DEAR PAST AND PRESENT FAMILIES, COLLEGIANS, FELLOWS AND FRIENDS OF ST PAUL’S
CONTRIBUTORS
Rebecca Robinson, Monica Holt, Sam Hewat, Suzanne Miller, Rachel Fitness, Andrea Harper and Michelle Smith
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mark Hamilton and Andrew Constable
COLLEGIANS (INC)
07 957 8805 collegians@stpauls.school.nz
MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
07 957 8873
ADDRESS
St Paul’s Collegiate School Private Bag 3069 Waikato Mail Centre Hamilton 3240 New Zealand
ADVERTISING
If you wish to advertise in Network please contact Rachel Fitness on 07 957 8873 or r.fitness@stpauls.school.nz for a rate card.
From the Headmaster’s pen
In August, 2017 the school completed their triannual community survey. More than 250 current families completed the online questionnaire and the results strongly favoured the current direction St Paul’s Collegiate School is taking. Of the completed surveys, 74% of our parents agreed or strongly agreed the school effectively meets their needs as a parent and 75% agreed or strongly agreed the school successfully promotes the development of young people of good character, while 85% strongly agreed the school sets high expectations and standards for students.
When we think back on our memories of the past, our reminiscences and reflections are very much coloured by the degree that we enjoyed a particular experience. There is a saying that it is the humans, not the places, that define our memories. On reflecting on your own, or that of your son or daughter’s experience at St Paul’s, I believe that it will be the things they did with their friends, coaches, directors, teachers, housemasters, that will define their memories and achievements.
For some Collegians returning to St Paul’s, there will be many things that they won’t recognise, but hopefully what has still remained is the intimacy or the personalised nature of the place, the culture of high expectations and the genuine sense of belonging.
Over the past decade, there have been a huge number of physical changes to both our Hamilton and Tihoi campuses. In Hamilton, these have included the modification and upgrading of all the boys’ boarding houses; the dining room; the Old Collegians’ pavilion; the Mary Hornsby Music Centre; and the addition of a completely new Gallagher Agribusiness Centre of Excellence. In the next few years, we plan to add a new drama and performance centre; football and hockey pavilion; and to modernise the library and upgrade the remaining classrooms. Collegians who visited the school in recent times have been very positive and affirming of the direction we have taken and the significant improvements we have been able to achieve.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Story correction from November 2017 edition: Prof John Ormiston grew up in Te Uku not Te Akau.
COVER PHOTO
Auckland City Limits 2018 festival, put on by Collegian and music promoter Campbell Smith (Hamilton 1979-1983). Photo courtesy of Jared Donkin, RAWRPHOTO.
However, one of the most ambitious and significant building projects we are currently considering, will be to change the Hornsby Library. As such, we seek our wider school community’s feedback on the options we have available to us. The Hornsby Library was built in 1968 to cater to the needs of 360 students at the time. With a current roll of 720 students, St Paul’s has now outgrown this space.
While libraries themselves, with the advent of new digital technologies and a need for areas for collaborative learning, fulfil different functions than those required to perform almost six decades ago. The new facility will not be just a library in the traditional sense, it will be a multi-purpose building known as the school’s Learning Hub rather that will feature the following spaces;
• Recreational reading
• Our learning enhancement programme (individual and group tutoring aimed at improving student’s understanding of concepts and course work)
• Smaller breakout rooms for collaborative group work
• Larger spaces for cross-curricular learning
• The new Learning Hub may include a digital resource centre where students and staff could go to seek help with their IT queries.
The current library was largely made possible, through the energy and generosity of Mr Reg Hornsby and his wife, Mary, who played such a significant role in the history of our school and its crucial formative years.
Reg Hornsby was the fifth Headmaster in just four years after the school’s establishment in 1959. A highly regarded, respected educator, he came to St Paul’s having successfully completed a period of leadership at Christ’s College in the South Island. Through determination, drive and the force of his personality, Reg Hornsby turned St Paul’s around. While Mary covered a multitude of roles within the school, including hosting a regular Sunday lunch which allowed each of the boarding boys to take turns in dining at the Headmaster’s residence. `Together, the Hornsbys made a formidable team, but their long-lasting contribution wasn’t limited to just changing the community’s perception of St Paul’s, they were also an incredibly generous couple whose personal financial input saw the library possible.
The assembly hall included a sanctuary, which was dedicated as St Barnabas. In 1967 a new chapel was built removing chapel services from the assembly hall. The hall became a theatre and was refurbished and included a stage in 1986
Reg Hornsby standing in front of the Hornsby Library at its opening in 1968
Reg Hornsby’s remarkable contribution to St Paul’s is still being recognised today with the library taking his name, a bronze bust of his head, created by Collegian sculptor and artist Gary Schofield (Hamilton 1970-1974), which is on display at the entrance of the library along with his portrait painted by Rodney Hamel (teacher 1963-2000). Mary’s contribution is highlighted with her name being given to the school’s music complex.
At the opening of the Hornsby Library, it was viewed as a very impressive building. Today with its low earthquake rating; low ceiling heights, poor acoustic qualities it has become a far cry from its former glory.
The ground floor, which in parts sits below the outside paving has allowed water from heavy rain to leak inside and flood the carpet. The building is no longer fit for its current purpose, let alone its future purpose. That is especially so when one now considers the size of the school.
Given the nostalgic and historical significance of the building, we investigated the removal of the librarian’s office and attaching the new Learning Hub to the front of the existing building. However, architectural and engineering advice has indicated it will be extremely expensive to earthquake strengthen, add double-glazing and sound-proofing, In addition, utilising the existing position of the library, forces the majority of the new build to extend into the existing quad area. The assembly hall was built in 1961 over a series of Saturday working bees headed by the board chairman. The space was used for assemblies, chapel service, prizegivings and productions
The library takes shape, April 1968
The technical advice we have received recommends the demolition of both the library and the old assembly hall (this building is immediately behind the library and is currently used as our drama room). Under such demolition, the bricks of the old library would be removed and used again in the re-build, while the library would be temporarily relocated to the Long Room (on the first floor of the Sports Centre). With a completely clean site to start the new build, the new Learning Hub can be freely positioned in the best possible position and allow for the 15-18 month construction period to have minimal impact on normal school operations with contractors accessing the site through our back entrance at Casper Street.
This would also allow them to store containers, sheds and materials on the land currently occupied by the old assembly hall. At the completion of the Learning Hub project, it is proposed that the area on which the hall is placed, would be converted into a second grassed quad (this has always been our intention in the long-term strategic plan of St Paul’s).
Given the historical and emotional significance of the current Hornsby Library to our school community, we felt it was very important to go out and seek community feedback on what we are proposing.
Personally, I believe that Reg and Mary Hornsby would have been proud of the importance of the role the facility has played in the life of the school over the past 50 years. Reg, by all accounts was a pragmatist, who held at the heart of his decision-making, the question of what was best for the school.
He recognised the key geographical position of the library as being easily accessible to the classrooms on all sides of the quad, but he also recognised the important educational role the facility had in improving learning outcomes for St Paul’s students.
We feel Reg Hornsby would be approving of the concept of a learning hub and applaud what is presently being proposed. The “Hornsby Learning Hub” will continue to honour him.
We would really appreciate your thoughts on the proposal to start with a clean site (which means demolition of the existing Hornsby Library and the old assembly hall) in order to start planning and designing a new Learning Hub to take its place. You can direct your comments to the Waikato Anglican College Trust Board of Trustees, through a specially set-up email address: Hornsbylibrary@stpauls.school.nz
We thank you in advance for your input into this very important decision for the future direction of St Paul’s.
G W LANDER Headmaster
Students enjoying the library facilities today
Reg Hornsby portrait painted by Rodney Hamel (teacher 1963-2000)
Reg Hornsby bronze bust created by Gary Schofield (Hamilton 1970-1974)
Message from the St Paul’s Board
On April 10, 2018 the 60th Annual General Meeting for the Waikato Anglican College Trust (WACT) was held where it appointed Mr Andrew Johnson as Board chair. AGMs allow an organisation to be reflective on what has happened in the past, celebrate our successes and look to the future.
At the AGM, the Board accepted the resignations of Sally Wootton and John Reeves. Sally served on the board for a period of 24 years, making a very significant contribution to the school across many areas, in recent years as Chair of Great Oaks Trading, a Director of St Paul’s Foundation and as a member of a number of Board subcommittees.
John served on the Board for five years, assisting with the agribusiness initiative and on property and scholarship subcommittees, as well as a Director of Great Oaks Forests Limited.
The Board would like to thank Mr Gregg Brown for the superb guidance that he has offered the school in his four years as chairman. Under his careful stewardship, our school has had a period of significant growth in roll, improvements in facilities and is in great financial shape.
With Rev Peter Rickman becoming the school Chaplain, we have been working with the Anglican Diocese as to the appointment of clergy to the Board. We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sir David Moxon. It will be great to have a man of the mana and wisdom of Bishop Moxon assisting with the governance of St Paul’s.
New Fellows appointed
The Board has three big overarching objectives. The first is to attract and retain a great staff and a Headmaster, and it is pleasing to be able to advise that Mr Grant Lander has accepted a new five-year contract extension. The second is to keep everyone safe within a robust environment that is our school – health and safety plays a big part of our thinking at a Board operational and strategic level, and as such, we have put a huge emphasis on our Character Education and wellbeing, as well as our Emotional Intelligence (EI) programme with Swinburne University. The third is achieving our strategy of supporting and encouraging engaging holistic learning experiences that push our young men and women out of their comfort zone.
