2013 Lampstand

NOVEMBER

2013 NO. 23

Lampstand The

THE ANNUAL MAGAZINE OF THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

PO Box 16073 Wellington, NZ 6242 • Telephone: 04 802 2537 • Facsimile: 04 802 2542 2013 The Lampstand Email: Web: www.wellington-college.school.nz RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IToldboys@wc.school.nz.

ON

|

|1

2

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 3

REGISTRATION Attendees will be able to register online or by mail for the full package or individual events. We will also offer payments by instalments over the next four years to ease the financial burden. In the interim, we ask you to let us know of your intention to attend. Early in 2014, you will be able to formally register and make instalment payments.

TRAVEL and ACCOMMODATION Our appointed Event Management Company will assist you in securing and arranging the best prices for domestic and international travel. They have also secured a range of hotel options to suit every budget and preference and we

WELLINGTON COLLEGE’S TENTATIVE SCHED LABOUR WEEK All Day Thursday, 19 October

Afternoo

recommend you book your ‘special rate’ through them. They will also coordinate

Evening

transfers between hotels and venues. Hold off making your reservations for

Morning

hotels until you get our ‘Best Rate’ code.

TOURS of the COLLEGE

All Day

Friday, 20 October

Lunchtim

Our 2017 Prefects will be your ‘go-to-men’ over the weekend by taking guided

Evening

tours of the College and Archives as well as giving you directions and any other

All Day

assistance.

PHOTO EXHIBITION

Lunchtim

Saturday, 21 October

Afternoo

College Archivist, Paddianne Neely will be coordinating a plethora of photos and

Evening

memorabilia located at the College. If you have old photos, uniforms, academic

Morning

paraphernalia and anything else you think may be of interest to fellow alumni, please contact her at the Archives on 04 802 9411 (Monday and Wednesday) or email oldboys@wc.school.nz

All Day Sunday, 22 October

Lunchtim

Afternoo

If you can help with the displays, make sure you get in touch.

PARTNER PROGRAMME

Monday, 23 October (Labour Day)

All Day

While some of the weekend activities will cater for partners, the Cocktail Party

These activities are not firmly set in place b

and Dinner is for Alumni only (at this stage). We are sure you can appreciate

we hope to wor

that a large number of Old Boys will return and our priority is to cater for them at formal events. However if numbers are lower than expected, we will let you know. We are looking at a coinciding event for partners for the Saturday evening.

Suggestions are most welcome.

MEMORABILIA and JUBILEE BOOK A range of Wellington College memorabilia and 150th Celebration souvenirs will be available for purchase prior to and over the weekend. Those alumni who register for the full package will also receive a copy of the Wellington College

4

Evening

WHAT YOU NEED

Visit our website - www.wc.school.nz (WCOBA/150

attending this ‘Not to be Missed’ event. At the same

with travel and accommodation. Advance indication o venues and costs, which we can then announce to

assistance (both physical and fina

oldboys@wc.school.nz or

PO Box 16073, Welli

book of 150 years of history. A small number of copies will also be available to

Matthew Beattie, 150th

buy over the weekend.

Stephanie Kane, 150th Ce

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

SPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA Saturday afternoon will feature Cricket, Rugby, Football and Basketball matches.

If you have what it takes to play in one of the Invitation Teams or wish to coordinate and/or coach and feel up to facing the students, let us know at oldboys@wc.school.nz

E’S 150th CELEBRATIONS HEDULE of EVENTS EEKEND, 2017 Registrations

Day

rnoon

Golf Tournament

It will be a great afternoon of blood, sweat and tears as former sporting stars pit themselves against our up-and-coming superstars.

ARTS EXTRAVAGANZA Sunday evening will feature an array of cultural events.

ning

Own Arrangements

If you are a noted musician(s), debater(s), comedian(s) and would like to perform

rning

Full School Assembly

‘live on stage’, let us know. Likewise, if you are a current or former artist: painter/

Tours of the College

singer/band/dance/classical and modern musician or anything else, let us know

Photo Exhibition

at oldboys@wc.school.nz It will be a great afternoon and evening of excellence

Day

chtime

Staff Luncheon

ning

Cocktail Party Tours of the College

Day

across many areas of entertainment.

SPONSORSHIP

Photo Exhibition

In order to make the 150th Celebrations cost effective for both the school and

chtime

Firth House Luncheon

the attendees, we require support in the form of sponsorship. If you and your

rnoon

Sports Extravaganza

ning

Formal Dinner

rning

Church Service Tours of the College

Day

Photo Exhibition

chtime

Finale BBQ

rnoon

A Touch of Culture

ning

Arts Extravaganza

Day

Own Arrangements

lace but are just to give you a taste of what

o work around.

ED TO DO NEXT...

A/150th Celebrations) and register your interest in

same time, you can indicate if you require assistance

ion of interest will help us in finalising the programme,

e to you in February, 2014. Any queries or offers of

d financial) should be directed to

nz or Tel: +64 4 802 2537

Wellington NZ 6242.

50th Celebrations Chair

th Celebrations Convenor RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

business or company can help with such things as printing, beverages, transport, signage, memorabilia to name a few, please contact us at oldboys@wc.school.nz Naming Rights: Sponsors (Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze) will have up to four years of guaranteed publicity to a world-wide audience of Wellington College alumni.

COMMUNICATION: SPREAD THE WORD The most important factor is keeping you up-to-date on the 150th Celebrations.

Postage is a very expensive outlay, so initial communication is recommended by email. By filling in the online registration of interest, it will mean you will be kept informed on the arrangements by email. We will also be setting up our 150th Celebrations Facebook page (in conjunction with our WCOBA Page). Search for: Wellington College Old Boys and click ‘Like’ and of course invite yourself to join. This will be another way of keeping in touch with news from the College, the WCOBA and of course the 150th Celebrations. If you don’t have an email address, let us know.

STAFF EVENTS If you are a former staff member and would like to help locate and communicate with fellow staff and/or help us plan additional events, please contact is at oldboys@wc.school.nz

2013

| The Lampstand | 5

Uncovering the past in the Wellington College Archives

"We’ve all got them. Those things from our past that we just can’t bear to throw away. Years later, we find them at the bottom of a cupboard and the memories come flooding back" Thankfully, the hoarder’s philosophy that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is something that the Wellington College Archives lives by. As a result, the College now has an incredible archives, all properly catalogued and recorded.

If you have visited the College, you will have seen just a fraction of the extensive collection we’ve got. From text books, magazines and uniforms to furniture, newsletters and an enormous collection of photographs. The Archives contain objects from our first days right up to the present.

We are always looking to add to our collection, so please let us know if there is anything you would like to donate. If it brings back a happy memory of your time at Wellington College then chances are it will stir the memories of your fellow classmates. Everything we get builds up a wonderfully detailed picture of how things have changed over the years.

If you would like to come and see the Archives, please contact Paddianne Neely on 04 382 9411 or at oldboys@wc.school.nz You might even be able to help us put names to faces.

6

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Welcome

I’m delighted to welcome all Old

This year’s Lampstand announces

Boys and friends of Wellington

the plans for the 150th

College to the latest edition of

Celebrations in 2017. While you

the Lampstand, the magazine for may think four years is a while alumni of our school.

away, here in the WCOBA Office, plans are already underway

Many of our featured Old Boys

to secure venues and work on

are drawn from different eras

programmes which will cater for

of the College’s history, and

Old Boys of all ages, interests and

have contributed significantly to

budgets. I hope many of you will

sectors around the world, working take the opportunity to renew or in every imaginable field as varied

strengthen your relationship with

as in business, the arts, in sport,

the College and of course with

education, philanthropy, and by

fellow classmates and teachers.

supporting worthwhile causes.

Our new WCOBA office - Office

Please remember to send us your news. oldboys@wc.school.nz

4 28 29 17 28 24 27 30 17

MAR MAR MAR APR MAY JUN JUN JUN OCT

McEvedy Shield @ Newtown Park Class of 1964 Reunion • 50 Years On WCOBA Luminary Fellows Dinner

Our WCOBA events section also

150 is ideally located at the

underlines the global reach of our

entrance to the main campus of

Old Boys, with updates from the

the College and we are grateful to

United Kingdom and Australia as

the Association for their financial

well as here in New Zealand. It

support in establishing this new

has been a pleasure to meet so

building. Please feel free to visit

many Old Boys this past year at

us and the adjacent Archives.

these gatherings.

Special thanks to those Old In response to the growing global

Boys who have made contact

impact of our Old Boys, our social

with me - sending donations,

media network is also continuing

letters, photos, stories and other

to expand as we bring topical

newsworthy items for inclusion in

success stories from the College

the magazine. I really appreciate

Class of 2004 Reunion • 10 Years On

and of our Old Boys. There are

the time you have taken to keep

now more than 38 countries

in touch and support us.

Quad @ Wanganui Collegiate [to 2 July]

around the world where we have

Wellington College ANZAC Service Wellington College v St Patrick’s (Town) [H] Annual v Christchurch BHS at Home

Class of 1974 Reunion • 40 Years On

Old Boys residing and no doubt

Stephanie Kane

other countries as well.

WCOBA Executive Officer

Please support the Association by joining the WCOBA today. Your support assists in

SPECIAL THANKS to Paddianne Neely,

producing the magazine, funding Old Boys' activities and events, as well as supporting

our Archivist for providing material for

College awards, buildings, activities and maintaining the Archives.

our magazine and to Gil Roper (1959-61) for his proof-reading skills. Thank you

Life Membership: $150.00 (Includes a Certificate of Life Membership & Lapel Pin)

also to staff, students and Old Boys who took many of the more recent photos and

Alternatively, if you wish to just make a donation to the WCOBA to help offset printing and

provided news which all helps form The

postage costs for The Lampstand, we very much appreciate your support. Details are in the

Lampstand each year.

enclosed insert and online: www.wc.school.nz (WCOBA).

Stephanie Kane, Editor

The WCOBA is here to keep you informed and involved.

Wellington College Old Boys’ Association PO Box 16073, Wellington New Zealand, 6242 Tel: 04 802 2537 Fax: 04 802 2542 Email: oldboys@wc.school.nz Web: www.wc.school.nz

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Stay in Contact Don’t miss out on the latest news and invitations.

Update your contact details with us at any time by providing us with your email address so we can keep you up-to-date. Remember to let us know if you change your postal address.

Wellington College Old Boys We welcome your news, memories and feedback for future Lampstand issues and social media.

Please keep in touch!

2013

| The Lampstand | 7

WCOBA Special Offer In the cellar at Te Mata Estate winery are barrels filled with something very special just for Wellington College Old Boys. After a vintage described by Decanter UK as ‘the stuff of legends’, one lot of Chardonnay and one lot of Merlot/Cabernets have been put aside especially for our enjoyment to help raise funds for the Memorial Window appeal.

The aim to restore the stained glass window, originally built as a memorial to Wellington College Old Boys who died in WWI, is a cause that resonates with Te Mata Estate’s Chairman John Buck – himself a Wellington College Old Boy. Organised by Development Manager, Tony Robinson, this very limited selection of wine from one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed wineries will be made available for our Old Boys in six or twelve pack cases.

The 2013 vintage has already been much heralded as one of New Zealand’s greatest and these very special wines have been created to cellar perfectly until Wellington College’s 150th Celebrations in 2017.

Don’t miss out on your chance to secure this limited edition. Each bottle will have an image of our Memorial Window on its back label. Two of 2013’s most exclusive wines made by one of the country’s finest producers, created and labelled just for our Old Boys to bring the Memorial Window restoration one step closer.

Register your order now!

To register your order now Please contact Te Mata Estate on 0800 836 282 or email: shop@temata.co.nz Your wine will be delivered after September 2014.

