nd on the Saturday.

In November I travelled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete in the Grand Nationals which is Americas biggest race of the year. I had a few issues leading into the event and wasn’t really feeling my best but I managed to to get 2nd on the first day and make the final which I was pretty happy about.

The next event that I have coming up is a few New Zealand Races throughout the Waikato and then I am heading to America in February to represent my American team at an American National round in Arizona and Florida which I am totally looking forward to. Then the NZ National championships are to be held over the Easter weekend in New Plymouth followed by the World Championships in June to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

DANIEL STODDART GYMNAST Junior Excellence Award 2016

2017 has been busy. It started off in April when I competed in a Junior World Cup in Berlin, Germany where I placed 9th over all and qualified for three apparatus finals and finished 5th on vault, 6th on rings and 6th on vault. After the competition I went to Birmingham, England, where I trained with one of the top coaches in the world amongst the British men’s gymnastics team.

Throughout the year I competed in a number of regional competitions, with my best result being at the Auckland Champs. At the Auckland Champs, I competed as an under 18 Junior International and finished in 2nd place. I finished 1st place on floor, pommel and high bar and 2nd place on vault and parallel bars and 3rd place on rings.

My latest competition was the NZ National Champs in Nelson. Here, I also competed as an under 18 Junior International and was 3rd place over all, 2nd on floor and high bar, 3rd on rings, vault and parallel bars and 4th on pommel.

Recently, I was awarded Sportsman of the Year in Gymsports at the Auckland College Sports Awards and Junior Sportsman of the year at Westlake Boys.

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Carl Hume

CARL HUME DOCTOR AND RESEARCHER Dr Carl Hume was the winner of the AIMES Education and Overall awards in 2015. At the time, Carl said that his win completed a full circle: He was born at North Shore Hospital, was an intern there during his training and was working there as a junior doctor.

With a string of academic successes to his name, and an A-A+ average during his university career, his win was little surprise (to anyone except perhaps Carl himself). In his final year at medical school in 2014, he was awarded the prestigious Dean’s Prize as the medical student to have achieved the highest overall grade in his year, and the Alice Bush Memorial Prize for being the paediatrics department’s top performing student. The year before, he was given the Department of Anaesthesiology Prize for achieving the highest grades in the anaesthetics component of the degree.

At that stage, his medical interests lay primarily in academic neurosurgery. In late 2015 he presented some of his research at the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia’s Annual Conference, having been invited by a specialist neurosurgeon to present alongside him. He engaged in considerable – and varied – research while he completed his medical degree, exploring areas as diverse as reproductive technology, ethics concerning end of life care and non-English-speaking patients, and infection control. He said at the time he didn’t want to “pigeonhole” himself: “It’s a matter of keeping

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up with the research, keeping your mind open and seeing what it is you most like. At present, I’m very much a newbie - a bit like Bambi, trying to find his feet!”

At that stage, his medical interests lay primarily in academic neurosurgery.

He’s recently completed his house surgeon training and has left the Shore for Taranaki to start his new job as an anaesthetics registrar. While many young doctors move offshore to study their chosen area of specialisation, Carl is committed to remaining in New Zealand. “I plan on being in New Zealand for the rest of my training,” he says. “It will take some convincing (or mandating) for me to train elsewhere.”

He says his new role in anaesthetics “is a steep learning curve; the feeling is reminiscent of my early clinical years in medical school.

I worked in surgery during my house surgeon years and found the anaesthetic side much more suited to my interests than the surgery itself (not to say surgeries are not fantastic). I therefore applied for

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the anaesthetics training scheme in the middle of 2017 and was lucky enough to be accepted!”

He will spend a year in Taranaki and then return to complete the rest of his training in Auckland. On top of his six years at med school are two years post-university; it’s a long haul to full qualification.

Carl aims to pursue his interest in research. “I am very fresh in the field at the moment, but I am hoping that once I become more settled in the programme, I might find myself with the capacity to do some work with Auckland researchers in the area, which would be a huge privilege. Alternatively, this may have to wait until I have finished my training; it is a fairly rigorous programme!”

During the last couple of years, Carl has attended “a few” courses around the country, in anaesthetics and intensive care. “These were naturally helpful for my current post in anaesthetics and critical care, and probably helped my application earlier in the year. My debt is also significantly lighter since winning the AIMES prizes,” he adds.

Carl remains aware that “there is a huge amount that I don’t know.

I have a huge respect for the work that my colleagues and bosses do, as well as the service that the hospital system provides in New Zealand.”

His junior doctor training has also provided him with an awareness of the need to refine the “raw empathy” that was one of the key motivators in his choosing his career. “As I progress,” he comments, “I find it is easier to use that empathy as motivation to do my best for my patients, rather than feeling overwhelmed by their suffering.”

Work as a junior doctor has certainly been intense and “draining”, Carl admits, particularly emotionally, but he has still had “plenty of capacity to enjoy my family and friends, exercise, and play video

games, as well as read (for business and pleasure). I also have a beautiful new cat who is just over a year old. She is a Scottish Fold and very clingy.”

But it seems some things have had to go. When we interviewed him in 2015 after his AIMES award win, he had just begun piano studies. “I think my piano needs tuning…,” he confesses.

Carl’s primary ambition now is to qualify as an anaesthesiologist within the next five to six years. Whether we’ll see him closing the loop once again, and working back here on the Shore, is up for debate. “With the current housing situation, I think I will likely look for a post outside Auckland – I am loving Taranaki at the moment (second best region in the world according to Lonely Planet!), and hope to reach the summit of Mount Taranaki once the snow has melted.” n

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2015

AIMES AWARD WINNERS Supreme ($15,000) & AIMES Education Award ($15,000) – Carl Hume; Arts Award ($15,000) – Emily Scott; Innovation Award ($15,000) – Sian Simpson; Music Award ($15,000) – Alexander Verster; Sport Award ($15,000 each - Joint Winners) – Michael Brake & Gemma Jones; Service to the Community Award ($15,000) – Mattea Mrkusic.

AIMES Emerging Talent Award recipients 2015 ($5,000 each) – Elizabeth Mandeno, Elizabeth Lunn, Shauno Isomura, Louisa Wang, Brendon Thomas, Danielle McKenzie, Britt Kindred, Lina Kim. Junior Excellence Award recipients 2015 ($3000 each) - Matthew O'Connor, Cameron Brownsey, Iain Lam, Blake Tolmie, Catherine Oh, Jaden Movold, Quillan Denton.

Emily Scott

Alexander Verster

EMILY SCOTT - OPERA SINGER

AIMES Arts Award 2015 (& AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2014) For the past two years, I have been working towards a degree in opera studies at UCLA and I am pleased to announce that on the 16th of June I graduated with a Masters of Music in Classical Voice (Performance).

In February this year I performed in the title role of Cinderella in Massenet’s Cendrillon for the main UCLA Opera Production. It was by far my favourite experience in the entirety of my two year program. I have provided links to a couple of my arias below for your interest.

In April I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of a small group of students for a recital of musical theatre pieces selected from the Richard Rodgers Family alongside the renowned recitalist and director of the New York Festival of Song, Steven Blier.

The penultimate task in this degree was another lead role, this time in the contemporary opera Mansfield Park based on the Jane Austen novel, in which I played the antagonist Mary Crawford.

It was performed in the charming William Andrews Clark Library which (fun fact) was the inspiration behind the library design in the original Disney animated movie Beauty and the Beast.

Lastly, I spent many months programming a Masters recital which I called 'Home and Away'.

It was comprised of songs from New Zealand, France, Spain, Austria and England, where composers (and poets) reflected or commented upon the cities that they loved and called home.

Something I could sympathize with and felt very passionately about, being so far away from home for so long.

Following the completion of my degree requirements Professor Peter Kazaras, director of Opera Studies at UCLA, recommended that I audition for several Young Artist Programs.

I embarked on an audition tour in October, traveling to New York and San Francisco for the first time ever, auditioning for the likes of San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera and Houston Grand Opera. It was eye-opening, and I hope to have further opportunities of this ilk with which to extend my education and professional experience.

Opportunities, like these, serve as reminders

Michael Brake (rear).

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that I have been incredibly fortunate to have been able to focus on my studies and that I have been able to do so a result of the generosity of the North Harbour Club and their associated partners. I hope to continue making strides postUCLA and update you with my progress.

ALEXANDER VERSTER - MUSICIAN AIMES Music Award 2015

Earlier this year I graduated from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire, earning a Distinction for my Master of Fine Arts degree. The few months since then have contained more musical diversity than I ever could have imagined, confirming my hope that London was the perfect destination.

I was recently afforded the unique opportunity to visit Russia and perform in the Mariinsky Concert Hall, St Petersburg with a large symphony orchestra. In addition to classical orchestral projects large and small, I have also been involved in a number of concerts and recordings with modern rock, jazz, and pop acts. The most notable of these was performing in Wembley Arena with Eminem at the MTV European Music Awards, and two sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall with American rock giants Alter Bridge.

Frequent baroque performances with period instrument group Bellot Ensemble means I typically cover about 400 years of Western musical history every other week! It is a real privilege to have all these opportunities and my 19th century double bass was largely funded by the AIMES Award.

I remain extremely grateful for the support I received from the North Harbour Club, which went so far in enabling all of this.

MICHAEL BRAKE – ROWER AIMES Sport Award 2015

The past 12 months have been full of ups and downs and the path that I have traversed since the Rio games has been anything but the "beaten track". After Rio, I chose to spend my three months away from scheduled training in Auckland, studying towards my engineering degree at the University of Auckland. Extramural study can be challenging when a course requires weekly attendance to tutorials, labs and workshops. The extended break was a

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Mattea Mrkusic

Gemma Jones perfect time to spend with my family and tick off papers that I had been delaying due to the aforementioned challenges.

Returning to training at Karapiro I was greeted with tendon injuries in both my right and left forearms. The injury occurred during the third session back... not a great start! It took five months, four cortisone injections and 480 Watt Bike hours to receive the all clear for corrective surgery, which unfortunately led to missing the 2017 National Championships and the first set of trials for the Rowing NZ elite team set to compete at the second and third World Cup regattas in Europe. Fortunately every dark cloud has a silver lining and once the team returned I had completed almost nine months of solo training (uninterrupted by tapering and racing) and was at my fittest yet. This led to a successful trial for the World Championships tour and to earning a new seat in a familiar boat - the men's eight.

We finished up sixth place at the World Championships in Sarasota, Florida. The world record holding Germans led to the halfway mark, Kiwis in second place. Unfortunately we found out the hard way that we couldn't sustain the pace and were rowed through by the field in the last 500 metres. It was the same result as our Rio campaign and while it was great to be back on the scene, in my eyes it was a disappointing result. It was especially disappointing considering the brilliant success of the team – three gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

I was able to sneak in two weeks of travel around the States after competition which was absolutely amazing but left me eager to get back in the boat for redemption. Since then we have been mixing up the training and doing a lot of work in small boats. It's a nice change and has so far been relatively injury free (touch wood!). Last weekend we had our first domestic regatta of the season where my current pair partner (Tom Murray) and I managed to achieve a tidy win. We have one more regatta coming up before Christmas and then it will be time to build into trials for the 2018 international season.

Exciting times!

GEMMA JONES – SAILOR AIMES Sport Award 201

After finishing 4th at Rio Olympics, both Jason, my sailing partner and I have committed to

campaigning again in the Nacra 17 Class for towards the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

The Nacra 17 Olympic boat has under gone modifications with the approval of the IOC and is now a foiling catamaran.

We took delivery of our new boat in July 2017 and have been working hard on learning how to best sail it.

While we had some down time I raced a number of other catamarans – some foiling, which gave me some further experience; and also was able to watch Team NZ win the Americas Cup in Bermuda as my Dad was the performance coach there.

Currently we have three international Nacra 17 teams here in NZ training with us (French and Danish), we are sailing from Torbay Sailing Club and have been enjoying the amazing weather!

We are learning and developing new techniques everyday however there is a lot of work still to be done to get the most out of the boat.

We will head to Europe in March 2018 for the northern hemisphere summer season and compete in the World Cup events, and the 2018 World Nacra 17 Championships where it is the first opportunity given to qualify for the Olympics (top 10 places).

MATTEA MRKUSIC –

ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE

AIMES Service to the Community Award 2015 (& AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2012) This May, I graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. (Honors, Magna Cum Laude) in Environmental Studies and Human Rights.

With the help of a fantastic set of mentors, I completed my senior thesis, a climate change storytelling project entitled Collapse the Distance.

Part podcast, part photography exhibit, and part written exegesis, the piece was a meditation on land loss, forced migration, colonial plunder, and grassroots climate change resistance in the Pacific Island atoll nation of Kiribati. It won the Harvard University Thomas Temple Hoopes Award for an outstanding senior thesis.

I was lucky enough to return to Kiribati in July, after securing a post-graduate fellowship to continue my climate change work. My interest in the field deepened when the new New Zealand government announced that it might extend

Elizabeth Lunn experimental visas to Pacific Islanders who will be forced from their homes due to climate impacts.

I also dipped my toes into the world of journalism and documentary film. In November, I had my first radio piece published by Public Radio International, a U.S. syndicate of the BBC radio.

