DEAR PAST AND PRESENT FAMILIES, OLD COLLEGIANS, FELLOWS AND FRIENDS OF ST PAUL’S
CONTRIBUTORS
Karen Pickering, Kate Gibson, Monica Holt, Michelle Smith
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mark Hamilton, Andrew Constable, St Paul’s Media Team
OLD COLLEGIANS’ ASSOCIATION
Deborah McRae 07 957 8805
MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE
Michelle Smith 07 957 8818
Karen Pickering 07 957 8898
Kate Gibson 07 957 8873
ADDRESS
St Paul’s Collegiate School Private Bag 3069
Waikato Mail Centre Hamilton 3240
New Zealand
PRODUCTION
Spacific 09 309 6945
ADVERTISING
If you wish to advertise in Network, please contact with Kate Gibson on 07 957 8873 for a rate card.
COVER PHOTO
Ben Barrington stars on Shortland Street
FROM THE HEADMASTER’S PEN
“A SCHOOL IS THE SUM OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH IT” – KATHERINE MANSFIELD
Over the past year, I have come to realise what it means to be part of a caring and supportive community. We all know that being a member of a family involves a great deal of give and take and sharing the successes and at times, the lows that have the potential to bring us closer together. Being a member of a large community with a similar set of beliefs and values, is very much the same as being part of a large family.
In our St Paul’s community, there are over 8,000 Old Collegians and that doesn’t include past staff or past parents. Of course, many of the people will never personally know each other, but there is something that undeniably connects us, some common experiences (memories of the Tihoi; boarding life; the camaraderie of a special sports victory; a successful show or musical performance). Values and beliefs (high standards of conduct, uniform and dress, Christian values) that we share and we hold dearly to, even if there are decades that separate us.
In October, a group of 56 boys, six staff and 28 parents travelled to play and support rugby and hockey games in Argentina. There is no doubt that the experience created a very special bond between each of the tour party that will live in the psyche and memories of the participants, well into the future.
In many respects, we too are pilgrims on a journey, connecting our past with our present and bringing alive the stories of the experiences we have shared.
Since becoming part of the St Paul’s community six years ago, I have met many thousands of Old Collegians at decade and house reunions and past parents at cottage evenings and functions. Most of these gatherings have involved the telling of stories of yesteryear, most told with great fondness and no doubt some embellishment. The bond between mates is undeniable, the poignancy of shared experiences is startling and the opportunities enjoyed and life lessons learned is humbling.
2015 has proven to be a stellar year for St Paul’s; top 20 performances for our 1st XI Footballers; 1st XV Rugby team (ranked 13th in NZ); 1st XI Cricketers (10th); Futsal team (8th); 1st XI Hockey; U18 rowing eight and senior boys’ squash (all 4th). Our co-ed squash team and Springbok Shield winning U18 four rowing team won their respective national team title. Individually, ten of our sportsmen represented NZ in 2015. While in cultural activities, two students were selected for the NZSS Choir, another for the NZSS Symphony Orchestra and the Big Band won a gold award at the regional musical festival and the major annual production.
Even more encouraging was the efforts of our students in raising just under $10,000 for Shave for a Cure (a Sargood House initiative) and over $20,000 for desks and chairs for disadvantaged schools in Tonga.
I hope that you are as proud of the school, its progress and ongoing achievement, as I myself am.
As a St Paul’s community, we have hopes, dreams and desires for our students, our school and ourselves. These hopes and dreams are connected with those who founded our school 56 years ago. We need to reflect and celebrate where we have come from and how the past six decades has shaped our school. But it is also important to be looking to the future for our next areas of focus.
One thing that is without doubt; it has always been, and always will be, the people such as you that make the difference.
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tāngata he tāngata, he tāngata
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people, it is people, it is people
G W LANDER, HEADMASTER
NEW ZEALAND SELECTION FOR HOOKER
It’s been another career setting year for Samisoni Taukei’aho who was selected for the New Zealand Schools squad. Selection has inched the Year 13 St Paul’s student closer to his goal of playing rugby for the Chiefs and All Blacks.
The hooker was one of 53 chosen to attend a development camp in early September. Two squads - the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarians development – were selected from the camp to play Samoa Schools, Australian Barbarians Schools and Australia Schools in Brisbane at the end of September.
Samisoni was originally named in the Barbarians squad but based on performance was shifted to New Zealand Schools.
Samisoni’s selection topped off an epic season for St Paul’s 1st XV. St Paul’s won the Central North Island competition undefeated for the second year and made it to the semi-final of the Chief’s Cup.
DIVING INTO SUCCESS
St Paul’s swimmer Thomas Griffin has only competed for two years but has quickly become the one to watch with an impressive eight medals secured throughout the season. Thomas’ pure dedication and strict training regime of 12-hours per week with the St Paul’s Swimming Club earned him the 400m free title in 4:27 at the New Zealand short course swimming championships in late August. He also won silver in the 200m butterfly.
Success continued for the young swimmer at the New Zealand secondary schools swimming championships in September where he stepped up against an older age group and secured four silver medals: 200m freestyle (2:16:68); 400m freestyle (4:39:92); 200m butterfly (2:28:79); and 100m butterfly (1:07:04).
The 13-year-old also won silver in the 200m butterfly and bronze in the 400m individual medley at the New Zealand junior swimming championships in February.
TOP TEAM IN WAIKATO HOCKEY
St Paul’s 1st XI is the top Waikato hockey team for 2015 after cracking the dominance of local rivals Hamilton Boys’ High School in a number of competitions.
The first success for St Paul’s was an annual fixture, the Matt Allen Trophy, against HBHS in early June. St Paul’s won the match 2-0, taking out the title and tearing the Bartholomew Cup from HBHS’s two-year grip. Winning the cup was a highlight for the team with the cup representing the best-of-the-best in schoolboy hockey.
Three weeks later St Paul’s won the Waikato secondary schoolboys’ A-grade in a nail biting 1-0 game against HBHS. Then, to finish off their mighty season on a high, St Paul’s placed fourth in the national Rankin Cup in September following Westlake Boys in first, St Andrew’s College in second and King’s College in third.
SILVER FERN FOR SQUASH PLAYER
Wearing the silver fern with pride (and nerves) Temwa Chileshe showed the Australian number one junior squash players how it’s done at the annual Trans-Tasman squash competition which was held in Sydney at the end of August.
During the week-long event the 15-year-old won all matches convincingly, including a 3-2 win against Queensland representative Jacob Ford who placed second at the junior Oceania competition earlier this year.
Temwa says the competition was hard but the strain on his body was harder.
“It was mentally and physically challenging. Every day was different, there was a different amount of time between games which meant that sometimes we didn’t have enough recovery time,” Temwa explained.
Temwa has been a standout squash player for St Paul’s this year having won the South Island and Waikato age group competitions as well as placing second and sixth in the North Island and Oceania events respectively.
The squash player’s success across the regional and Oceania events is what secured him top spot in the New Zealand junior team that competed across the ditch. New Zealand won 85 of the 90 matches played, winning the competition title for the second consecutive year.
When returning from the competition Temwa moved from number two in the under-15s to number 10 in the under-17s. He has his sights strongly set on the World Junior Championships when he reaches the under-19 division but until then he is determined to move his way back up the ranks to a number one or two position in the under-17s.
NZ ACTORS MAKE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Two Old Collegians. A 10 year age gap. Same award-winning Australian television series. Seems like a one in a million chance but two of New Zealand’s most talented actors both made the cut as male leads for Offspring , a hit Australian TV show.
The show ended in 2014, after five successful seasons on air and a final episode that attracted 1.5 million heartbroken viewers. In mid-2015 the show’s network, Channel 10, announced plans to bring back the quirky comedy-drama, giving viewers another chance at seeing inside Nina and Billy Proudman’s lives.
Ido Drent (Fitchett 2000-04) and Ben Barrington (Hall 1990-94) both starred as love interests of the Proudman sisters in the fifth and ‘final’ season of the show. Both have now moved on to other
projects with Ido based in LA, chasing the American market, and Ben starring on Shortland Street as Dr Drew McCaskill.
Ido was the first to land a role on Offspring. He was new to Australia and had just secured an agent to represent him when he was called into an audition that he didn’t quite understand the significance of.
“I knew it was Offspring but I had no idea what it was or how big it was. Once I found out that I had the role I started reading about it and realised it was a big deal. Then I discovered who Asha Keddy was and it was next level,” Ido explained.
He was cast in the role of Lawrence Pethbridge, the dreamy therapist of Nina Proudman (Asha Keddy) in season four. He was the invited back for season five as the love flame of Billy Proudman (Kat Stewart), Nina’s neurotic sister.
Ben joined the cast for the fifth season with Ido as Thomas Buchdahl, a character who steals Nina Proudman’s heart after the death of her husband Dr Patrick Reid (played by Australian heartthrob Matthew Le Nevez).