Key initiatives that underpin our strategy are maintaining a strong roll; continued investment in the campus development; increasing our investment in professional development and programmes such as EI and Teacher as Inquiry. We want to ensure that we are well placed to deliver engaging and quality 21st century teaching.
With a strong roll, the renewal of the Headmaster’s contract for a further five years and the school continuing to perform well across academic, cultural and sporting sphere’s, the WACT Board is satisfied we are extremely well placed to deliver on our strategy.
We welcome the appointment of four well-respected members of St Paul’s community as Fellows of the school.
Archbishop David Moxon
From 1993, as the newly appointed Bishop of Waikato, David established a close relationship with our school with his two sons both attending St Paul’s as students. Bishop David has provided crucial pastoral support to our school’s leadership, but also to its student body, in his regular visits to weekday worship or to the annual Baptism and Confirmation services.
Mr and Mrs John and Christine Furminger
John and Christine were appointed as the third Directors of the Tihoi Venture School in August 1992 with their young family at their side. Together they brought a high degree of professionalism, vigour and enthusiasm, along with exceptional skills in outdoor education. Thanks to John and Christine’s efforts, Tihoi Venture campus was recognised “as the best outdoor facility in New Zealand” a year later.
Mr John Oehley
Over his 21 years at St Paul’s, John held many roles including Master-in-Charge of Cricket, cricket coach, rugby coach, Assistant Housemaster and eventually Housemaster of Hamilton and Clark House after that. From 2000 to 2003, John was appointed as Senior Boarding Housemaster. In 1999, he was appointed Assistant Principal, a role he held until his departure in 2010. John worked to raise the profile of academics in the school, arranging for the installation of the Academic Honours Boards and to have photos of the school’s top achievers prominently displayed in the same way as sporting successes.
Sir Ed mural unveiled
The stunning mural of Sir Edmund Hillary, painted by former student and internationally renowned artist Owen Dippie (Clark 1997-2001), was formally blessed and unveiled to students, staff and guests in February.
In attendance at the ceremony was Lady June Hillary and representatives of the 2016 school leavers – who organised the artwork. Tully Dickson (Clark 2012-2016), a 2016 leaver, was pleased with the final product.
“It is good to have something for the future kids to have and look up to. I am sure when we come back in a few years’ time for a reunion it will be great to look at and go wow, we paid for that and got that organised,” he said.
“As a prefect group we had to come up with something we wanted. We settled on a picture and then one of the students, Tom Wilson (Williams 2012-2016), pushed hard for getting it organised,” says Tully.
At the ceremony, a plaque, which sits alongside the mural, was unveiled with information about Sir Ed and artist Owen.
Cricket pitch best in NZ
St Paul’s cricket pitch – Way’s Oval – was named club/ school pitch of the year by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). It is the first time this particular award has been presented at a national level.
The news came from Ian McKendry, NZC’s GM Grounds and Facilities, and is testament to the hard work of groundsman Ian Boyle and the team at St Paul’s over the 2017-18 season.
“This inaugural award has been presented to St Paul’s as a reflection of the investment and work done to produce an outstanding ground. It is based on the positive feedback received from the Northern Districts and Hamilton cricket associations who have played there over the course of the season,” says Mr McKendry.
For Mr Boyle, the award came as a complete surprise.
“It was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. A lot of work went into preparing the pitch for the recent season. Last year we dug it up to breathe new life into it and that certainly seems to have helped the quality of the grass wicket,” he says.
At the top is Sir Ed’s famous quote – “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves”.
Associate Headmaster Mr Ainsley Robson said the artwork represents the hard work of the students of St Paul’s. “It is a gift by the students, for the students and, what makes this even better is, the artwork was done by Owen who is a former student.”
“The whole point of this work was to try and create a word or phrase that people can be inspired by, and Sir Edmund Hillary is an icon among New Zealand culture.”
The mural was blessed by school Chaplain Reverend Peter Rickman and students performed the school haka.
Story courtesy of Hamilton News.
Athlete secures Stanford scholarship
Stanford University is one of the most selective universities in the USA, with only 4% of students who apply each year accepted. Among that small percentage is recent school leaver Kate Littlejohn. Kate has been offered a four-year athletic scholarship at Stanford.
Her successful application was a result of both her academic strengths as well as her rowing talent. During her time at St Paul’s, Kate competed both nationally and internationally in rowing and was part of the NZ coxless women’s four who competed in the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships.
Kate sets off in mid-September and as part of her scholarship, she will be expected to train between 8-20 hours per week as a collegiate athlete and compete in rowing regattas across the States. For Kate, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “Stanford is such a diverse university in terms of the students that attend there, so I am excited to meet amazing people in a beautiful part of the world that are driven to achieve their goals.”
Stanford University is in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley. It is in the top three universities in the world.
Memories of St Paul’s captured in art
The 2017 school leavers’ gift is an artwork by New Zealand artist and Collegian Sam Mathers (Hall 1998-2002). Sam was approached to produce an artwork that reflected memories of his time at St Paul’s, accompanied by some more recent references to St Paul’s life. The result being this stunning mixed media painting. Sam grew up in Raglan. He has travelled and lived all over the world, working as a full time artist and exhibiting work since 2004. He was commissioned by Saatchi & Saatchi to paint a mural in their Parnell offices. He later went on to paint a mural for Auckland’s Media Design School that led to another commissioned mural in San Diego for the New School of Architecture and Design in 2012. Sam’s art is sought after by art collectors in New Zealand and internationally. Please email stpauls@stpauls.school.nz if you wish to purchase one of the unframed prints. Each print, measures 615mm wide x 495mm high, is signed and uniquely numbered by the artist. The cost is $550.
Sam Mathers’ artwork for St Paul’s
The completed Sir Edmund Hillary mural
The man behind the music
He is a promoter and band manager, who spends half the year in Los Angeles and the other half in Auckland. Campbell spoke to Network from Los Angeles.
“Most of the shows we put on in New Zealand are during the summer, so I’m based there from October to March, but most of the agents of the artists we book are in the US/UK, so it makes sense for me to be over here for part of the year.”
“Plus I get to avoid the cold! I’ve been doing this living arrangement since 2008 – so basically ten years since I’ve experienced any kind of winter.”
Campbell runs CRS Management, with business partner Paul McKessar, and his work is two-fold.
As a band manager, he likens himself to “the hub of a wheel”.
“I’m basically the connection from the artist to the record label/ publisher/promoter or anyone who wants to work with the artist.”
“I’m also charged with developing their career. My primary objective, and biggest challenge, is to get the artist out of New Zealand – to launch their music overseas and help them gain success internationally.”
And by successful he has some good examples to go by including Bic Runga, Brooke Fraser, the Naked and Famous and Scribe. All are artists Campbell has worked with from when they were young and just starting out, and who have gone on to become top musicians both here and overseas.
My primary objective, and biggest challenge, is to get the artist out of New Zealand.
From managing some of the country’s top musicians to running some of the country’s biggest music festivals, Campbell Smith (Hamilton 1979-1983) lives and breathes music.
Promoting on the other hand, sees him working with multiple artists. “You’re essentially someone who puts on a show, buys the talent, sells the tickets and hopefully sells more tickets than what you have to pay the talent. If you do that then you succeed, if you don’t you don’t.”
From headline shows for individual artists in various venues around the country, to festivals, which are “a completely different beast – up to 70 artists on one day across six or seven stages.” It’s a pretty big job.
But it’s a job he loves. Music has always been a part of Campbell’s life. “I’ve been a music fan since I was a kid.”
Campbell Smith with Bic Runga
Campbell Smith with Tash Sultana
When at St Paul’s in the early 80s, Campbell started a cassette tape lending service out of the library. “I convinced the librarian at the time, Jenny Holdom, to invest some money into buying cassettes that I would lend out like books to the other kids.”
“While I love music from across all genres, I do have an overwhelming obsession with Bruce Springsteen. I’ve been to over 30 of his shows.”
Working in the music industry however wasn’t the career path Campbell thought he would take. He left Hamilton and headed to Auckland University to study law. “It wasn’t that well planned. I became a lawyer because I didn’t really know what else to do.”
After a couple of years practising general law, he started specialising in copyright. “This was all parallel to having a lifelong obsession with music, record collecting and going to gigs, but I didn’t think the two things could overlap and that I could actually work in the industry.”
His career took a turn after getting involved with an Auckland student radio station – BFM offering on-air legal advice every Thursday morning.
“BFM is where the local musicians hung out, so I started hanging out with them and discovered there was only one other music lawyer helping them write their contracts. Then it dawned on me that I could become a music lawyer and combine a career with music.”
From music lawyer to band manager, Campbell was managing artists by 1994, moving to promoting in 2000.
He staged his first Big Day Out – Auckland’s longest-running summer musical festival –in 2005, running it until its demise in 2014. Add to that the annual Winery Tour, which he started in 2007. In 2016, came Auckland City Limits, which had its second occurrence in March of this year.
“Auckland City Limits came in the place of Big Day Out, which had run its course. The audience was looking for something fresh and while Auckland City Limits is similar, it is also quite different.”