I'm currently based in New York City, where I am working for a director on a documentary about the criminal justice system in Louisiana.

As much as I miss home and the North Shore, as a half US-citizen, I feel compelled to remain in the States during this new chapter in America's history. My most meaningful moments this year were not individual moments, but collective: marching on Washington D.C. in the Women's March, reflecting with my peers during graduation, and developing friendships with gracious and thoughtful mentors.

I'd like to warmly thank the North Harbour Club for supporting these experiences with the AIMES Awards I have received in 2012 and 2015.

ELIZABETH LUNN – DOCTOR, MEDICINE & SURGERY AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015

Third year medicine at Cambridge is unique as it allows its medics to ‘roam freely’ with their research to follow any scientific curiosities that may have arisen in their first two years of study. Already interested in degenerative mental processes my exposure to psychology in second year showed that there is much to learn about the fascinating complexities of both the normal and pathological brain. I am currently working on a research project which aims to uncover how

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Shauno Isomura we process irregular verbs, building on similar work and methodology used to look at regular verbs. Subject to confirmable results I am hopeful that this might be my first published research paper.

The long summer holiday was spent in Hong Kong teaching English and Drama to secondary school children. A rewarding albeit trying adventure, amongst other things I definitely learned the value of patience! I am hoping to return to Hong Kong as a director of the same camp next year. Meanwhile I am spending some free time tutoring students who are in their final year of school with medical and/or Oxbridge aspirations.

With a desire to involve myself in wider university life, I am now Vice-President of Gonville and Caius Medical Society. In this role I have organised talks with experts in their fields, with one particularly memorable lecture by a British doctor responsible for treating the UK’s four Ebola patients. I was also voted to be the International Officer for Caius’ Student Union.

In both of these roles I have enjoyed supporting the next ‘generation’ of medics, overseas and international students.

SHAUNO ISOMURA – VIOLINIST

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 2017 was a year that opened many doors within my career and a year that allowed me to realise the importance to stop and look around to see what is really the best, not just for my self but for the people around. The people I met and the experiences I gained during the year has connected me to numerous opportunities for the coming very exciting year including a national tour with Chamber Music New Zealand, a Recital Tour in Japan including a collaboration with the Concert Master of the Okayama Philharmonic Orchestra, New Zealand Premiere of a number of works by world renowned Japanese Composers, Comissioning of a brand new work by an emerging New Zealand Composer - just to name a few. Many of these being subjects of professional musicians. I am extremely honoured to have been granted these opportunities at such an early stage of my

Danielle McKenzie career. In 2017, my initial plan was to further my studies overseas, just like us musicians do at this time of our lives. However my plans made a sudden turn when I came across a news article about the 'Tsunami Violin' - a violin made in remembrance of the deceased, and with an aspiration of hope for the survivors of the 2011 Tsunami Earthquake in Tohoku Japan, and of the people who suffered similar tragedies across the globe such as the Christchurch Earthquake which happened only a few weeks before the Japanese earthquake. Memorial events have happened and are set to take place every five or so years. However many tend to forget that help is always needed and restoration continues during the years in between, even at this very moment. Being a New Zealand born and raised Japanese musician, the shock from having both my home countries experiencing such natural disasters have been significant and my brother and I have always been eager to help. This year being the 6th year, and with the Tsunami Violin I thought now is the time that we could start a project using our professions to help out and to let them know that there are people who care for them, even from the other side of the world.

With the Tsunami Violin in hand, My brother and I held a concert tour in New Zealand named the ‘Tsunami Violin Concert Tour'. The tour was backed by the Classic for Japan Foundation in Tokyo and the Japanese Society of Auckland and Christchurch. Presented as a part of a world project involving violinists around the globe to perform on the Tsunami Violin. Past violinists who performed on the violin includes Gerard Poulet (France), Ivry Gitlis (Israel) and Emiri Miyamoto (Japan). I am honoured to have been accepted to perform on the Tsunami Violin for the very first time in New Zealand.

The tour featured an all Japanese composer programme with numerous World Premiere and New Zealand Premiere works performed in venues including the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber which became a sold out concert. We were absolutely blessed to have so many people from all ages and ethnicity come together to remember the tragedies and praying for hope for the survivors through a music concert (All profit will go towards the Tohoku and Christchurch Earthquake).

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DANIELLE MCKENZIE – SURF LIFE SAVING AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015

In early October I competed in the Coolangata Gold (Surf Life Saving's toughest endurance race, Gold Coast Australia). I placed 3rd and created history by becoming the first ever female New Zealander to place on the podium.

I competed only a few weeks ago for the NZ Blackfins at Mt Maunganui in the International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC).

We competed over three tests and it was a tough battle against the Australians. We finished up a few points short of them.

Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2017/18 Kelloggs Nutrigrain Ironwoman Series have been contested. Round 1 saw me in 11th place after a short and fast race. Round 2 (Coolum) was a super tough 2x M shape Eliminator where I placed an outstanding 3rd showing my skills and resilience in some testing surf conditions. As I write this I am looking forward to round 3 this weekend in Woolongong.

LINA KIM – COMMUNITY CHAMPION AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015

During my high school years at Westlake Girls, I’ve loved working for the community and advocating for youth voice. Currently I’m at the University of Auckland studying Law, Politics and Art History. I’m going into my third-year now and it’s been such an exciting journey filled with a lot of new people, friends and must say, a fair bit of study too!

As well as loving what I’m studying, I’ve continued my passion for culture and my community. This year I’ve worked with the Honourable Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Dr Andrew Butler to foster youth opinion about the future of NZ’s Constitution. After some planning, I had the opportunity to run an Auckland event with Sir Geoffrey and Andrew to create a discussion about youth civics engagement and the future of

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CATHERINE OH – MUSICIAN Junior Excellence Award 2015 2017 was a huge year for me and my musical life as I was very lucky to be able to travel to Hawaii as part of the Rangitoto Orchestra and Concert band with a title of first oboe as a junior of the school. The Pacific Basin Music Festival in Hawaii was an amazing experience as I got to meet musicians from various places around the world such as Hawaii, Alaska, parts of Australia and Japan.

Through this event I got to see all the aspiring to-be musicians and got to enjoy my time off school with music all the while. I also did my very first solo performance on the oboe this year in the yearly instrumental competition that my school hosts. I played Gabriel’s Oboe (famously known as Nella Fantasia) from the film The Mission. It was a rewarding experience as it was very different to my solo piano performances. Additionally, my oboe playing was taken to a brand new level this year when I was given a teaching position at the Murrays Bay Music Organisation. Teaching children from ages 5 to 13 was a great use of my spare Saturday time as from this experience, I gained the abilities to handle my time with great efficiency and use it at the highest quality possible. I will be teaching oboe and recorder again in 2018 and I hope that this teaching experience will be of great use in my future. As a music student, I auditioned for Rangitoto College’s premier choirs, The Fundamentals (premier mixed), and SOS (premier girls). I was fortunate enough to be accepted into both choirs and got to perform at the Big Sing Finale held in Auckland this year.

Rangitoto College’s performing arts had another big event this year as the junior school (years 9 and 10) rehearsed and performed four nights of All Shook Up, The Musical starring the famous songs of Elvis Presley. I was appointed the part of playing the piano as well as having the role of conducting the band when the conductor was not available and helping the leads rehearse their songs. This was another great experience for me as I got to learn with more depth that music is a big part of performing arts and that it is not about yourself, but for the enjoyment for others as well as yourself. At the end of the year, my efforts and time for the performing arts was recognised when I was given the trophy for “Best Contribution towards Music” for the second year in a row.

2017 has not just been a busy and

I auditioned for Rangitoto College’s premier choirs, The Fundamentals (premier mixed), and SOS (premier girls). I was fortunate enough to be accepted into both choirs and got to perform at the Big Sing Finale held in Auckland this year. productive year of music. This year I was selected to be 1 of 3 students to study the NCEA Level 2 Calculus course and achieve all of the standards to excellence level as a year 10. This has enabled me to be accepted to take the NCEA Level 3 Calculus Scholarship course as a year 11 in 2018. Additionally, another event that was a big part of my academic life this year was my high achievement in a New Zealand and other Pacific countries competition for testing my Spanish reading and listening skills. I was placed in the top 3% for reading and top 7-10% in listening. However, my life is not just music and academics. Ever since I was young, I took part in leadership roles for my schools. I was house leader captain at Pinehill School, deputy head girl at Murrays Bay Intermediate, and at the beginning of this year, I was elected by my class to be the service representative of the class and was given the class leader certificate award. In mid-December of 2017, I was appointed the title of member of the UNICEF ball committee, a group that organises fundraisers for UNICEF. At the same time I applied and was accepted to be

an ambassador of Crimson Education, an organisation that helps students recognise their potential in academics and help them gain their highest academic goals possible.

I am so very grateful for every opportunity I have been given and experienced this year as I know it will help me in my future years to come.

In the year of 2018, I will be taking my grade 7 exam for oboe, acting as the woodwind section leader for the Rangitoto Orchestra, carrying my duties as ambassador for Crimson Education, organising the 2018 ball for UNICEF as a member of the UNICEF ball committee and taking the NCEA level 3 course for Scholarship Calculus. My ultimate goal for next year and the future will be to make a significant and good change for my community and become a good influence for the people and environment around me. I know and I hope that I will be able to contribute more to the communities around me all because of the help from the North Harbour Club/AIMES community. I look forward to the promising future of 2018 and the years to come.

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Lina Kim NZ’s constitution. The turnout was fantastic with students from diverse areas of study and the discussion was even better! What’s even cooler is that our input will be taken into consideration for their second Written Constitution Proposal next year.

I’ve also continued my involvement with UN Youth as the Ambassadors Coordinator and met some of the most passionate high school students who attend our conferences and run their own model UN events at their schools.

Also, another highlight for me this year was being on my old primary school board – as well as being surrounded by the most genuine people and community, I’ve got to experience the side of school I never saw as a kid ten years ago! Also, every now and again, I love volunteering at local community groups like the Takapuna Older Womens Network and performing and spending time with the older generation there.

This summer I’m really excited to be travelling to South East Asia: Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, Thailand on a Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiative called CAPE - a scholarship study tour that aims to foster a stronger partnership between NZ and one of our biggest trade partners, South East Asia.

I’m honoured and stoked to be able to first hand experience the culture and meet some fantastic people and to represent our country.

On our visit, we’ll be visiting NZ Embassies, networking with universities and political

representatives and attending business conferences.

It’s been a full on, fantastic year and I’m grateful for all the people I’ve met along the way. I’m looking forward to the many more adventures the new year has in store for us and our community. My passion for service and working for the community is still what drives me and what I study and I’m looking forward to see what new adventures awaits us all.

MATTHEW O’CONNOR – MARTIAL ARTS/KARATE Junior Excellence Award 2015

Towards the beginning of this year I went to compete over in Sydney, Australia at the Kenpo 5.0 Oceania Championships. At this tournament I placed second overall amongst really tough competition.

Throughout the year I have been working hard towards getting my next belt in the Adult syllabus and graded a step closer a couple of weeks ago. Having completed the Kids & Teens Black Belt Syllabus already, one of my big goals now, is to sit for my full Adult black belt in 2018 at the Worlds Competition in Las Vegas in front of the best Kenpo 5.0 instructors in the World, it’s a huge and honourable event. I have to be 16 in order to be able to sit for my Adult Black Belt and luckily I will have just had my birthday by a

Matthew O’Connor

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Iain Lam

couple of days, so will be the eligible age to do this. The Oceania Competitions will be held at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand, May next year, so it will be nice to be at home for this one. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is an additional commitment I have picked up this year, in order to add depth to my training.

I have also worked hard on trying to improve my own students, that have progressed to their next given belt multiple times this year and done extremely well in tournaments. I am looking forward to passing over more of my knowledge about the sport to them and helping them grow further as Martial Artists, seeing what they can accomplish in 2017.

Resolution: Life is about giving to others and being mindful of what is happening around you and contributing in a positive way. So every opportunity where I can do this whether it be in martial arts or in my community, I will continue to do. In order to stay engaged, committed and focused I need to constantly look to push my own boundaries, not be afraid to try new things and to continually give back to others in their training as this in turn develops my own martial art skills as well as aiding in my own personal development.

IAIN LAM - ACADEMIC Junior Excellence Award 2015

After winning the award in 2015, I enrolled in a Physics online course by Berkeley University and in year 8 I continued with my Science and Maths extension at school. I did NCEA Level 2 Physics and NCEA Level 2 Maths and was the top student in the year 12 NCEA Level 2 Physics.

In April 2016, our family travelled to the UK and visited a few schools whilst spending a few days in Cambridge. After some advice from an experienced educational psychologist, we decided to move to the UK in 2017 in order to enhance my chance of gaining admission to the University of Cambridge. I am so grateful to have full support from my parents.

On January 7th, 2017 we left for the UK to pursue my education. In September I started my school year at Year 9 in the Perse School in Cambridge. As I write this in late 2017 I can

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

confirm that have enjoyed school and most of its subjects. I have also done fairly well in all the subjects including the more humanities based subjects but also the science and more STEM based subjects. I hope this school can carry me effectively into the future as so far it has suited me well.