A complete turn in events in the final episode left viewers reeling with anger and their jaw’s embedded on the ground when Ben’s character was exposed as a cheating narcissist with a wife and second child on the way (which Nina, an obstetrician, delivers).
“I didn’t know that was going to happen at the beginning but I was glad that it did. He had been this white knight kind of guy, all that vanilla kind of stuff, and then all of a sudden you read that he has a double life,” Ben said.
“It all of a sudden became a lot more interesting. There was a layer of depth to the character.”
The bright lights and big name of the show didn’t intimidate Ben who had the experience of acting on a few TV shows under his belt.
“All of the branding, marketing and popularity of the show is a real abstract thing. Once you’re doing the job it’s just you and the other actor, all the other stuff is irrelevant to what you are doing.”
“They skip their lines too. They’re much on the same level.”
For Ido, working on Offspring with big Australian names was “like a five year old going to school for the first time.” Going
from a soap to something like Offspring was a nerve-racking experience.
“I was so nervous, sitting opposite Asha Keddy and trying to be professional. It was my first job outside of Shortland Street and it showed me that the real world of acting is actually like.”
Both actors started their careers on hit New Zealand TV shows before hitting the big time in Australia. Ido on Shortland Street and Ben on Outrageous Fortune and the Almighty Johnsons.
Ido played bad boy character Daniel Potts on Shortland Street for three years. He says the show helped build his credibility as an actor.
“Spending three years on one of the highest rating shows in New Zealand helped build my profile. Even though overseas producers might not know the show, they know that you have been part of something significant,” Ido explained.
Shortland Street has been on the air for 23 years and still upholds the status as one of New Zealand’s most popular shows. The soap has maintained viewers while free-to-air TV has been on a steady decline with the increasing popularity of online streaming and companies like Netflix.
This year Ben stars on show as Dr Drew, a high-flying plastic surgeon who loves women, booze and drugs. At the end of this season viewers can expect the usual “big drama like a fire of explosion” after which Dr Drew’s fate will hang in the balance.
While shooting Shortland Street, Ben has also been involved in Dancing with the Stars which was “absolute mayhem from start to finish.”
Ben and fellow contestant Shane Cameron were eliminated in the middle of the competition, something that didn’t come as a shock.
“The main thing for me was that I didn’t want to be the first to go. By the time I was eliminated I had become aware that there was much stronger competitors.”
Ben spent about 30 hours each week rehearsing for the show.
“It was really demanding. We rehearsed almost every day. There were times that I was doing 10 hours on Shortland and a few hours at night in the dance studio. There was about two or three weeks where it was just frantic.”
As for Ido, he starred on a mini-series at the start of 2015 that commemorated the 100 year anniversary of Gallipoli, When We Go To War. His character Charles Smith was far removed from the other characters that Ido has played in the past, adding to his diverse portfolio of acting roles.
Now, Ido is based in LA with wife Mandy and new born son Bastion who hasn’t given the star much sleep over the past three months. He is looking to make a break in the American market either in film or TV.
“I think ultimately I want to play at the top of my field. I want to be one of the go-to men internationally,” Ido said.
The young actor is swaying towards film but he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to work on another TV series with the quality of shows lifting over the past few years.
KAREN PICKERING
BEN BARRINGTON STARS AS DR DREW MCCASKILL ON SHORTLAND STREET
YOUNG FASHION DESIGNER’S CAREER ON THE RISE
New Zealand Fashion Week was only the beginning for young fashion-entrepreneur Ezekiel Crawford (Hamilton House 2012-13) whose career is on the upand-up after attracting the attention of international brands.
Ezekiel graduated in 2013, with a t-shirt label under his belt, a large social media following and the grades to secure him a spot at one of the most credible architecture universities in the country, the University of Auckland.
Now, two years later, he has raised the bar. He launched a new street wear label that attracted capital from an international investor and caught the attention of New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW).
“I was looking for a new avenue to do something creative. I had been working on a lot of different projects over summer but I wanted to establish a more professional outlet that would make me some money,” Ezekiel explained.
So, he launched Slaeve - a high-end androgynous streetwear label. Think Kanye West for Adidas.
He started drawings and concepts at the beginning of 2015 and poured his energy into finding funding. It took him two or three months of back-and-forth meetings and continuously writing proposals before he managed to get an investor onboard through NZ Investors Online.
Once he had some capital to play with, Ezekiel boldly approached NZFW: “I emailed them and told them that I was young, unique and had something different to offer. Within 15 seconds I had
a call back saying ‘we’re interested, send through your portfolio in three days’.”
It was a frantic rush. Ezekiel and two friends spent 48-hours non-stop sewing to get samples made, photographed and presented to the organisers. The end result was all worth it. Ezekiel was contacted and asked to showcase his collection.
From there, it was only four weeks before he had to have a full collection ready to showcase.
“It was a big move to do something like that, particularly when most brands start preparing for fashion week a year in advance. I knew I had a lot ahead of me but I also knew I had an opportunity to make my mum and dad proud.”
Ezekiel’s parents are the biggest motivators in his life. He is hugely aware of the sacrifices that they made to give him a quality education and the very best opportunities at life.
“Being able to attend St Paul’s was on the back of my parents’ mortgage. I didn’t grow up in a household with lots of money but ever since I was young they wanted to send me to Tihoi so they made it happen.”
“Working towards good grades and becoming a prefect was a way that I could show them I was thankful. They didn’t care what the outcome was just as long as I was doing my best.”
From good grades and school prefect to becoming a young successful business entrepreneur, the investment Ezekiel’s parents made in his education has certainly paid off.
Since showcasing his label at NZFW doors have opened for the young designer. So-much-so that in 2017 he will take a gap year from university to focus on big projects that have come his way.
“It’s spiralled into something bigger than I ever thought it was going to be. I’ve had lots of meetings with multimillion dollar brands that have asked me to collaborate with them. There is so much on the backburner at the moment.”
Although NZFW has presented opportunities for Ezekiel with big projects in the pipeline, he says none of this just landed on his lap – he had to work hard for it. He took on some valuable advice by NZFW mentors who suggested he follow up with contacts and chase leads after the show.
“A lot of people have gone to Fashion Week before and say that they didn’t get anything out of it. The problem is that they didn’t follow up like they should have. As soon as it ended I was on the hunt to make connections and follow up with people I met.”
As well as collaborating with major fashion labels – none of which can be
named at this point due to business negotiations still taking place – Ezekiel has been invited to attend two leading art schools in New York.
“I need to go to Soho for two weeks to liaise with the schools and to look at suppliers, stores and marketers while I have the heat behind me.”
To get to the Big Apple, the “biggest platform” for his label, Ezekiel is fundraising for thirty-thousand dollars.
To raise the capital needed he is releasing a one-off exclusive collection for his label Slaeve and is launching a lifestyle blog called The Soho Project.
The inspirational go-getter says anyone can make the same opportunities happen that he has, it’s just “whether or not they are willing to keep working at it when things are down.”
“It wasn’t smooth sailing for me this whole time. I would stay up until 11pm doing my uni work and then spend hours after that designing. Even up until now, trying to get the investor on board, I was writing proposal-after-proposal so that I could get someone behind me.”
“I knew once I got someone backing me, I could make it work. It comes down to continuing to grind when you just want to sleep.”
KAREN PICKERING
BRAIN RESEARCH BRINGS SCIENTIST HOME
TOP SCIENTIST SURESH MUTHUKUMARASWAMY HAS RETURNED TO NEW ZEALAND TO CONTINUE HIS GROUND-BREAKING RESEARCH INTO TREATMENTS FOR DEPRESSION.
The move was made possible after Suresh (Hall House 1992-96) was awarded one of the country’s top science prizes, a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, from the Royal Society of New Zealand.
After nine years working overseas, Suresh, 36, now works as a neurobiologist at the University of Auckland.
This year Suresh received recognition after his research into the antidepressant drug Ketamine featured in the influential medical publication the Journal of Neuroscience.
The findings of the Ketamine study, which were widely reported in New Zealand media, are considered important in finding new ways of effectively and quickly treating depression.
“It is really about developing ways that we can measure drug action in the central nervous system,” Suresh explains.
“Most of the time when a psychiatrist gives a patient a drug, we
have not had a way to measure what is going on and why they may be getting better. We can see people’s symptoms, but we can’t actually look inside, so that is obviously a limitation.”
“So what we have found when we give volunteers Ketamine, which is an experimental antidepressant, we have developed some computational approaches, combined with brain imaging, so that we can actually measure what Ketamine is doing in the brain.”
The technique used was magnetoencephalography (MEG), measuring the brain’s magnetic fields in combination with computer modelling.