You will not be billed until the wine is despatched and you will be advised in advance should you not wish to proceed. $280 + $10 freight for a 12 bottle case $150 + $10 freight for a 6 bottle case (International shipping can also be arranged - contact Te Mata for details).

Cases can be any mixed number of Chardonnay or Merlot bottles or a single variety.

Hawkes Bay-based Old Boy, Merv Ewing

lends

a hand at the harvest of our Wellington

College

grapes.

8

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Limited Stock The legendary Headmaster, JP Firth, who retired in 1921, pressed passionately for a Memorial Hall which would be dedicated to the courage and sacrifice of ‘his Boys’ in The Great War. In 1928, Firth (far left) attended the opening of this glorious building with its iconic stained glass window which Old Boys still believe depicts the symbolic heart of the College today.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 9

WCOBA Executive 2013-2014 POSITION

NAME

YEARS

CONTACT

PRESIDENT

Matthew Beattie

1970-1972

matthew.beattie@insteplimited.com

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Brian Smythe

1954-1958

smythelson@xtra.co.nz

TREASURER

Bob Slade

1954-1958

bob@slade.co.nz

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Stephanie Kane

CENTENNIAL TRUST CHAIR

-

Matthew Beattie

1970-1972

matthew.beattie@insteplimited.com

Robert Anderson

1969-1973

r.anderson@wc.school.nz

Roger Moses (Headmaster) EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

oldboys@wc.school.nz

-

r.moses@wc.school.nz

Matthew Reweti

1986-1990

matthew.reweti@gmail.com

Guy Randall

1999-2003

randall_guy@hotmail.com

Ernie Rosenthal

1957-1960

e.rosenthal@wc.school.nz

Scott Tingey

1974-1978

zl2tpd@gmail.com

WCOBA Objectives

THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED TO: •

Further the interests of the College and its past and present members and keep former students in touch with each other and with the school.

•

Maintain a register of names of all who have passed through the College since 1867 and endeavour to record the addresses of all those alive.

•

Arrange reunions and other functions for Old Boys.

•

Where needed, support current students at the College.

THESE AIMS ARE MET BY THE ASSOCIATION BY UNDERTAKING THE FOLLOWING TASKS: •

Produce The Lampstand and similar publications each year, covering activities of Old Boys and other relevant information.

•

Maintain a computerised database, giving details of all Old Boys of the College including teaching staff. This includes addresses where known. The Executive Officer will release addresses to bona fide Old Boys but will not allow any access for commercial purposes.

•

Provide financial support for College activities, including sporting and cultural activities, sponsorship and academic prizes, as well as supporting the Archives.

•

Organise various reunions and other social functions either at the College, nationwide or internationally for Old Boys which the Association wishes to encourage and extend.

•

Administer charitable funds managed by the Association for current and past students including assistance with fundraising appeals.

2013 WCOBA Annual General Meeting







The 2013 AGM was held in conjunction with the Traditional against St Patrick’s (Silverstream). While the fine weather and view offered from the Pavilion was excellent, unfortunately the result was not what we had hoped in both the Rugby and Football - but Hockey won!

 10

| The Lampstand | 2013

1

(L-R): Morrie Deterte, Bruce Heather, Bob Slade, Dave Eggers

2

(L-R): John Mills, Matthew Beattie

3

(L-R): Ross Macdonald, Dave Eggers

4

(L-R): Kieran Oliver, Tom Kane, Reece Cargill, Andrew Scotts

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Outgoing President’s Report Brian Smythe (1954 - 1958), Head Prefect • ACTIVITIES AT THE COLLEGE:

It is my pleasure to present this report, the third of my presidency. Due to my absence overseas in June, I am grateful to

The Frank Crist Centre [previously

Matthew Beattie, Association Executive Member and Chairman of

the Collegian Squash Courts], has

the Centennial Trust, who will table this report at the AGM.

been completely refurbished to incorporate both the Sports Academy and a Learning Centre, in honour of a

Although our year does not end until 30 June 2013, there is much to

wonderful teacher, housemaster and coach.

be reported upon: The WCOBA and Development Office has been busy, owing to the

The Sir Ron Brierley Artificial Turf: The all-weather playing field - a

continuing energies of Stephanie Kane [Executive Officer], and Tony

joint venture between the College and the Wellington City Council,

Robinson [Development Manager], and the able assistance of Glenda

now provides an immensely popular sporting facility on the middle

Schmitt [Development Officer]. Between them, these three excellent

field, without anxiety about mud or fixture cancellation.

operatives are responsible for the management of all activities of the Old Boys’ Association; in particular:

Development and WCOBA Office Relocation: The Development Office and WCOBA staff are pleased and relieved to be relocated, this

• COHORT REUNIONS: 55 Years +, Class of 1963; and Class of 1972.

July, from their remote and inadequate office, to a refurbished space

These popular functions fulfil an important purpose of the WCOBA –

at the top of the driveway, and close to the Archives in the former

to bring together old school friends and acquaintances to catch up,

Headmaster’s House. Refurbishment costs have been shared - 2/3

reminisce, network, view the College in its contemporary settings, and

WCOBA and 1/3 by the College. Thanks are due to Matt Beattie,

enjoy great socialising.

as Chair of the Centennial Trust, for driving this initiative, and for arranging that the WCOBA share of cost will be covered from the

• BRANCH GATHERINGS: Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Horowhenua/

Centennial Trust.

Manawatu and Canterbury.

These are also popular functions, although we have noticed that

This facility will be far more convenient for Old Boys wishing to visit

‘younger’ Old Boys tend to delay their commitment to WCOBA matters

‘Head Office’, or the Archives [which continue to expand under the

until later in life. While this is understandable, we would encourage

expert guidance of the College Archivist, the incomparable Paddianne

younger alumni to engage in the affairs of their Association as soon as

Neely].

possible.

• LUMINARY FELLOW AWARDS: The WCOBA Executive is finalising • FUNDRAISING EVENTS:

the establishment of an annual event to be known as the Wellington

Raise the Roof – a successful Cocktail Party and Auction which raised

College Luminary Fellow Awards, designed to acknowledge and

some $24,000, including a bottle of Te Mata Coleraine which went for

celebrate achievement by Old Boys at the highest level.

$3000! The auction proceeds go towards the cost of the Memorial Hall redevelopment.

• WELLINGTON COLLEGE 150TH IN 2017: This will be a major event in 2017, timed to coincide with the commission of the redeveloped

Memorial Window Relocation - this historic and priceless stained

Memorial Hall and Performing Arts Centre. The 150th will be jointly

glass icon will be relocated within the re-design of the hall. Tony

managed and financed by the College and the WCOBA [through the

Robinson invites Old Boys to donate in exchange for donor’s names

Centennial Trust]. Planning and budgeting will shortly commence.

on a commemorative plaque. A significant amount in donations has already been received.

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks are due to the team at the Development and WCOBA Office, to Bob Slade for keeping the

Wine Project - thanks to the generosity of John Buck, an Old Boy

Association’s books in good order, and to all members of the Executive

who owns Te Mata Peak Winery, Tony Robinson has arranged for two

Committee for their welcome input.

blocks of grapes to be dedicated to production of a Wellington College wine, to be named ‘Wellington College 150’, with profits going to the

Brian Smythe, President • June, 2013

Memorial Hall redevelopment.

• THE LAMPSTAND continues as the mainstay of the WCOBA with information and communication, due to the remarkable editorial skills of Stephanie Kane. Increasing publication costs are contained with The Lampstand now available online as well as in hard copy.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 11

New President’s Report Matthew Beattie (1970 - 1972), Head Prefect matthew.beattie@insteplimited.com I am delighted to lead the WCOBA again, having

A 150th Celebration schedule will

initially been President in 1999-2000.

be out soon for your scrutiny but there is still time for that ‘killer idea’

Introducing MATT BEATTIE Matt was at Wellington College 1970-72. He enjoyed his rugby and school leadership with three

We have much to celebrate as a College

to make it into the programme. It is our

years in the 1st XV and a

community. This is a very fine school, continually

intent to utilise reliable social media and regular

love for History and English.

achieving excellence in academic, cultural and

PR releases to keep you informed of 150 news and

He is an undergraduate

sporting success and as Old Boys, we should be

College life. If you haven’t already, get active on

in human resources and

enjoying the reflected glory that today’s young

Facebook and LinkedIn and regularly check our

psychology from both Victoria

men bring into our lives. The College confers great

website for developments.

and Massey Universities

values on these men and expects good measure,

and a post graduate in

pressed down, shaken together and running over

In early 2014, the College will be conferring four

International Relations at

in return.

Luminary Fellow Awards to two present and the

Deakin University, Australia

families of two deceased Old Boys who, over the

and had a small sojourn at

For the next period of our school history, the

course of their lives, have achieved at the highest

Harvard Law School studying

challenge is significant for Old Boys - among the

level and made an outstanding contribution to or

negotiation and performance

responsibilities is the planning and execution of

demonstrated leadership in their profession in

psychology.

the 150th Anniversary of the College in 2017. This

New Zealand or internationally. A Luminary Fellow

is not a small task as we expect up to 4,000 Old

could be drawn from Academia, the Arts, the

For 25 years, Matt was a

Boys in various ages, shapes and sizes to attend

Professions, Business, Sport or Service. We will be

professional Army officer,

the celebrations over Labour Weekend and it has

honouring our Luminary Fellows and their families

working in the UK, USA,

to be an occasion that befits both the grandeur of

at an inaugural dinner at the College in March 2014.

Australia, Bosnia and

the College and the down-to-earth, common touch

Once we have further details, we will advertise the

Germany and proceeded into

of the alumni and students. Your Executive and our details to you. This will be quite an occasion.

business in 1998 founding

Executive Officer are well underway on this project

Instep, a behavioural

- now based in our new Office 150 at the top of the

I look forward to travelling on your behalf and

healthcare company and

Dufferin Street driveway. Please drop in and get an

meeting many of you wherever you gather in the

later adding two more

update from Stephanie Kane.

future.

organisations in joint venture with colleagues in Australia and Canada. One of his great passions is supporting elite sportsmen and women in professional rugby and cricket so they can perform to their highest potential.

His other community interests also include Trustee of the National Army Museum, Trustee of the Karori Events

Members of the Wellington College Foundation, Board of Trustees and

Centre, Vice President of

WCOBA Executive attended the recent official opening of Office 150.

the Wellington Returned

ABOVE and BELOW: New WCOBA President, Matt Beattie discusses the plans for the forthcoming 150th celebrations.

ABOVE RIGHT: Deputy Head Prefect,

and Services Association, Wellington College Rugby Club, Project K and as a life facilitator for men at Rimutaka Prison.

Benson Oosterbaan cuts the ribbon to

Matt is married to Sarah

formally open Office 150.

and has two adult children, daughter Emilie and son Alex.

12

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

From the Wellington College Foundation Chairman John Marshall (1960 - 1964), Head Prefect john.marshall@waterfront.org.nz The College Foundation has the task

students. We want to have this

These achievements could not

of developing and implementing a

new hall completed by 2017 for

have happened without the

fundraising strategy for Wellington

the 150th celebrations of the

dedication and commitment

College, and investing the money raised

College.

of so many of the teachers of

for the benefit of the College.

the College. The Foundation recognises this, and provides these

Over the last seven years, the A recent and very positive development is

College has raised some $3.6m towards this

that the College’s Development Office, which

hall project, and we need another $3.5m. So

is the fundraising arm of the College, now

we need YOUR support, as proud Old Boys, to

reports to the Foundation. We are together

make this happen!

teachers with a modest financial reward for their outstanding contributions.