“But it’s still in development. With a new show, you have to let the audience know what it is you are trying to do and hope the experience they have in the first one to three years is enough to keep them coming back and to tell others about it. In the early years if you don’t get it right you can set yourself back.”
While Paul holds down the fort here in New Zealand, Campbell is working his magic in LA, securing bookings for artists to come to New Zealand in the coming months and more specifically booking the line-up for the 2019 Auckland City Limits festival.
“There is no down time, it’s an endless cycle, you finish one festival and then begin booking acts for the next one.”
A busy life with numerous meetings, phone calls – and festivals. “I spend a lot of time going to festivals when I’m overseas; I’ve got Coachella next week as well as Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits coming up.”
“I go to not just look at the musical talent but also how the show is put together – how a site is set up, how stages are located, where the toilets are, food offerings, how bars work – it’s a lot of infrastructure studying.”
And while Campbell may be a man with a lot of influence, there are some who have had an influence on him growing up, including his teachers at St Paul’s.
“Evan McCulloch, Keith Greville and Rod Hamel all had an influence on me in terms of the arts being a thing to be interested in and committed to. I also had a great relationship with my housemaster, Pat Chamberlain, when I was head of Hamilton House.”
Having built a life around music, Campbell wanted to give something back to those who need it most, so he started up a couple of music related charities – the New Zealand Music Foundation and Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.
“It’s been an important focus for me over the past 10 years to utilise music to help those in need. I believe music is a really incredibly powerful tool that can improve people’s lives.”
REBECCA ROBINSON
Grace Jones performs at 2018 Auckland City Limits
Campbell Smith with Brooke Fraser
Campbell Smith with the Naked and Famous
High flier in the Air Force
Joining the Air Force as a school leaver has opened many doors for Squadron Leader Melissa Axelrad (Harington 20002001).
There have been multiple trips to Antarctica. So many, in fact, Melissa has to stop and calculate the exact number.
“It has probably been…seven times,” she says on the phone from the United States.
Melissa, spoke to Network in April midway through a three-week trip where she was in charge of 47 New Zealand Defence personnel taking part in an international training exercise in Little Rock.
Melissa does many overseas trips including the annual personnel and freight trips to Antarctica each New Zealand summer. For a keen skier and snowboarder, it is a dream come true, and a “really cool” experience each time.
“It is somewhere I have always wanted to go my whole life, I love the snow and the mountains and it is not an opportunity many people get. I don’t want to sleep while I am there.”
Melissa, 34, who has held different roles in the Air Force, is currently a Navigator on the C-130 Hercules.
“There is a lot of mental arithmetic, fuel planning and flight planning and that type of thing.”
The Kiwi contingent in the United States was offering “real time support” as part of a huge joint-readiness training exercise involving more than 4000 soldiers.
It has involved a lot of variety, a lot of travel, and heaps of different opportunities.
“What we are doing at the moment is a really big exercise here in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is like an advanced tactical exercise which trains us for operations overseas particularly in the Middle East.”
With a ranking of Squadron Leader, Melissa is leading the New Zealand involvement.
Melissa joined the Air Force as a school leaver and soon went to Christchurch where she did a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury.
She completed her degree with First Class Honours in 2004.
She then worked as an engineering officer in the Air Force in both Wellington and Auckland. In 2008 she changed trades, or “remustered” to train as an Air Warfare Officer.
“I did my training at a Royal Canada Air Force Base in Winnipeg, Canada, and I have been all round the world since then, on operations, exercises and on other tasks.”
That has seen her posted to places including the Middle East and the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea.
It has been, and continues to be, a satisfying career choice. “I guess it has involved a lot of variety, a lot of travel, and heaps of different opportunities, both professionally and in terms of playing sport.”
Melissa is very involved in sports clubs within the Air Force and does touch rugby, soccer and skiing and snowboarding. She attended an armed forced soccer competition in Australia last year.
She enjoys mentoring personnel coming through the ranks. “I am an instructor, so I teach other navigators as well so it is quite cool assisting them and passing on the knowledge to them.”
Melissa recalls some advice she got at school. “It was recommended by the careers advisor at Paul’s that engineering could be a thing I would be interested in.” It proved to be true.
“I was quite interested in the Air Force because of the potential for travel and the variety, but I did not know too much when I joined up.”
Melissa, who has a partner, is based at the Air Force base at Whenuapai, north-west of Auckland. Her next career move is a ground-based role at Defence Headquarters.
She has also studied for a Master of Business Administration at the University of Auckland.
Melissa describes some of the humanitarian work after cyclones as the most satisfying.
“We did some relief work after Tropical Cyclone Winston in Fiji, and after the cyclones in Vanuatu and Samoa over the last four or five years. Also the Christchurch Earthquake relief work was pretty rewarding.”
After the 2011 earthquake the RNZAF deployed three C-130 Hercules and numerous other aircraft around the clock to transport police and medical personnel.
The C-130s acted as aero-medical aircraft and evacuated victims and tourists to Wellington. It was the single biggest movement of personnel and freight by the RNZAF in its history.
Having been to the ice, local disaster areas, war zones and cyclone ravaged tropical islands in the Hercules, one place still stands out.
“I definitely have to say Antarctica. It is a pretty amazing place that not many people get to go to.”
Melissa, who grew up in Hamilton, attended Deanwell Primary School, Melville Intermediate and Hamilton Girls’ High School, before coming to St Paul’s in 2000.
MONICA HOLT
The annual personnel and freight trips to Antarctica
Trailblazer in New Zealand film
A pioneering film maker in the 1970s, David Blyth (School 1969-1971), is now capturing tales of New Zealand’s war heroes.
David has had a long and accomplished film career, most notably as the creator of New Zealand’s first home grown horror movie Death Warmed Up
It was one of the first horror films funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and, along with his 1978 experimental feature Angel Mine, is critically acclaimed to this day for its originality.
The NZ On Screen website says David Blyth has created some of the most graphic and challenging movies dealing with “horror, sexuality and the sub-conscious mind,” while the New Zealand Listener says he is one of the “great mavericks of New Zealand film.”
While his defining work predates Sir Peter Jackson’s, he is highly regarded in film circles for his pioneering influence.
David describes himself as an outsider. “I am not the mainstream or a toe-the-line sort of person, if you like.”
David, 62 spoke to Network about his early life and career spanning 40 years from his home at Manly Beach on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, north of Auckland.
Having grown up in Remuera, Auckland, David (who is not one to mince words) says he was sent to St Paul’s to toughen him up, “because I was too arty and too sensitive.”
While he returned to Auckland to do his last two years at Auckland Grammar, there are defining moments during his time at St Paul’s.
“I was there for the moon landing, in 1969, which is incredible, I can remember in the morning we watched it on TV in School House.”
He recalls a “revolution” at the school. “The pupils went on strike one morning and we refused to go to class. A whole lot of people got into trouble and it was all over by midday.”
NZ filmmaker, David Blyth
Perhaps the most memorable, was a visit by the radical poet James K Baxter. “He was Jesus like. He had long unkempt hair and bare feet. We were all assembled in the Chapel and I was a choir boy and he padded up the main isle and spoke about male sexuality.”
“His visit ignited something in me. It was an eye-opener. To have him turn up was quite profound.”
“One of the reasons I have got into all of this is that my grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Curly Blyth, was a World War One veteran and while everyone else has a yellowing photo, I have a 25 minute documentary.”
He says the film Our Oldest Soldier, released in 2002, is the most watched war documentary in New Zealand history.
On the New Zealand On Screen website, under the heading ‘Memories of Service’ are 50 veteran interviews he has recorded over the last five years, in conjunction with the RSA.
In November, David and his sister and nephew will travel to France for the 100th commemoration of the liberation (by kiwi soldiers, including his grandfather) of the French town Le Quesnoy.
I am not the mainstream or a toe-the-line sort of person, if you like.
While studying Law at the University of Auckland David connected with film academic Roger Horrocks.
“He had a film appreciation course and he saw that I was so passionate that he let me come and sit in on the classes. I ended up with a BA in Art History and Anthropology. I didn’t make it through the Law School. That is how it all started to happen.”
His first feature film, Angel Mine, while still in his 20s, was about a young suburban couple and how they are dominated by the false needs of advertising.
The success of Death Warmed Up, both nationally and internationally opened doors overseas for David. He was invited to do work for Jim Sharmon, the director of the Rocky Horror Picture Show
“That got me to London and working with all sorts of people like Barry Humphreys and Ruby Wax.”
David also spent seven years working in the film industry in the United States and also taught at the South Seas Film School in Auckland.
In more recent years, David focused on documentary-making, archiving the priceless personal stories of New Zealand’s war heroes including his own grandfather, who lived until he was 105.
While he has had no contact with the school since leaving, David says he has come to Hamilton to speak at Film Society events in Hamilton over the years.
Richard Swainson, a film reviewer and owner of Hamilton specialist DVD store, Auteur House, stocks a back catalogue of David’s films.
Richard says David is the father of New Zealand horror film and one of the first directors to get state funding for his work. “My respect for him is unbounded, he is a real trailblazer.”
David Blyth’s collection of war hero documentaries can be found at www. nzonscreen.com/title/memories-ofservice-2015/series
He is currently working on documentaries, recording the stories of some of New Zealand’s Prisoners of War.