JADEN MOVOLD – COMMUNITY/ YOUTH AMBASSADOR Junior Excellence Award 2015

Quillan Denton

QUILLAN DENTON SINGER/MUSICIAN Junior Excellence Award 2015

This year has been a busy year as a whole for me. I have continued on with my professional singing lessons that were enabled by my Junior AIMES Award in 2015. This year I once again auditioned and was accepted into the Fundamentals (auditioned mixed choir at Rangitoto College) as a Bass 1. This involved many concerts and entering into ‘The Big Sing’ - a nation wide choral competition for secondary school choirs. We were awarded a Silver Award at the Finale of ‘The Big Sing’. I was also part of the Mainly Men choir at Rangitoto, which was for the first time in about 10 years nominated for ‘The Big Sing Finale’, which as you can imagine, left us all chuffed. Singing in these choral groups and continuing to have professional singing lessons has helped we expand my musical and vocal knowledge greatly.

I entered into the South Auckland Performing Arts Competition, into the 1415 year age group. This was a great joy to do, as it was my first singing competition, and I was awarded the following: First for Junior Vocal - Best performance in Song & Costume - Musical Theatre - Singing ‘Reviewing the Situation’ as Fagan from the musical ‘Oliver Twist’, of which I was awarded a trophy. Most Points Awarded in Selected Classes - First in Three Classes, Third in One; Most Points Awarded in the 14-15 year age group, of which I won a

The past 12 months has flown by quickly and here are some of the highlights.

I had a great end of my Intermediate Schooling last year winning the East Coast Bays Lions Club Award for Outstanding Leadership in the School community, for the second time. It was sad to leave Murray’s Bay Intermediate, but I was grateful for all the opportunities I got to be involved with, and I felt ready to face high school as a year nine this year. It was a big transition to Rangitoto College, but it was a good year, and I managed to get involved as the Class Student Rep and helping to lead a fundraiser for World Vision.

I continued my passion for swimming with intense training and competing at regional and national competitions. I attended a Paralympic NZ swim camp earlier in the year as an opportunity to help in my pathway to one day represent NZ at the Paralympics. I also represented the school in swimming, competing at the Auckland Secondary School Champs and the NZ Secondary School Swim Champs held in Hamilton.

I continue to work hard in my various ambassador roles. My new role within the Jonesy’s Youth Foundation sees me work alongside other youth ambassadors to play a driving role in raising awareness of the Foundation to support youth to gain the skills and confidence to be successful in life. I enjoy speaking at the various events and fundraisers, and inspiring others to not only assist the Foundation but also to be a role model for other kids.

Wheelchair Basketball is still a sport I love, training five hours a week and competing in regular competitions.

Along with members of our team, we help promote the sport and our Club, the WheelStarz, at Paralympic NZ Open

trophy for; Most Points overall for 18 yr and under (won jointly) of which I won a trophy for.

This was a great honour to partake and I hope to be partaking more regularly in such vocal competitions.

I attend both Music and Drama as subjects at school and have been involved with a number of small productions throughout the year. I achieved a lead role in the Rangitotos first Junior School Production of ‘All Shook Up’, which played a five-night season at the

Jaden Movold Days. Recently, at the end of the 2017 season, I was honoured to receive the Most Committed Player of the Year Award.

In early December, I completed my 22nd Weet-Bix Tryathlons and will continue to participate until I am 16 years old - when I hope to have finished 30 Tryathlons.

One of my biggest highlights of the year was receiving the 2017 New Zealand Youth Award for a youth with a disability, in recognition of my contribution to the disability sector and my community. It was awesome to fly to Wellington and be presented my award at the formal ceremony held at Parliament.

Looking ahead to 2018, I hope to continue to set challenges for myself through my sport and ambassador roles and continue to give back to the community. I love motivating and inspiring others to be the best that they can be.

I am thankful to the North Harbour Club for not only awarding me the 2015 Junior AIMES Award for Service to the Community but for continuing to support me ever since and believing in my potential to succeed.

end of November. This was a great honour to perform in, and allowed me to utilise a wide repertoire of my skill set of which I have been improving and expanding. At the culmination of said production I was thrilled to learn that I was successful in auditioning for a lead role in next years Senior School Production of the Addams Family. I am changing singing tutors next year as my existing teacher is on maternity leave and I’m looking forward to learning new skills with a new teacher.

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Ben Sanders

BEN SANDERS INTERNATIONAL CRIME WRITER The 2014 AIMES Supreme and Arts Award winner Ben Sanders has been reviewed as delivering “switchblade-sharp writing”, among many other accolades, and at one stage Warner Brothers had confirmed an option to adapt his last novel American Blood for the big screen with Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper in the lead role.

His first three books were set in Auckland, but the setting for American Blood and his about-to-be published novel, The Stakes, is in the United States. He’s now published internationally and is widely identified as one of the next big names in international crime writing.

Our research found that Ben doesn’t fit the stereotype of the social-media active millennial, and he admits to Northside that (like many writers) he’s far from comfortable with the need to self-publicise. “Writing involves selfpublicising to the extent that the author wants to selfpublicise,” he says. “I don’t enjoy it, so I don’t tend to do it. My website was a disgrace, so it’s undergoing upgrades.”

However, he very obligingly responded to our questions about his writing and what he’s achieved since 2014.

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Northside: Please give us a short summary of where life and writing have taken you since you won the AIMES supreme award in 2014.

Ben Sanders: Since I won the AIMES award, I’ve continued to work on mystery novels. I write three days per week, and work two days per week as a structural engineer for Airey Consultants in Takapuna. My last book came out in March 2017, and the next one (The Stakes) is due out in February this year. The highlights of the last couple of years were being able to take part in literary festivals in Toronto (October 2016) and Adelaide (March 2017).

You continue to juggle writing with working as a civil engineer – how do you manage that, and do you find that the “creative’ aspects of writing requires a mind-shift after the thought processes required for engineering?

The balance is perfect. I was writing full-time for two years, but found 40-odd hours per week was too long to be purely in my own head. I find after three days of writing fiction, I’m ready for some maths, and vice versa. My brain doesn’t have to be hauled from one mode to the other: it is equally content with thug-talk or stress equations.

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Is it possible for you to survive as a writer only – and would you want to?

I’m published in 11 countries, so I can write full time if I want to. But I like the variety of having two jobs. The novelist Martin Amis once wrote that fiction writers ‘need something to get them out of the house’. He does award-winning journalism. I design beams.

You’ve been quoted as saying you opted to study engineering as it was sufficiently different from writing, which you would be doing “in your leisure time”. Do you still see writing as “leisure time” or is the engineering work your leisure time away from writing?

They’re each the other’s antidote. Writing still feels like leisure, but probably because my working week is so varied. I really enjoy structural engineering, but I don’t think it will ever feel like a leisure activity: it obviously demands a great deal of care, so it’s not something I’d do in order to relax for 30 minutes.

How long does each book take you to write? And what are the hardest and easiest parts of the process for you?

Normally about 12 months. The beginning is easiest – the first five or ten chapters – when I’m setting the scene, and the writing is powered along by a desire to create something compelling. The middle is tough: I have to decide where to point my characters in order to wrap up the story. And when you’re fifty thousand words into a book with another fifty [thousand] to go, it can feel like a slog. The last quarter is always nice: at around the seventy-five thousand word mark, I can see the finish, and I tend to sprint the home straight in chunks of three or four thousand words per day.

[Macmillan] asked me to. I’d read lots of American novels, so I was confident I could evoke settings, and the attitudes and speech of American characters. I visit the US every year and research the places I write about, but I’m sure I’ve benefited from the fact that New Zealand culture is very US-centric. We get US TV shows and films, US books, and our news media often has a strong US focus. So to some extent I didn’t feel like I was writing about a foreign country.

You’re acknowledged as good dialogue writer – do you have any ambitions to write for screen or stage plays?

No. I love books because the text is the complete thing.

What has happened to the movie rights on American Blood? Was it disappointing that Warner Brothers allowed its option to expire?

Yes. Disappointing, too, for the accountants at Warner Bros., who ended up with fees for four producers, a screenwriter, and me in their minus column, and nothing in the plus column. So spare a thought for poor Sloane Kenwright III (I reckon they’d have someone by that name), number-cruncher for Warners, pencil gnashed between veneered chompers and his spray tan dripping orange on his blotter as he sweats over the numbers.

Your books are ideal for translation to the screen. Do you specifically write with this in mind? When it happens, would you want to be involved in the scriptwriting process?

Yes. I try to move a story along through action and dialogue, rather than introspection. I wouldn’t want to write the screenplay (assuming I sell anything else to Hollywood), because I don’t want to tell the same story twice. n

How do you approach each book? Do you have the story outlined (imaginatively or on paper) before you start?

How do you develop the characters, plot and setting(s)?

I have no outline. I make the story up as I go along, but I can normally see about two chapters ahead at any given point. My process is visual, in the sense that I’m just describing what I can see vividly in my mind – both in terms of character and setting. Plot development is the main engine for keeping the reader engaged. In very simple terms, I try to do it by having interesting characters (both good and bad), and then hinting that massive conflict and catastrophe awaits.

Do you have a writing “schedule” and how do you sustain the discipline required to create each complete novel?

I don’t have a strict schedule. I write from about nine to five Wednesday to Friday, and aim to do 1000-1500 words per day.

They have to be good words, and so the daily test is: could I send this off to my editor and not be embarrassed? If the answer is no, I edit in the evening.

Following your first three novels, you’ve targeted the American market for your books. What was the attraction for you in that market, rather than, say, UK or Europe?

And how difficult was the transition from Auckland-based books to creating settings and situations in a society and landscape that you knew less well?

I set my books in the States because my US publisher

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2014

AIMES AWARD WINNERS Supreme ($15,000) & AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Ben Sanders; IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Leighton Watson; Music Award ($10,000) – Hye-Won Suh; Education Award ($10,000) – Finn Lowery; Sport Award ($10,000) – Teneale Hatton; Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Dannie Cullen; Judges Special Award ($4,000 & $6,000 respectively) – Tayla Alexander & David Light Emerging Talent Awards 2014 ($4,000 each) – Harry Bartlett, Lewis Fry, Emily Scott, Kit Reilly, Nicole Ashby, Eliza McCartney, Gemma Jones, Daniel Hoy.

LEIGHTON WATSON GEOPHYSICS

AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award 2014 In the early hours of March 3rd, 2015, Villarrica volcano, a 2950m tall stratovolcano that towers over the nearby municipality of Pucon, Chile, erupted explosively throwing lava upwards over one kilometer. Over the past year, much of my work has focused on this eruption and I, along with my collaborators, have identified potential

Leighton Watson

eruption precursors in the sound emitted by the volcano in the days prior to the eruption. The results are currently in submission to a scientific journal and have the potential to aid in the forecasting of volcanic eruptions from open-vent volcanoes such as Villarrica or Kilauea, Hawaii.

I presented this work at two scientific meetings, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth Interior in Portland, Oregon, and the Deep Carbon Observatory Early Career Scientist workshop in Nicolosi, Italy.

These conferences, in addition to providing an opportunity to get feedback on my work from internationally recognised researchers, involved field trips to active volcanoes including Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Etna. These were a fantastic chance to better grasp the geological complexity of the systems that I am working on and to gain a further appreciation of the societal impacts of volcanic activity.

One of the benefits of the broader scope of the US PhD system is that it provides the flexibility to pursue alternative interests. This has enabled me to get involved with a group of marine biologists to study how whales produce low frequency sounds and to be a teaching assistant of a multi-disciplinary class about sea level rise and urban resilience. I am grateful to be at a place like Stanford that offers so many opportunities and the resources to take advantage of them and would like to thank the AIMES award for its role in getting me set up here.

FINN LOWERY – LAWYER/ACADEMIC AIMES Education Award 2014

For me, the past two years have been a wonderful adventure. I enjoyed nine challenging months at the New Zealand Public Defence Service, I went on countless outdoor adventures with my mates, and I have recently settled back into Oxford University.

My time at the Public Defence Service was brilliant.

Every day I met with clients to plan or present their cases at court. This made the job constantly challenging and interesting but it also enabled me to reflect on critical dimensions of the law: whom it affects, how it promotes societal interests, and how this might be done better. Above all, though, it exposed me to a number of social challenges with which, in one way or another, I hope to grapple in the future.

After leaving the firm, I resumed my studies at Oxford University where I am fortunate to hold a Rhodes Scholarship. Reading for the Masters in Latin American Studies, I am particularly focused on development economics as I hope to develop a few new skills to compliment my legal training.

Outside of the classroom, I am also fortunate to be working as a team of consultants to an NGO in Nairobi, Kenya.

TENEALE HATTON – CANOE SPRINT RACER AIMES Sport Award 2014

Teneale Hatton

I kicked off the year with my first attempt at Coast to Coast as I wanted to try something a little different. It was a huge challenge, especially

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Finn Lowery

Dannie Cullen learning a new way to train and new disciplines but I loved every bit of it. I had set myself some goals such as time limits for each stage and overall placing which I achieved so I was very happy finishing 8th overall in the 1-day event on my first attempt. I will be heading back again this year to try to improve.

From there I put my focus back onto paddling as it was a ocean ski world champs year (run biannually - held in November). Unfortunately I became ill heading into the world series events in June however I managed to make it to the finish of the three world cup races with a 2nd, 1st and 2nd (Portugal summer challenge, Canadian surf ski champs and North American downwind champs).