The next few years will be challenging ones for The Foundation as we work with the

working on a new strategy for fundraising, with the objective of raising sufficient money

You will read elsewhere in the Lampstand of

Development Office and Old Boys’ Association

to enable the College Hall to be extended and

the wonderful achievements of our current

to raise much-needed money, and then invest

refurbished, thereby creating a modern multi-

students in so many facets of life at the

wisely. To those of you who have made

use facility which can accommodate 1600

College - academic, the arts and in sport.

donations, thank you very much.

Office 150 Students, staff and Old Boys alike have been watching the

refurbishment of the decrepit Social Studies Classroom and wondering what was to become of the former leaking and cold classroom.

In July, it was all disclosed when the signage was unveiled to reveal

Registered Office of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association and The Wellington College Development Office

the new home of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association and the College Development Office, under the auspicious title of ‘Office 150’.

Why Office 150? No, there aren’t 149 other offices at the College (as many students thought), but it has been duly named this as the new hub, as plans get underway for the College’s 150th Jubilee in 2017. current students easier access.

Based in Office 150 is Tony Robinson, the College’s Development Manager and Stephanie Kane, Old Boys’ Association Executive Officer

Staff, students and of course, Old Boys are most welcome to call into

and the College’s Communications and Events Manager. In a part-

Office 150 at any time. We have all the old Wellingtonians to read and

time capacity is Glenda Schmitt and volunteer, Susan Harding.

our extensive database for family research.

The refurbishment has been carried out by our Property Manager,

Visitors are also encouraged to call in at the adjacent Archives to view

Kelwyn D’Souza and his crew and includes new roofing, plumbing,

the collections on display. Please call Paddianne on 04 382 9411 or

kitchen, storage and of course working areas. The Wellington College

email oldboys@wc.school.nz to check that she is available.

Old Boys’ Centennial Trust funded the renovations.

While day-to-day life will continue in the new surroundings, Office 150 will over the next four years, become a major hive of activity as we gear up for the 150th celebrations in Labour Weekend, 2017.

Old Boys will be able to register at the Office and peruse other documentation in association with the jubilee. Adjacent to Office 150 is the Headmaster’s former house which now is the home of our Archives, managed by Paddianne Neely. Having both facilities close to each other, and within the school campus will give Old Boys and

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 13

From the Headmaster Roger Moses, ONZM r.moses@wc.school.nz As I begin my 19th year as Headmaster, it gives me great pleasure to extend very cordial greetings to all alumni of our great school, both at home and abroad.

Schools’ Hockey), and qualifying to play in the final of the Wellington Competition, a game which is yet to be played [at the time of writing]. Our 1st XI Football team were worthy champions in the Wellington competition after a titanic struggle with St Patrick’s (Silverstream), and our Swimming Team returned from the national competition, retaining their title by a very narrow two points from Auckland Grammar School.

During the past twelve months, it has been, as always, exhilarating

Similarly, in the Arts, our students have continued to thrive. The

to meet with so many Old Boys at our 40 Years On Reunion, 50 Years

Wellington College Chorale performed brilliantly at the Wellington

On Reunion, at the Old Boys Dinner in London and, most recently,

Big Sing and was the only Wellington Choir to be selected for the final

the Quadrangular Tournament in Nelson and on three states on the

sixteen at the National Big Sing, where they won a Silver Award. Their

East Coast of Australia. I never tire of hearing amusing tales from

performance of the Samoan classic, Musika Malie, has received over

past escapades and enjoying that sense of camaraderie which is the

80,000 hits on YouTube. A combined performance with Wellington

hallmark of ‘Coll Boys’ the world over.

Girls’ College, featuring our choirs, Jazz Band, Stage Challenge and cultural groups, packed out the Wellington Town Hall in a truly

The last twelve months have been remarkably successful for

memorable evening. Young men at Wellington College are always

Wellington College. For the second year in a row, our boys topped

very proud to participate and give of their very best, whether it be in

the New Zealand Scholarship Awards with 153 Scholarships in total,

the academic, cultural or sporting arena.

breaking previous records. Three of our students were named as Premier Scholars (the top ten in the country), and two of those,

On a sad but, for me, very proud occasion, I was honoured by being

Nicholas On and Thomas Leggat, were jointly presented with the

asked to be a pall bearer at the funeral of Frank Crist, surely one of

Prime Minister’s Award, for the top student in the country. This stellar

the great icons at Wellington College. Over the last eighteen years,

success is unprecedented.

I had got to know Frank well and my life, like that of so many Old Boys, was enhanced by his charismatic presence. He was a great

On the sporting front, our teams have performed with distinction.

man in every sense of the word and a raconteur par excellence. In

The 1st XV were Wellington champions, winners of the Quadrangular

my experience, no former master was more respected than Frank.

Tournament in Nelson and reached the Top 4 in the NZ Secondary

In what was a fitting tribute, our wonderful new sports academy is

Schools’ Competition. Many Old Boys have spoken with considerable

named the Frank Crist Centre, and his name will look down on the

pride at seeing the 1st XV play on the Rugby Channel. Our 1st XI

young men of Wellington College as long as the school exists. With

Hockey has enjoyed its best season for a decade, reaching the

Frank’s passing, surely it is fitting to say... Kua hinga te tōtara i Te

last four in the Rankin Cup (the top tournament in NZ Secondary

Waonui a Tāne. A totara has fallen in the great forest of Tāne.

In May, when Wellington College students were present at the Top Scholar Awards, held at Government House, with the Governor General, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education were all in attendance.

Harry Berger, Thomas Leggat (right) and Nicholas On (left) were all 2012 Premier Scholars (in the Top 10 in NZ) and Colin Kuehne was Top Scholar in German. Thomas was also Top Scholar in both Classical Studies and Media Studies.

The only award to be announced on the day was The Prime Minister’s Award for the student who was overall, top in the country. It was therefore a great thrill for the Wellington College contingent when it was announced that a joint award was made for the first time to Thomas and Nicholas.

As Headmaster, Roger Moses said to a reporter at the time, from an academic perspective, ‘it doesn’t get much better than that’.

14

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Until he died, Frank Crist referred to his Wellington College rugby teams as his 'boys'’. Those 'boys', now decades out of College, were among the guests at the opening of the College’s new Frank Crist Centre, which incorporates a sports academy and learning centre. Mr Crist, a renowned sports coach from 1948-1962, died last year aged 93. Speaking at the opening, his widow, Greta Crist, said her husband had remembered his years at the College as 'the best of his life'. Till his death he still referred to his old players as his 'boys', she said.

Headmaster Roger Moses, a pallbearer at Mr Crist’s funeral, said his friend represented what 'a great New Zealander is all about'. Frank was a great teacher, a great house master. He was a great rugby coach, he was a great cricket coach, he was a great man.

The refurbishment of the centre previously used as squash courts, created a new centre with a sports academy, featuring weights and exercise rooms as well as extra classrooms.

New Centre honours Wellington College legend The opening of the Frank Crist Centre was a wonderful occasion which celebrated not only a spectacular new sporting facility, but also a former master who was revered by Old Boys of the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

Frank was a colossus in every way. A very imposing man with a highly distinguished record as a pilot during WWII Frank also played over a hundred games in his first class rugby career. He was a rugby and cricket coach par excellence and a terrific classroom teacher. He concluded his career as Headmaster of Hastings Boys’ High School from 1964-1984, but retained a deep love for Wellington College.

It was a great honour and privilege that the centre was opened by his charming wife, Mrs Greta Crist. In my view, it is entirely appropriate that Frank’s name will be forever associated with the school he served so well.

Roger Moses, Headmaster

TOP: The Prefects perform a powhiri as part of the welcome to the guests at the opening of the Frank Crist Centre. ABOVE LEFT: Junior students in their new Health classroom in the centre. ABOVE RIGHT: The plaque, honouring Frank now has pride of place at the front entrance of the FCC.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 15

update Development

Tony Robinson Development Manager t.robinson@wc.school.nz +64 4 802 7698

• RAISE THE ROOF CAMPAIGN and AUCTION This took place in the Assembly Hall on 27 February and was a lively and happy evening attended by about 200 people. The occasion was planned officially to launch the last phase of the Memorial Hall building project emphasising the aim of commencing construction in December 2014. This campaign has been branded ‘Raise the Roof’ as that is literally what will happen; the actual roof will be ramped up 2.4 metres so an upper mezzanine floor will increase the capacity of the building to 1600 people.

Myles Gazley (1985 - 1989) was a very entertaining and humorous MC regaling the crowd with some colourful stories including being Dux of

Guests and aspiring bidders gathered for drinks prior to the Auction held earlier this year in the Memorial Hall. $24K was raised from the auction lots, kindly donated by parents, Old Boys and the community.

the College in his time here. Grant Robertson, the Wellington Central MP, proved to be an experienced and successful auctioneer and very

• THE ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW and BOOK FAIR

much got into the spirit of the event.

This event took place on a very wet Sunday in June, but despite the inclement weather the high point was having well-known antique

Auction items provided plenty of highlights, especially thanks to

expert, Peter Wedde (1965-1969), appraising items from a long line of

the generosity of Old Boy John Buck (1955-1958), the Director of Te

people who kept Peter busy for the full six hours. Peter entertained

Mata Winery in Hawke’s Bay, who donated a rare six-litre bottle of

the gathering with his colourful, articulate and experienced manner

Coleraine 2009 red wine. Other items that produced spirited bidding

and we are grateful for the huge contribution he made on the day.

were the use of a Gazley luxury car and a night at The White Swan in

Roger Moses and Rob Anderson presented items to be valued with

Masterton donated by Rob Slater (1989-1993); a silver-service lunch

both being surprised and interested at what they learnt. A couple of

with the Headmaster; a long weekend in a luxury Queenstown home,

antiques presented created particular talking points, one of which is

a Kelburn Village megabasket and appropriately naming rights to the

highlighted in the photo below.

first Memorial Window pane.

There were also 5000 good second hand books for sale as part of The room was bedecked with 100 balloons in the black and gold of

the event and those not sold were given away to the Downtown

Wellington College and 50 of these contained prizes so everyone was

Community Centre. There were 34 people involved behind the scenes

able to enter into the spirit of things with many coming away with a

on this busy day and the backing of a strong College parents’ team

prize at the end of the evening. This special evening raised $24k for

made this unique event possible.

the Building Appeal.

The discovery of a rare 1688 porcelain ‘prayer book’ set the antiques roadshow fundraiser at Wellington College abuzz. The blue and white Delft piece was worth between $50,000 and $60,000. Appraiser, Peter Wedde (1965-1969), said it could go straight into the British Museum.

The owner knew it was special, but had no idea how special. Old Boy, John Mills (1952-1956) [pictured above left] had a framed 1799 etching of a scene from Shakespeare’s Richard III. He brought the item in more out of curiosity than in the hope of a windfall, he said. The scene, depicting the murder of the two sleeping princes in the Tower, was a bit grotesque, he said. It’s not the sort of thing you put on the wall. The piece was valued at $200.

Peter, [pictured above right with Headmaster, Roger Moses] is a Kelburn-based antiques expert who boarded at Wellington College as a boy.

He said part of the appeal of the event was the element of surprise and emotion.

16

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Living Memory

Your opportunity to put your name to a piece of history.

Give from your heart and inspire the future.

The Memorial Window belongs to all of us - past, present and future Roger Moses, Headmaster

All Old Boys know the Memorial Window, an enduring symbol of pride, tradition and service.

Wellington College now plans to return it to its rightful place at the head of the new Assembly Hall where the whole school can gather.

A scaled-down version of the Memorial Window will be on display nearby, divided into 392 squares, where your family’s name and years of attendance can feature for posterity.

There are three tiers of pricing, the highest value allocated to the centre. These numbers are limited. http://wc.school.nz/development/memorial-window-appeal



PAYMENT INFORMATION Yellow Tier

$1,000

Green Tier

$3,000

Red Tier

$5,000

Name Address Email Telephone  I enclose a cheque made payable to the Wellington College Foundation Alternatively, payment can be made to the Foundation Bank Account.