Suresh says brain imaging technology allows doctors and scientists to take a peek inside the brain, in ways not possible before. “There is a lot of work being done to try and improve our ability to look inside the brain. There are a lot of people in a lot of different places putting the puzzle together.”
Suresh spent nine years in Wales, where he worked at the newly established Cardiff University Brain Imaging Centre as a research associate and later a research fellow.
The centre is regarded as one of the top brain research institutes in Europe.
He went there for further study after finishing his degree in Auckland in 2005, where he graduated with a PhD with honours in psychology in 2005. He was the recipient of a Bright Futures Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship.
It was in Cardiff where Suresh met his wife, Dina, from Kazakhstan, a PhD student. They have two young sons, Altai 3, and baby Arman and live in Mt Eden, Auckland.
Suresh’s older brother Carl (Shiva) Muthukumaraswamy (Hall House 1990-1993) also lives in Auckland and is a surgeon at Auckland City Hospital. Their parents live in Hamilton. Suresh attended Hamilton West School and Southwell before arriving at St Paul’s.
He fitted in well to life in Wales. “I enjoyed living there. It is more relaxed than living in London.”
“I left New Zealand with a lot of sheep and about four million people and a lot of greenery, to another country with a lot of sheep, about four million people, and a love of rugby.”
Suresh has enjoyed following the fortunes of Wales, his “second team” at the recent Rugby World Cup.
When Suresh left St Paul’s he was unsure of what he wanted to do and having taken mainly arts subjects at school, he enrolled in a law degree at the University of Auckland.
Taking a psychology paper in his second year sparked an interest in the human brain. His studies changed tack and he was drawn to subjects with more of a science focus. The change meant it took an extra year to finish his degree.
“It was probably an initial fascination with the complexity of the brain and what it is doing. The things the brain is required to do to get you through everyday life are actually remarkably complex” he says on his attraction to studying science.
“Things like vision and identifying things are tremendously complex and the brain achieves these things seemingly effortlessly. So there is something going on there that makes that happen and I guess that is what keeps me interested.”
He is also motivated by helping others.
“When someone gets unwell, and it is a brain disorder, it is really when those seemingly simple things, those effortless things, break down. So understanding a healthy brain can help us understand an unhealthy brain.”
While his work and young family keep him busy these days, outside work
Suresh has been a keen “middle of the pack” triathlete, having competed in two Ironman events, one in the UK and one in New Zealand.
He also enjoys running and rock climbing.
Suresh is very grateful for the Fellowship which has given him the opportunity to continue the work he did overseas.
“I was in the UK and decided I wanted to come back, so I applied for a Rutherford Fellowship and that was successful and allowed me to come back and work at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Auckland University.”
“It is a really good scheme for mid-level career scientists to get them back to New Zealand.”
The Rutherford Discovery Fellowships provide emerging scientific leaders with a funding package of $800,000 over five years which allow them to undertake research.
Suresh hopes to continue on his current career path, which includes some teaching and supervision in the University’s Schools of Pharmacy and Psychology. He is also a member of the University’s Centre for Brain Research.
“I guess I am relatively young. Thirty-six is young for a scientist; we are not like sportspeople when you are 36 you have to seriously think about retiring. When you are 36 and a scientist you are really just getting started.”
Suresh says the field has experienced and is still experiencing massive advancements. “The technology has been there 20 years now, but every couple of years there are new advancements and abilities to do things.”
“I am really just settling into my position in Auckland so hopefully I will have a long and productive career in trying to investigate the brain and trying to figure out how to use science to help people who have problems.”
MONICA HOLT
SCIENCE STUDENTS GO GLOBAL
Three St Paul’s Collegiate School students represented New Zealand at international science events across the globe in 2015. All three students were selected for the exclusive events from a pool of New Zealand’s very best young scientists.
Hugo Brown represented New Zealand at the 2015 International Chemistry Olympiad in Azerbaijan in July. He was one of only four New Zealand’s students chosen for the team after enduring an intense selection process with both practical and theoretical examinations.
Dr Jason McGrath, Hugo’s chemistry teacher at St Paul’s, says it is impossible to overstate the significance of Hugo’s selection: “It is by far the most rigorous and in-depth examination of a secondary school student’s abilities in chemistry. The four students selected are without question the very best in the country.”
Hugo and his three team mates competed against roughly 80 other countries and returned to New Zealand with a bronze medal.
Over in the UK, Bethany Langton was one of six New Zealand students to attend the London International Youth Science Forum in late July.
Each day Bethany heard a variety of lectures from “the best scientific brains in the world.”
“My favourite lecture was by Huw James who is a selfproclaimed adventurer who combines his love for learning with his love for the outdoors,” Bethany said.
“He taught me how important it is to teach others what we know and learn as scientists. All of our discoveries are nothing if we can’t better the lives of others.”
James has his own YouTube channel, Headsqueeze, which teaches basic science for people to use in their everyday lives.
Bethany also visited a number of scientific establishments while attending the forum, including an inspirational trip to the Cambridge Cancer Research and Biomedical Research Centre.
“Speaking to pathologists and medical students at the research centre made the idea of studying or researching at Cambridge a possibility rather than a dream,” Bethany said.
In the Asia Pacific region on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, Non Seehamart was one of five New Zealand students to attend the Asian Science Camp which featured five Nobel Prize winning lecturers.
One of the most notable, was Professor Harald zur Hausen who won the Nobel Prize in 2008 for his research of the human papilloma virus. He discovered that the virus causes cervical cancer and his research directly resulted in the development of the HPV vaccine.
All three St Paul’s students were inspired by their experiences. Hugo is going on to study a bachelor of engineering and science at the University of Auckland, possibly majoring in chemistry; Bethany and Non both plan to study medicine.
KAREN PICKERING
BETHANY LANGTON AND HUGO BROWN WERE PICKED FOR EXCLUSIVE
GRADUATES OF ST PAUL’S COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
Congratulations to St Paul’s Old Collegians whose degrees were conferred in the first half of 2015.
Please note that not all universities provide results and we do our best to source as much information as possible.
UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND – 2015
Jennifer Bull
Tai-Chieh Chen
Lachlan Cooper
Richard Curtis
Hugh Gardner
Hayden Gutry
Tzu-Ning Huang
Allister Hughes
Vladimir Ilic
Sarah Jarvis
James Mason
Roydon Nutsford
Victoria Oliver
Isaac Smith
Nikhil Ullal
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
Master of International Business
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce
Master of Arts
Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Physical Education
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Science
Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences
Master of Laws
Fraser Wilson Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary)
Eden Wong
Bachelor of Arts
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY – JUNE 2014-2015
James Bennett
Catherine Chegwidden
Harley Couper
Wei Hsiao
Sean Johnson
Peter Kerr
Master of Design Innovation
Bachelor of Arts
Postgraduate Certificate in Information Studies
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts
Graduate Diploma in Science
Alexandra Laurie Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary)
Ian Loveridge
Alexandra McMichael
Wei-Yi (Lauren) Ng
Zachary Oliver
Joseph Powell
Rachel Pritchard
Nathan Straker
Bachelor of Building Science
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
Bachelor of Science
MASSEY UNIVERSITY – 2015
Benjamin Griffin
Kate Ferris
Matthew Casey
Andrew Lord
James Street
Glenn Eyers
Bachelor of Heath Science
Graduate Diploma in Arts
Certificate in Arts
Bachelor of AgriCommerce
Bachelor of AgriScience
Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma in Business Studies
Fletcher Young Bachelor of AgriCommerce
Steven Rowland
Matthew Hickmott
Master of Dairy Science and Technology
Bachelor of Design (Hons)
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY – 2015
Michael Aitken
Nicholas Clark
Andrew Kingham
Thomas Moser
Jonathan Nabbs
Scott Pennell
Kent Stewart
James Taylor
Jonathan Wang
Patrick Wilkins
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)
Bachelor of Science
Graduate Diploma in Forestry
UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO – 2015
Malcolm Doo
Howard Norton
Stephen Harlow
George Liu
Matthew Reid
Donna Frederikson
Andrew Ho
Michaella Roess
Mark David
Yeh-Chen Lin
Jonathan Hannam
Kane Barry
Aleesha Cliffe
Cyrano Embling
Ashley Fraser
Liam Hunt
Tsz Fung (Mickey) Law
Charlotte Atherton
Christopher Fletcher
Ariana Mariu
Master of Management Studies (Hons)
Master of Education (Hons)
Master of Education (Hons)
Doctor of Philosophy
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
Bachelor of Communication Studies
Master of Applied Psychology
Bachelor of Social Sciences
Bachelor of Music (Hons)
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies
Bachelor Science
Bachelor of Management Studies
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (Hons)
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Business Analysis
UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO – 2015
Megan Cowley
Andrew Wee
Benjamin Knowles
Lucy Travis
Bachelor of Radiation Therapy
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
COMMITMENT TO OUTDOOR EDUCATION HONOURED
Collectively Chris Wynn (Clark 1988-92) and Cyn Smith have almost 30 years’ experience working in the remote surrounds of Tihoi Venture School. This year, they have been awarded an Independent Schools Honours Award for their commitment to outdoor education.