There was a lot of pressure for this event as I was aiming to retain my title. However on the day, the conditions were very hot and flat (Hong Kong) and it ended up in a drag race and I couldn't quite hold on to the end finishing a very close third. This was one of the most competitive years for womens surf ski paddling which is really exciting for the sport and I am excited to see what next year brings.

However I am hungrier than ever to try for the world champs title again.

DANNIE CULLEN CONSERVATION

AIMES Service to the Community Award 2014 The past year has been filled with new experiences, places and people. I was very fortunate to be selected to attend the 2017 UN Ocean Conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as a NZ Youth Delegate with the Aotearoa Youth Leadership Institute. This conference was an effort to support and advance implantation of Sustainable Development Goal

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Nicolette Bodewes

Nick Kearney

- Director

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Same. But different.

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The name remains hard to pronounce and we are thrilled that Patricia and David remain in our support team.

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Trusts, Asset Protection and Estate Planning | Family Law NORTHSIDE | Commercial | Property | Elder Law MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 75

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Harry Bartlett (fourth from left) 14 – ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’.

My experience at New York was overwhelming and at times, absolutely exhausting. The challenges that our oceans face on a global scale seem immense and the outlook bleak. It was easy to feel disheartened at times. However I was also fortunate enough to a visit New York-based NGOs and community groups. It was here that I felt most inspired, meeting with passionate people all working towards a collective goal of a more environmentally sustainable future. It became clear to me that if I was to make a positive impact on our environment here in NZ and become a more effective communicator, it was important to pursue postgraduate study to strengthen my knowledge and understanding of my field. I have since enrolled and accepted a place in a postgraduate science program starting 2018.

Throughout my postgraduate research I intend to build upon the foundation of lipidomics research on New Zealand snapper by identifying quality gamete parameters that could help determine optimum life history periods where the species should be protected. NZ snapper is an important and iconic species in both commercial and recreational fishing sectors and therefore management of this fishery needs to be based on current data – an important element of the survival of the species. This is an area of research that I hope to continue through to PhD. I am excited to return to study and I hope my research will be a positive contribution to an important species in our oceans. I would also like to congratulate this year’s AIMES Award recipients and I wish them all good luck for 2018.

TAYLA ALEXANDER – SINGER AIMES Judges Special Award 2014

At just 13 years old, opera singer Tayla Alexander received this award. In early December 2017 she featured on Television New Zealand’s Seven Sharp telling her amazing story.

At just 16, she was the youngest student ever to be taken in by the Auckland Opera Studio where she is coached by celebrated voice coach Frances Wilson.

Tayla, who Wilson says is set for stellar career in opera (a sentiment also expressed by Dame Malvina Major), told the programme "I was the fat girl who found her confidence on the stage”. She explained that she had gone from feeling isolated and lonely, to finding her voice in spectacular

Kit Reilly fashion.

The programme referred to Tayla as possibly “the next Lorde of the Opera” in reference to local Shore musical sensation Ella Yelich O'Connor (Lorde), who also won an AIMES Award, just one year before Tayla.

The AIMES Awards judging panel clearly saw Tayla’s potential back in mid-2014 when they selected her to receive the Judges Special Award.

Back then her debut album ‘Songbird' charted in the top 10 on both the Independent Music New Zealand Album chartsand the New Zealand Music Charts, making her the youngest artist to appear on the New Zealand music charts. Covering both classical and easy listening genres, Tayla has performed songs in English, Italian and Maori.

HARRY BARTLETT – IRISH DANCER

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2014 Winning an AIMES Emerging Talent Award in 2014 was such a pretty amazing experience.

To be recognised for dance as a male dancer in NZ was humbling. It gave me the opportunity to experience overseas training, the competitive dance circuit work with some pretty inspiring teachers and dance alongside the world's best.

Through all of this I managed to achieve my ultimate goal of moving to Birmingham in August 2016 to dance at the Carey Academy and train with one of the best Irish dance Academies in the world under the guidance of John Carey and an incredibly talented team of teachers who work with him.

During my time there so far, I have learnt so much not only through dance, but the life experiences of balancing working part-time to help supplement my dance, training, and being totally independent for everything I do. I have had the most incredible support from everyone in the UK and my family at home whom I could never do without their support and financial help.

I unfortunately suffered a couple of injuries this year which were beyond frustrating and did impact on results. I came home to NZ in August 2017 after a year away to spend time with family and to get some treatment from the team at Authentic Pilates and Physiotherapy who have worked with me for sometime in NZ, in particular Katie and Beth who are both international athletes and their help was invaluable.

I returned to the UK in September and have worked hard to get back into shape, learning to love dancing again, injury free and have recently qualified for the World championships in Glasgow

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2018. I am looking forward to the work ahead to make this my best worlds yet. I have a feeling this will be my last worlds, as dancing at a World level championship is indescribable but I am ready to embark on the audition process of international touring in shows. To perform in front of a live audience in an international show is dream I have had since the age of 4 years old and I think it may just be around the corner.

KIT REILLY – CONTEMPORARY DANCER AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2014

The last three years I have spent training intensively at the New Zealand School of Dance and during my time there I have had many exciting opportunities and experiences. My biggest highlights include being involved in the schools graduation seasons, Choreographic seasons, directing my own dance film in collaboration with filmmaker Ed Davis, doing motion capture work in the feature film "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets," seconding with Sydney Dance Company and traveling to New York and Shanghai to be involved in the Metamorphosis International Residency with 2 European choreographers (Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich).

In November 2017 I graduated from the school of dance and am now immersing myself in the first professional stages of my career as a contemporary dancer. In February this year I am flying to London to do company auditions and straight after that am spending a month working on a project in Wellington with Malia Johnston.

I have many more exciting ideas and plans for this year and will keep you all updated as things unfold!

I am so grateful for the support the North Harbour Club gives and am extremely proud to be recognised alongside so many other inspiring artists whom I look up to very much.

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Nicole Ashby

Ella Yelich-O’Connor

Daniel Hoy

NICOLE ASHBY –

DANIEL HOY – TRIATHLETE

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2014

The past 12 months have been a bit of a roller coaster with battling injury and sickness.

I was invited to race the super league triathlon earlier this year which was an awesome opportunity being able to race with the top 25 guys in the world.

I then went on to race my first WTS on the world circuit and placed 12th in the com games qualifying event.

After this was where I struggled with keep consistency in training and racing, I left to Europe in June for three months leading into world champs. I definitely learnt a lot as it was my first proper campaign away from Home on the other side of the world.

I was also lucky enough to do a four-week training block with the GB triathlon program.

I have recently just got over a stress fracture in my shin and have just been on my end of season break and am now building back into training for the 2018 season and also waiting to hear if I will be selected for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

I am now home on the Shore with my family and friends then it will be back to Cambridge in the Waikato to get back into training.

PSYCHOLOGIST/ACADEMIC 2017 has been a challenging but formative year. During the year I have completed a postgraduate diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology, in parallel with a full-time internship placement, to gain my registration as a psychologist.

My internship was with the Ministry of Education Learning Support Services in West Auckland. I am very grateful to have worked alongside the incredible professionals at the Henderson office, from whom I have learned a great deal. My casework involved supporting children with the most challenging behaviours in the school environment, as well as more global needs. It was a privilege to support the young people, their whanau, and school communities in an area which is so demographically diverse.

Next year, I will be practising back on the North Shore. I am really looking forward to serving our local community. In tandem with my internship work, I was enrolled at Massey University in the PGDip (EdDevPsych) programme.

This programme supported my professional development through block courses and assignments.

Balancing my casework with the academic work this year was very challenging, and left little time for other endeavours. I have, though, maintained my involvement in a few projects.

I had an article published in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, a journal which I have always aspired towards, early in 2017. The article was based on meta-analytic research that I did with a colleague from Harvard, exploring the neurocognitive correlates of foundational reading and numeracy skills. I have also continued my volunteer work with various programmes. Highlights were assisting at Northcote College’s Te Whānau o te Kākano camp, and re-engaging with the Spirit of New Zealand youth development voyages after a hiatus due to my knee injury and time overseas at Harvard.

At the end of this year, I feel truly re-grounded in the educational landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand. I am excited to take my next professional steps as a registered psychologist.

I hope to use my experiences from this year as another anchor point as I navigate onwards and aim to support our young learners as best as I can.

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2014

2013

AIMES AWARD WINNERS Supreme ($20,000) & AIMES Music Award ($10,000) – Ella Yelich-O'Connor; Arts Award ($10,000) – Bridget Costello; IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Sarah Mitchell; Education Award ($10,000) – Michael MacDonald; Sport Award ($10,000) – Andrew Maloney; Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Loren O'Sullivan; Judges Special Award ($10,000) – Liam Stone.

Emerging Talent Awards 2013 ($4,000 each) – Joel Granger, Matthew Jones, Alex Taylor, George Muir, Georgia Williams, Finn Howard, Natalie Te Paa, Keon Park.

ELLA YELICH-O’CONNOR – SINGER/SONGWRITER AIMES Supreme Award & AIMES Music Award 2013

Ella Yelich-O’Connor, known professionally as Lorde, is one of the North Harbour Club's highest profile AIMES Award winners. She won the AIMES Supreme Award and AIMES Music Award at the age of 17, shortly after she released “Royals”, her debut single in mid-2013.

In quick time this became an international crossover hit reaching number one in many charts, becoming the youngest solo artist to achieve a number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 since 1987. Ella's debut album Pure Heroine (2013) garnered positive reviews for her depiction of suburban adolescence; yielding the additional top-ten single "Team", it topped the national charts in New Zealand and Australia and reached number three on the US Billboard 200.

The following year she curated the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and provided its lead single, "Yellow Flicker Beat", for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Ella released her second studio album Melodrama in 2017 after a three-year hiatus, launched with "Green Light" as its lead single.

The album debuted at number one in New Zealand and Australia, as well as topping the US Billboard 200. She served as an executive producer alongside Jack Antonoff. The record deals with themes of heartbreak and solitude.

Ella has earned two Grammy Awards, a Brit Award and ten New Zealand Music Awards.

In 2013, she was named among Time's most influential teenagers in the world, and in the following year, she was part of Forbes's "30 Under 30" list.

BRIDGET COSTELLO -

SOPRANO/SINGER/DANCER AIMES Arts Award 2013

Bridget joined Phantom of the Opera in London in the role of Swing in September 2016, covering all six female ensemble tracks. In October 2016 Phantom celebrated its 30th birthday and Bridget was involved in a celebratory Gala Concert with past and present Phantom performers. The cast was fortunate enough to rehearse with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gillian Lynn. Original director Harold Prince was also in

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 77

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ANDREW MALONEY - SAILOR/AMERICA’S CUP CYCLOR AIMES Sport Award 2013

Bridget Costello attendance, watching the show and speaking to cast members afterwards.

In May 2017 Bridget successfully auditioned for the role of Cover Christine Daaé – a dream role for Bridget. She underwent a month of rehearsals with the show director, musical director and choreographer, as well as having several costume fittings. Bridget’s first show in the lead role of Christine was on December 15th. She will continue to cover this role until September 2018.

Sarah Mitchell

SARAH MITCHELL MECHANICAL ENGINEER/ DATA SCIENTIST

AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award 2013 2017 has been a fun and exciting year for me.

It’s hard to believe that in March it will be two years since I returned from the States, where I completed a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. This year I have been working as a Data Scientist at Datamine, an analytics consultancy based in Parnell. Data Science is a field that combines mathematics, scientific methods, and computer science to extract knowledge or insights from data in various forms. My work is heavily focussed on the programming and development aspect of Data Science, which fits well with my academic experience. It’s a fun role and I am learning new things every day!

I am also really enjoying being immersed back into New Zealand life. I love the outdoors, so every weekend I am off hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and exploring. We are very lucky to have such an incredible environment literally on our doorstep, and I appreciate this even more after living in the big hustle and bustle of LA for four years. I have this big long list of places to

The story of local America's Cup winner Andy Maloney’s last few years in yachting is a special one. Sailing out of the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, Andy became one of New Zealand’s leading small boat sailors, doing well on the world stage in the Laser class (he finished third at the 2012 Laser World Championships) with an ultimate goal of going to the 2016 Rio Olympics. All his efforts and years of training and dedication came down to winning the sole spot to represent New Zealand in the Laser class at Rio. His world came tumbling down when he was pipped for the spot by his mate and rival Sam Meech, the eventual bronze medallist. Ironically, Andy's sister, Alex Maloney, won Silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 49erFX class with Sam Meech's sister, Molly.

At the 2013 America's Cup, Maloney was part of the New Zealand team that won the Youth America's Cup, sailing alongside Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. After the disappointment of missing out on Rio, Andy joined Burling and Tuke at Team New Zealand in November 2016. In a short time he bulked up for a grinding role on the boat. That role turned out to be as a "cyclor", after Team New Zealand innovatively turned to pedal power for grinding. The rest is history, Andy was a key member of the winning crew, sailing every race on the bike just beside Blair Tuke. Andy provided this report for Northside on what he is up to over the next year or so.

The next year is going to be an exciting one for me with some motivating new challenges.