Please record your details for identification and receipting purposes.

06 0501 0575822 02 Ref: MW YOUR SURNAME You can now donate online and order your window piece by visiting our website: www.wc.school.nz and click on ‘Raise the Roof’ logo.

Enquiries to Tony Robinson on 04 802 7698 or email: a.robinson@wellington-college.school.nz

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 17

archives From the

Paddianne Neely H: +64 4 386 2072 W: +64 4 382 9411 oldboys@wc.school.nz Wellington College Archives:

a goodly heritage, proud traditions, cherished memories

Open Mondays and Wednesdays or by arrangement at other times.

Greetings to you all. How wonderful it has been to be situated in

always packed with work and rushed, so for him to make the time was

our new location over the past 18 months -

indeed special.

it finally feels like home!

Since 1990, the Archives has moved eleven times from its first It’s almost 25 years since Mike

room, a urinal and toilet block. The rather small but important

Dormer, [pictured right] a Nelson

collection has grown to fill the Headmaster’s house with displays,

College Old Boy, spent the whole

working areas and ample storage space. This has happened

weekend at Wellington College

because Old Boys and their families, staff and friends of the

accompanying two Old Boys - his

College have donated their treasures to be cared for and to share

father Orm (1919-1920), his mother

space under the name of the Wellington College Archives. This

and uncle, Bill (1921-1925) when they

is something unique and rich in history, leading up to the 150th

attended the 125th Wellington College

celebrations of Wellington College in 2017.

celebrations in 1992. His father Orm was a former member of the 1st

So, if you are contemplating donating photographs or other items

XV Rugby team and his uncle, Bill, a

to the College, please do so now and thus enable your material

former Captain of the 1st XI Cricket

along with stories you may wish to share, to be used for the

team. The two Old Boys were assisted

celebrations. Work to complete this massive task has already

by Mike to light the candle at the College church service. Mike has

started.

close ties with Wellington College. As the founder of the Willows Cricket Club at Loburn, North Canterbury, he hosts our 1st XI Cricket

Some marvellous items have been donated over the last twelve

team on alternate years. When Wellington College plays the Willows

months. Along with the gifts, often comes the pleasure of meeting the

team, they are watched closely by many of our Christchurch-based

donors. Mary Bennie from Australia with her aunt, Nancy McDonald,

Old Boys, who are also members of the Club.

came to view the NZ Hockey uniform and NZ Army uniform of her father Maurice Browne, (1926-1929). Stan George (1949-1953) arrived

A lovely story I’ve heard was when Orm proposed to Mike’s mother,

on his motorbike to leave a collection of much needed Prefect, Cricket

he did not have enough money for an engagement ring, so he gave

and Soccer team photographs. Collis Blake (1944-1948) gave Firth

her a promise of one, along with his most treasured possession, his

House groups, along with his 2nd and 3rd Rugby XV photographs,

Wellington College 1st XV Rugby cap. That cap now sits with Mike’s

which were very welcome.

own Nelson College 1st XV cap and his son Ben’s Christ’s College 1st XV cap, to form a much admired and treasured collection in the

Dr Malcolm MacDonald’s (1939-1943) 1942 Wellington College Pipe

Dormer home. Oh yes, and years later, Mrs Dormer received her

Band image has been added to this small but growing collection. Dr

ring! I had the pleasure of a visit from Mike earlier this year to view

Stuart Slater (1960) has begun a new collection with a seemingly

the Archives in the Headmaster’s house. His trips to Wellington are

new sport for the College. He has donated Softball images of the 2013 team which won the North Island Secondary Schools’ Division 2 Championships for 2012/2013.

Class photographs have been provided by Les Howe (1950-1954), Emeritus John Harper (1951-1955), [who donated the medal pictured right], won by his father WJB Harper (1912-1913) who won it for the Athletics in the U14 Scratch 100yrd race 1912], Graeme Gunn (1961-1965) donated his late father, Bryce Gunn’s photos, Bruce Conyngham (19411943), Graham Chiu (1968-1972) and Bob Falconer (1953-57). Class photographs were not kept by the College until 1963, so anything we

Members from the Class of 1963 visited the Archives in March.

are able to acquire before that date is a bonus.

(L-R): are John Smythe, Phil Martell, Gavin Jack and Kenn Henderson

18

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

My good friend Ted Clayton (1943-1947) has continued with his important work in the Archives, gathering and processing the newspaper files. He has also completed the research for a Timeline of major College events which is such an important record. Thank you Ted for this valuable help.

Jan Bunting, a former College mother made numerous exquisite costumes for various College Shakespearean productions while her son was at school. Two of these are proudly on display in the Archives. Jan has now offered her help here. She has arranged the many sound and visual records in retrieval order. A vital task. Thank you Jan. Something else we have little of are boys’ exercise books showing their schoolwork. John Xanthopol

Six display mannequins and stands have been generously donated by my son Jason. A most welcome gift. Thank you.

(1952-1957) has filled that large gap brilliantly. He has also given various text books, and athletics programmes.

To Roger Moses the Headmaster, my husband Don, Stephanie Kane, Tony Robinson, Marilyn MacLennan, Kelwyn D’Souza, Roy Smith,

A rather touching gift came from Anne Webb, daughter of GWB (Dick)

Heather Benfield, Penny Basile and Glenda and Louis Schmitt - your

Barron (1932-1934). It was a letter he had written to his grandson,

help throughout the year has been much appreciated. 2013 has been

Warwick Webb when Warwick joined the College in the 3rd form in

a truncated year for me, but hopefully I’ll be back on board again

1989. It contained his College tie.

soon.

Ila Young, daughter of A A Gawith DFC (1929-1933) and former Battle

My thanks also to all the donors for your valuable gifts to the

of Britain pilot has donated her father’s 1891 Holy Bible [pictured

Archives. I look forward to meeting many more Old Boys and friends

above], which was also owned by his father, A C Gawith (1898-1900).

of the College in the future. The Archives is open most Mondays

Old Boy, Reece Cargill (2003-2007) has left a legacy. He has built a

and Wednesdays. Please phone first to check that it is convenient.

section of carpet-based wooden shelves to hold most of our small

Sometimes there are many visitors at a time and sometimes I may be

framed photographs. This wonderful addition to storage facilities has

away on Archives business.

enabled me to get precious team photographs off the floor. There is still a pressing need to have similar shelves built for the many largeframed photographs at present on the floor blocking an important storeroom. Are there any takers out there please?

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

BELOW: Wellington College Cadets photographed at Wellington College during MBM Tweed’s years at the College (1904-1908). This photo was donated by his nephew, Malcolm Tweed.

2013

| The Lampstand | 19

sport Wellington College

It wasn’t the best week for Silverstream!

The 1st XV overcame the quirks of a rugby calendar that required the Wellington College Captain and Head Prefect, Daniel Carbonattoteam to play their two most important games of the season just four

Bowkett enjoys a moment after his team’s penalty shoot-out win over

days apart.

St Patrick’s (Silverstream) in the Premier One Football final qualifying

them for the NZSS Champs. Daniel, who has four caps was named as Wellington came out best in a tense contest for the College Premier One ‘Player of the Tour’ in the NZSS U19 Team to the UK final edging to a 25-22 win over St Patrick’s (Silverstream). They then went on to win the Hurricanes Schools’ Competition which qualified them for the NZSS Top 4 Competition.

Leni Apisai and Wesley Goosen were selected for the NZSS Team and James Blackwell was selected for the NZSS Barbarians Team.

2013 Sportsman of the Year While Nick Healy was supporting our 1st XV at Porirua Park in their Premier One final, his car was broken into and his Underwater Hockey gear was stolen from the boot - losing his fins, mask, gloves, snorkel and pucks. The loss was ill-timed,

Hockey

on the eve of Nick’s departure for the World Champs in Hungary. Nick was one of two students in the Men’s U23 team who went on to win Gold.

Nick, our 2013 Wellington College Sportsman of the Year was the MVP at the 2012 NZSS tournament and was aiming to play in the U19 team but was selected for the U23 team after a successful trial. He captains our Senior A team (who won the Central Region Champs) and at the same time, coaches our Junior A Team. He also manages to find time to play both Cricket for our 2nd XI and is in Football’s 10th XI.

Sports Shorts

Swimming

Congratulations to our 1st XI Hockey, Senior A Softball and Swimming Teams on their wins in regional and national competitions.

• The Hockey team won the first round of the local competition and all their Traditionals and finished fourth in the NZSS Rankin Cup. • Our Softballers are the current Wellington Champs and winners of the NISS Division 2 Championship.

• Our Swimming Team were unbeaten in all secondary school competitions at local, regional, North Island and national level this

Softball

year. They were winners of the NZSS Championships for the third time.

20

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

arts

Wellington College

THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE CHORALE • The Chorale has developed its reputation as a talented ensemble both within and outside the school community. At the regional Big Sing, the group gained three Best Performance Awards and was awarded Silver at the Big Sing National Finale.

They have appeared on Seven Sharp, recorded for Praise Be and their performance of ‘Musika Malie’ has had 80,000 hits on You Tube. Six members of this talented group are in the NZSS Choir.

THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE JAZZ BAND • The Jazz Band is an

SENIOR PREMIER A DEBATING • This team of (L-R): Barnaby McIntosh,

auditioned group of 17 students, including two students from

Alex Wierzbicki, Ben Ayto and Jack Garden has performed well over

Wellington Girls’ College. They have performed at three Jazz Festivals

the year and was narrowly beaten in the finals of the grade. The team

during the year: The Manawatu Jazz Festival, where they received

has given a great deal to Debating at Wellington College through

Special Recommendation, NZSM Jazz Festival in Wellington and the

adjudication and coaching. Jack coached the Junior Premier Team, with

KBB Festival in Auckland where they were received a Bronze Award.

help from Ben and Barnaby, and was selected for the Wellington Team.

STAGE CHALLENGE: I KNOW BETTER THAN YOU • Under the outstanding direction of Ben Ayto, Stage Challenge cleverly conveyed the idea of inter-generational conflict with the trademark Wellington College humour and enthusiasm. The original concept was developed corroboratively, choreographed by the student leaders and featured excellent lead dancers. An efficient and skilled backstage and production crew helped to realise the vision of the leaders. The performance was placed second to Wellington Girls’ College.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 21

Reunions

CLASS OF 1963

This was the seventh occasion that we hosted our annual Fifty Years on Reunion - this time it was the Class of 1963’s opportunity to return to Wellington College in March this year. The reunion coincided with the honouring and opening of our new Frank Crist Centre that same day, so there were a good number of Old Boys in attendance from Frank’s ‘era’ throughout the day and night.

The Class of 1963 enjoyed a tour around the College, ending up in our Archives to view the plethora of memorabilia Paddianne Neely had put together, along with a photographic display of photos from 1963.

At the dinner that night, Roger Moses responded to the toast given by 1963 Head Prefect, Gavin Jack. Subsequent toasts

were given by Marc Paviour-Smith to Firth House; Ross Crotty remembered absent friends and Wren Green saluted former staff.