Chris and Cyn are co-directors of Tihoi Venture School, an outdoor residential programme for year 10 boys of St Paul’s Collegiate School. Each year they lead a highly organised team of 11 staff through two intakes of roughly 72 male students.
Under the watch of Chris and Cyn, more than 2500 boys have graduated from the programme after enduring a rigorous 18-weeks of outdoor, academic and social challenges.
Although Chris and Cyn have lived on site for 16 and 10 years respectively, the couple are far from bored. Each intake brings its own set of revelations, demands and enjoyment.
Chris says “students are always full of surprises” and that the small moments of students overcoming hurdles is what keeps Tihoi alive.
“I have one particular student who I am really proud of. Sam, he has Asperger's and so when he didn’t agree with what was happening he voiced this with some very colourful language,”
Chris explained.
“On his house tramp, at the very beginning of the intake, each
staff member was given a full burst of what he was capable of. We were left thinking ‘This is going to be a long six months!’.”
With the encouragement of staff, students and Sam’s family and friends he completed the Tihoi experience and not only did he graduate from Tihoi, he went on to “become a leader, receiving his prefects badge in year 13.”
The 24 hour a day working environment of Tihoi doesn’t seem to wear the husband-wife duo down, they are more energetic and enthusiastic than ever. Cyn says living on site is a lifestyle that’s “all work or all play.”
In the past two years she has completed five half Iron Man events and one full distance on top of the day-to-day operation of Tihoi. In December she will complete the half Iron Man in Taupo.
“WE LIVE IN AN AWESOME PART OF NEW ZEALAND. WHILE NOT HAVING SET TIME OFF WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE AT TIHOI WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF LIVING ON-SITE WITH
OUR FAMILY WHO CAN JOIN IN ON PARTS OF THE JOB,” CYN SAID.
Chris is big on the action too. He has paddled the Huka Falls and he spends most of his free time hunting and flying his helicopter. His passion for the outdoors is something that stems from family.
“I gained most of my passion from my father and grandfather, we spent a lot of time out in the bush hunting or on the lakes fishing,” Chris said.
A lot of Chris’ other outdoor skills were learnt while working at Tihoi with John and Christine Furminger who employed him after his seventh form at St Paul’s.
“I enjoyed it so much I didn’t want to leave.”
Chris set two specific goals while on his 48-hour solo as a
student at Tihoi. He wanted to become the director of Tihoi and get his helicopter license. Both dreams now a realisation.
Cyn started at Tihoi as a first year teacher in 1997, gaining her teachers registration. She then moved on to Colorado State University where her love for the outdoors grew significantly with lots of skiing, mountain biking in Utah and rock climbing. She returned to Tihoi in 2006 as director.
The duo’s experience at Tihoi and in the outdoors resulted in the programme being used as an example of ‘best practice’ within New Zealand and internationally for outdoor adventure programmes. In 2007, Tihoi was recognised by Outdoors New Zealand as the best outdoor education facility in the county.
KAREN PICKERING
NEW SUGAR REPLACEMENT DISCOVERED
Monk fruit extract. It’s the way of the future for processed foods. This tiny gem, gifted to us from Mother Nature, is twenty times sweeter than an apple but with the same amount of sugar.
It could potentially offer one of the many solutions needed to decrease obesity and metabolic diseases like type two diabetes and heart disease.
The fruit is a small melon that somewhat resembles a feijoa and is about the size of a small orange. It’s native to southwest China and has been growing there for more than 100 years.
Back in 2006, Old Collegian David Thorrold (Hall House 1979-83) and the team at BioVittoria started developing a fruit extract suitable for the western market.
“We developed a processing method that created a monk fruit extract that is a suitable sugar replacement,” David explained.
“There was an extract on the market already but it was dark with distinctive flavours that wasn’t suitable for western food and beverage use.”
There wasn’t a good supply chain at the time either that would be able to keep-up with the quantities needed for commercial food and beverage companies, so David worked to get this up-to-scratch.
At the end of all of this, BioVittoria had a better tasting product and the ability to supply it to the masses. Coca Cola,
Kellogg’s, Yoplait and Nestle are some of the companies that have added monk fruit to their products.
“It’s a very unusual fruit. It is very sweet but not because it has more sugar it’s because of a special natural sweetener compound within the fruit.”
This sweetener is ground breaking technology for the food industry. It’s 100% natural without the artificial nasties of other sweeteners on the market.
With Governments across the globe now pushing the low-sugar health message and introducing sugar taxes David’s product has arrived just in time.
“There is just more and more of a push for food with less sugar. Mexico and France have a tax on sugar and one of the biggest health messages that governments are making around the world is for people to consume less of it.”
But it isn’t just the ‘junk food’ companies that are eliminating the nasty stuff from their product range. Health food companies are all over this too.
“The food and beverage companies put a few drops of monk fruit into their products and less sugar so consumers get more of the good stuff like protein in yogurt.”
David explained that an American-based company called Chobani launched a yoghurt product with only 100 calories by eliminating sugar and introducing
the fruit. It was the third most successful product launched in 2014 with more than 100 million US sales.
Monk fruit is now used in more than 800 products worldwide, since launching in 2009. Not only has the product been adopted by big international brands, New Zealand and Australian owned companies Woolworths and InLine Nutrition are using the product too.
“We’re just getting started in New Zealand at the moment. We only launched it in July this year and have had very strong interest.”
As a chartered accountant by trade, David’s current venture is far removed from his previous occupation. In 2004, he worked at Beattie Rickman (now PWC) as a financial consultant.
BioVittoria approached Beattie Rickman to raise capital for the project, David raised the capital through a wellingtonbased venture fund then joined the company as CEO shortly after. Since then the company has expanded and David has taken on the position of general manager of marketing. He deals predominantly with customers, regulation approvals and business development in New Zealand, Australia and USA.
KAREN PICKERING
Photo courtesy of Fairfax
DAVID THORROLD WITH FRUIT EXTRACT THAT WILL FIGHT OBESITY
SNIPPETS
OLIVIA WENSLEY NEE MILES
Olivia Wensley nee Miles (Harington 2002-03) went on to study law after St Paul’s and was admitted to the bar in 2009. She currently works in Queenstown for Anderson Lloyd, with a focus on Civil Litigation and Criminal Law. In her previous role, Olivia worked for fellow Old Collegian Richard Cunliffe (Sargood 1972-76) at MacTodd Lawyers Queenstown. Olivia has previously worked as a Litigation solicitor in Auckland and Sydney. Olivia also spent two years working as an in-house lawyer for Standard Chartered bank in Singapore, with a focus on investment banking, derivatives and commodities trading. In Singapore, Olivia met her husband Greg Wensley. They moved back to New Zealand in 2012 and married at St Peter’s Church in Queenstown in November 2013. They enjoy the lifestyle that Queenstown has to offer and spend a lot of time skiing in winter. Olivia is the eldest of six children. Her sister Claudia is currently in her final year, and is the fifth Miles child to attend St Paul’s.
JAMES GALLOWAY
James Galloway (Clark 1978-82) along with wife Nette have sold their dairy farm after James had his hip replaced. They have since bought a small dry stock farm close to Hastings.
DUNCAN BROWN
Duncan Brown (Williams 1990-94) headed back to the UK, joined by family, for a few years due to a work transfer. Duncan will be taking on the role of European HR director at Formica (part of Fletcher Building). He arrived in time for the Rugby World Cup.
GILES BAYLEY
Giles Bayley (Clark 1987-91) sold his farm and has gone back to construction, now owning his own building company in Te Awamutu. Giles has three boys aged 15, 12 and 2. Giles is also coaching college rugby.
NICK WOOLFIELD
Nick Woolfield (Sargood 1968-72), a general practitioner who has been working in Kyrgzstan with his wife Kay for two years, has begun training a team of 28 doctors, massage therapists and nurses from Brisbane in the basics of physiotherapy and occupational therapy. They are training them how to manage children with disabilities especially those with cerebral palsy. They have also recently become recipients of a NZD$20,000 grant from NZ to renovate equipment for a 160sqm therapy gym.
REBECCA HUBBARD NEE THOMAS
Rebecca Hubbard nee Thomas (Harington 2002) began contract milking in Matamata this season with husband Nathan. They have children: daughter Stella (3) and son Dylan (1).