MONICA HOLT
A bright future in the solar industry
Andy Nyce (Sargood and School 2002-2005) is making his mark in the renewable energy sector in the United States.
Andy, who moved to the US in 2014, is a construction manager for the company Depcom Power which installs large-scale solar energy systems.
His job takes him right across America, where solar panel systems feed America’s growing energy needs. The industry is in a massive growth phase.
“We effectively find large areas of flat cheap land and mobilise these sites of between 100 and 700 acres in size.”
Recently he completed a 450 acre, 270,000 panel system in North Carolina, which generates enough electricity each day to feed the equivalent of 14,000 homes.
It is an interesting and transient life. “We basically go from job to job, we set up an apartment and spend about six months at each project and then move on.”
Andy grew up in Cambridge, attended Goodwood School, Cambridge Middle School and Cambridge High School before going straight to Tihoi when he arrived at St Paul’s.
“It was a great time to meet people, not knowing anyone. I think it was easier to make friends than it would have been in normal school life.”
Through St Paul’s, he did a gap year at Truro School in Cornwell, England. He then moved to Christchurch to study mechanical engineering, where he graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Engineering in 2010.
Not “too enthralled about getting straight into work,” he spent time in Australia working in a hostel and surfing. He then headed to the US for the first time, doing a summer camp in Maine and a ski season in Colorado. He returned to Australia where he worked for a couple of years in energy efficiency and construction.
Andy (front row) with his team at Depcom Power
Andy Nyce
His main break into the solar energy industry came while working and volunteering in Asia. He spent six months volunteering with a social enterprise in Northern India, installing small-scale solar systems.
“I fell into volunteering in Northern India and worked for an organisation called Ecosphere. They had this really interesting business model, where they would do these tours, integrate small scale solar systems, and fund these installs by tourism.”
He then spent some time in Cambodia doing a similar thing before arriving in the US at the end of 2014, landing his current job.
“I am on the construction side of the large scale solar industry. Up to 400,000 people are involved in the US solar industry. It is the fastest growing area of new energy installations in the US. If you are installing a new power plant in the US these days it is either wind, solar or natural gas and solar is taking a lion’s share of that these days as it has just become so cheap.”
The plan is to return to New Zealand. “I definitely want to get back to New Zealand in the long run. But the opportunities in the renewable energy sector in the US are pretty unique.”
“New Zealand will get there eventually, and I would really like to be part of that in a couple of years.”
The solar industry is the fastest growing area of new energy installations in the US.
“We effectively find large areas of flat cheap land and mobilise these sites of between 100 and 700 acres in size.”
The solar panels, which are manufactured in China, are installed and generate power to the local grid. “We go to where the job is. I have been to probably 20 places in the US, Colorado, California, all through the East Coast. Basically in the US the industry is huge.”
“It is growing so fast there are lots of great paying jobs in the sector.”
He spoke to Network from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was managing more than 300 staff. “I am heading up the construction side, the problem solving and all that good stuff.”
“But it doesn’t sound like any large scale solar is really taking off yet, but I am really hopeful that is will. It just takes a little bit of time.”
The job also allows him to enjoy two of his hobbies – travelling and the outdoors.
“The reason I got into renewables in the first place is that I love the outdoors and the environmental side of it, so I do a lot of hiking, climbing, camping, skiing and snowboarding.”
Andy said he caught up with St Paul’s friends while home for a month over Christmas and New Year.
He also wants to do a shout out for the organisation Sunfarmer, which uses solar energy to greatly improve the lives of lowincome people in relatively poor nations.
“I came across them back in 2014 and have helped organise a number of donations to them from both my business network here in the US as well as friends and family in New Zealand.”
“If anyone in the wider St Paul’s network is interested in finding out more and helping them out that would be really awesome. Fairly small investments by New Zealand standards go a seriously long way in Nepal.”
The website is www.sunfarmer.co.nz
MONICA HOLT
Cathedral Dean returns to school
The transition from Cathedral Dean to school Chaplain might not be the usual move for an Anglican clergyperson, but for Reverend Peter Rickman this was a decision he felt quite strongly about.
Revd Rickman stepped down as Dean of the Waikato Cathedral Church of St Peter to take on the role of Chaplain at St Paul’s Collegiate School this year – a role he held back in the early 2000s.
An “unexpected personal choice” is how Revd Rickman describes his shift. “One of the Archdeacons actually asked if I had been a naughty boy – it is quite unusual. However, in our line of work, we don’t talk about career progression as such, but rather vocations – a sense of calling to serve in a variety of different areas within the church and community.
“When the St Paul’s Headmaster asked if I might consider returning to chaplaincy upon the departure of Reverend Stephenson, my first thought – given my position at the time – was to say no. But vocationally it wouldn’t go away, it was like trying to shut a door that won’t close,” he says.
It was during the school’s production of Jekyll & Hyde last year that Revd Rickman felt he had to return.
“Seeing the energy, vibrancy and talent of not just the students, but the staff as well, left me feeling eager to re-join this large and diverse school community,” he says.
I’ve always enjoyed working with young people...
Revd Rickman was Chaplain at St Paul’s from 2001-2004 and he’s never lost contact with the school. “I’ve stayed connected through the Collegians network and I was a member of the Board of Trustees. I also have two sons there and a daughter to come in a few years’ time,” he says.
During his time as Dean of the Waikato Cathedral, he made some significant differences within the Hamilton community. This included working with the People’s Project to implement the ministry programme for the homeless, developing relationships with local mental health services and starting up a youth programme through the Cathedral.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with young people –particularly today’s generation with the challenges they face and the pastoral care that surrounds that, another reason why school chaplaincy is a good fit for me,” he says.
With about 20 years’ experience in the Anglican Church of New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA, Revd Rickman has served in a number of roles including prison chaplaincy and running three parishes in England.
Outside the church, Revd Rickman has experience as a community ambulance first responder; he is a kayak and sailing instructor for the Hamilton Sea Scouts and a qualified scuba dive instructor.
REBECCA ROBINSON
Father and Son breakfast with special guest, David Galbraith
Drum Line performing at the Mary Hornsby Music Centre opening
Guitar class at Music Camp
Trey Lincoln, Oliver Larcombe and Ben Littlejohn show off their medals at Waikato
Fellows, (L-R) Mrs Christine Furminger, Mr John Furminger, Archbishop David Moxon and Mr John Oehley
Maadi Cup bronze medalists, under-18 girls’ eight, (L-R) Abby Bartels, Kate Littlejohn, Maddy Dickie, Victoria Chanwai, Grace Watson, Mia Bradford (bottom), Alice Emeny (top), Jasmine Fountaine and Abby Payne
School haka stands firm
It is a haka written specifically for the school and it resonates strong and proud at a number of events. So how did the St Paul’s Collegiate School haka come about?
Upon his appointment to Headmaster in 2010, Mr Grant Lander believed the school needed an appropriate haka for use on occasions of great significance, welcome, lament or visitation. He approached former student and ex Head Boy Te Aro Moxon (School 1998-2002) to write a haka that would be unique to the school.
The haka he wrote is the only biblicalbased haka written in the world.
“When Mr Lander approached me to write the haka, I thought it was important to go to the ancient sources of the story of Saint Paul in the Māori Bible to try to discover the essence of the Apostle. In particular his phrase, “stand firm in the faith”, which is the motto of the school, was crucial to developing the essence of the haka,” says Dr Moxon – who is now working as a doctor in Paediatrics at Waikato Hospital.
A haka is an iconic Māori action, the dance of noble people, seeking to embody and express the mana, meaning and strength of the group who perform it. “The main point of this haka is that, following the example of Saint Paul, we can be challenged about the dark side of our past, we can be healed and forgiven by the risen Christ and we can learn to stand firm in the faith, to bring new life to the world,” says Dr Moxon.
The school haka is written in the context of Waikato and the regions’ distinguished heritage of Tainui Chieftainship, with the river and the land.
It was first performed in 2010 by the boarding houses, with the day houses performing just parts of it. The first full inter-house haka competition was held in 2011. There is a girls’ version that was performed for the first time at the Old Collegians Girls’ 25th Jubilee celebrations in 2010. The 1st XV and Sargood House also have their own individual hakas.
“While there was some scepticism at the start around having a school haka, it was also felt a haka that was orientated around the history of St Paul’s and purpose, and written by a past Head Boy, would create a huge unifying benefit for the school as a whole – and this has proved to be the case,” says Mr Lander.
Since its introduction, the school haka has been performed at funeral services, at sports’ competitions both nationally and internationally, to welcome special guests and visitors to the school and each year it is performed at the school’s Pōwhiri service to welcome new students and staff on the first day of the school year. The Tihoi students perform it at Whanganui Bay, as part of the whakatau that is performed on the local marae after each of the boys have completed their mihi, as well as for parents and staff as a thank you at the conclusion of the Tihoi graduation ceremony.
“In my mind, the performance of the haka is the litmus test of our school and culture. I am really proud of the positive and enthusiastic way in which students have embraced it and the passion and energy which they put into it. So many have commented on its spine-tingling impact when our students perform the haka, both inside and outside the school grounds,” says Mr Lander.