Back Row:

Anthony Cole, Wren Green, Marc Paviour-Smith, Richard Rhoades, Kenn Henderson, Peter McLaren, Brian Graves, Peter Farmer,

Bruce Taylor, Roger Bunckenburg, John Flux

Third Row:

John Smythe, Rod Page, Bruce Waddel, Chris Hector, Ross Kerr, Dave Bydder, Warren Dickie, Peter Willis, Michael Pitt,

Graeme Chatfield, Michael Smythe

Second Row:

Ed Hudson, David Coombe, David Roche, Murray Opie, Jim Poy, Peter Oliver, Ted Aspey, Ross Crotty, Peter Gully, Bryan Bird,

Charles Fordham Front Row:

Phil Martell, Denys Whyte, John Shennan, Malcolm Small, David Flaws, Roger Moses (Headmaster), Gavin Jack (Head Prefect),

Brent Slater, John Wells, Bruce Harris, David Heather

Absent:

Bruce Connolly, James Young

The 1963 Prefects thought it was a great opportunity to have their photo taken fifty years on - so standing in the same positions as in 1963, they are as follows: Back: [Absent: DB Smith, Deceased], Brian Graves, David Roche, [Absent: RJ Ussher, Deceased], Graeme Chatfield, Richard Rhoades, David Flaws Front: Ross Crotty, Bruce Waddel, Roger Moses, Gavin Jack, David Coombe, David Heather

22

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Class of

1963

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 23

Class of

24

1963

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Reunions Ten years ago, the 40 Years On programme began with the Class of 1964 returning to Wellington College for their reunion. In October, it was the Class of 1973s turn to reunite and celebrate their 40th anniversary.

The reunion of the Class of 1973 began with a welcome from Headmaster, Roger Moses and then a tour of the

CLASS OF 1973

College followed, with the 2013 Prefects acting as escorts. The evening formalities kicked off with a drinks reception, then the Wellington College Chorale serenaded the assembled guests with their award winning voices.

At previous reunions, Deputy Principal, Robert Anderson (1969-1973) has acted as MC, so it was a poignant occasion that this year, he acted as MC at his own reunion. Toasts were given by Head Prefect, Roger McKinley, followed by Gary Smith toasting Firth House, Richard Grant remembering the teachers and Kim Svensen read the apologies and sadly reported on those who had passed away. Colin Chiu, all the way from the United States concluded the evening with his memories of the five years spent at the College.

Although most of the guests were Wellington-based, many travelled from other parts of New Zealand as well as the United States and Australia to be with us. The Class of 1973 renewed friendships, enjoyed photos and memorabilia, reminisced about their college days and shared their life experiences.

Back:

Richard Grant, Rob Anderson, Giles Goulden, Bill Wierenga, Hans Snoek, Rob Grant, Hugh Rhodes, John O’Brien, David Collins,

Peter Beauchamp

Third:

Morgan Tuimaleali’ifano, Andrew Harcourt, John Little, Gerald Sharrock, David Blackmore, Kim Svensen, Roger Tringham,

Alan Bradnock, Matt Benge, George Speedy, Neil Porteous

Second: Colin Chiu, Dan Reitsma, David Phillipps, Malcolm Bowes, Richard Beasley, Fraser Black, Bill Leask, Gary Smith, Chris Tarpley,

John Biss, Peter Hobbs

Front:

Grant Fastier, Neil Johnstone, Adrian Douglass, Barry Hing, Mike Pallin (Staff, 1973), Roger Moses, Roger McKinley, Andy Philpott,

Bryan Levestam, Ross Little, Khan Khan

Absent: Rob Jury, Bill Strickland

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 25

Class of

26

1973

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Class of

1973

CALLING OUT TO THE CLASS OF 2004 On Friday, 27 June 2014, there will be a 10 Years On Reunion.

We will meet in Firth Hall at 4.00pm for refreshments and a very quick tour around the school with Headmaster, Roger Moses to take a trip down memory lane, and to see the changes have been made since we left. Staff who were also around in 2004 will also be invited to join us. We will then make our way to The Southern Cross where a function area has been booked for the rest of the night.

Please RSVP to Mark Tinkle at wc2004tenyears@gmail.com There is also a Facebook page for this event so please indicate in your email if you wish to join to receive the invitation to the group.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 27

Reunions Earlier this year, 1993 Prefect, Nick Tipping realised with a not entirely pleasant surprise that it was 20 years since he left Wellington College.

CLASS OF 1993

others came from different parts of New Zealand. By mutual

in contact led me to the idea of holding a reunion. We had

agreement we had decided to dispense with any formalities,

lost touch with most other members of the Class of '93, and

and the result was a long and entertaining evening of

were curious to see how the intervening years had treated

conversation.

them. 20th reunions are not traditionally celebrated by the WCOBA, daunting task of tracking down the 200+ members of our cohort.

Fortunately, one of the major developments since 1993 has been the internet. Through the power of Google, Facebook and LinkedIn, once the seed had been planted, word (and enthusiasm) spread. It was fantastic to see that others were just as interested as I was in getting together, and the power of social media meant that numbers quickly grew. A date (13 July) and venue (Wellington's Southern Cross Bar) was agreed upon, and the WCOBA again generously assisted with venue hire.





Around 75 Old Boys made it along, as well as a few current and former staff members.

Several Old Boys made the trip from Australia, and

Conversations with fellow Old Boys with whom I was still

but thanks to the support of the Association, I was able to begin the

The night ended up being a fascinating occasion.

It was particularly gratifying to look around the room and see countless individual reunions taking place - Old Boys who hadn't seen each other in 20 years swapping stories, life histories, family photos, and email addresses.

Overall the exercise, while time-consuming, was well worth the effort.

The ability to trace and connect with people online made what would have been a massive task considerably easier, but the success of the evening is down to the durability of friendships made 20 years ago.





 1 2 3 4 5 6

 28

| The Lampstand | 2013



7

The Group Shot Lionel Kea, Harvey ReesThomas, Dominic Vardon Nick Tipping, Ben Bell-Booth Barrett Blaylock, Oliver Gazley, Craig Brown Samuel Sakaria, Stu Filo, Uili Fecteau, Dominic Vardon Simon Reed, Nick Baty, Dylan Jorgensen, Michael Robinson Nick Churchouse, Talia Belford, Uili Fecteau, Aaron Sherriff

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Where are they now:

Class of 2003

It’s hard to believe that it has been

schools of Harvard University. Fraser

ten years since the Class of 2003 at

Lau, the legend himself, progressed

Wellington College graduated (well

from playing halfback for the

at least most of you). I have had

Wellington CollegeU55 Gold rugby

ten years to write this article and I

team to playing halfback for Otago.

leave it to the last minute. Clearly nothing has changed in my life!

I must also mention James Robertson who is now the CEO at Invert

(L-R): Michael Dobson (Deputy Head Prefect), Matthew Prosser (Head Prefect) and Alex Worker (Deputy Head Prefect).

Our Wellington College school days

Robotics. Invert Robotics has been

do belong in the past but I am sure

nominated for and won a raft of

Mark Elson has continued his

a curve ball or your priorities have

that you will all agree that the College

national and international innovation

successful Softball career. He pitched

changed, just remember that life is

will forever be a part of our growth

awards and was named winner of the

for Great Britain at the World Series

short and there is no point in wasting

which has helped mould our lives and

Ministry of Science and Innovation

held recently in New Zealand. When

your days away.

(MSI) Start-up award in 2012.

Josh Stevens saw an advertisement

make us who we are today. I know

on Facebook along the lines of: ‘Play

No doubt many of you are in the

reflecting on all the good times,

Alex Worker is one of the founding

dodgeball. Win beer’, he was hooked.

career you aspired to be in. I

highlights and lasting friendships that

Directors of Highground Brands and

Josh went on to represent NZ in Las

have already mentioned a number

were forged in the hallways and on

the Marianas Group, focusing on

Vegas at the World Champs.

of fellow students who are now

the playing fields.

the international Food and Beverage

that I personally often find myself

I have been lucky to have kept in touch

engineers, lawyers, doctors and fire

market operating between New

I know there are many more success

fighters, and this is great! Wellington

Zealand, China, and South America.

stories which I haven’t mentioned -

College has a long, proud history of

sincere congratulations to you all.

producing high profile and successful

many of the Class of 2003. This has

businessmen and professionals and

definitely been easier with Facebook

After studying for over eight years,

making the world a much smaller

huge congratulations go out to Liam

I have learned some important things

2003 has been no different. As may

place. For those I lost touch with, I

Dunbar, Omid Yassaie and Praveen

since leaving College. There are a lot

be the case with some of you, you are

have relished the opportunity to hunt

De Silva who are now practising

of things you don’t learn at school

in the position you aspired to when

you down and find out what you’ve

doctors and surgeons. All the hard

but you have probably learned them

you were at College, but have been

been doing over the last ten years.

work and late nights have finally paid

by now. Maybe some of you are still

dealing with the fact your priorities

off for you three.

grappling with them; hopefully for

have changed from what they were

those people this might help.

when you were 16 -17 years old.

I firstly want to pay tribute to a good friend to many of us, Sam Nolan who

Jimmy Trist achieved his lifelong

we sadly lost in 2006 just before his

ambition of becoming a fireman. This

Like many of you, when I left

What you thought would make you

21st birthday. Sam’s passing was a

has lived up to everything he wished

Wellington College I was young and

happy is no longer doing it for you.

monumental shock to all of us.

for.

naïve. I thought I would walk out of

Some of you have started families;

those great buildings into a stable

others are still living at home with

We should all celebrate some of

Some of the boys clearly enjoyed

career of my choice, maybe even one

parents or have yet to get past the

the outstanding achievements from

their days at Wellington College so

that I was born to do. I assumed the

dodgy student flat stage.

our fellow classmates over the last

much that they went back teaching

chosen path would present itself to

decade. It’s good to see those who

there. I'm sure many of us would

me, clear as day. I thought it would

Nothing has changed from the sage

I made a special mention of in my

have wanted Mr Grant Bundle as our

be relatively easy to get a decent, well

advice I gave you all at our final

Head Prefect speech in 2003 have

teacher back in the day.

paying job that I would be happy and

assembly in 2003 (if any of you were

successful in.

listening). Just remember that while

not let me down. Who could forget

we might be losing our hair and fast

guitar legend Calvin Pfeffer, making

We have also seen some sporting

up solos on the spot that would

success over the last ten years.

Things didn’t materialise quite like

approaching thirty, we are still young

make Jimmy Hendrix envious? He’s

One of the most graceful Rugby

that. In fact, life has a little way

enough to stop, turn around, and go

gone from entertaining the crowd

players I have had the privilege of

of dangling the carrot, giving you

in a whole new direction if we choose

at the Westpac Stadium Spectacular

watching is Seminar Manu, who

glimpses of greener pastures and

to. However, as we’ve been told since

to now living the Hollywood dream.

made the Highlanders Super 14

makes you question yourself, your

our early days of schooling, we’ll

Michael Dobson has continued his

squad. Piers Gordon has continued

direction and your decisions. I’m

never know until we try.

remarkable academic achievements

his outstanding success in the pool,

no longer running - as much as I

Believe in yourself, be true to yourself,

and is currently living and studying

playing Underwater Hockey for NZ.

would love to be hitting the bush

and always remember to take the

law in New York. Peter Williamson

It’s not the most spectator-friendly

trails. Years of injuries necessitated

light and pass it on. Here’s to the next

is well on track to achieve his divine

sport but from all accounts it’s

a major operation on both my legs

ten years.

mission in life. Peter is furthering

ridiculously tough. Well done also to

and reset my priorities. I now have

his studies, currently undertaking

Adrian Fong, (king of the nets), who

a passion for my own business as a

Matt Prosser

religious studies at Harvard Divinity

has represented New Zealand in

financial and risk adviser (who would

Head Prefect, 2003

School which is one of the constituent

Indoor Cricket.

have thought!). If life has pitched you

mprosser@moneybox.co.nz

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 29

Forthcoming

events A wELLINGTON cOLLEGE

LUMIN RY WARDS

2014

Wellington College Headmaster, Roger Moses and WCOBA President, Matthew Beattie would be honoured by your presence at the Inaugural Wellington College Luminary Fellow Awards to recognise four of our distinguished alumni Saturday, 29 March 2014 Wellington College Reception from 6.00pm • Dinner from 7.00pm $75.00 per person • $700 per table of ten (includes canapes, dinner and beverages)

Lumen accipe et imperti Receive The Light And Pass It On

RSVP: oldboys@wc.school.nz or online at: www.wc.school.nz/wcoba/luminary dinner Dress: Jacket & Tie

2014 Recipients Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg

1st Baron Freyberg VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO, KStJ

Wellington College: 1898-1904

Sir William (Bill) Pickering ONZ, KBE Wellington College: 1923-1927

Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, QSO KStJ Wellington College: 1944-1948

Sir Ron Brierley KB Wellington College: 1951-1954

50 Years On • Class of 1964 Friday, 28 March, 2014 The Inaugural 40 Years On Cohort

Also on the horizon...