CAMERON KAY
Cameron Kay (Sargood 1987-91) has been working as a licenced Avatar Master in New Zealand, Australia and America since 2005. Cam is based in Raglan and has two daughters, Imogen (3) and Evie (2). Cam recently visited Tihoi where his nephew is currently based and enjoyed seeing all of the changes that have taken place since his time there. Cam still has strong connections with old friends from St Paul’s and looks forward to seeing more Old Collegians in the future.
PATRICIA HAN
Patricia Han (Harington 1997-98) relocated back to New Zealand in August 2015 after six years living and working in Stockholm, Sweden. She worked as an architect for the Stockholm branch of Danish architectural practice, Arkitema, with a focus on healthcare projects. She was involved in several large hospital expansions including one of the largest projects in Scandinavia in recent years, New Karolinska Research Hospital in Stockholm. Patricia enjoyed the many outdoor pursuits Stockholm offered such as long distance ice skating, but decided to move back to Auckland to be with family. She has now re-joined Stephenson and Turner New Zealand as an associate principal. Patricia is a specialist in building information modelling and hopes to build on her expertise and experience in healthcare to develop the Stephenson and Turner healthcare and aged care portfolio further. Patricia has many interests outside of work including a new sport, dog agility. It is a team sport she takes seriously with her Miniature Schnauzer Kepler as her partner.
KEN HINDMARSH
Ken Hindmarsh (School 1975-79) traded Auckland corporate life for the sea -running Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruises in Whitianga - a few years ago. Ken and wife Lesley ended up there as Ken’s family has a historical connection to the region. Admiral Hindmarsh Governor of South Australia and Captain of the Buffalo in its original journeys to New Zealand is a distant relative of Ken. After a lifetime on the water fishing and diving, the tour business fitted Ken’s wish to move to the Coromandel permanently.
TIMOTHY PEARCE
Timothy Pearce (Williams 199798) recently received his chartered accountants certificate. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in Accounting and Econometrics. Timothy has just returned from Toronto where he was a Senior Financial Analyst for Brookfield Asset Management. He is now working as a project co-ordinator for NorthTec. Tim was involved in the Northland Men’s hockey team in the National Hockey League lead-up games this season. However he had to pull out due to injury. Tim is currently looking to move his career towards investment.
ROGER AND GREG LINDSAY AND LACHLAN DRYDEN
Lachlan Dryden (Sargood, Year 9) is following in the footsteps of dad Greg Lindsay (Sargood 1987-89) and grandad Roger Lindsday (Sargood 1959-60) becoming the third generation to attend St Paul’s. Greg is now based in Brazil where he runs a farm with fellow Old Collegian Simon Wallace (Sargood 1985-89) while father Roger is living in Tauranga where he spends time at Riding for Disabled as well as looking after his sail boat at Tauranga Marina.
BRENT MOUNTFORT
Brent (Christopher) Mountfort (Clark 1980-83) is back on the family farm in Matata after spending 25 years in the banking sector. Brent, his wife Antonio and their two children left Ngongotaha, Rotorua, and moved back to the farm to help his parents. As one of New Zealand’s youngest bank managers at 24, Brent had a promising career and later as a mortgage broker for 12 years, he earned the respect of customers and banks. It was a big decision but Brent had always wanted to be a farmer and looks forward to enhancing the environment and being an asset to his parents.
JAMIE CARLE
Jamie (Christopher) Carle (Sargood 1997-2001) is currently representing Australia at the World Arm-wrestling Championships in Malaysia. Interestingly, as a Kiwi, Jamie is also the Australian team captain having won the most national titles in Australia. Jamie competes in the 85kg class using both his left and right arm to battle against the very best in the world.
JUSTIN PRICE
Justin Price (Hall 1990-93) has returned from another Mountain Bike Marathon World Championship held at Selva, a ski town in Northern Italy. As part of the festival week Justin enjoyed attending the official opening ceremony where he proudly waved the NZ flag. After a long and exhausting race, Justin crossed the line in 123rd place. After being told only six months earlier that he may never ride again, Justin was filled with accomplishment and can be sure that his life as a bike racer is far from over.
VISITORS TO OUR SITE AT THE 2015 FIELDAYS
Roger Kelly (Clark 1970-74)
Zachary Ward (Hall 1996-2000)
Steven Barker (Williams 2000-04)
Reginald Davey (Clark 1984-86)
Grant Brunskill (Williams 1962-65)
John Rees (Hall 1978-82)
Matt Summerell (Clark 1983-87)
Grant Summerell (Clark 1981-85)
Stefan Smith (Sargood 1992-93)
Jenny Jackson nee Stafford (Harington 1999)
Robert Tocker (Sargood 1960-61)
Hayden Johns (Hamilton 2002-06)
Annaliese Johns (Harington 2007-08)
Ross Thompson (Sargood 1983-85)
Alan Sarten (School 1970-73)
Simon Dyke (Hamilton 1978-81)
Julian (Charles) Stone (Clark 1969-72)
Howard Ashmore (Sargood 1963-65)
Brent (Christopher) Mountfort (Clark 1980-83)
Giles Bayley (Clark 1987-91)
Annabelle Scherer (Harington 1998-99)
Katy Matthews (Harington 2011-12)
Paul McGuire (Hamilton 1986-90)
HOWARD ASHMORE
Howard Ashmore (Sargood 1963-65) was a sheep, beef and deer farmer until about 1996 and then went into business selling rural real estate for the last 12 years. Howard had two children attend St Paul’s, his son Nick (Sargood) and daughter Lucy (Harington 1996). Nick now runs his own Timber business and Lucy is living in Dubai where she runs her own landscaping business.
KATY MATTHEWS
Katy Matthews (Harington 2011-12) is currently studying Medical Imaging at Auckland University of Technology. Katy is still running and keeping active.
CHRIS WOOD
Chris Wood (School 2004-08), an international footballer, has left his UK Premiere League team Liecester City for Championship League side Leeds United. The striker has dropped down a league for a four year deal with Leeds United. Chris is excited by this new chapter in his career and is looking forward to a great season ahead.
ROBERT GILMOUR
Robert (Bob) Gilmour (Sargood 1959-63) passed away on 17 July 2015 after a long illness. At the centre of Bob’s life were his wife Linda, children Maya and Callum, extended family, friends, music, Christian faith, community service, teaching and learning. As one of St Paul’s first pupils, his personality and values were shaped during his time at St Paul’s, particularly his determination, Christian faith and community service. On visits to Hamilton, the family would visit the legendary site of Bob’s rugby tries, ‘Bob’s Corner.’ Bob attained his Bachelor of Commerce and his master’s degree and worked as a principal lecturer in accounting. He developed case studies which were published internationally and ran a consultancy in the Pacific Islands.
He will be sadly missed.
MAXWELL HILL
Maxwell Hill (Williams 1961-64) on leaving school went farming until 2002 when he sold his shares in his two farms. He later developed an interest in history after having a conversation in 1980 with Dr Michael King a famous historian. Max believed there needed to be better research into evidence of Europeans finding NZ and so he began purchasing books that ranged over a number of different topics. In March 2012 he produced his first book To the Ends of the Earth. This sold 5000 copies and is now out of print as new research surfaced. Max wrote a sequel, To the Ends of the Earth and Back Again which again challenges conventional world history.
Max has kindly donated a number of history books to the Hornsby Library for current students.
We are missing email addresses for many of our Old Collegians. Please make contact with us by phone or email to update your details. We love hearing where your lives have taken you since your time at St Paul's.
We are missing email addresses for many of our Old Collegians. Please make contact with us by phone or email to update your details. We love hearing where your lives have taken you since your time at St Paul's.
We're always on the hunt for stories about our Old Collegians to share in Network magazine, so if you or someone you know is worthy of a mention please let us know.
We're always on the hunt for stories about our Old Collegians to share in Network magazine, so if you or someone you know is worthy of a mention please let us know.
BEHIND
THE SCENES IN NZ FILM
Alove of inventing has seen Scott Harens (Hall House 1985-88) work on special effects in the New Zealand film industry for more than 20 years.
His notable credits include The Lord of the Rings, Avatar and The Hobbit.
Scott was the supervisor responsible for all of the miniature special effects, during his six years working on The Lord of the Rings films.
His job was to turn Sir Peter Jackson’s ideas into reality, either through computer design or three dimensional modelling using materials like plastic.
“A director has an idea and it is up to us in the special effects departments to create that illusion,” says Scott, who is a skilled operator of the Solidworks computer programme.
“I love magic. I have always loved magic as a kid and film is just another version of an illusion. And that has been the part that has intrigued me.”
He says it was an incredible experience working during the golden years of the New Zealand film industry. “I got to work with some unbelievably talented people. I feel I have been blessed to have had these opportunities.”
On Sir Peter Jackson, Scott says: “He is a visionary and a very creative person. He is very shy and would probably prefer to work in his garage by himself than work with other people.”