REBECCA ROBINSON
8 House haka, 2010 9 Sir Edmund Hillary mural unveiling, 2018
House haka, 2017
House haka, 2014
School Pōwhiri service, 2017
13 Tihoi students perform haka at Whanganui Bay, 2016
Snippets
Andrew
Andrew Mortimore (Williams 19931997) returned to his roots to become the new Western Area Commander for the Police. He is based in Huntly and covers the region all the way down the western side of the Waikato, from Raglan to Pio Pio.
Ryan Ballantyne
An Olympic Solidarity Tokyo 2020 scholarship was awarded to talented shot putter Ryan Ballantyne (Fitchett 2012-2016). Only ten of the prestigious scholarships were available and are designed to assist athletes preparing and attempting to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. The scholarships provide monthly training grants to cover training and preparation costs.
Dr Nick Woolfield
Nick Woolfield (Sargood 1968-1972) and his wife Fay are making a huge impact in Kyrgyzstan with children with cerebral palsy. They went to Kyrgyzstan in 2013 as volunteers. Dr Woolfield has received multiple awards for his work. One of those awards was a medal and commendation from Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health for progressing health in the country. He also received a certificate from the province’s governor for his work with UNICEF. In addition, the Kyrgyzstan’s Department of Labour and Social Development awarded him its highest honour for his work.
Peter Harris (School 1969-1972) was awarded the Ernst and Young New Zealand 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year in October. He has been chosen to represent New Zealand in the international competition at Monaco in June of this year. Peter lives in Auckland with his wife, Kate, and has five children and six grandchildren.
von Dadelszen, David
and Chris
Stephen von Dadelszen (Hall 19691973), David Parr (Hall 1969-1973) and Chris Parr (Hamilton 1968-1972) popped in to St Paul’s for a visit and a tour. The three had many stories and memories to share.
Dylan Coull
Dylan Coull (Williams 2008-2012) has established his own company, Coull Builders. His passion for construction began at St Paul’s when he helped build a house at school as part of the construction class. The Otorohanga-based business is doing well, picking up a spectrum of work.
Ted Coats
Ted Coats (School 1965-1969) is remembered by his science teacher as a physics whizz. The former Dux of the school recently featured in NZFarmer. co.nz. His work as a leader in the creation of New Zealand’s livestock tracing system has made him an excellent voice on the topic of the Nait system.
Taylor Cockerton
Taylor Cockerton (Sargood 20122015) while being a university student manages to fit in several races in New Zealand and internationally. He recently raced in Malaysia on the Sepang Formula One Circuit, as well as competed in the NZ Grand Prix.
Toni Anda
Toni Anda (Harington 2011-2013) completed her Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in accounting and finance, and was selected to be an investment banker with Macquarie Group. In addition, she was chosen to represent New Zealand at a United Nations Youth Delegation in the United States.
Wei-Wei Ng
Wei-Wei Ng (Harington 2008-2009) has been working in Auckland as a solicitor. She has received an incredible opportunity that has taken her from Auckland to Shanghai. She was awarded two full Prime Minister’s scholarships for Asia and the China Scholarship Council award. This award has given her the opportunity to study in China for a year. She is living in Shanghai studying Chinese language.
Luke Toomey
Luke Toomey (Hall 2006-2010) is taking the golfing world by storm. He earned his China tour card with a win in the China Tour International Qualifying stage.
Andrew Mortimore
Mortimore
Nick Woolfield
Stephen
Parr
Parr
Toni Anda, General Assembly at the United Nations
Ted Coats (photo courtesy of Stuff Limited)
Peter Harris
Peter Harris
Seeking the masters of cricket
The Collegians’ Masters Cricket team will be in Whanganui February 1-10, 2019 for the New Zealand Masters Games. If you are aged 35 or over and have a healthy appetite for cricket, come represent St Paul’s Collegians and enjoy the social element the Masters Games are renowned for.
Fees: $25 per player | Event: 20/20
A separate New Zealand Masters Games registration will be required.
For further information contact: Suzanne Miller, Collegians Executive Officer, +64 7 957 8805 or collegians@stpauls.school.nz
Or, Petera Hudson, 027 658 4663 or worldsalsatours@gmail.com
Cameron French
Well done to Cameron French (Hall 2006-2010) who represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth games. Earlier in the year, he broke the New Zealand record for 400m hurdles with a time of 49.33 seconds.
We occasionally like to send you an email or write you a letter. If we do not have your email or postal address, please update it by emailing: collegians@stpauls.school.nz or going to the Collegians tab at www.stpauls.school.nz
Condolences
One of our foundation students, Dennis Terry (School, Sargood 19591963) died on 14 Oct 2017 in Katikati.
William Bethell died October 2017. William was the father of three Collegians, Alan, Jim and Graeme who were at school from 1959-1966.
We give our condolences to families of St Paul’s Collegians who have experienced the loss of a loved one over the past year.
Board of Trustees member and Fellow of the school, Colin Eyre died in October, aged 93 years. Colin and his wife Loris dedicated many years of service to the school. Their sons David, Mark, Stuart and Grant all attended St Paul’s.
Alan King (School, Sargood 1960-1961) died in November 2017.
Michael J Selby, Board of Trustees (19731978), passed away on 21 January 2018. Dr Selby made a significant contribution to the school. He was one of the visionaries of Tihoi. He had been a colleague of both Tony Hart and Reg Hornsby through Christ’s College.
Maye Tucker
Q.S.M., J.P.
Matron of School House 1965-1975
Written by Pat and Diana Plant
It
is
with great
sadness
that
we note the death of Mrs Maye Tucker. Maye was the matron in School House from 1965 to 1972 and during that time, she was
one of the ‘personalities’ of the school.
Her influence was far greater than her position. Maye was always impeccably dressed and very efficient in the house, but it was her cheerful, bubbly personality that endeared her to students and staff alike. She was one of the real characters of the school and was sure to lighten everyone’s spirits whenever she arrived.
Maye’s methods were not always what one would expect. If she found a boy avoiding showering, she would put on her plastic ‘mac’ and get in the shower with him, using a scrubbing brush to make sure she got him clean. She was always ready to speak her mind and some of her exchanges with a particular housemaster are legendary.
In spite of the fact that Maye did not drink, she loved a party and, with her husband Allan, was a regular attender at all staff social activities. Both her sons, Gordon (Hamilton 19671970) and Trevor (Hamilton 1968-1972) had successful school careers and later, Maye was instrumental in sending her grandson Nelson (Sargood 19961998) to St Paul’s.
1 Maye Tucker
2 Maye Tucker with other school matrons, 1973
3 Maye Tucker at the Clark House reopening, 2011
A weekend of cricket
Collegians return to play cricket
At the annual Collegians’ cricket match, we had two matches on two fields. Our 1st XI struggled to hit a consistent length which resulted in a quick start for the Collegians XI by Freddy Walker (Fitchett 2008-2012) with 41 runs off 38 balls, and Ben Blackett (Sargood 2002-2006) scoring 43 off 30 balls. However, a great finish with the ball held the Collegians to a par score of 157 off their 20 overs.
Top bowlers were Jarrod Mealings (Year 13) with two wickets for 15 runs and George Ott (Year 12) taking three wickets for 24 runs. Chasing the current XI started quite slowly and could not accumulate singles when needed, Bennet Groube (Year 13) stood out with a superb 70 off 53 balls which anchored the innings for a big finish. A quick fire 36* off 18 balls from Jarrod wasn’t enough, as the 1st XI fell short by 10 runs.
In the second match, the Collegians 2nd XI were more ruthless and clinical in their approach. They got off to a flyer with Dillion Kelliher (Hamilton 2011-2015), Bede Higgens (Williams 2012-2016) and Chris Swanson (School 2011-2015). But it was the class of Mr Rameka that really gave momentum to the Collegians, scoring a massive 204 off their 20 overs. Mr Andrew Gibbs (School Housemaster) took the new ball and delivered the heat sending Cooper Robinson (Year 11) back to School House. Campbell Robb (Year 11) and Liam Waide (Year 12) pushed hard at the target but never looked like getting remotely close. The Collegians once again showed their experience, talent…and better chat.
It was great to see so many faces back for the event. Thanks to all the Collegians for travelling far and wide to attend this. It was great to hear stories from the 70s. A big thank you to Suzanne Miller for organising the event and to Alastair Blackett (Sargood 2012-2016) for arranging the boys for each team.
MICHAEL RAMEKA (Williams 1997-1999) Teacher in Charge of Cricket
An evening with Dan Vettori and Bumble
An evening with Dan Vettori and David Lloyd (aka Bumble) was a sold-out fundraising event held on Saturday 24 February. Hosted by Simon Doull and featuring comedian Ben Hurley, the evening was a hilarious and clever combination of all things cricket as Bumble, a former England international cricketer, first class umpire and England coach and Dan Vettori kept their audience entertained for hours. The event raised more than $30k towards sending St Paul’s cricket teams to Sri Lanka in 2019.