40 Years On Class of 1974

Friday 17 October 2014 30

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

london WCOBA in

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are well aware that there are a number of Old Boys residing in the UK, albeit on their OE or permanently. However many of these ex pats still retain their NZ address so it is rather difficult to keep you informed of WCOBA events. If you wish to keep your NZ address, at least give us your email address and where in the UK you are based. Alternatively, join our us on Facebook: ‘Wellington College Old Boys’ so you can be notified when offshore events take place in the future.

On a sultry July evening the private dining room at The

and also that over 150 students

common bond will allow everyone

It was great to hear how the

Counting House on Cornhill in

competed in Debating. The school

to enter into the spirit of the

school continues to develop from

the ‘City’ provided a perfect

provides something for all the

evening. I had many memories

strength to strength. I have such

venue for over 42 UK Old Boys

boys.

brought back and of course news

fond memories of my time at

to welcome Headmaster, Roger Moses to London.

of old friends and of a few demises.

Wellington College and it is nice

Nathan Blundell and Billy

I have to say the whole event

to see in the Lampstand that so

Fitzgerald (2008-2012) fresh from

was splendid and meeting the

many of the staff that taught me

Adrian Risman (1971-1975) and

their respective house master

Headmaster was a bonus. Many

are still inspiring 'Coll' boys, as well

I formally welcomed the guests

posts at prep schools in Berkshire

thanks for the effort you put in to

as the variety of activities that are

and advised we received over

and Wiltshire, brought the dinner

organise it.

available. I remember the day of

40 apologies from Old Boys

to a close by blowing out the

both young and old. After the

candle.

sports and cultural photos being Derek Golding (1960-1964): Thank

a write off for me as I was plucked

you for organising that. It was an

from class to line up and pose

Mick Hattaway (1954-58), being

I personally wish to thank Adrian

absolutely splendid evening – highly

again and again. Up to 14 in my

the oldest Old Boy at the dinner,

for his help in organising and

enjoyable. What a bunch of good

Y10 year! It is these opportunities

was asked to light the candle to

also in particular to Roger for

old boys; that is a very special

that are so unique.

signal the start of dinner.

going out of his way in his busy

school and I am proud to be a part

schedule to socialise with the UK

of it.

obligatory group photo, Professor

Billy Fitzgerald (2008 – 2012): Nathan Blundell (also 2008/12) and

Between entrée and main,

Old Boys. I will let the testimonials

Roger, who had detoured to be

below describe the success of a

Edward Cook (1996-2000): Thank

I had a blast last night. We were

at the dinner, updated us on the

fine evening.

you very much for a very enjoyable

so glad we came, so thank you so

honours achieved at the College

Martin Conway (1971-1974)

evening. I was thrilled to see six of

much for the invite. It was really

my cohort (Class of 2000) present

awesome to talk to some other Old

not only included the remarkable

Gavin Gardiner (1955-1959): A

along with many

Boys, even though it was somewhat

academic and sporting successes,

little thank you for organising the

familiar faces from the years

surreal (still) to be called Old Boys

but also touched on the

event last night. I enjoyed it very

before me. I've had ‘Forty Years On’

ourselves!

achievements of the Chorale, the

much. I didn't know many people

circling my head all morning.

Underwater Hockey teams

there but it is amazing how a

over the last few years. These











 RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

1 Miles and Derek Golding 2 Roger Moses, Martin Conway and Tim Brown 3 Tom Murdoch and Andrew Tipping 4 Andy Matthews, Derek Golding, Roger Moses and Richard Boon 5 David Campbell, Peter Martin, Warwick Proctor, Oscar Choi, Edward Cook and Paul Wedde 6 Matt Bartley, Jonathan Norman, Billy Fitzgerald and Nathan Blundell 7 Mick Hattaway, Gavin Gardiner and Peter Williams 8 Andrew Ross, Chad Stevens and Chris Knowles



 2013

| The Lampstand | 31

australia WCOBA in

In September, Headmaster, Roger

shared throughout the evening.

Moses; Development Manager, Tony Robinson and I jetted across

The last port of call was Brisbane, with

the Tasman to meet Old Boys in

lunch on the Friday at the Brisbane

Victoria, new South Wales and

Broncos League Club. Ewan Thompson

Queensland.

(1974-1978)carried out the honours

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are well aware that there are a vast number of Old Boys living in Australia, albeit on their OE or permanently. However many of these ex pats still retain their NZ postal address so it becomes rather difficult to keep you informed of such events. If you wish to keep your NZ address, at least give us your email address and where in Australia you are based.

Alternatively, join our us on Facebook: ‘Wellington College Old Boys’ so you can be notified when offshore events take place in the future.

this time in coordinating the venue and First up was Melbourne and we

acting as both MC and our personal

assembled for dinner at the trendy

chauffeur.

South Yarra Restaurant, Mama Baba run by celebrity chef, George

30 Old Boys gathered for lunch in

Calombaris.

pleasant surroundings. While we think of Queensland as New Zealand’s

Around 35 Old Boys were at the dinner

retirement capital, there are a good

and it was a great opportunity for

number of Old Boys who reside there

them to meet Roger - some for the first

for the climate and employment

time, while others had only recently

opportunities and it was nice to have



bid farewell to him upon leaving school them attend and again share memories in the last few years.

and history with us.

Special thanks in particular to Howard

At all three occasions, Roger, Tony and I

Pauling (2001-2005) and Peter Osvath

were able to impart the good news and

(1966-1970) for help in coordinating

recent successes from the College, as

the dinner and tracking down our

well as bringing everyone up-to-date on

younger alumni now living in Victoria.

our fundraising initiatives.

We then flew up to Sydney and met at

We concluded by highlighting the

the Terrace on Kent in the CBD with

forthcoming 150th Celebrations and

a further 40 Old Boys for dinner the

are pleased to know that there will be

following evening.

a good number of trans-Tasman tickets booked for the Labour Weekend of

Bryan Gray (1977-1980), who arranged

2017.





the venue, acted as MC, and my thanks to him, as well as Michael Rhodes

My thanks to everyone who attended

(1962-1966) who dug into the NSW

- it was nice to reacquaint myself with

Branch coffers to assist with our

many who had been to the College

beverage tab.

for various reunions, and at the same time, meet new faces. A big round of

It was wonderful to have Darryl

applause must go to the wives and

Courtney-O’Connor (1962-1967) and

partners who also came along.

his wife Ann attend. Darryl is the generous benefactor of the Courtney-

We hope it’s not too long until we can

O’Connor Scholarship that allows a

return and in the interim, thank you all

Wellington College student each year

for your support and best wishes to the

to study at his International School

College.



of Management. Joining Darryl were seven of his ‘alumni’. A further handful

Stephanie Kane

of recent Old Boys also attended, joining our fellow guests who were at the College between the 1950s-1980s.

Many fond memories and stories were

32

| The Lampstand | 2013

 1: Melbourne

•

2-4:

Sydney • 5:

Brisbane

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

horowhenua &manawatu WCOBA in

EDITOR’S NOTE: It is with regret that our Manawatu stalwart, Robbie Bruce has retired as Branch Coordinator after many years, ably assisted by former Master, Mike O’Connor.

Robbie and Mike have arranged a number of gatherings and we are grateful for their commitment. Thus we are seeking a local Old Boy to carry the baton and help us arrange future events in the region. If this sounds like you, please contact the WCOBA Office: oldboys@wc.school.nz

The Branch held a dinner at the

Jeremy Cooper (1958-1962)

with the gravitational forces of

We joined in the singing of

RSA Club in Levin in November

recited the Firth House grace

slippery wine. He then brought

Forty Years On with enthusiasm.

2012. 29 Old Boys rolled up,

whereupon we ‘tucked in’.

us up to date with another

Moreover, and following the

remarkable year at the College

prescription of our indomitable

together with Stephanie Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer and

Old Boys’ stalwart Don Stewart

in NZ Scholarship, the arts and

music master Mr R A (Rhubarb)

Tony Robinson, Development

ONZM (1951-1955), outlined

in sport. Brian endorsed Tony’s

Radford of the 1950s, the third

Manager plus our WCOBA

his happy days at College as

message and said that there was

verse was sung slowly, very slowly

President Brian Smythe.

a boxer, swimmer, Prefect

very good progress in regard

and with great emphasis and meaning.

1955, violinist and leader of the

to the fundraising for the new

As Host, I welcomed all to the

Orchestra before describing his

Assembly Hall.

annual muster. In the spirit of

very peripatetic life at home and

Lumen accipe et imperti, venerable

abroad as a medical practitioner.

In a ‘short and sweet’ AGM, I was

when our youngest Old Boy Julian

Old Boy and hot shot golfer Des

Don then proposed the Toast to

pleased to confirm that as the

Heyes (1971-1975), plant scientist

Patching (1943-1946), lit the oil

the College.

finances for the Branch were in

and former Rhodes Scholar

Our convivialities concluded

good shape, the sum of $250.00

extinguished the flame on the

of those Old Boys of the district

Matters moved around a bit

be forwarded to the Association

Lamp. Then with our appetites

who had passed away.

further when Tony Robinson

in Wellington to assist with the

replete and friendships renewed,

demonstrated how to contend

costs of printing and mailing.

we headed homewards.

lamp. We stood in remembrance

dunedin WCOBA in

Robbie Bruce (1954-1958)

Thanks to Jack McCaw (2005-2009), currently studying at Otago University, who provided us with the above photo - taken in September in Dunedin of some of our recent Old Boys avidly supporting our 1st XV in the top four competition. I have to say, that’s a pretty big flat and probably one of the more tidier ones.

If you provide us with your email address it is so much easier (and more economic) for us to communicate with you so we can invite you to reunions, events and dinners, and also let you know of significant news from the College and the Association. Email: oldboys@wc.school.nz with your email address and contact details or check us out on Facebook: Wellington College Old Boys.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 33

auckland

WCOBA in

The Old Boys’ Pavilion at

our roll at 1600 much smaller

Auckland Grammar School

than many of the Auckland

has become our second home

schools alone.

and acts as a superb (and free) location to host our Auckland

As Auckland becomes larger in

Branch Dinners.

size and greater in population, we are aware that there are a good

It was no surprise then to find

number of Old Boys residing

us back there in November

there, let alone the number of

2012 for our annual dinner, with

younger Old Boys carrying out

Headmaster Roger Moses.

their tertiary studies. It is difficult to host a dinner that will meet

Joining us as regulars, were a

everyone’s needs, with travel and

group of very esteemed (and

distance dictating attendance

quite mature) Old Boys whose

from the North Shore or more

times at the College dated back

remote suburbs. AGS do us a

to the 1930s and 1940s - to

great service by providing their

hear them fondly recount their

Pavilion for free, which means we

memories of their school days is

do not have to pass venue hire

indeed an honour.

and commercial beverage prices on to our guests.

It was also great to welcome some of our younger Old Boys to

We are looking for a local Old Boy

the occasion and we hope that

to assist us in arranging future

more will find the time to come

dinner events for our Auckland

along in the future.

Branch.