His first break came from a chance conversation Scott had with the owner of a radio controlled model shop in Wellington about how he loved making things. “He said to me ‘you need to meet my friend Richard Taylor.’” Scott was one of the first staff to work for Sir Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop fame.
He worked for free for a month and then got paid work on the cult TV series at the time, Hercules and Xena.
He also worked on one of Sir Peter Jackson’s first feature films, The Frighteners, starring Michael J Fox.
Part of his brief for that film was to build from scratch props as diverse as a ghost catching machine, to Egyptian artefacts.
He also worked on Oscar and Friends, a 27-episode clay animation children’s series made in Wellington in the late 1990s which was a worldwide hit.
Scott says his love of inventing all started as a teenager when “all I was interested in was making stuff.”
“As a kid I always pulled things apart before I played with them. I like reading manuals as opposed to reading books,” says Scott who attended school in South Africa and Koromatua School near Hamilton before going to St Paul’s.
His favourite subject at St Paul’s was workshop technology, and he speaks highly of his mentor at the time. “There was this fantastic teacher, Mr Salisbury (Dip Tchg 1986-91), who would do his
marking in his classroom at lunchtimes so I could work on my own projects. He was the guy that I was always grateful for his time.”
A guitar was just one of the things he constructed from scratch, while still at school. When he left school, Scott did a Diploma in Design at Wintec in Hamilton.
Now based in Fielding, he has two sons Sam 20, and Adam, 18 who live in Australia and he and his partner Jeanne have baby son Schuyler.
Scott has also run an internet business since 2008, to provide another income between film jobs.
The website www.dreadmeister.com provides custom parts for musical instruments. He has also worked as a copy-writer for Radio New Zealand, a glass blower, caterer, and wind turbine developer.
Scott played in the St Paul’s rock band in the 1980s and retains his interest in music today.
MONICA HOLT
SCOTT (LEFT) MAKING SNOW ON SET FOR WALT DISNEY MOVIE PETE’S DRAGON.
A MINIATURE LAVA SET USED FOR FILMING THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
SCOTT CREATES SPECIAL EFFECTS FOR BLOCK BUSTER MOVIES LIKE THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
WORKING REMOTELY FOR TV GIANT
Acomputer and internet connection is all Warwick Meade needs to work in Auckland for Al Jazeera.
Warwick (Hall House 1990-94) is a news and current affairs video editor for the Arabic television channel, the company he has worked for since 2006.
After several years abroad, last year Warwick relocated back to New Zealand with his American wife Tina.
“The luckiest thing that has happened to me, at least workwise, is when I quit, I told my boss I am going to move back to New Zealand with Tina and he said ‘we will see about getting you to work remotely.’”
“At first I think he thought, ‘we will see how much work he can send you’ but essentially I am still working full time for Al Jazeera and doing it out of the spare bedroom.”
He works mainly on the network’s leading current affairs show Fault Lines, which is produced in Washington DC.
Each day starts with a Skype chat or phone call with producers about what he will be working on that day.
No two days are the same. “At the moment I am working on hydraulic fracking causing earthquakes in Oklahoma, the tax free incentives bringing millionaires into Puerto Rico and child soldiers in the Congo.”
Once Warwick has edited together raw pictures and sound he sends the
finished items back to America, via a secure internet channel, for broadcast on Al Jazeera.
In a reflection of modern working practices, workload is measured more by output rather than hours worked.
“I have more control over my hours, which is nice, because no one is lurking over my shoulder. It is a bit more driven by productivity than by what specific hours I am working.”
The equipment needed to do his job from home is “surprisingly little.”
“I bought an iMac as soon as I got back to New Zealand and that was pretty much me. The rest of it is just software that Al Jazeera has bought for me.”
The only thing he misses is the camaraderie of a newsroom. “That is the toughest part, to have no-one around constantly. That is the one part that you miss.”
When he left school, Warwick trained as a video editor at South Seas Film and Television School on Auckland’s North Shore. He then worked at regional TV station ATV, TVNZ Breakfast and eventually 7 o’clock current affairs show Holmes.
An “OE” followed when he travelled for eight months before a stint working as a video editor in Toronto, Canada.
He returned to New Zealand in 2005, intending to stay, only to be headhunted along with a “huge number of
TVNZ and TV3 staffers” to work for the newly established Arabic television station Al Jazeera, in Doha, Qatar.
In 2008, after getting “a little bit sick of living in the desert” Warwick took an opportunity with the network to move to Washington DC.
It was a career highlight working in the US capital the year Barack Obama was elected as President.
“That was a massive thing, as DC is a very left-leaning city and the whole place just went nuts.”
Warwick has been part of teams that have won a number of top awards for documentary-making and current affairs. A special programme on the devastating cholera outbreak in Haiti won a recent Emmy Award.
Warwick and Tina moved back to New Zealand at the end of 2014 and live in Mission Bay. Tina works for the New Zealand Herald.
Warwick frequently visits Hamilton where his mother Kay Meade lives. He attended Hukanui Primary School and Southwell.
Outside work, he retains the interest in art he had at St Paul’s and enjoys painting with oils in his spare time. His jobs overseas have also given him many opportunities for travel.
MONICA HOLT
WARWICK MEADE (MIDDLE) RECEIVED AN EMMY AWARD FOR HIS DOCUMENTARY FILM WORK
MUM CREATES KNOCKOUT MATERNITY BRAND
From pregnancy and breastfeeding to raising a toddler, the growth of Katrina Ward’s family has inspired the growth of her business, Outie.
Katrina (Harington House 1996-97) launched her business about three years ago while pregnant with her first born Beau (three).
She didn’t favour the mainstream maternity clothing on offer and wanted something worthy of a space in her wardrobe. So, she designed a maternity and breastfeeding collection.
The most popular Outie piece is the Knocker Frock. It’s feminine, pretty and makes a woman feel good about herself.
In time for the messy toddler years, the mum of two launched the Splat Matt; a floor covering which keeps children’s food and play mess off the carpet. She also makes pillowcases, reusable wipes, swaddle blankets and custom art.
Katrina who says she has many return customers who have become “Outie dress addicts.”
She too is a self-proclaimed addict: “Everything I make is stuff I want for myself. I have a lot of dresses in my wardrobe, I have to try not to keep them.”
Katrina says her following is predominantly from word-of-mouth and her popularity comes from her
small, boutique business style in which her dresses are designed and printed to order.
All of the Knocker Frocks are produced in small quantities – a nice change from the mass produced products currently available to pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Katrina insists on this small production for her customers but also for herself, she loves pattern making: “I don’t want to release too much of the same dress because I love to design different fabrics.”
The patterns on Katrina’s Knocker Frocks and other products are all created from her personal textile designs and illustrations.
In September she self-published a colouring-in book, The Outie Colouring Book, with twenty of her original illustrations. The books are currently stocked at a series of small book stores across New Zealand and will soon be available online at Mighty Ape and Amazon.
Adult colouring in books are a huge trend for 2015 and, with the craft’s ability to bring about nostalgia of childhood years for colourers, it looks like it will stick around for a while.
Katrina says as a child she was a colouring competition “fiend” who would scour the papers for competitions. Now, as an adult, she finds it relaxing.
“I like the idea that people can enjoy my textiles in a different form. I had a friend over the other night and we had a glass of wine and coloured in together. It’s a nice way to unwind.”
As an enthusiastic artist, Katrina had her own key to the art room while at St Paul’s. After school she would paint and create in the art room rather than complete standard homework during allocated ‘prep’ hours with the other boarding students.
“In prep I just always wanted to paint. My love of drawing goes back to my school days.”
Her teachers fully backed her creativity and talent.
“That was my passion and St Paul’s was very good at encouraging me. Rodney Hammel and Mike Linklater were my art and art history teachers. Both of them would go above and beyond for me and I am still in contact with them today.”
Katrina was Dux in 1997 and won the art award at St Paul’s end-of-year prize giving. One of the pieces that Katrina created while at St Paul’s, a sculpture of a naked woman, is still on display in the Harington House garden.
Outie products and Katrina’s colouring book can purchased at www.outie.co.nz.
KAREN PICKERING
RESEARCH HELPS MS PATIENTS
Old Collegian Che Fornusek (Sargood House 1985-89) is leading two major research projects at the University of Sydney that will improve the lives of people living with physical disabilities.
Che’s main project focuses on people with spinal injuries and Multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance and sensation.
He is using a mechanically altered exercise bike that forces leg movement through electronic pulses to discover if exercise will improve participants’ quality of life.
“The idea with spinal injuries was that we would get bigger gains in muscle mass by exercising the muscles in a particular way,” Che explained.
“After this, I realised we could apply the same techniques to people with MS to get positive results.”