Peter Leggat (Hamilton 1973-1977), John Tanner (Hamilton 1973-1977) and Petera Hudson (School 1974-1976)
Tere Vickridge (Clark 1970-1974), Rodney Hartles (Clark 1972-1975), John Blue (Hamilton 19711975), Ray Bird (Hamilton 1974-1976)
Parent supporters, Donald and Sheryl Sandford with Jon Tanner and Peter Leggat
Mr and Mrs Hill enjoy catching up with Terry Collins (Hall 1971-1975)
Greg Thompson (Hamilton 1971-1975) and Petera Hudson (School 1974-1976) catch up at the Daniel Vettori and David Lloyd ‘Bumble’ evening
Malcolm Hill (teacher and coach 1966-1995), Paul Rennie (School 1972-1976), John Blue (Hamilton 1971-1975), Tere Vickridge (Clark 1970-1974), Ray Bird (Hamilton 1974-1976)
Cricketers – young and old
Auction items help raise more than $30k
Guests gathering before start of show
1975 St Paul’s 1st XI cricket
Simon Doull and Ben Hurley
Daniel Vettori with David Lloyd (Bumble)
8 MARCH
FRIDAY 8 MARCH
• 2.00pm: Official opening with St Paul’s current students
2.00pm: Official opening with St Paul’s current students
• 3.30pm: Tours of the school in era groups
3.30pm: Tours of the school in era groups
4.30pm: Registration
• 4.30pm: Registration
• 5.30 – 9.00pm: Mix and mingle. Drinks, nibbles and endless chatting
5.30 – 9.00pm: Mix and mingle. Drinks, nibbles and endless chatting
720 tickets available
Dress code is tidy casual
720 tickets available Dress code is tidy casual
SATURDAY 9 MARCH
SATURDAY 9 MARCH
• 10.00am – 11.30am: Morning tea, boarding house tours and group photos.
• 11.30am – 1.30pm: Collegians sport. All invited to participate or be part of the crowd. Events will include cricket, netball, touch etc.
• 6.00pm – 9.00 pm: Formal dinner, drinks and 'on the couch' interviews with Collegians from each era
10.00am – 11.30am: Morning tea, boarding house tours and group photos. 11.30am – 1.30pm: Collegians sport. All invited to participate or be part of the crowd. Events will include cricket, netball, touch etc. 6.00pm – 9.00 pm: Formal dinner, drinks and 'on the couch' interviews with Collegians from each era
500 tickets available Dress code is formal
500 tickets available Dress code is formal
All activities are held at the school Times may vary, please refer to the website
All activities are held at the school Times may vary, please refer to the website
BUY TICKETS
BUY TICKETS Tickets are limited and can be purchased at www.stpauls.school.nz/reunion
Tickets are limited and can be purchased at www.stpauls.school.nz/reunion
Alternatively, get your tickets by any of these methods:
Alternatively, get your tickets by any of these methods:
• Email collegians@stpauls.school.nz for bank account details to pay online.
• Email collegians@stpauls.school.nz for bank account details to pay online.
• Phone 07 957 8805 to organise over the phone payment with your credit card.
• Phone 07 957 8805 to organise over the phone payment with your credit card.
• Send a cheque to Suzanne Miller, St Paul’s Collegiate School, Private Bag 3069, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240.
• Send a cheque to Suzanne Miller, St Paul’s Collegiate School, Private Bag 3069, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240.
Fu ll wee kend ticket : $150
The lone mountie of Benneydale
While most young boys growing up in the 60s and 70s spent their Saturday mornings watching Bonanza, Bill Eivers (Sargood 1976-1979) was busy living the real thing on his family’s 14,000ha station.
It was there, between the rolling hills of the rural East Coast, that his love of animals grew into a job that now sees the Senior Constable hit the annual trade shows with his colleague, an 18-year-old chestnut mare named Ali.
In hindsight, his future as a mounted police officer seems inevitable.
His father, a farmer and keen equestrian, had a large staff of shepherds who used horses every day with young Bill often joining them on their excursions.
Push came to shove in the 1980s. With an economic downturn in full swing and a young family to feed, Bill looked to the New Zealand Police to provide him with more “positive prospects”.
After successive stints as a traffic officer, a dog handler on the armed offenders’ squad and a deployment to the Solomon Islands during the period of civil tensions, Bill relocated to Benneydale as their sole officer.
When I’m on horseback I can see over high fences and into back yards which I think is a bit of a deterrent for would-be criminals and makes the community feel safe.
“I used to ride around the farm with a piece of string around the horse’s nose and was frequently wiped out on trees and gate posts.”
However Bill insists he had no inkling of his career path as a young lad who, by his own admission, “failed miserably” academically at St Paul’s.
“At boarding school all I wanted was to be at home with my horses. That was always my passion.”
Upon leaving St Paul’s Bill stepped straight into the family business, farming for 13 years on the East Coast and Central Otago, which he punctuated with Polo and “a bit of rodeo riding on bulls and bareback horses.”
Life in the sleepy King Country town of just 200 people is a stark contrast to his previous postings but it has given Bill the opportunity to combine his lifelong passion with his day job.
Although the New Zealand Police’s mounted division officially dissolved in 1953 with mounted officers only used occasionally for special events, Bill still brings Ali along on his day-to-day.
“When I’m on horseback I can see over high fences and into back yards which I think is a bit of a deterrent for would-be criminals and makes the community feel safe.”
The pair’s time to shine is at the Fieldays where they patrol the tens of thousands who descend on Mystery Creek each year.
“Before we started at the Fieldays, they were getting around 25 to 30 thefts from cars each year. When we started patrolling in 2011, it decreased to one reported theft. Ali and I can easily weave in between cars and spot anyone suspicious.”
But the biggest buzz for Bill, is the “awesome” reaction the members of the public have to Ali.
“Kids especially love meeting her. They climb all over her and babies love to stick their fingers up her nose but she loves it. She goes into Fieldays mode.”
“People have a connection with animals and I believe it bridges the gap between us and them.”
RACHEL FITNESS
Bill Eivers and Ali (photo courtesy of Stuff Limited)
Living the American football dream
Six years ago, Elliot Collier (Hall 2011-2012) was lacing up his football boots to play in front of 20 people in the Waikato Secondary School Football league.
Now, he’s running out in front of 20,000 Americans alongside Chicago Fire teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger – arguably one of the best Germans to ever play the game and winner of the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
You could say he’s ‘living the American dream’.
But like any Kiwi, it all started with humble beginnings.
“Mike told me about going to prep school in the United States and how that would help me get a scholarship to a university,” Elliot said.
“That started the whole idea.”
So Elliot finished up his schooling at St Paul’s, with his newfound dream of going to the United States, and headed south down to Wellington to attend the Ole Football Academy.
Indeed, the real journey started back in 2011, when Elliot decided to make the move from his home in Rotorua, to school at St Paul’s.
Before that, he was travelling to and fro with his parents from Rotorua to Hamilton and Auckland for football more than three times a week.
He came into St Paul’s and was under the tutelage of legendary football coach Mike Groom, who Elliot said had a profound and immediate impact on his career.
“Mike was a great coach and he loved the type of football I did and loved the way I played,” says Elliot.
“Our football side was awesome. Working with Mike, our trainings were possessionbased and also focused on expressing yourself as a player, which is what I loved to do.”
Of course, Elliot impressed everyone he came up against, but it was through St Paul’s and Mr Groom that Elliot learned about heading to the United States on a football scholarship.
This academy was formed to provide the best options, for the best players in New Zealand football – whether that be professionally, or through the US university system.
“I stayed there for a year and got a scholarship offer pretty early in that year so I was able to focus on my game and develop further as a player.”
That scholarship was to Loyola University Chicago – a prestigious school that competed in the NCAA Division I competition. For university footballers, this was the place to be.
“Loyola was an amazing school,” Elliot said.
“The campus is beautiful, the academics and facilities were great. The football team played a good brand of hardworking, possession-orientated football, and I loved playing for my coaches there.”
Elliot always wanted to go pro, but having a backup plan was always important.
“I could have got a career-ending injury or something could have happened that stopped me from achieving that goal,” he said.
“So I’m glad I had the opportunity to do what I love while getting a degree at the same time.”
Luckily for Elliot, it all worked out perfectly.
After four years at Loyola, Elliot entered the MLS Super Draft – a process used for Major League Soccer clubs to pickup youngsters out of college.
Mike Groom told me about going to prep school in the US and how that would help me get a scholarship to a university.
Chicago chose Elliot, and after a monthlong trial, he was signed full-time, bringing the total number of Kiwis playing in the MLS to 10. And just to add to the poetry, he scored a goal in his first start for the club, with Bastian Schweinsteiger out with injury.
He’s come a long way since those days travelling from Rotorua. He now lives in an area of Chicago called Wicker Park, he trains six days a week, and can finally call himself a professional footballer – though he tries his best to just stay focused.
And his advice for those looking to do the same?
“Follow whatever drives you. If football is your greatest passion, then follow that wherever that takes you.”
SAM HEWAT (SCHOOL 2006-2010)
Chicago Fire footballer, Elliot Collier
United front in student leadership
With a strong focus on improving school unity in 2018, our student leaders are Head Boy Lane Tims, Head Girl Sarah Jackson, Deputy Head Boy Kaenan Ferguson and Deputy Head Girl Victoria Chanwai.
Lane has a strong background in both sports and academics. He is a member of the hockey 1st XI team and the athletics team and has competed at both regional and national level – achieving podium finishes for high jump and hurdles. Describing himself as a “borderline perfectionist”, Lane intends to lead by example, exerting flexibility and a good attitude, while staying true to his morals.