Roger addressed the gathering

We also seek a younger Old

with news from the College with

Boy who would be interested in

convivial interjecting from the

coordinating an informal event

floor. I’m sure that everyone in

during the academic term so

attendance were well pleased to

that the Headmaster can attend.

hear how their old school was

Perhaps an establishment near

faring and punching well above

the University Campus could

it’s weight across the academic

appeal, with a few beers and

spectrum.

bites. If you can help in either situation, please contact me at

Many were suprised to learn that

the WCOBA Office.

Wellington College is only the 38th largest school in the country,

Stephanie Kane

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are well aware that there are a vast number of Old Boys who now live or study in Auckland.

However many of these ex Wellingtonians still retain a Wellington postal address so it becomes rather difficult to keep you informed of such events. If you wish to keep your Wellington address, at least give us your email address.

Alternatively, join our us on Facebook: ‘Wellington College Old Boys’ so you can be notified when Auckland events take place in the future.

34

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

tauranga WCOBA in

A sunny but cool day, resulting

Drayton (a teacher from 1942-

top school in the country for NZ

of Forty Years On led by the fine

from the eclipse, greeted the

1944). This was followed by a roll-

Scholarships in 2011.

voice of Tom Hobson (1954-1957).

32 Old Boys and guests Roger

call where some Old Boys recalled

Moses, Stephanie Kane and

interesting or other experiences

Stephanie spoke about her work

The oldest Old Boy present was

Tony Robinson at Daniels

of College life raising memories of

for the Old Boys and in producing

Nevill Palmer from Taupo aged

In the Park for the annual

days gone by.

the Lampstand and other activities

92 (1934-1936), and amongst the

including the many Reunions that

many apologies received was one

now take place.

from Ken Frazer aged 98 (1929-

get-together lunch on 14 November, 2012.

The toast to the College was proposed by Lynn Morrison

1933).

Old Boys were very pleased to

(1957-1961) and responded to

Tony Robinson stressed how

enjoy the company of our guests,

enthusiastically.

important his development role

Regrettably, a short time after

is in fundraising, to continue to

the luncheon, both Ken Frazer

especially Stephanie who came to Tauranga for her first WCOBA

Roger Moses then gave a full

provide present and future boys

and Nevill Palmer passed away. I

visit. As usual, there was time to

report on the College, the boys

with the many facilities required

had the honour of representing

reminisce over a drink or two and

and their achievements and

for Wellington College to continue

on behalf of the Old Boys’

for the obligatory photographs.

the great number of different

as one of NZs pre-eminent boys’

Association at Ken’s Celebration

activities now available. Roger

school.

of Life. Ken, and Nevill both have

In welcoming those present, as

is one of the College’s longest-

host, I referred to the loss of

serving Headmasters and his

Gael Ansell (1948-1951) moved

several BOP Old Boys during the

enthusiasm seems to grow year

the vote of thanks to our

past year and especially Dr John

by year. He was especially proud

speakers.The meeting concluded

Hutton (1945-1946) and Dame Joy

that Wellington College was the

with the usual rousing chorus

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

had most fascinating life stories.

Barry Ward (1948-1952)

2013

| The Lampstand | 35

nelson WCOBA in

With the 2013 Quadrangular Tournament being held at Nelson College, what better reason could there be to host a Function in conjunction with the matches.

QUAD Report Wellington College secured their eleventh straight title after beating home team Nelson College 16-10 in this year's annual Quadrangular

A good number of local Old Boys as well as

and thanked the Old Boys for their generous

those making their annual pilgrimage to the

support. Roger Moses also addressed the

Tournament were on the sidelines on both

group, followed by new President-elect, Matt

Having shared the title with Nelson

days, giving vocal support to the Black ‘n’

Beattie. It was remarakable to note that in

in last year's decider in Christchurch,

Golds.

attendance were four former President’s

Wellington successfully recovered

of the Association - Malcolm Perrett, Barry With a significant win to Wellington College

Jobson, Bob Slade and Brian Smythe.

against Christ’s College on Day One, there was much to celebrate on the following evening

Special thanks must go to local Old Boy, Ian

when we hosted a function at the Quality

McGuire, with help from Murray Lauchlan

Inn. Old Boys, current 1st XV members and

and Trev Valler who helped coordinate the

coaching staff were buzzing with anticipation

evening.

throughout the evening while many also reminising about their own Quad days from

Next year’s Tournament will be brought

yesteryear.

forward to the end of Term Three in order

Tournament rugby final.

from a slender 10-8 halftime deficit to eventually outscore Nelson by two tries to one.

Blindside flanker Larry Banse had scored Nelson's try after barging over between the posts from a period of sustained forward pressure on Wellington's line. But trailing 10-3,

to accommodate the busy Term Three local

Wellington got themselves directly back

Captain, James Blackwell addressed the

finals competitions that involve all four

into the contest when winger Arthur

assembled group about their preparation

schools.

Crawford scored from a handy overlap.

Wellington held Nelson scoreless for the remainder of the match as Nelson struggled to retain possession in the wet, slippery conditions. Wellington also coughed up early turnovers, but did enough during the second half to eventually put second five-eighth Wesley Goosen across for the decisive try with around 13 minutes remaining.

Big No 8 Nelson Asofa-Solomona made the initial break before Goosen slipped through Nelson's stretched defence to give Wellington their six-point buffer.

It was enough in the end, with Wellington celebrating their 36th overall crown since winning the inaugural tournament way back in 1925.

2014 QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT @ Wanganui Collegiate Mon. 30 June - Wed. 2 July 2014 WCOBA Function on Tuesday, 1 July 36

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

ANZAC Day at Wellington College ANZAC Address delivered by Deputy Principal, Robert Anderson (1969-1973) IN MEMORY OF LANCE BRIDGE (1888-1915) Oriental Bay was the perfect

Waterpolo matches.

place for Lance Bridge to

grow up. He lived within a short

Edwardian Wellington

walking distance from the Te

was an idyllic place

Aro saltwater baths where he

for a sports mad and

could indulge his passion for

gregarious young man

competitive swimming. From

with lots of mates.

there it was just a little further on

However this easy life changed

to the Star Boating Club where

abruptly for Lance, his brothers

Lance, along with his brothers

and those of their generation

Cyprian and Hugh were heavily

when war was declared in

We do however, know of Lance’s

can learn a lot about a man from

involved in all the clubs activities,

August 1914. In 1909, Lance had

death as it was widely reported in

the way he dies. On the beach,

both rowing and social.

volunteered for the Wellington

letters written home by soldiers.

Lance, sensing that his wounds

(L-R): Old Boy, Lt John Ahearn (RNZNVR), with wreathbearers and Deputy Head Prefects, Benson Oosterbaan, Ted Taylor and Harry Glogau.

Battalion of the Territorial forces.

Decades later, veterans of the

were fatal, refused to be placed

And of course Oriental Bay was

Immediately upon the declaration

campaign became misty eyed as

on board a boat to take him to

also within walking distance

of war he enlisted with the NZ

they recollected Lance’s death.

the hospital ship, insisting that

of Wellington College where

Expeditionary Force. This force

wounded men with a better

Lance was a student between

was despatched to the German

Like so many other young

chance of survival go first.

1903 and 1905. Lance Bridge

colony of Samoa. Upon arrival,

New Zealanders, Lance Bridge

and Wellington College under

they discovered that the German

died on Gallipoli during the

It is hard to imagine what

the Headmastership of J P Firth

garrison was abandoned and

August offensive. He was on

conditions were like for those

were a perfect match for each

the New Zealand occupation

Rhododendron Ridge, a spur

waiting to be evacuated; for this

other. For at College, Lance had

began. Lance’s postcards back

leading up from the beach to

was August and the temperatures

ample time and opportunity

to his fiancée and family tell of

Chunuk Bair, the highest point on

on the peninsula were in the mid

to participate in Athletics,

a great time being had by the

the peninsula and New Zealand’s

to high 30s. At ANZAC Cove, it was

Swimming, Waterpolo, Boxing

soldiers eating tropical fruit and

goal during the offensive. The

easy to see where the wounded

and Rugby. He was also in the

swimming in the warm sea. Many

New Zealanders had just returned were located by the clouds of

Cadet Corps. Lance seemed to

of the thousand strong force

to their hastily dug trenches

flies that swarmed above them.

effortlessly excel in any sport

were College Old Boys and many

after repulsing a Turkish bayonet

Here men waited patiently to be

he chose to play. When he left

others were rowers from the Star

charge. Lance then noticed

evacuated to the hospital ships

school, aged 17, Lance began to

Boating Club.

a New Zealand soldier lying

lying offshore in the Aegean Sea.

wounded about 20 metres away.

They had no protection from the

deeds. The fascinating contents

In early 1915, the Samoan force

He recognised the soldier as a

searing heat, they lay in their own

of this scrapbook reveal Lance’s

was recalled to New Zealand

colleague he had served with in

waste, they had flies and insects

prowess on the sporting field.

and almost immediately posted

Samoa. Dropping his rifle he went

crawling over them, they endured

Lance played rugby for the

overseas. The soldiers fully

out from the relative safety of the

the pain from their wounds

Wellington Club Senior side.

expected to be deployed on the

trench to go and help his mate.

and relied on the generosity of

In the newspaper reports of

Western Front. However, they

He was returning to the trench

passing soldiers to give them a

the senior rugby games, Lance

disembarked in Egypt for training

when a Turkish machine gun fired

little food and water.

featured prominently as a

and then left for the Gallipoli

on the men. The wounded soldier

hard tackling and hard running

Peninsula. Little is known of

was killed and Lance was shot

It was in these conditions that

full-back. There was even some

Lance’s movements in the early

all down one side. He managed

Lance Bridge lay for two days

controversy when Lance was

stages of the ill-fated Gallipoli

to stagger back into the trench

until the stream of wounded

overlooked as a trialist for the

campaign. It is known that he

but within half an hour he was

abated and he was taken out

Wellington provincial side. The

transferred from The Wellington

paralysed and was carried down

to a hospital ship. However, his

scrapbook includes programmes

Battalion to the Otago Regiment

to the beach to await evacuation

wounds were too severe and he

from Athletic meetings held at

to boost their numbers after the

on a hospital ship.

died five days after arriving on the

the Basin Reserve, results from

Otagos had suffered appalling

Rowing Regattas, and clippings of

losses.

keep a scrapbook of his sporting

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

ship. He was buried at sea.

It has been said that in war you

2013

| The Lampstand | 37

ANZAC Day at Wellington College Lance’s selflessness was not

HÄ mi Grace had been

for the remainder of his

and just a short distance from

forgotten by his comrades. A

killed at Gallipoli. Out

life he was tormented

Rhododendron Ridge, they will

mate from the Star Boating Club

of respect for their

by nightmares as he

place a poppy next to the name

wrote home to his mother: I was

memories, the Wellington

suffered from delayed

of Lance Bridge.

speaking to two chaps, who saw the

Rugby Club defaulted all their

shell shock.

last of him and the way he died was

teams on a designated Saturday.

Members of Lance and Hugh

On the stained glass Memorial

Bridges family, some of whom

about in the history of war. The

Lance was one of four brothers

Window at the back of this hall

are present today, including

Wellingtonian of December 1915

who served in WWI. One brother,

are these words, Greater love hath

WCOBA President, Brian Smythe

reported: He saved others, himself

Cyprian was gassed near Ypres

no man. The full quote comes

remember their great uncle and

he could not save. No finer deed

in 1916 and sent back home. He

from the Gospel of John and is

grandfather with great pride.

was ever done.

lived well into his 70s. Hugh was

Greater love hath no man than this,

equal to anything I have ever read

married with a baby daughter

than a man lays down his life for

It is important that as a College

After he died, his mother

when he enlisted in April 1916.

a friend. It is an apt epitaph for

we pause, pay homage to them

continued with his scrapbook. In

He survived the carnage of

Lance Bridge.

too, as well as the 450 other Old

it there is a poignant newspaper

Passchendaele, only shortly

clipping that stated that when

afterwards to be shot by a

A group of students from the

and in Afghanistan. That is why

news came through that two of

sniper near Polygon Wood in

College will visit Gallipoli. At

each year around ANZAC Day we

their star players; Lance Bridge

Belgium. A fourth brother, Lionel

the Lone Pine Memorial for the

take time to remember our fallen

and another College Old Boy,

survived the war unscathed, but

ANZACs, with no known grave

brothers.