The New Zealand summer months will consist of Finn training on the water with Josh Junior helping me get up to speed in this new Olympic class. We will do these hard yards back in New Zealand before beginning the European season in March 2018. My first see and cool things to do in New Zealand, so I am excited to see what adventures 2018 will bring!

I would like to say a big thank you to the North Harbour Club for their support. It has been an incredible helping hand, particularly for my studies overseas, and is very much appreciated.

LOREN O’SULLIVAN – COMMUNITY CHAMPION/ AID WORKER & TEACHER AIMES Service to the Community Award 2013 (& 2007)

This year has been a good one! The year started off with my wedding to Leonardo Diaz

Andrew Maloney event will be the Finn Europeans in Cadiz, Spain.

There will be six months of international events and training in Europe and Japan, all leading up to August where my first big test in the Finn will be the World Championship in Denmark.

This will be my pinnacle event for the season in the Finn and where I will aim to give a good first impression in the class.

Around the Finn training and events, I also plan to continue growing my skills in the foiling boats.

The foiling GC32 catamaran circuit is a fast decision making, high speed racing environment that will keep developing different skill sets which make me become a better all around sailor. The mixture of foiling GC32 racing and the physical, tactical Finn sailing is a really exciting prospect for 2018.

Alongside my racing, there is a bunch of work going in by the wider team at Team New Zealand, designing the new AC75 boat. It is a really exciting time at the base with the thought of how good this new foiling monohull will be.

Whenever they ask for help with any part of that project I also always jump at it and get involved.

Any time in New Zealand not spent in the gym or on the water in the Finn, I'll be at the base sitting in on meetings, testing concepts on the simulator or keeping up to date on the latest developments.

I'm looking forward to the challenges of 2018. on the North Shore. A beautiful sunny day, celebrating with family and friends. Soon after our honeymoon I headed off to Central America with a group of Kiwi volunteers to visit our NPH children’s homes in Mexico and Honduras.

This month away was full of activity – painting buildings, helping out on the farm, cooking tortillas and organising fun activities for the kids.

Coming back to NPH Honduras after 2 years away, I was very excited to see my NPH family again. (I spent two years volunteering as a English teacher there from 2013-14). Sure enough the kids remembered me and started calling me “Kiwi” and “Ka mate Ka mate”, imitating the haka that I had taught them two years earlier!

I enjoyed catching up with my former English

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 79

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Loren O’Sullivan students. I couldn’t believe how much they’d grown up and matured. Some of them told me that they’ll be off to university next year! A huge achievement for these kids (who have been abandoned, orphaned or abused) in a country where only 30% of the population make it to High School.

The rest of the year has rushed by with many fundraising activities here in New Zealand.

Two natural disasters have struck the regions where we work – Hurricane Irma in Haiti and an earthquake in Mexico. Fortunately our kids, volunteers and staff are safe, but the earthquake has damaged our children’s home and school in Mexico. The kids are still studying outside under tents and this Christmas will not be an easy one for our Mexican family. We need help for our kids more than ever. If there’s any way you can

ALEX TAYLOR – MUSICIAN/ COMPOSER AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2013 2017 has been a productive year for me, continuing to freelance as a composer and musician in Auckland while also undertaking some exciting opportunities overseas.

A highlight of my year was participating in the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts as a Composition Fellow - the TMC is one of the most prestigious summer music programmes in the US and indeed the world. The eight-week course was a mixture of composing activities, workshops, masterclasses, performances and generally being surrounded by and learning from exceptional musicians - including people like YoYo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Thomas Ades and Andris Nelsons. I had a number of works performed at Tanglewood, and I am privileged to have been commissioned to write a new piece (for seven double basses!) for next year's festival.

As well as Tanglewood, where my music was performed primarily by the New Fromm Players, as well as percussionist Jason Treuting and

Liam Stone help - sponsoring a child, giving a donation or volunteering, please get in touch – www.nph-nz.org A huge thank you to all our supporters on the Shore especially Benefitz who help us a lot with printing.

LIAM STONE – DIVER

AIMES Judges Special Award 2013 Liam Stone has just completed his third year studying kineseology as an international student on sports scholarship at the University of Tennessee. The mix of sport and study agrees with the just turned 21 year-old as he produced some stella performances in the diving pool for both the University and for New Zealand on the world stage. But the performances were not all

various instrumental fellows, in 2017 I have had works performed by: violist Mark Menzies, pianists Stephen de Pledge and Flavio Villani, flautists Uwe Grodd, Abigail Sperling, Jennifer Timmins and Andrew Baird, NZTrio, and Unstuck Opera.

In April, I toured to Wellington with Unstuck Opera's Dido and Aeneas Recomposed for a two-week season at BATS Theatre. As well as being composer and Music Director for this production I also performed the role of sorceress.

The show was awarded Most Original Production and I received Best Composer, both at the recent Wellington Theatre Awards. This was our third and probably last season of this show, after sell-out Auckland seasons in 2015 and 2016.

Unstuck Opera also undertook a ten-show season of a new show, The Winterreise Project, at Basement Theatre in Auckland.

As a performer I also worked with Blackbird Ensemble, Auckland Youth Choir, Dr. Colossus, Stimmung Choir, and GALS, among others. In May I put on a concert of eight new commissions by emerging NZ composers under the banner of the Intrepid Music Project, with funding from the Wallace Arts Trust. I had a poetry collection, 'vocoder lorry', published by Compound Press, and reviewed a number of concerts and productions for the Pantograph Punch, including NZOpera's Mikado, The Bone Feeder, and Jack Body's Passio. I continued to serve on the

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in the pool as he completed the final semester with a 4.0 grade average or four out of four A’s.

Liam won three Grand Prix diving me nd and Commonwealth ranking of fourth.

The highlight of Liam’s year was winning an individual silver medal in the Men’s 3 metre event at the Canadian Grand Prix, believed to be New Zealand’s first in over 33 years. He also took out two Grand Prix bronze medals in different synchronised diving events.

Other highlights of the year were: In February, Liam won the 1 metre men’s event at the South East Conference (SEC) Champs in USA and took third place in the 3 metre final.

With a come from behind performance, many described this 1 metre final as the best 1 metre event they had ever seen. With Liam under extreme pressure and needing to score 9s

Alex Taylor (top) committee of the Composers Association of New Zealand, and presented a paper at the CANZ conference in Christchurch in April.

Next year as well as returning to Tanglewood I will perform at the Darmstadt Ferienkurse in Germany with fellow New Zealand composer Celeste Oram and taonga puoro specialist Rob Thorne. My flute concerto will be premiered by Abigail Sperling with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, a new piano piece is part of Stephen de Pledge's New Zealand Festival appearance (The New Zealand Partita), and Unstuck Opera is seeking funding to produce my first original opera, The Last Delirium of Arthur Rimbaud. 2018 promises to be a good year.

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and above to take the title, he did so to win by one point, scoring a massive 468.30 points. In doing so, he set a new SEC and University of Tennessee record.

In March, at the USA NCAA National Champs, he narrowly missed a podium finish taking fourth place in both the 1 metre and 3 metre events.

Liam was named SEC Diver of the Week during the 2017 season on no less than four occasions and completed the year being named SEC Men’s Diver of the Year. This was followed by the University of Tennessee recognising his quality performances under pressure and his out of the pool leadership qualities when announcing him as captain of the entire Men’s Swimming and Diving team for 2018, something very unusual for a diver and even more so for an international student.

In April, Liam won New Zealand’s first Grand Prix medal in decades when he finished second in the 3 metre event at the Canadian Grand Prix, setting a new New Zealand record of 457.40 points. In addition, he finished third in the Mixed 3 metre synchronised diving, with another New Zealand record of 288.00 points.

In May, it was another final and a fifth place finish at the Puerto Rico Grand Prix, followed by another bronze medal, this time in the Men’s 3 metre synchronised diving. He finished the year with a tenth placing in the Gold Coast Grand Prix in November.

At the FINA World Champs in Hungary he finished in 12th place in the 3 metre Mixed Synchronised diving and, in so doing, raised New Zealand’s official ranking in this discipline to seventh in the world.

GEORGE MUIR HOCKEY PLAYER

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2013 After six months off hockey I played my first game in March of this year for the Blacksticks at the Sultan of Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in which we finished 4th. This is always a gruelling

George Muir

Georgia Williams tournament in hot and humid conditions and a tough comeback to International hockey! Was great to be back in black and playing again and the tournament went well for me from an Injury point of view. After this we were into preparation for our biggest Tournament of the year which was the World League 3 Tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa. We spent a week in Belgium in preparation for this before heading to South Africa making it a longer than usual tour.

We finished in 6th place at this tournament which was not the result we were looking for however achieved World Cup qualification for the 2018 World Cup which was our over arching goal.

After South Africa, there was a bit of down time from the Blacksticks program and my hockey focus shifted to my Club and National league teams. I play club hockey for Takapuna and this year we had our most successful year in the club's history, taking out the North Harbour competition and the Inter city Auckland competition which is the strongest competition in the country. The good run continued into the National league where I was fortunate enough to captain the North Harbour men's side to take out the national title for the first time in 8 years!

After an unbeaten year, we beat Auckland in a dramatic final to clinch the title and bring the 110 year old Challenge shield back to North Harbour!

In amongst the hockey I have continued my studies towards my law and commerce degree at the University of Auckland. This summer I have been lucky enough to be taken on by Simpson Western as a law clerk (a connection from my North Harbour Club interactions). This has been a great experience so far, the team here is very welcoming and friendly and I am learning lots!

2017 has been a busy year full of lots of learnings and team success. 2018 is set to be another busy one, hopefully involving the Commonwealth Games and Hockey World Cup. As always, I am very grateful for the support of my sponsors Honda, Gohockey and Mizuno and the continued support of the North Harbour Club and its members.

GEORGIA WILLIAMS

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2013 I’ve had a very busy last 12 months. I decided to have a year out of the New Zealand track team as I got offered a contract with ORICA-SCOTT professional women’s road cycling team which is an Australian founded team that race the Women’s World Tour in Europe. This was a huge opportunity as they are ranked one of the best teams in the world.

I left New Zealand mid February to go live at my new home in Varese, Italy, with some of my new teammates. I had an awesome year racing the biggest women’s races in the world. In many countries such as Italy, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway and China. I was racing as a support rider for my teammates as it was my first full European season after focusing on the track for the last few years. I played a key role in the success of my teammate Annemiek Van Vluten’s 3rd place in the 10 day Women’s Giro d’Italia which is the biggest women’s tour in the World.

I competed in the World Champs in Bergen, Norway at the end of September. There I rode in support of Linda Villumsen who managed a top 20.

I got offered another contract to ride for the same team next year which will be called MITCHELTON-SCOTT. After proving myself this year the team is happy to give me a lot more opportunities and to support me and to help me achieve some results myself.

I returned home to New Zealand at the start of October and had three weeks off after a long season. I’ve now had a solid few months training as I’m preparing for next season with my first goal to win the National Road Race title on the 6th of January in Napier. I have been 2nd three times so I’m hoping 2018 is my year.

I will head to Australia at the end of January to race the Cadel Evans road race and the Sun Tour before heading back to Europe where I will be based in Spain and ready for another full on season of road racing.

FOOTNOTE: Georgia did indeed achieve her goal of winning the NZ National Road Race title in early January 2018.

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CLARISSA DUNN LIFE ON THE AIRWAVES

Soprano Clarissa Dunn, Supreme AIMES Award winner in the year 2000, has a spellbinding voice that has captivated audiences across New Zealand and around the world, and not just in song. Clarissa has performed operatically in London, Berlin, Prague and Sydney and has a spoken voice that is a warm, familiar sound on Radio New Zealand’s airwaves, where she shares her love of classical music with listeners. From her home in Wellington, Clarissa shares a taste of what has been happening for her since that AIMES win…

What was behind your decision to move to Wellington and do you feel at home there?

After returning from Berlin in 2009 (Clarissa studied there and performed for the Berlin International Opera), I accepted an offer from Radio New Zealand to work as a presenter on RNZ Concert. I was excited to have an opportunity to work in public radio and to live in a different New Zealand city.

I do feel at home here. I’ve made some great friends and I love all the off-road trails, which are great for walking and biking. I find the wild south coast rejuvenating and I really enjoy the vibrant CBD environment, where there’s always something

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creative going on. It’s so easy to live an experience-rich life in Wellington.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Whakatane but moved to Devonport when I was at primary school after my parents decided to stop farming and introduce my brothers and I to the ‘big smoke’.

What appealed to you about your current role with Radio New Zealand?

In a nutshell: creativity, vocal craft, writing, and communicating with a variety of people in a really meaningful and intimate way.

I love the medium of radio. It’s often called ‘theatre of the mind’ because of its power to engage your imagination. I grew up listening to National Radio and Concert FM - as it used to be called - to Dick Weir hosting the children’s show ‘Ears’, and hearing all sorts of music wafting about the house, but especially opera.

My role has evolved a lot over the years. I started out doing marathon six-hour continuity presentation shifts on a rotating daypart roster, as well as creating feature programmes, hosting the interview show Upbeat (I love interviewing), and doing live outside concert broadcasts (both on and off stage).

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AIMES Award alumni Clarissa Dunn performing 'I Could Have Danced All Night'.