The process is uncomfortable, bordering on painful, but Che’s participants keep returning for treatment.
“No one is going to turn up and go through that pain for no reason, they feel it works for them. It’s definitely not for lazy people. It’s for people who don’t have a choice.”
MS Research Australia is funding the project, hoping that Che’s findings will offer a breakthrough for people living with the disease.
“People living with paralysis lose their option to exercise which makes them less active. Then they develop other associated health problems like poor bone density, less blood flow and cold legs.”
Che’s research shows that the introduction of exercise to those with spinal injuries has created bigger muscles, better blood flow, improved health and less pressure sores. The results in MS participants has been positive too.
“People with MS can stand longer and balance better, their legs aren’t as cold and they don’t feel as much pain. The increased strength and balance will possibly lead to less falls. It doesn’t reverse the disease but it reverses the inactivity and optimises how they function.”
In the near future Che is looking to introduce those with Cerebral palsy - a disease that affects muscle tone, movement and motor skills - to the study.
“We might be able to better their body composition and decrease secondary complications.”
Che’s team have also produced a mobile exercise bike that could, with significant alterations, be used as a means of transportation. For now it is being used for sport.
Paraplegic Greg McClure used the bike to enter the Cybathlon in Zurich last year, a sports event for people with physical disabilities that use assistive devices including robot technology that enables them to compete. Che says they
will be taking a team of competitors over to Zurich for the next event.
Che is also researching the effects of team sport and team exercise for people living with physical disabilities.
The project has been a huge success. He has four rugby teams currently training and competing in Sydney. This year it has been introduced to Auckland with a Trans-Tasman game in the works.
The main focus of the project is assessing the physical effects of the sport, mainly how much faster and stronger participants get. Che also plans to look at the social side of things.
“There is social development and confidence that comes from playing something they thought they couldn’t do before.”
Respect is given to all people on the team and play is altered according to their capabilities, for instance some players wear red shorts to indicate they can’t be tackled. Che says players also alter the harshness of their tackles according to their opponent’s capabilities.
Che’s love for science started while he was boarding at St Paul’s. He studied all mainstream science subjects – biology, chemistry and physics – before moving onto Canterbury University to complete his undergraduate degree. He has since studied Biomedical Engineering at the University of NSW and a doctorate at Sydney University where his research is now based.
KAREN PICKERING
STUDENT CALLS ON UNITED NATIONS
A six-minute speech that called on the United Nations to prevent genocide won Josie Butcher third place at the NZ Lions Club Young Speechmakers Contest in August.
The Year 13 St Paul’s student chose the speech because of her interest in the UN’s work: “After reading about the UN and watching documentaries and movies such as Hotel Rwanda I realised the UN aren’t heroes. In order for genocide to stop we need to identify where we are going wrong and I believe that lies with the UN.”
Josie was well prepared, delivering the full speech without cue cards. She was also required to deliver a two-minute speech on the topic ‘keeping safe’ which was given to her 60-seconds beforehand. She pulled it off cool, calm and collected, speaking about not wrapping kids in cotton wool.
Josie’s third place win awarded her a spot on a 10-day international youth camp in Rotorua in January 2016.
BIG BAND’S BRASS TURNS TO GOLD
St Paul’s Big Band took out the Gold Award at the Waikato ITM Music Band and Orchestra Festival at the Waikato Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts on Friday 28 August.
Locally the ITM festival is one of the more significant music competitions for secondary school bands and orchestras. The Big Band competed against roughly 30 other groups to win this award.
Mr Ian Parsons directed the group of 20 musicians including two staff that performed String of Pearls, Agua de Beber and Lullaby of Birdland.
STARDOM FOR SINGER-SONGWRITER
Singer-songwriter Zoe Lapwood has had another year in the spotlight, showing real promise for a career in the music industry.
The 17-year-old placed as a finalist in the Lion Foundation Songwriting Competition for her original composition, You’re Around, which will feature on the 2015 Play it Strange CD. This is the third year Zoe’s music has featured on the CD; last year she won the competition and was awarded a $1000 prize.
Continued success in the competition has opened many doors for the St Paul’s student. This year, she performed in a Rolling Stones tribute concert, A Strange Days Night, at the Auckland Town Hall with The De Sotos.
The concert was organised by Play it Strange Trust to allow upand-coming performers to work with well known industry names. Last year, Zoe performed in a tribute concert for the Beatles at the Auckland Town Hall.
NATIONAL CHOIR
SELECTION
An 18-month whirlwind singing contract with the New Zealand Secondary Schools Choir is fulfilling the lives of music lovers and St Paul’s students Aidan Phillips and Katie Trigg.
The duo were named as two of 60 members earlier this year. The pair endured a rigorous audition process along with 200 other applicants which included testing their vocal range, sight-reading and the performance of a folk song. Both students were selected for their high vocal range – Katie, a second soprano and Aidan a second tenor.
Over the past few months the choir have performed concerts in Hamilton, Auckland and Christchurch. Each concert marks the end of intensive week-long workshops.
Heading into 2016, they will perform in Wanganui and Wellington before concluding the 18-months in July with an international tour. Past tours have visited South Africa, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia.
A ST PAUL’S GIRL, THROUGH AND THROUGH
In 1985, Andrea Dela Rue (nee Jenkins) walked through the gates of St Paul’s Collegiate School as one of the very first female students. Now, thirty years on, she is one of the school’s English teachers.
Andrea (Harington 1985-1986) moved to St Paul’s from Hillcrest High School with four other girls who transferred from Waikato Diocesan. Their arrival received mixed-reviews and was at times more controversial than welcomed.
Andrea says parents went as far as to “hold meetings in their home to work out how to reverse the decision”, although this bigotry went mainly unnoticed.
“We were completely oblivious to it all at the time. We knew there were some boys who didn’t want us here but on the whole we were looked after by the boys and really welcomed.”
She was the only female student in her biology class. On her first day, the head of School House – then a boarding house –came and sat with her and they “became really good friends.”
The teaching staff were very welcoming too. They adjusted their teaching methods and only got “flustered” by the malefemale interaction on the odd occasion.
Andrea recalls a class where the topic of the day was reproduction, “Someone down the back suggested we could do a practical. That topic was quickly skipped and we went on to the next chapter.”
Despite a few minor hiccups, it didn’t take long for the girls to find their niche. They worked hard to find their place in the community. With the support of the Board and teachers like Mr Peter Gilbert a number of much-welcomed activities were introduced for the girls including sports teams and cultural activities.
Andrea went on to work in the corporate world, in the tertiary and health sectors, after completing an undergrad and Masters in business. Seven years ago she became a qualified teacher.
“I applied for a funded scholarship to Massey University and spent my nights studying for my Graduate Diploma in Teaching.”
She worked as a relief teacher before moving to full-time teaching when her youngest child Thomas started school. Not long after, the head of English at St Paul’s offered her a job which was “naturally an easy decision.”
It was a bit nostalgic at first for the mum of two who says it took her a while to get the hang of calling her former teacher and now colleague, Mr Peter Gilbert, by his first name.
Andrea’s daughter Emily currently attends St Paul’s as a Year 11 student, her son Thomas will start as a Year 9 student in 2016. Her brother, Malcom Jenkins (Hall House 1983-1987), also attended St Paul’s and is now working as the head of IT for Fisher and Paykel.
KAREN PICKERING
ANDREA DELA RUE (TOP LEFT) WITH THE FIRST GIRLS OF ST PAUL'S
ARTIST IMMORTALISES KIWI HISTORY
A bronze sculpture of the second Maori King Tawhiao, with prominent cheek bones and an intricate deep cut ta moko design, was unveiled at the Waikato Museum in August.
Artist Gary Schofield (Hall House 197074) was honoured to see his artwork sitting alongside portraits of Maori kings and the late Maori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
“The elders and carvers have accepted and endorsed my work. It was an intense
process for me to actually start with a photograph and recreate the three dimensional quality of [the second Maori King’s] face,” Gary said.
The sculpture, which has been stored at Gary’s family home in Hamilton for almost three decades, was gifted to Hamilton (and its people) for the city’s 150th birthday.
“I didn’t know what it would look like in the end in its final place, so when I walked into the museum and saw it for
the first time, it was breath taking - it’s our heritage unique to the world.”
IMAGES COMMEMORATE GALLIPOLI ANNIVERSARY
This year marked the centenary of Gallipoli and the history of the ANZAC forces, Roger Bell captured this significant moment through his camera.
The talented photographer, and biology teacher at St Paul’s, photographed two ANZAC memorials which were on display during the centenary week earlier this year. Roger later produced the images in black and white with touches of the distinct ANZAC poppy red and a warm tint that “kept with the time” of the early 1900s.
“It was quite a sombre scene, with the poppies and the chapel. The originals were too harsh, the tint added a bit more warmth,” Roger said.