Sarah likes to encourage other students to put themselves out there. A confident public speaker and organiser, Sarah has a number of key accomplishments under her belt having placed second in Waikato secondary schools’ tennis, achieving scholastic centurion for sports science, organising a 40-hour famine for World Vision and being nominated ‘best girl’ at Tihoi girls’ camp two years running.
Kaenan is a talented sportsman and performer. He has represented St Paul’s in futsal and soccer, as well as coached colts B and refereed colts A. He is currently playing for the Corinthians football team. Kaenan has held lead roles in school productions and his enthusiasm and positive approach to St Paul’s life has seen him recognised in a number of academic, service and cultural activities.
Victoria is dedicated to all aspects of school life. A gifted violinist, she has played with the NZ Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra and has achieved her Violin Recital ATCL Diploma with Distinction. A rowing coxswain, her crews have gained numerous podium finishes at Maadi Cup, including the Dawn Cup for girls’ under 18 4+. Demonstrating empathy and compassion, she visits the rehabilitation wards at Waikato Hospital to play her violin.
UK football coach appointed
This year, St Paul’s welcomed football coach Sam Wilkinson. Sam has spent six years coaching in the UK and is one of the only Kiwi coaches to have worked in the English academy system.
Sam grew up playing football in the Waikato, he played at national league level for Waikato FC and Auckland City, as well as represented Hamilton Wanderers, Melville United and Tauranga City at regional level.
While in the UK, he worked for a Birmingham-based coach education company, West Bromwich Albion Football Club as their under-14 coach, as well as coached in Birmingham City across all academy age groups from under-7 to under-21.
“I am delighted to join St Paul’s and believe we can create a truly unique football programme here. My aim is to develop a clear and identifiable playing and development philosophy and give every player a chance to reach their potential as a footballer.”
Tickets on sale now stpauls.school.nz/�ckets Southwell School
Sam Wilkinson
L-R Kaenan Ferguson, Victoria Chanwai, Sarah Jackson and Lane Tims
Help us get to Argentina!
Tea towels certainly come in handy or they make great gifts. Help our rugby and hockey teams get to Argentina by purchasing one (or both) of these beautiful St Paul’s collector tea towels.
Stocks are limited, so get in quick! Order online at: stpauls.school.nz/Publications/ Downloads/StPauls-TeaTowelOrderForm.pdf
A voice for NZ youth
A St Paul’s Year 12 student will represent Waikato and NZ youth at the 2018 Aotearoa Youth Declaration.
Elliot Leighton-Slater was selected to attend the UN Youth’s flagship civics education conference, where participants develop policy recommendations on issues in New Zealand for the Youth Declaration document. This document is distributed to politicians, civic leaders and government officials and represents the primary voice of Aotearoa Youth.
The conference is a good opportunity to equip participants from across the country with a deeper understanding of their place within their society and the ways they can actively contribute.
Performing in NYC
The opportunity to learn from renowned conductors and perform at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City was given to three students earlier this year.
Current students Anna Hamilton and Victoria Chanwai (both Year 13) and 2017 school leaver Aidan Phillips were invited to perform as part the 2018 Honours Performance Series. This is the second time Aidan has been selected for the prestigious event. Participation is limited to the highest-rated high school performers from across the world and is a direct result of the talent, dedication and achievements demonstrated in their application and audition recording.
A first for Anna and Victoria this is an experience they will never forget.
“Performing in Carnegie Hall is ultimately every musician’s goal. Of the 12,000 high school students who auditioned, I was astonished when I was selected. Performing on the same stage where Tchaikovsky has performed was an enthralling experience that literally made me tear up,” says Victoria.
Triathlete’s run of success
Oliver Larcombe (Year 10) has been swimming, biking and running his way to a number of top placings in various triathlon competitions over the season.
He achieved third place in the Future ChampioNZ festival, held in Taupo – a major competition that attracts top triathletes from all over the country. He also took out first place in the youth super sprint at the 2018 Kinloch Triathlon, and placed second in the under-16 division of Mount Maunganui’s annual Surfbreaker triathlon.
At the national schools’ championships, Oliver competed for the first time in the under-16 division placing fourth in the triathlon and fifth in the aquathon. In the Waikato schools’ individual championships, he took away a silver medal in the under-16 division and was part of the team that achieved gold at the teams’ championships along with Ben Littlejohn and Trey Lincoln.
A vigorous training schedule – 12 to 13 times per week, broken into swimming, running and cycling sessions – is what keeps Oliver in top form. “The thing I enjoy most about triathlons is the satisfaction of your training paying off from the winter. The more training you can do over the people you compete with, the better your result will be (within reason),” says Oliver.
Oliver Larcombe (photo courtesy of Fergus Greer Photography)
Elliot Leighton-Slater
60 years of houses
When Collegians reunite, conversation quickly turns to their St Paul’s ‘house life’. Banter pours out about which house was the best or who had the toughest matron. Houses have always been an important part of life at St Paul’s with some of the most memorable moments happening within the houses. In preparation for our 60th reunion next March, we bring you some historical and recent news about house life at St Paul’s over the past 60 years.
School House (1959)
First head of house: Phillip Clemow (1961) and Daniel Oliver (1999)
Current head of house: Jamie Sandford
Current housemaster: Andrew Gibbs
Mascot: Simba the Lion
In 1961, the dormitory block was officially named School House – St Paul’s first house. Day and boarding students mixed in this house until 1964. The original building (which is now the maths block) was unique in that fog would creep into the downstairs dorms from the fields. Rhys Lewis (housemaster, 1983-1992) said, “the whole position of the house had its humour with the academic life of the school going on all around round us while
Sargood House (1961)
First head of house: Nicholas Bryant
Current head of house: Liam Allen
Current housemaster: Ryan McCarthy Mascot: Sylvester the Cat
Sargood House was named after generous donors to the school, the Sargood Trust. The 1961 seniors had an interesting start living in a tent for the first six weeks while they waited for their quarters to open. Some Sargood Collegians like to think of their house as the ‘sporty’ one. Pat Plant (housemaster, 1963-1977) was passionate
School House – plonked in the middle – slept, rose, showered, made beds, used bad language, copied each other’s prep, played hockey in the dorms, made coffee, ate toast, laughed, joked, planned great victories, read questionable magazines, rang girlfriends, wotted, mended bikes on beds, etc… all quite unnoticed by the other pupils and staff.”
In 1993, School House (boarding) closed. The house was re-established as a day house in 1999. School House returned strong and committed; only two years after reopening, it showed the rest of the school it was a serious contender when they won the house music competition and continued to win it six out of the next seven years.
about having an athletic house. Morning routines included an early morning block run and he had a motto of ‘play every game to win’.
Sargood have had many sporting highlights over the years including wining the cross-country from 19801984, the rugby in 1985 and athletics repeatedly in the 80s and 90s. In the 1991 house swimming competition, they won six out of seven relays and broke three records. Sargood House has been blessed to have Bev McCarthy as the matron since 1988, and she continues to care for the boys today.
Williams House (1963)
First head of house: John Niemack
Current head of house: Christian Collingwood
Current housemaster: Craig Hardman
Mascot: Shrek
Williams House was named after Mr A B Williams of the Williams Trust, significant donors to St Paul’s. The paint was still wet when the first Williams House boys arrived in 1963 and the showers were not immediately available. Evan McCulloch explained, “in the beginning, the only interior access to the second floor was by means of a
Hamilton House (1964)
First head of house: Andrew Bryant
Current head of house: Temwa Chileshe
Current housemaster: Ian Campbell
Mascot: Bulldog
The first day-house was named after Hamilton City. It was located in the Hobbies Hut, a building raised on jacks as a headquarters for the day-boys. It was described by JD Baker as, “the bleak room that doubled as a common room and locker room with its smokey pot-bellied stove, a clutter of steel lockers and precious little else.”
Clark House (1967)
staircase opposite the main door of the foyer… boys returning from the ablution block were obliged to parade themselves, often scantily clad, in front of any visitors who might be there. Only when neighbours on the school’s west boundary complained did curtains appear in the dormitories.”
Under the influence of ‘wee Mac’, Williams House became a top musical house. A Williams House legend often told is when Miss Hill’s Fiat Bambina found its way, sideways, into the foyer of Williams House.
Early success was enjoyed for Hamilton House in debating and then sports. In these early years, the day boys found it special to be a part of a small group. The first housemaster, Phillip Scott, was remembered for drifting through the teardrop, over the grass, between two trees, in his red mini.
By 1972, the ‘small’ group had grown to 134 boys and it was time to find a larger space. In 1998, numbers grew to 150 and the house had to use the school hall as its common room.
First head of house: Humphry Rolleston
Current head of house: Thomas Brown
Current housemaster: Neil Muirhead
Mascot: Dragon
Clark House, named after founder, Mr G Ivan Clark, opened in 1967. The first 40 Clark House boys were housed in the old dining hall (the current science block area). Housemaster Robin Bayley carefully planned the layout of this space to ensure they could fit. He used the old vegetable storage rooms
for the prefects. It was a relief when the new purpose-built Clark House opened in 1973 with 78 boys; the opening was commemorated by winning senior house-rugby that year.
A sporting highlight for Clark House was when they won and broke the school record in the house-swimming relay in the early 80s. Not only did they break the record, but they did this in spite of (or because of) a swimmer’s loss of his togs in the first lap.