Now I host a specific day part and also connect with our audience online through social media, video story-telling and web content.

I am about to become the voice of Music Alive, our evening concert spot, which features a huge variety of exceptional musical performances recorded both in New Zealand, and in some of the best concert halls and theatres from around the world.

This role will involve more live concert presentation both on and off stage, and more engaging production to support our world-class broadcasts both on air and online. It’s going to be such a joy!

Any updates on any other work you may be engaged in?

Outside of RNZ I have a diverse portfolio of contract work, which includes singing with NZ Opera, writing, hosting live music events and working all over the country as a marriage celebrant.

What did winning an AIMES Award enable you to do?

Winning the AIMES Award and Millennium Award gave me the breathing space to concentrate 100% on my vocal development at the Queensland Conservatorium. I had just completed a conjoint Law and Arts degree so the timing was perfect.

Who would you most love to work with?

I would love to have made a podcast series with neurologist Oliver Sacks before he died. He had such a fascinating way of looking at the world and I know he longed to live in NZ. He wrote a lovely letter to Wellington’s Unity Books saying as much.

I often wonder what it would be like to have Mozart come back from the dead to direct a season of his own operas. He had a wicked sense of humour so there’s every possibility he might spend more time laughing and making practical jokes than actually directing.

In general, I like to work with people who care about what they do, who are smart, passionate, creative and motivated, and who don’t mind bending the boundaries from time to time.

Can you sum up 2017 in three words?

Challenging, varied and sometimes confusing.

In costume for NZ Opera's Katya Kabanova.

I love the medium of radio.

It’s often called ‘theatre of the mind’ because of its power to engage your imagination. I grew up listening National Radio and Concert FM - as it used to be called - to Dick Weir hosting the children’s show ‘Ears’, and hearing all sorts of music wafting about the house, but especially opera.

By the end of 2018, I would like to have…completed another multi-day bike ride with my best friend (perhaps the Ghost Trail on the West Coast), to have helped create a thriving Music Alive programme, to have passed my German language exams and to have made firm plans for my next career challenge.

What do you see as the most important trends for 2018 and how they may impact on you?

I am keeping a close eye on artificial intelligence-powered voice technologies. They are already changing the way we interact with many things in our lives, including radio.

The human voice and languages are close to my heart and the challenges these technologies will have to overcome to be even more life-like, responsive and interactive highlights how remarkable and complex the human body, speech and language really is.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 83

AWARD WINNERS 1996 - 2012

$2 MILLION AWARDED...

2012

The AIMES Award winners for 2012 were:Supreme ($20,000) & AIMES Sport Award ($10,000) – Lydia Ko Arts Award ($10,000) – Rob Tucker IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Amy Smith Music Award ($10,000) – Jason Bae Education Award ($10,000) – Andrew MacDonald Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Joseph Bergin Emerging Talent Awards 2012 ($4,000 each) – Petra Bullock, Nick Hall, Teneale Hatton, Sarah Mitchell, Mattea Mrkusic, Jeremy Reid, Ben Sanders.

2011

The AIMES Award winners for 2011 were:Supreme ($20,000) & IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Richard Stebbing Arts Award ($10,000) – Elliot Christensen-Yule Music Award ($10,000) – Moses MacKay Education Award ($10,000) – Blake Hansen Sport Award ($10,000) – Thomas Abercrombie Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Amanda Judd Emerging Talent Awards 2011 ($4,000 each) – Alexandra Foster, Adam Gerrett, Seok Jun Bing, Aine Kelly-Costello, Lydia Ko, Rebecca Dubber.

2010

The AIMES Award winners for 2010 were:Supreme ($20,000) & AIMES Sports ($10,000) – Jacko Gill Arts Award ($10,000) – Verity Burgess IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – David MacDonald Music Award ($10,000 each - Joint Winners) – Sophie Bird; Will Martin Education Award ($10,000) – Andrew MacDonald Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Anita Walbran Judges Special Award ($6,000) – Shaun Quincey Emerging Talent Awards 2010 ($4,000 each) – Maddie Dillon, Chloe Francis, Stephanie Mitchell, The Naked & Famous, Michael Macdonald, Joseph Bergin.

2009

The AIMES Award winners for 2009 were:Supreme ($20,000) & Sport Award ($10,000) – Melissa Ingram Arts Award ($10,000) – Anna-Louise Dillon-Herzog IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000 each - Joint Winners) –

PAGE 84 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

Daniel Playne & Yvette Perrott Music Award ($10,000 each - Joint Winners) – Grayson Masefield & Amalia Hall Education Award ($10,000) – Adrienne Anderson Service To The Community Award ($10,000) – Cameron Calkoen Emerging Talent Awards ($4,000 each) – Sophie Corbidge, Chris Rahardja, Jenna Gallie, Jason Bae, Ellen Deverall, Arkesh Patel.

2008

The AIMES Award winners for 2008 were:Supreme Award ($20,000) & Sport Award ($10,000) – Tom Ashley Arts Award ($10,000) – Sophie Henderson IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Daniel Playne Education Award ($10,000) – Naomi Jones Service To The Community Award ($10,000) – Sean Yang Judges Special Award ($7,000) – Melissa Ingram Emerging Talent Awards ($4,000 each) – Verity Burgess, Brittany Carter, Andrew MacDonald, Andrew Maloney,Yvette Perrott, Yousif Rassam, Chris Steele, Erin Taylor,The Earlybirds (Filip Kostovich, Jared Aisher, Michael Cannon, Sean Patterson and Kane ter Veer).

2007

The AIMES Award winners for 2007 were:Supreme Award ($15,000) & Education Award ($10,000) – Matthew Flinn Arts Award ($10,000) – Ananth Gopal IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Daniel Playne Music Award ($10,000 each - three Winners) – Sarah McCallum, Tanya Cooling & Hollie Smith Sport Award ($10,000) – Jo Aleh Service To The Community Award ($10,000) – Loren O’Sullivan Emerging Talent Awards ($2000 each) – Samuel Coldicutt, Robert Ellis, Mikhail Koudinov, Alexandra Maloney, Stephen Smith, Rob Tucker

2006

The AIMES Award winners for 2006 were:Joint Supreme Award ($10,000 each) & Sport Award ($10,000 each) – Juliette Haigh & Rebecca Spence Arts Award ($8,000) – Dmitri (Dima) Ivanov IT, Innovation & Science Award ($8,000) – Hayley Reynolds Music Award ($8,000 each - Joint winners) – Julia McCarthy & Sarah McCracken Education Award ($8,000) – Chye-Ching Huang Service To The Community Award ($8,000) – Cameron Calkoen

As has been detailed elsewhere in Northside, the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust was formed in 1995. As of November 13th 2015 the Club has awarded over $2 million to the young people of the North Harbour region through the annual AIMES Awards. We have featured reports from some recent winners in previous pages. These are the other AIMES Awards recipients dating back to 1996.

Emerging Talent Awards ($2000 each) – Tom Ashley, Richard Chen, Caroline Grey, Blake Hansen. Violinist Richard Chen also received $5,000 from Corelli School for production of his own CD.

2005

The AIMES Award winners for 2005 were:Supreme Award ($10,000) & IT, Innovation & Science Award ($7,000) – Nodira Khoussainova Arts Award ($7,000) – Ananth Gopal Music Award ($5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD) – The Checks (Rock Band) Karel Chabera, Jacob Moore, Ed Knowles, Sven Petterson, Callum Martin Education Award ($5,000) – Elizabeth Duncan Sport Award ($5,000) – Hannah McLean Judges Special Award ($5,000) – Amalia Hall

2004

The AIMES Award winners for 2004 were:Supreme Award ($10,000) & IT, Innovation & Science Award ($7,000) – Heather Brown Arts Award ($5,000) – Kendra Oxley Music Award ($5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD) – Simone Roggen Education Award ($5,000 each, Joint winners) – Vicki McCall & Nicole Roughan Sport Award ($5,000 each, Joint winners) – Juliette Haigh & Corney Swanepoel

2003

The AIMES Award winners for 2003 were:Supreme Award ($20,000) & Music Award ($7,000) – Kristen Darragh Arts Award ($8,000) – Felicity Rogers IT, Innovation & Science Award ($8,000) – Nodira Khoussainova Music Award ($5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD) – Matthew Flinn Education Award ($8,000) – Karen Lindsay Sport Award ($8,000) – James Cressey

2002

The AIMES Award winners for 2002 were:Supreme Award ($10,000) & Sport Award ($8,000) – Terenzo Bozzone

Arts Award ($8,000) – Anna-Louise Dillon Herzog IT, Innovation & Science Award ($8,000) – Michael Brown Music Award ($8,000) – Sarah McCallum Music Award ($5,000) – Robbie Ellis Education Award ($8,000) – James Russell

2001

The AIMES Award winners for 2001 were:Supreme ($5,000) & Education Award ($8,000) – Mark Robinson Arts Award ($8,000) – Helen Candy Music Award ($9,000) – Sarah McCallum Music Award ($4,000 each) – Emma Buckton, Vanessa McGowan Education Award ($5,000) – Paul Bracewell Education Award ($3,000) – Ian Munro Sport Award ($8,000) – Michael Bullot Sport Award ($7,000) – Terenzo Bozzone Sport Award ($2,000) – Dean Kent Sport Award ($2,000) – Jennifer Dryburgh Judges Special Award ($1,000) – Fleur Ritchie Judges Special Award ($500 each) – Jordan Barnes, Jonathan Coulam

2000

The AIMES Award winners for 2000 were:Supreme Award ($5,000) & Education Award ($8,000) – Clarissa Dunn Arts Award ($8,000) – Andrea Proud Music Award ($8,000) – Lara Hall Sport Award ($8,000) – Monique Robins Sport Award ($5,000) – Scott Talbot-Cameron Sport Award ($5,000) – Steven Ferguson Sport Award ($3,000) – Michael Bassett Sport Award ($3,000) – Terenzo Bozzone Sport Award ($2,000) – Simon Rea

1999

The AIMES Award winners for 1999 were:Supreme Award & Music Award ($8,000) – Rainer Gibbons Arts Award ($1,500) – Mark Wells Arts Award ($1,000) – Helen Candy Arts Award ($1,000) – Felicity Rogers Arts Award ($1,000) – Elaine Dowsett Arts Award ($1,000) – Jon Gorrie Arts Award ($500) – Bradley Fagan

Continued on next page…

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 85

Janet Marshall

$2 MILLION

AWARDED... (CONTINUED)

Music Award ($500) – Ji-Hyun Kim Music Award (Presented with a Picolo Clarinet) – Teresa Davis Education Award ($3,000) – Nikolozi Meladze Education & Sport Awards ($2,000) – Jamie Voss Sport Award ($5,000) – Benjamin Pilley Sport Award ($5,000) – Jennifer Dryburg Sport Award ($2,500) – Slavik Shorinov

Janet knows the North Shore market and can find a solution for YOU!

One of the leading commercial sales and leasing brokers on the North Shore Over 15 years with Colliers In excess of $80 million in sales in 2017

Call Janet now for a complimentary appraisal or market update.

janet.marshall@colliers.com

Janet Marshall - Colliers

The AIMES Award winners for 1998 were:Supreme Award & Sport Award ($8,000) – Nathan Handley Music Award (Presented with Baby Grand Piano) – Justin Bird Music Award ($3,750) – Neil Watson Education Award ($2,500) – Amanda Rubick Sport Award ($2,000) – Jemima Smeadley Sport Award ($2,000) – Alister Gair Sport Award ($2,000) – Felicity Gould-Hope Sport Award ($2,000) – Jennifer Dryburgh Sport Award ($2,000) – Jayson Herbert

1997

The AIMES Award winners for 1997 were:Supreme Award & Education Award ($6,000) – Philip Misur Music Award ($3,000) – Lara Hall Education Award ($2,000) – Claire Speedy Sport Award ($2,000) – Sarah Macky Sport Award ($2,000) – Jayson Herbert Sport Award ($2,000) – Alastair Gair Sport Award ($2,000) – Julie Worth Sport Award ($2,000) – Craig Harper Sport Award ($2,000) – Matthew Davies Sport Award ($2,000) – Nathan Handley

1996

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL NORTH SHORE OFFICE - REINZ 2017 Small Commercial and Industrial Office of the Year award

Level 1, 129 Hurstmere Road Takapuna, 0622 Auckland City 09 488 4777

colliers.co.nz

1998

Accelerating success.

Proud to be a member of the North Harbour Club and supporting excellence in the region.

PAGE 86 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

The AIMES Award winners for 1996 were:Supreme Award & Arts Award ($10,000) – Patricia Bolton Music Award ($2,000) – Ben Hoadley Music Award ($1,500) – Aron Ottingon Sport Award ($5,000) – Daniel Slater Sport Award ($2,500) – Matt Brown Sport Award ($2,500) – Simon Cooke Sport Award ($1,000) – Jacqui Ashworth Sport Award ($1,000) – Abby Lye Sport Award ($1,000) – Emma Tepavac Music Award ($1,150) – Cameron Bettridge (Presented 1995)

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Existing North Harbour Business Hall of Fame members who were present on the night with the new inductees, from left standing: Colin Harvey, Bill Speedy, Liz & Paul Blackwell, Ralph Roberts, Paul Byrnes, Ian Calderwood, John Spooner, Sir Peter Maire, Jan Dawson and Gary Monk. Seated, from left: Eric Faesenkloet, Sir David Levene and David Charlesworth.