Roger’s artwork is on permanent display in the St Paul’s management centre to pay continued respect to the ANZACs. Roger also gifted an image of the St Paul’s Chapel of Christ the King to Reverend Craig Luccock on his departure from the school in late 2014.
Dr Ali Ukra
BDS (Distinction), DClinDent (Otago)
Orthodontic Specialist
Available at:
The Rototuna Dental Centre
Rototuna Shopping Centre
Students will receive a 5% discount off specialist orthodontic treatment
Call us on (07) 855 9512 to make an appointment
The Dentist 487 Anglesea Street
Gentle Dental Cambridge 33 Victoria Street
Brassed Off 1 - 7 This year’s production, Brassed Off, was held at Southwell Performing Arts Centre between Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July. The play was based on the 1996 film Brassed off, an Amercian-British comedy-drama set in a small Yorkshire mining town. Danny the conductor of a colliery brass band, has difficulty maintaining the morale of his musicians when the economic future of the area is threatened by the possible closure of the local coal mine. When a former resident, Gloria (Claudia Miles, Year 13), returns to assess the mine she gets involved with her former flame, Andy (Aidan Phillips, Year 11), and joins the band for their last hurrah at a national competition.
Good Vibrations 8 - 13 Good Vibrations, an annual music showcase that includes the School’s most talented students, was held at the St Paul’s Chapel of Christ the King on Friday 14 August. Performances included solo instrumentalists, choir, vocalists, Big Band, orchestra and much more. The variety of acts ranged from pop to classical genres.
THE BENEFITS OF BEING GENEROUS
There is a time in everyone’s life where we have been thrown either a life-line or an opportunity for a second chance.
The benefits of a scholarship however are not just for the recipient. A recent article in the Waikato Times outlined that ‘generosity both volunteering and charitable donations, benefits young and old physically and psychologically. The benefits of giving are significant, according to those studies; they lower blood pressure, lower risk of dementia, they lessen anxiety and depression, reduce cardiovascular risk and provide overall greater happiness.‘
If you are the recipient of a good deed, you may have momentary happiness, but your long- term happiness is higher if you are the giver. The article goes on to say ‘…when people think about helping others they activate a part of the brain called the mesolimbic pathway, which is responsible for feelings of gratification. Helping others doles out happiness chemicals, including dopamine, endorphins that block pain signals and oxytocin, known as the tranquillity hormone.’
As for recipients, St Paul’s is seeing more and more talented young men and women who through the power of nurturing, teaching and providing a safe environment for which students can learn, excel academically and socially to become men and women of good character through their St Paul’s education.
St Paul’s Foundation would like to offer a greater number of worthy students these opportunities but at the moment scholarships offered are of a modest size because of limited funds. While there are Government funds available to help underprivileged students experience a private school education, such as the Aspire scholarship, these funds are also limited.
St Paul’s Foundation is fortunate to have the support of a small number of donors and sponsors who are willing to help a few students who couldn’t otherwise afford a St Paul’s education.
As donors they receive a letter describing the student that the school has selected for their scholarship and they keep them updated on the student’s progress through regular communication.
During my involvement with the Foundation, I have been fortunate to work alongside some very generous people. The greater majority of them are not overtly wealthy, however they obviously feel they have sufficient funds to lead a lifestyle they are comfortable in and are prepared to give others an opportunity. Perhaps they too have discovered the ‘benefits of being generous’.
Please read the stories from a couple of our regular donors who find tremendous joy giving to a cause where, they can clearly see the progress of the student they have been supporting grow into a good citizen and contributing member of our community.
I hope that through learning why these people are motivated to give, that you too might just consider donating towards a scholarship or sponsoring a student through their secondary school years at St Paul’s. Your generosity will provide hope, encouragement and financial support for deserving students.
Just as importantly it will add health and vitality to your own life!
Warm regards
JOHN JACKSON – ST PAUL’S FOUNDATION CHAIR
"NO-ONE HAS EVER BECOME POOR BY GIVING."
- Anne Frank
A SCHOLARSHIP IS A CHANCE
S“Education is important to us. If New Zealand is going to be a world player in anything, we need are adolescents to receive the highest level of education. We know that St Paul’s Collegiate School offers a wonderful education and secondary school experience. Students of St Paul’s will be our future leaders.
We all have a philanthropic bent in us and in the past, my wife and I have been strong supporters of many charitable organisations such as the Anglican Action, our local church and ministry. But we get tremendous satisfaction through sponsoring an underprivileged young man through his five years at St Paul’s.
We can see that every dollar we give goes directly towards an individual. It doesn’t get absorbed into administration or hidden costs. We can see the money we are giving really is making a difference.
St Paul’s keeps us in touch with the progress of the student we sponsor and if circumstances allow, we will get the opportunity to meet the student.”
ANONYMOUS DONOR
Adonation made to St Paul’s Foundation towards the school’s scholarship programme is tax deductible. Below are examples of how tax effective giving over a period of 3 years can be managed, making full use of the 33.3% tax credit.
The thing that excites me is that I can give them a shot of a new beginning in the hope that at one time through their life when they may become unstuck - and they will - they might be able to look back and say, ‘Life can be different, there is a different way of living life, I’ve seen it and I’ve experienced it.’
Having the opportunity to have had a St Paul’s experience might just pull them through some adverse situations. If we get better results than that, well then that’s a real bonus. I expect nothing in return, I simply want to be able to show disadvantaged young men that there is another way. And I don’t judge.”
ANONYMOUS DONOR
GIFTING TO ST PAUL’S FOUNDATION
t Paul’s Foundation is fortunate to have the support of a small number of donors and sponsors who are willing to help students who couldn’t otherwise afford a St Paul’s education. These donors find tremendous joy giving to the invaluable gift of an education that will benefit the recipient for the rest of their lives. TOTAL DONATION TOTAL AFTER 33% TAX REBATE $30,000 $20,001
St Paul’s encourages all donors and supporters to seek independent professional advice on all matters relating to charitable taxation.
We would love to find out more about St Paul’s Foundation’s Scholarship programme and how we could sponsor a student’s education through St Paul’s.
“I have grown up in a wonderful country, a wonderful city and have had all the benefits many young men haven’t had and still may not get. Giving to a young man who has had very few opportunities in life, has huge appeal for me.
$20,000 $13,334
$10,000 $6,667
$5,000 $3,334
We will send you some information or make contact with you to discuss further.
ANONYMOUS DONOR
ANONYMOUS DONOR
EVENTS CALENDAR 2015 EVENTS
NOVEMBER
FRIDAY 27
YEAR 10 ENTERPRISE
EVENING
7pm, Dining room at St Paul’s
DECEMBER
TUESDAY 1
CAROL SERVICE
7pm, Chapel of Christ the King. All welcome.
NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 29
WAIKATO SECONDARY SCHOOLS SPORTS AWARDS
JANUARY
WEDNESDAY 27
TERM 1 STARTS
MARCH
TIHOI OPEN DAY (DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)
A bus will leave St Paul’s in Hamilton at 8.15am to Tihoi and return in Hamilton by 4pm. For prospective families.
DECEMBER
THURSDAY 3
PRIZE GIVING
10am, Chapel of Christ the King. All welcome.
DECEMBER
TUESDAY 1
JUNIOR GRADUATION CEREMONY/JUNIOR CLASS PRIZES
9am, Chapel of Christ the King
DATE TO BE CONFIRMED
OLD COLLEGIANS SPORTS DAY
St Paul’s Collegiate School
Calling all Old Collegians for a social sports day Lunch provided
MARCH
WEDNESDAY 23
GRANDPARENTS’ DAY
Join us for a chapel service, tours of the school and afternoon tea with your grandchild
JANUARY FRIDAY 22
GIRLS TO TIHOI
MARCH OPEN DAY (DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)
It’s no secret that a strong Kiwi economy comes from a strong agricultural sector.
It’s the cornerstone of who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. Ag is what we do best and always has been, with a reputation built on innovation, and hard yakka.
We’ve been committed to fueling the success of Kiwi agricultural businesses for over 65 years.
And by supporting the St Pauls agriculture programme, we’re also doing our bit to fuel the success of the next generation of Kiwis.
Get in touch, and find out more about Waitomo.
0800 922 123 WAITOMOGROUP.CO.NZ
UNDERSTAND THE TIHOI EXPERIENCE
STORIES AND VIDEOS AT know tihoi.co.nz
EXCLUSIVE TO ST PAUL’S COLLEGIATE SCHOOL, HAMILTON and located near Lake Taupo, this 18-week, back-to-basics programme, teaches 14 year-old boys life skills through living and working together. With four days spent in the classroom and three days in the outdoors involved in activities from kayaking, caving and rock climbing, the Tihoi experience is often described as ‘the making of my boy’.