Hall House (1973)
First head of house: Michael Seeley
Current head of house: Alex Johnson
Current housemaster: Carl Neethling
Mascot: Pop-Eye
Hall House, founded in 1973, was named after Foundation Board member Mr Harry Hall and commemorates all the survey work he volunteered to the school. Hall House first opened in the ‘old’ Clark House, which was the original dining hall.
The selection of boys for this house in its first year was decided by a toss of a coin and the house opened under the direction of Malcolm ‘Maxie’ Hill with 70 boys.
A Venture in Faith notes that Hall House had a particularly good year in 1978 under the direction of John Allen (Hall 1974-1978), as head of house. That year they won the rugby, cricket and hockey, and John led the debating team that won the New Zealand secondary schools’ debating.
Harington House (1985)
First head of house: Andrea Jenkins
Current head of house: Briana Cardon (boarding) and Sasha Patil (day)
Current housemaster: Katie Lilley (boarding) and Jackie Lock (day)
Mascot: None
The ‘Girls House’ opened in 1985 with just five girls in its first year. Temporary ‘residence’ was made in Mr McMorran’s careers room and then they moved to the converted sport’s store, close to the current student centre. Malcolm Hill took the girls under his wing as housemaster; the house was referred to by a variety of names including ‘Hill’s angels’, ‘the birds nest’, ‘the doll’s house’ and ‘Hill House’.
Fitchett House (1999)
First head of house: Lee Patton
Current head of house: Callum Prosser
Current housemaster: Colin Lewis
Mascot: Great White Shark
Fitchett House opened in 1999 and moved straight into the new premises of the school’s student centre. The house was aptly named after Dr Marcus Fitchett, the first Chairman of the Board. Peter Gilbert led the new house as housemaster and the recruits for the house were taken from the other day-houses. The early years of Fitchett saw them
The five girls were to be treated on an equal basis to the boys and they valiantly competed in the swimming and athletics against the other houses. The girls’ house was officially named ‘Harington House’ in 1991 after Mrs Pamela Harington, a very active Board member. Dr Kay Etheredge became the first housemaster of Harington boarding when it opened in 1992 in its current location.
In 2005, the boarding house was extended with the Loris Eyre wing. With further rooms added this year, the house now accommodates over 50 boarders. Harington makes an impact with their annual fashion show, which showcases the creativity and unity of Harington House.
struggle in music with little musical talent brought over from the other houses. However, they excelled in sports winning both athletics and cross-country in their infancy.
Prior to the opening of Fitchett, there was much discussion among the boys about what colour would represent the newly opened house. The popular vote was for orange (to match the successful Dutch football team of the era). They were slightly surprised when the new house colour was announced as white.
University graduates
Congratulations to St Paul’s Collegians who have recently had a tertiary qualification conferred. Please note not all tertiary institutions provide us with results; we include what is provided to us.
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Laura Thomson
Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy)
Joseph Foreman
Certificate in Business
Savannah-Jane Welsh
Bachelor of Arts
University of Waikato
Michael Taylor
Postgraduate Certificate in Management
Victoria Hill
Master of Educational Leadership with First Class Honours
Matthew Reid
Master of Social Sciences with First Class Honours
Jason Grinter
Bachelor of Science
Stevie Noe
Master of Science (Research) with First Class Honours
Andrew Pullon
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Management Studies
Jane Kim
Bachelor of Science
Chaman Singh
Master of Management Studies with First Class Honours
Nina Phillips
Master of Teaching and Learning – Primary Sector
Cameron Blue
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Social Sciences
Carl Brandt
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Management Studies
Jonathan Eyers
Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours
Theo MacDonell
Bachelor of Arts
Joshua Malpas
Bachelor of Business Analysis
Oliver Tomic
Bachelor of Management Studies
Samuel Masterton
Bachelor of Communication Studies
Jordan Ogilvy
Bachelor of Science
Richard Heraud
Doctor of Philosophy
Geraldine McHaffie
Bachelor of Science
Aleesha McKay
Master of Science
Robyn Henderson
Bachelor of Business Analysis
Asher Kosoof
Graduate Diploma in Human Development
Sarah Cranswick
Bachelor of Business Analysis
Bachelor of Laws
James Atherton
Bachelor of Teaching–Primary
Callum Brown
Bachelor of Science (Technology)
Tina Forde
Bachelor of Management Studies
Will Moreland
Bachelor of Science
Bradley Morton
Bachelor of Management Studies
Sam Watson-Holmes
Bachelor of Environmental Planning
Alec Wilson
Bachelor of Management Studies
Tobias Dean
Bachelor of Business Analysis
Massey University
Bradley Nieper
Master of Science with Merit
Duncan Van Der Maas
Bachelor of AgriScience
Dylan Wallbank
Bachelor of AgriCommerce
Eliza Larkman
Bachelor of Communication
Jonathan Moss
Bachelor of AgriCommerce
Kate Ferris
Master of Science with First Class Honours
Mark Strachan
Diploma in Business Studies
Timothy Munro
Master of Supply Chain Management with Distinction
University of Canterbury
Nicholas Lamont
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours
Lincoln University
Benjamin Brogden
Bachelor of Science
Kendal Buchanan
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
Gordon Fullerton
Diploma in Applied Science
Renee Piggott
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
William Reeves
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
Thomas Schicker
Graduate Diploma in Valuation
Kate Wilkins
Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)
Otago University
Kim Miller
Bachelor of Science
Devon Nolan
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
Evan Wilson
Bachelor of Medicine
Bachelor of Surgery
Natalie Hong
Bachelor of Medicine
Bachelor of Surgery
Angus Williams
Bachelor of Physical Education
Hamish Vodane
Postgraduate Diploma in Sport
Exercise Medicine
Christopher Power
Postgraduate Certificate in Executive Management
St Paul’s FOUNDATION
Final word from former chair
St Paul’s Foundation Ltd is in a healthy position as we commence the 2018 financial year. Now in our 14th year of operation, the organisation was established to ensure St Paul’s Collegiate School maintains its financial independence and is able to provide the various facets of education in line with the vision and foresight of its founders.
In comparison to most independent secondary schools, St Paul’s is relatively young. Whilst being leaders in many applications, we are very traditional in our delivery of the values, culture and quality of education one would expect in developing young men and women of “character”.
There is no doubt this is a “sought after” recipe for our school roll is at an all-time high. Our school board has indicated our current numbers are the optimum to deliver the quality of education that is desirable.
Having enjoyed a wonderful opportunity to assist St Paul’s Collegiate School to this point as Chair of the Foundation, I have chosen to retire from the role at this year’s AGM. Over the busiest period of the Foundation’s existence, there are many physical testaments dotted around the campus that involve the work of the Foundation. The highlight for me however has been the wonderful people I have had the opportunity to meet and work with, the selfless generosity of many and the outstanding young men and women whose education has been enhanced.
Thank you and regards, JOHN JACKSON
St Paul’s Foundation new chair
Megan Smith has been elected chair of St Paul’s Foundation having been a director of the Foundation for more than three years.
Megan has substantial business experience in not-for-profit organisations including being a CEO of Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa.
She is a qualified registered nurse and has spent 18 years in sales and marketing management working for leading multinational pharmaceutical firms.
She is married to Peter Smith (Clark House 1982-1986) and together they have three boys, two currently at St Paul’s and the youngest due to start in 2019.
As a valued and industrious member of both the Foundation and WACT Board, we look forward to Megan’s expertise (and wonderful sense of humour) as chair of the St Paul’s Foundation 2018 and beyond. St Paul’s Foundation is in great hands.
Growth of music warrants building extension
The strong musical talent of St Paul’s students was evident on the evening of April 4 when renowned opera singer Dame Malvina Major joined guests, staff and students to officially open the Mary Hornsby Music Centre.
The evening began with the 120 guests being treated to mini concerts by our students; the big band, guitar group, choir, orchestra and newly formed drum line. The students wowed Dame Malvina who said, “St Paul’s already has a great music programme, now with these fantastic new facilities it will be even better – it makes me want to come back to school!”
St Paul’s Headmaster, Mr Grant Lander, accompanied by Dame Malvina, led the evening’s presentation by unveiling the Mary Hornsby Music Centre donors’ board and officially opening the new Evan McCulloch music classroom.
Evan McCulloch, St Paul’s first music director, had been a strong influence in the school’s music programme. He first started teaching at St Paul’s Collegiate School in 1961 when the school roll was 466 students. Evan fought long and hard to establish the construction of a music building within the school and in 1976 his dream came true!
With the school roll now over 700 students, St Paul’s had outgrown existing music building built in 1976, so an expansion was required to accommodate the growing number of students taking lessons and music groups requiring practice facilities.
The expansion, which was completed in October 2017, includes a classroom, three group practice rooms, student storage, music office and a recording studio which will allow for the implementation of the new music technology curriculum.
Before cutting the ribbon to the Evan McCulloch Music room, Dame Malvina had a few poignant words to say, “school years are the most important time for any young musician, as this is the time to truly master your instrument”.
To conclude the evening’s entertainment, guests and staff joined the school choir to sing the Hymn Jerusalem. The night finished with thank you speeches from the cultural prefects, Jack Walters and Anna Hamilton.
A huge thank you to all those who donated so generously to this worthy project. St Paul’s students and staff are very happy and proud of their shiny new facilities.