THREE NEW LAUREATES FOR NORTH HARBOUR BUSINESS HALL OF FAME Three new Laureate's were inducted into the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame at a black tie function held at The Wharf, Northcote Point in mid 2017. They were Paul Byrnes, Bill Speedy and Eric Faesenkloet.

Over 170 people attended the event which was MC’d by Michelle Dickinson and included musical performances by North Harbour Club AIMES Award recipients Henry Meng and Miller Christiansen-Yule.

The North Harbour Business Hall of Fame is managed by the North Harbour Club with the key sponsor being Milford Asset Management. New inductees are chosen annually by a judging panel convened by the North Harbour Club. This panel is chaired

by Matthew Bellingham, includes existing Laureate's Sir Peter Maire, Jan Dawson and Gary Monk as well as North Harbour Club Trustees Ngaio Merrick and John Cobb. Nominations are open year round, and the panel actively search and recommend potential Laureates.

To qualify for induction into the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame nominees must be a current business leader, who has applied their skills and success to benefit the community. While each of the recipients are all incredibly successful in business in their own right, they have also played a major role within the community, not only giving in financial support but also their time, expertise and experience.

The first inductee of the night was Paul Byrnes. He was inducted by existing Laureate Sir Peter Maire.

PAGE 88 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

Paul is a professional director and investor with over 25 years’ in CEO roles. In 1986 at age 32, Paul was appointed Managing Director of the struggling Holeproof Industries and within five years acquired 100% ownership. The business was restructured and returned to strong profitability before being sold. From 1998 to 2007 Paul was an active private investor, building a governance portfolio and working as a business consultant. He was a director of Hellaby Holdings for 12 years and a director and chairman of power company Top Energy for almost 20 years.

In May 2008 Paul agreed to assist finance company Dorchester Pacific through the GFC. He became CEO, leading a remarkable turnaround in that business. With recent acquisitions including Turners Auctions, Buy Right Cars and Autosure Insurance, the business has grown annual profits substantially and market capitalisation has also increased from $1.5m in those dark days to around $280m today.

Paul generously supports numerous charities including De Paul House and the Rosmini Foundation. He is also generous with his knowledge, as a guest lecturer on corporate governance at Massey University for three years, and mentoring others by passing on the benefits of his experience, and, as he likes to point out, his mistakes!

Bill Speedy, owner and director of Oceanbridge Shipping, which he established in 1981, was the second inductee of the night. He was inducted by existing Laureate Jan Dawson.

Bill is known to many not only for his business achievements

NORTH HARBOUR BUSINESS HALL OF FAME, SPONSORED BY:

but for his wide ranging contributions to the community. After 36 years, Bill still remains Managing Director of Oceanbridge. It has grown to employ over 140 people and to be one of the leading freight consolidators of cargo to and from New Zealand. They now specialise in the shipping and freight business whether it be by land, sea or air. Under Bill’s leadership the business has a reputation for integrity, honesty, value, reliability and the highest possible standard of personalised customer service.

2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the Oceanbridge Charity Golf Tournament. This event has raised significant funds for many different Three new 2017 laureate’s Bill Speedy, Eric Faesenkloet and Paul Byrnes with Mike Cruickshank (second causes over the past two decades. from right) of North Harbour Business Hall of Fame sponsor, Milford Asset Management.

YES Foundation, Language Lab, Well Foundation, Inzone, Neuro Research, Grief Support, Shine, Pike River, Christchurch Earthquake, Fred Hollows, Coastguard and many more. Charities are typically chosen by events affecting Oceanbridge staff and customers, and natural disasters around the country.

Bill – and his wife Lindsay – support the community with various local projects, including the Takapuna playground, donating lifejackets for the children’s Waterwise programme, cooking meals at Ronald McDonald House and gifting Bill Speedy.

Eric Faesenkloet.

Paul Byrnes. client christmas presents in the way of donations to 30 local charities. Their passion for the water includes supporting the annual OKI 24 Hour company with 10 stores and three driving ranges. race at Lake Pupuke, the annual Oceanbridge Sail Auckland While Eric’s businesses continued to grow, his philanthropic Sailing Regatta and supporting the logistics of Emirates Team New work, while relatively private, is extensive. He has supported Zealand. thousands of charities over the years, including the Starship Bill has never expected recognition or thanks, and avoids the Hospital Foundation, North Shore Hospice, The Peter Jackson limelight. But his ethics, astute business mind and considerable WW1 Museum, Sensible Sentencing Trust and The First Tee, contributions made him a truly worthy North Harbour Business Eric also likes to host golf tournaments involving dignitaries and Hall of Fame Laureate. This wasn’t the only accolade Bill has had other celebrities to attend, raising significant amounts of money recently: He received an ONZM in the 2018 New Year Honours for his chosen charities. Eric and his wife Sue are also substantial List for services to philanthropy and watersports. contributors to ‘Victims of Crime’. They sponsor The Sophie Elliot The final inductee of the night was Eric Faesenkloet, owner of Foundation and were major contributors to the book “Sophie's the Golf Warehouse who is well-known for his philanthropy. He Story”. was inducted by existing Laureate Colin Harvey.

In 2013 Eric became a Member of the New Zealand Order At age 20, Eric established Downtown Stereo Centre, importing of Merit for services to business, golf and the community in the and selling audio, video and televisions. Eric had a real ability Queens Birthday Honours List, and is a very worthy inductee to to negotiate bulk deals and built the business into a sizeable the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame. operation. At age 30 he purchased Bond & Bond, the well-known Existing North Harbour Business Hall of Fame members chain which grew to be a retail leader and which he eventually who were present on the night were Ralph Roberts, Sir David sold to Pacific Retail Group in 1990.

Levene, Sir Peter Maire, Ian Calderwood, David Charlesworth, Eric then became active in property investment on the North Colin Harvey, Jan Dawson, Gary Monk, John Spooner, Paul & Shore, and in Queenstown, and in 1995 he established the Liz Blackwell. Existing Laureate’s who were not able to attend Golf Warehouse from very humble beginnings, purchasing a were Sir Stephen Tindall, Sir Graeme Avery, Peter Menzies, Diane stand alone driving range in Takapuna. The business has grown Foreman and Annette Presley. Two inaugural Laureate’s Geoff to become New Zealand's largest and most trusted golf retail Smale and Jim Smale have passed away. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 89

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENTS - THE AFTER 5s IN 2017

AFTER 5s REMAIN STRONG DURING THE YEAR The regular North Harbour Club After 5 networking events continued to be well attended in 2017. There were five events during the year. Club Ambassador Shane Cortese hosted the first After 5 of the year, in March at the new Sotherby’s office in Takapuna following his career move into the real estate industry. The second event was at the Fine Wine Delivery Company in mid-May, hosted by club member Richard Poole. This was followed by a joint AGM and Spencer on Byron After 5, hosted by club member Greg Remmington, in late July. Club members Max Abbott and Steve Corbett hosted the fourth After 5 event of the year held at the AUT University North Shore campus in October and the year was rounded off with the Christmas After 5 in early December held in splendid weather at the new Simpson Western (Lawyers) office overlooking Takapuna beach, hosted by Gary Simpson. n

Tammy McLeod, Wendy Stedman, Kelly Fairhurst, Alison Sherning.

Lyn Beere, Penny Roberts, Jonathan Sissons, Ralph Roberts.

Joan Finlayson, Julian Brown, Stephen McElrea

Mark Neville, Paul Vermaak, Philip Adamson.

Julian Brown, Chris Jones, Shane Cortese.

Ann Old, David Old, Aidan Bennett.

AFTER 5 AT SOTHEBYS REALTY

On a sunny evening in mid-March, the North Harbour Club held its After Five networking function at the new premises of Sotheby's Realty in Takapuna. North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett welcomed the large contingent of members and guests, Sotheby's staff and agents. Among the latter was Shane Cortese who has recently completed his studies and received his real estate licence. Shane, a longtime North Harbour Club supporter and member, entertained the gathering as he recounted how he made the leap into real estate. New Zealand licence owners for Sotheby's International Realty in New Zealand, Mark Harris and Julian Brown, flew up from their Queenstown headquarters; Mark provided guests with an overview of Sotheby's auction business and its relatively new (in light of a 275 year auction house history) real estate business.

Lynda Mann, Jamie Barr.

Kerry McLeod, Aidan Bennett, Phil Brosnan, John Cobb.

Murray and Anne Nancekivell, Colin Harvey, Ken Noble.

John Twomey, Carl Legg, John McLeod.

AFTER 5 AT FINE WINE DELIVERY CO

Joanna Cobb, Tammy McLeod, Jennie Jago, Wendy Stedman.

Mary Harvey, Sue Noble, Louise Gailbraith.

The North Harbour Club's 'After 5' event for May was held at the Fine Wine Delivery Co. on Wednesday 17th May. The Channel Magazine camera captured attendees enjoying the networking evening while sampling some of the delicious varieties on offer at the Fine Wine superstore on Constellation Drive. Canapes were served and guests were offered a range of experiences including wine and food matching, whisky and craft beer tasting, and a pampering experience from Forme Spa. The North Harbour Club's After 5 events are bi-monthly get togethers, giving the chance for members, partners, friends and colleagues, to talk business and enjoy each other's company.

PAGE 90 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

Max Abbott, Aidan Bennett, Steve Corbett.

Michelle Bennett, Sue Noble.

Fay Mason, Lousie Galbraith.

AFTER 5 AT AUT UNIVERSITY NORTH SHORE

North Harbour Club members Professor Max Abbott and Steve Corbett hosted this After 5 at their AUT University North Shore campus on Akoranga Drive. The campus has a number of world leading researchers in neuro science, brain analysis, brain recovery, stroke rehabilitation.

Stroke being the No2 cause of death and disability world wide and increasing. Attendees learnt about some great work around brain research at the North Shore Campus of AUT University.

Leading AUT researchers Dr Valery Feigin and Dr Nada Signal demonstrated how AUT is taking its research global to help other countries as well as New Zealand. They also provided insights on how a team of engineers, clinicians and neuroscientists are translating the neuroscience knowledge into a viable devices for a global market.

President Aidan Bennett addressing attendees.

Joan Finlayson, Diane Simpson, Ngaio Merrick.

Louise Galbraith, Lesley Monk, Michelle Wall, Penny Roberts.

Professor Max Abbott.

Don Galbraith, Hugh Stedman, Kevin McLean.

Gary Monk, Miller Christensen-Yule.

AFTER 5 AT SIMPSON WESTERN

Long time North Harbour Club member and supporter Gary Simpson hosted the club’s Christmas After 5 at the new offices of his firm Simpson Western on Wednesday December 6th. The sun shone as a good sized crowd gathered on their fourth floor deck and adjacent function area to mix and mingle, with some dressing up for the festive occasion. Entertainment was provided by Miller Christensen-Yule, the 2016 AIMES Music Award recipient, who also spoke about his career since picking up the award in late 2016. Prizes were awarded for those who made the effort to get into the festive spirit.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 91

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE

Ben Bayly and his Lexus RX350 outside The Grove restaurant on St Patricks Square.

A CHAT WITH

BEN BAYLY

CELEBRITY CHEF AND LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE AMBASSADOR As Northside readers and North Harbour Club people will know, Lexus of North Shore are great supporters of the club and have been for many years. During 2017, Lexus of North Shore have engaged leading restauranteur and celebrity chef Ben Bayly as their Lexus ambassador.

As well as being a judge on My Kitchen Rules, Ben is executive chef at The Grove and Baduzzi restaurants in central Auckland and has also established 'The Grounds' in West Auckland. He also has extensive experience in senior chef roles at Michelin starred restaurants in London and France, having worked extensively overseas. Ben has attended 2017 North Harbour Club Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunches as a guest and is being lined up to host a lunch for the club in 2018, which should prove very entertaining. Northside’s Aidan Bennett was despatched to The Grove to meet and find out more about Ben Bayly.

First of all I must admit I am not a watcher of celebrity food shows on television so didn’t really know too much about Ben Bayly prior to meeting him. My wife Michelle and two daughters

PAGE 92 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

knew all about him though and were excited for me. Star struck on my behalf. Having dined there previously I did know that The Grove is one of New Zealand’s leading restaurants. My instructions from Lexus of North Shore’s CEO Mark Jago was “go and have a chat with Ben, you’ll really enjoy it”. So off I went.

It was 11am on a Wednesday when I walked in to meet Ben Bayly at The Grove restaurant located in St Patrick's Square in the city. There were no punters in the restaurant but as I walked in I could hear clear orders being given during preparation in the kitchen. Quite loud like Gordon Ramsay, but much nicer. I’ve since read he can be loud and he admits to swearing, but never at people. I certainly felt like I was in an award-winning restaurant where no stone was being left unturned during ‘prep’ time.

Due to the work going on I was expecting to be kept waiting by my celebrity chef I was about to meet. But that wasn’t the case. Just seconds flew by and out came Ben Bayly with a warm welcome and the offer of a coffee. I decided I liked him immediately and we sat down and chatted for 45 minutes. During that time deliveries were made to the restaurant and he greeted

Ben Bayly with a Lexus LC500. He says this car is a supercar without the supercar price.

Ben Bayly with Mark Jago and Fritz Budler of Lexus of North Shore and the Lexus RX350.

Lexus of North Shore.

Ben Bayly with Aidan Bennett at The Grove.

each of the delivers in the same friendly manner.

Ben Bayly has been in the restaurant game all his working life.

The 37 year-old from Te Awamutu started out aged 16. He’s been at The Grove for over eight years, Baduzzi for four years and launched The Grounds just over a year ago. It’s clear he’s a strong leader and loves nurturing young talent for the industry he's passionate about.

“I get a kick out of the fact that eight or nine chefs who have worked for me have gone on to open their own restaurants,” explained Ben. “I love playing a part in developing leaders and seeing these people succeed.”

What warmed my heart is that there were chefs in his kitchen that travel over from the north side of the bridge to work.

He’s breeding leaders for the Shore and hopefully future local restauranteurs!

The relationship with Lexus of North Shore has quickly become a strong one that Ben is thrilled with.

“Mark and David from Lexus of North Shore happened to be dining at The Grounds and I served them and we really connected. I could tell they are salt of the earth people and our philosophies really aligned around customer service, quality and providing a premium product. Cars don’t come much better than a Lexus. We quickly gained mutual respect and the relationship has been fun.

“The Lexus RX350 has become my travelling office. I love being a Lexus Ambassador and having the opportunity to drive vehicles such as the Lexus LC500. It is truly a supercar without the supercar price! Lexus is a premium brand that I am more than happy to be aligned with and I enjoy voicing radio adverts and attending events to promote the vehicles and the Lexus of North Shore business that delivers them.”

Ben Bayly is big on family. He and his wife Cara and their three

young children - aged three, six and eight – live on land in ‘rural Titirangi’ where they have built a new house that includes a test kitchen.

“We love living in the countryside, it is a great way for the kids to be brought up and go to school near the ocean and the Waitakere ranges. I enjoy building so have really enjoyed playing a part in the new house and have built a glasshouse from doors. I also love gardening. We try to keep our lives as simple as possible.”

It is clear that many of these things have played a part in his latest venture, The Grounds modern family restaurant. This is a new concept he has created with fellow west Aucklander Mike Shatura.

Their seasonal menus have a distinctly local flavour, with most of the produce being sourced from Waitakere suppliers to create meals that feel like home - but taste like the work of two leading chefs. They have a beautiful location on five acres bordering the Waitakeres.

For a guy that likes to do things simply, 2018 is shaping up to be a busy year. As well as playing a part in running the three eateries, Ben has three cookbooks on the go and is involved in two TV shows. One of these is a show aimed at getting kids interested in cooking. Parts of the second TV show involves filming in New York.

Most important though in 2018 will be the Ben Bayly-hosted North Harbour Club Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunch during the middle of 2018. That will be something special for North Harbour Club members and their guests. Having met Ben Bayly I can tell you it will be very entertaining and an event you won’t want to miss.

This really does seem like a great fit – Lexus of North Shore and Ben Bayly. Both dishing up excellent service and a superb product!

4 Link Drive, Wairau Park, Auckland Visit: www.lexusofnorthshore.co.nz n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 93

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES 2017

LOOKING BACK AT THE LUNCHES...

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES 2017

Since the inception of the North Harbour Club in 1995, the charity luncheons have always been highlights on the events calendar.

High calibre speakers are engaged for every lunch, with an average of four held through the year. In 2017 there were five. Leading businessman Sir Ralph Norris was the guest speaker at the first lunch in February to kick off the year. Long time club member Rod Slater then instigated Olympians Eliza McCartney, Lisa Carrington and Sarah Walker to be the guest speakers at our second lunch in early April. An additional lunch on the programme for 2017 was a lunch with the British & Irish Lions rugby team manager John Spencer in June. Then the club teamed up with the Murrays Bay Sailing Club to host an America’s Cup celebration lunch after Team New Zealand had brought the auld mug home in August. The final lunch was one for the ladies called The Business of Fashion with the guest speaker being former TV presenter and journalist Genevieve Westcott, now with Massey University.

Kristy Paterson, Jared Perkins, Jo McRae, Hamish Smith, James Fairbrother.

Lesley Edwards, Lochlan and Leigh Trembath.

Sharon Blincoe, Tom Grove, Tim Large, Neil Rhodes, Michael Hartley.

David and Ann Old, John Twomey.

Sir Ralph Norris.

Julia Tillett, Jeremy Jones, Ashleigh Bennett.

Sir Ralph Norris, Aidan Bennett.

SIR RALPH NORRIS LUNCH AT THE SPENCER ON BYRON

Words of business wisdom were shared by Sir Ralph Norris at the North Harbour Club's Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunch held at the Spencer on Byron Hotel on Friday February 17th. The large crowd of over 300 included North Harbour Club members and their guests from far and wide who enjoyed a spectacular three-course lunch. Speakers included President Aidan Bennett and AIMES Alumni Joseph Bergin before Sir Ralph Norris took to the floor to share career highlights and business advice. The event was MC'd by NBR Radio's Andrew Patterson. A raffle and auction raised funds to support the Club's work in rewarding excellence in North Harbour youth through the annual AIMES Awards. This was the first of four Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunches that were held in 2017.

Eliza McCartney, Nadia Evans, Sarah Walker.

Jan Walker, Terry Holt, Steve Shute..

Alan Collie, Jan and Greg Ward, Gill and Lance Hopwood.

Sarah Walker, Eliza McCartney, Aidan Bennett, Lisa Carrington.

Pat Houlihan, Aata Wairepo, Kirsten Bishop, Trevor Stanaway.

'IRON MAIDENS' LAUNCH AT QBE STADIUM

Kerensa Jennings, Annabelle Rennie-Younger, Ralph Roberts, Susanna Pyatt.

Not one, not two, but three Kiwi Olympic medal winners were the stars of North Harbour Club's Lexus of North Shore Luncheon on Thursday 6th April. Eliza McCartney, Lisa Carrington and Sarah Walker took questions from MC Rod Slater at the packed QBE Stadium event. Brought together by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the trio, termed 'The Iron Maidens' enjoyed a three course lunch, chatted and posed for photos with North Harbour Club members and guests. Club president Aidan Bennett delivered a speech, and the audience was also introduced to Junior Aimes Award winner Nadia Evans who is already excelling in athletics at the age of 12. An inspiring event for all.

An auction, which included a signed photo canvas of the three Olympians, and a raffle wrapped up proceedings at this inspiring event.

PAGE 94 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES 2017

Lee Darby, Karen McKinlay.

Pat Houlihan, Bob Davison, Sue Stanaway, Tom Davison, Trevor and Hayden Stanaway.

Kita Hirofuni, Alan Montague, Jim Greenway, James Greenway.

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB QBE LIONS LUNCH

The British and Irish Lions' Tour Manager John Spencer captivated guests at a very special North Harbour Club Charity Lunch held at QBE Stadium on Friday 23rd June. The QBE Lions Lunch brilliantly set the scene ahead of the first test between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions the following day. Captain of the Blues team, victorious over the visitors, James Parsons, and Bryn Gatland, Barbarian player and son of British and Irish Lions Coach Warren Gatland, joined MC Shane Cortese on stage for a rugby panel discussion with New Zealand's chief liaison officer for the tour, Peter White. A raffle and auction, which included a signed British and Irish Lions' jersey and signed Emirates Team New Zealand America's Cup shirt, raised several thousand dollars for Shore Junction Takapuna's new youth innovation centre project.

David, Wendy and Hugh Stedman, David Perreau.

The America’s Cup panel: Sir Stephen Tindall, Andy Maloney, Elise Beavis, Sean Regan, Josh McCormack and Chris Steele.

Steven and Joan Finlayson.

AMERICA'S CUP LUNCH WITH MURRAYS BAY SAILING CLUB

In late August, the North Harbour Club joined with the Murrays Bay Sailing Club to celebrate Emirates Team New Zealand's America’s Cup win in Bermuda – and in particular the part that local people played in the fantastic achievement. The lunch was part of the North Harbour Club’s 2017 Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunch programme. The voice of yachting and Takapuna local Pete Montgomery was on hand to lead a panel discussion with a panel that included Sir Stephen Tindall (Chair of Emirates Team NZ in Bermuda); Andy Maloney (local MBSC sailor, North Harbour Club AIMES Award winner and one of the key crew on the boat); and Shore crew members Sean Regan, Elise Beavis and Josh McCormack. Also on hand was Chris Steele, a leading young sailor who commentated with Pete Montgomery during the cup and also won a North Harbour Club AIMES Award in 2007. The charity lunch, held at QBE Stadium, was attended by close to 500 people, with all money raised going to the North Harbour Club AIMES Awards and the Murrays Bay Sailing Club.

Jan Chamber, David and Ann Old, Gabrielle Peach.

Kerrie Barclay, Debbie Campbell, Monique Hollows and Michelle Bennett.

Brian Molloy, Maggie Barry and Aidan Bennett.

THE BUSINESS OF FASHION AT THE SPENCER ON BYRON

Genevieve Westcott, TV presenter and journalist, now with Massey University, was keynote speaker at the latest North Harbour Lexus of North Shore lunch at the Spencer on Byron Hotel. Her topic: personal branding. Genevieve then chaired a panel discussion on successes and challenges within the New Zealand fashion industry, with leaders in the local fashion scene (Jenny Joblin of Federation, Sarah Taylor of Moontide, Jessie Wong of new leather goods label Yu Mei, and Sarah Dorreen of children's jewellery brand Bo+Bala). Guests enjoyed a threecourse lunch, silent auction and raffle at the Takapuna event at which North Shore MP Maggie Barry was MC.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 95

THE LAST WORD: ANDREA DAVIES

Andrea Davies pictured with fellow AIMES Awards judges in 2017, from left, Dean Flyger, Andrew MacDonald, Mike Stanley.

THE LAST WORD HUMBLING, REWARDING, AND EXTREMELY ENJOYABLE Life can throw some wonderful opportunities at you and when this particular one came hurling my way, I caught it with both hands!

I moved to Auckland from the Manawatu in 1993. My manager at that time was Professor Ian Watson, Principal of Massey University’s newly established Albany Campus. Ian – now an honourary member – was instrumental in the establishment of the North Harbour Club. So when he retired I undertook to continue building on his well-established relationships with the North Harbour region, and particularly, the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust.

I was privileged to be elected as a North Harbour Club trustee in 2012, after which I joined the AIMES Awards judging panel. After a couple of years I was invited to chair the AIMES Awards judging panel.

Being an AIMES Award judge is such a humbling, rewarding, and extremely enjoyable responsibility. Being a judge is a big commitment of time from each of the 5-6 judges for approximately one month each year during which up to 180 applications need to be read, an interview shortlist agreed, followed by interviewing each shortlisted applicant. Of course, the most difficult decisions of all is to agree who will win each category, and who will be the AIMES Award Supreme winner. The hard work is very worthwhile as the judges meet a large number of simply fantastic and incredibly talented young people.

I have been involved with the AIMES Award for a number of years, and I can share that each year the quality of applicant gets stronger, which means that the decisions have become more difficult to make.

If it was not for my involvement with the AIMES Awards, I would never have had the opportunity to meet such a large number of extremely talented and gifted young people who are part of our wider community. For each AIMES Award winner, there are many more great applicants, and its so hard to tell them that their application has not been successful this time. We always encourage them to keep on

PAGE 96 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018

doing amazing things, and to reapply again. As you will have read in this issue of Northside, many of our young people are following their dreams and passions all around the globe. Some are studying at the best international drama schools, others are studying at Ivy League Universities, others are establishing linkages between New Zealand and the rest of the world, and of course there are those here in New Zealand doing just as amazing things.

I am extremely proud and will always feel humbled by the absolutely fabulous young people I have met during my involvement with the Club.

My time as an AIMES Awards judge confirmed for me how much I enjoy working with young people. So at the end of 2017 I made a big decision to take on a new challenge. I’m now a full-time student studying to be a primary school teacher. I can assure you that once I find myself in the classroom, I will be inspiring and encouraging as many young people as possible to reach for the stars, achieve outstanding results, and apply for a North Harbour Club Junior Excellence Award!

I thank the North Harbour Club, its trustees, club staff and my fellow judges, for the opportunity to contribute. I wish the club continued success in supporting so many outstanding young people affilitated with our region, both those from the past and those of our future.

Andrea Davies January 2018 Andrea Davies (JP) was Campus Registrar at Massey University’s Albany Campus. Her departure from the role in late 2017 brought an end to a 40 year career at the University. A career that started at the Manawatu campus in 1978. She was one of the first staff at the new Auckland campus at Albany in 1993. Andrea retired as a North Harbour Club Trustee and AIMES Awards Judging Chair in January 2018. She remains an AIMES Awards Judge for 2018. n

C

BRATIN

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www.benefitz.co.nz

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2017/2018 PAGE 3

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2018 - our predictions

Where the New Zealand markets are heading, where the best opportunities lie.

New world orders

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COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR SALE FROM AROUND NEW ZEALAND ISSUE 8 - 2017