Boys killed in World Wars I and II

WWII Veteran honoured in Australia

Two New Zealand WW II veterans living in Sydney had a special ceremony held in their honour in August, not only to

Bob turned 99 the following day. He's the former

recognise their efforts serving their country, but also to celebrate

president of the New Zealand branch of the

their 99th and 100th birthdays respectively.

Australian RSL and knows just how important the ANZAC relationship is. It's important that such a

WW II veteran Frank Harlow turned 100 years old the day before the

body continues and strengthens as the years roll

ceremony. He lives in Sydney and is a member of the New Zealand

on, he said.

branch of the Returned Services League.

The pair are the first and only New Zealand WW II veterans to have a Relatives and friends travelled across the ditch for the ceremony.

reunion and ceremony held in their in their honour in Sydney.

There he was presented with a Korowai, similar to the one his mother was presented with in 1922, which is currently held at the Wanganui museum. Bob Wood (1928-1930) [(Italy/North Africa) Veteran 4261 Maj ABOVE: Bob Wood (left) cutting the ceremonial cake in his honour.

(Rtd), POW] was also presented with a Korowai to wear for the day. I'm

Photo: TV3 News. LEFT: Bob in his WW II Uniform. RIGHT: The programme

tempted to sneak off home with it! he said.

from the ceremony.

38

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Remembering our Fallen: A student’s perspective

The Wellington College Europe

were on the trip.

who laid poppies alongside

The most moving experience

mine - it was a very moving

Study material provided by

came late in the day with

experience. Also in the same

Study Tour of 2013 Daniel Gendall, Y13 Prefect

come so far from home.

the teachers included a great

the visit and ceremony at

cemetery is the grave of

In the early hours of the

booklet of images and facts

Chunuk Bair. The majesty

another Old Boy, Alex (Mac)

morning of 6 July, 53

focusing on WCOB, and Mr

of the environment coupled

McColl, so it was very nice to

Wellington students and

Colm McNulty’s excellent

with the mana on show in the

honour them both.

five teachers assembled

and unique publication, A

Wellington College Haka is

at Wellington Airport for

Brotherhood So Splendid

something no one who was

At Ypres, our first stop after

what proved to be the trip

which follows the fortunes of

there will ever forget. We laid

the break was at the grave

of a lifetime to Europe. Little

that 1st XV.

40 poppies at the base of the

of Old Boy, Douglas Harle. His

NZ Memorial and followed

story is particularly tragic

that with a rousing Haka.

as Douglas was killed in the

did we know that over the next three weeks we would

As well as the historical

experience things that would

side of things, we learnt so

last in our memories for ever.

much about the cultures

Very suddenly the whole

involved in, and did not even

On our travels we visited

of other countries which

group was plunged into a

get the chance to put up a

seven countries - Turkey,

the vast majority of us had

solemn and respectful state

fight but that is after all the

Austria, Hungary, Germany,

never visited - for some

of silence as we listened to

grim reality of war. If a bullet

France, Belgium and a transit

boys this was their very first

our guides explain the grim

or a shell has your name on

in Singapore – and along

trip overseas. Visiting the

realities of the area. We were

it, there's nothing you can do

the way we learnt about

different countries, hearing

then free to look around at

about it.

the history and culture of

the contrasting languages,

our own pace, with many

each place, with a special

tasting the local delicacies,

choosing to go alone to really

The Menin Gate Ceremony

emphasis on the story of the

and interacting with the

think about all that we were

was an amazing experience

1909 Wellington College 1st

locals were some of the most

seeing and imagining.

which would have made you

XV team, all of whom bar one

rewarding experiences for us

served in WWI.

because it brought home the

We then had a very moving

a part of Wellington College.

first engagement he was

all at home very proud to be

amazing variety of different

ceremony at the Jewish

The guys looked great doing

That part of the trip was

cultures there are to explore

Remembrance Chapel led by

it. Henry Glogau, Sam Becroft

particularly sobering as well

outside New Zealand.

our own David Emmanuel,

and Jack Laurenson laid the

who made a beautifully

wreath, along with Patrick

as interesting, because we, unlike the boys we were

Here are just some of those

crafted speech and then

Gibson who recited the Ode to

learning about, would all

highlights, with an emphasis

recited a Jewish prayer which

Rememberance.

eventually return home

on the Wellington College

brought tears to the eyes.

to New Zealand. As we

connection Gallipoli’s ANZAC

visited each battlefield and

Cove really brought home

The Western Front

significant places in Gallipoli

what the soldiers in 1915

‘Armentieres’ holds special

and on the Western Front, we

faced - a torrid, deadly and

significance to me because

nor the years condemn.

always endeavoured to visit

dangerous situation amongst

a relative, William Hopkirk

At the going down of the sun

some of the known graves

spectacular yet unforgiving

who was also an Old Boy, is

and in the morning,

of Old Boys, as well as those

terrain. We spent some time

buried there. I would like to

We will remember them.

of relatives of students who

contemplating those who had

personally thank all the boys

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them,

2013

| The Lampstand | 39

honours Bill Boyd, Auckland

Charitable Trust would give a

the distinctive features of his

Since John’s earliest vintage in

CNZM (1946-1948)

dictionary to every child at every

columns is that he has forthright

1982, Te Mata Estate has been

The Insignia of a Companion of the

decile 1 school in the country

opinions and does not shy away

recognised as one of our greatest

New Zealand Order of Merit for

when they entered Y4. In the four

from confronting non-scientific

wine producers and its flagship

services to Rotary International.

years since the project began,

beliefs and practices that rarely

wine, Coleraine as New Zealand’s

Bill Boyd’s work for Rotary

more than 100,000 dictionaries

get challenged in the media,

greatest red wine.

was recognised in the Queen’s

valued at $3 million have been

ensuring that readers get a

Birthday honours. The former

gifted to New Zealand children.

critical evaluation of some of

John’s contribution to the NZ wine

the unscientific ideas that float

industry extends well beyond

around.

his role at Te Mata Estate. He

New Zealand

President and Chairman of Rotary International was surprised when

Dr Robert Brockie, Wellington.

he checked his mail and found

MNZM (1947-1949)

a letter informing him he had

The Insignia of a Member of the

Among his many other talents, Bob

development of Hawke's Bay

been made a Companion of the

New Zealand Order of Merit for

is an accomplished cartoonist. He

Vintners from its very early days

New Zealand Order of Merit in

services to science and cartooning.

started providing cartoons for the

when there were only seven

recognition of his services to

Bob Brockie’s MNZM award in the

Victoria University magazine Salient

wineries in Hawke's Bay, and was

Rotary International.

recent Queen’s Birthday Honours

in 1953, and has been contributing

its Chairman in the 1980s.

is richly deserved for his eclectic

a weekly cartoon to the National

This is not the first time Bill’s work

achievements in science and

Business Review since 1975.

for the global network has been

cartooning.

helped with the founding and

In 1991, John established the Hawke’s Bay Charity Wine Auction,

John Buck, Havelock North

which continues today more than

Bob is possibly unique - his PhD

CNZM (1955-1958)

20 years later, having raised more

research on hedgehogs was then

The Insignia of a Companion of the

than $2 million for Hawke’s Bay’s

Bill has been involved with Rotary

the definitive work on the subject

New Zealand Order of Merit for

Cranford Hospice and has bound

for a long time. In 1971 he was

and, almost 50 years later, he is

services to the wine industry and

Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry into

asked to join the Rotary Club of

still the acknowledged expert.

the arts.

its local community.

acknowledged. He received the QSO in 2007.

Wellington South and from there,

The awarding of a CNZM to John

he started working with Rotary at

He is a leading expert on

Buck caps a wonderful year in

He represented Hawke's Bay

an international level.

hedgehogs and possums and

which John was named the 2012

on the Board of the NZ Wine

has researched the impact

recipient of the NZ Wine Hall of

Institute through the late 1980s

He remains heavily involved with

of animal pests and diseases

Fame award, and was made a

and then, from 1991 to 1996, was

the global network and says it has

on the destruction on native

member of Matahiwi, the marae

the Chairman of the NZ Wine

been a tremendous experience.

forests, having written several

of Maui in Hawke’s Bay.

Institute. This was period of great

Bill is the second New Zealander

books, including A Living New

to have been a president of Rotary

Zealand Forest and The Penguin

The CMNZ recognises John’s

John instigated and directed many

International and the first to be

Eyewitness History of New Zealand.

leadership in the New

initiatives that shaped the New

chairman. He believes the biggest

His illustrator’s hat has seen him

Zealand wine industry and his

Zealand industry of today.

thing Rotary has achieved is the

develop school journal content for

contribution to the arts through

work to eradicate polio.

the Ministry of Education.

the establishment of the NZ

Another lifelong love has been the

Poet Laureate award, and the

arts, and he has a passion for the

change in New Zealand wine and

After returning from his stint as

Bob is probably best known

restoration and on-going success

written word dating back to his

President in 2006/2007, Rotarians

to the general public for his

of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House.

schooldays in Wellington.

wanted to establish a project

regular weekly science columns

It follows John’s previous awards

in the Boyd name to honour

in the Dominion Post, now into

of an OBE, an honorary doctorate

In 1996, he established the NZ

his service. Bill knew of a good

his eleventh year, covering

from Lincoln University, and

Poet Laureate award, to recognise

dictionary for children so he

a wide range of topics, both

Fellowship of the Wine Institute of

the achievements of our country's

decided the Bill and Lorna Boyd

local and international. One of

New Zealand.

poets.

Bill Boyd

40

| The Lampstand | 2013

Bob Brockie

John Buck

Doug Catley

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

honours Douglas Catley, Wellington

Basin Reserve Trust. He was

He said he particularly enjoyed

MNZM (1951-1955)

Chairman of the Karori Cricket

working in Northland because the

The Insignia of a Member of the

Foundation for more than 20

region has a large population of

He was a committee member of

New Zealand Order of Merit for

years and was Chairman of the

Maori and people from deprived

the Millennium Science Initiative

services to sport and healthcare

Old Boys’ University Rugby Club.

backgrounds and his duties

in Chile and was a former member

services.

He continues to support sport in

include improving services for

of the New Zealand Science

This honour recognises Doug’s

many capacities - particularly at

Maori.

Subcommission for the United

services to healthcare and in

the College.

and the 2007 lahar.

Nations Educational, Scientific and Professor Vince Neall, P. North

sport.

Cultural Organisation.

Dr John Childs, Whangarei

MNZM (1960-1963)

One of the founders of Healthcare

MNZM (1970)

The Insignia of a Member of the

Vince has also been President of

with Peter Cottier in 1988 was

The Insignia of a Member of the

New Zealand Order of Merit for

the Camellia Research Trust, a

to provide create high-quality

New Zealand Order of Merit for

services to Earth Science.

committee member of the Royal

community support services for

services to health.

What started as a love of rocks

Society Manawatu Branch, and

older people within the Wellington

Dr John Childs is the Ministry of

has landed Professor Vince Neall

President of the Geological Society

region. Since then it has grown

Health’s clinical director for the

a New Year honour. Vince, the

of NZ. He also helped set up the

nationwide, employing 7,000

national cancer programme.

head of Earth Sciences at Massey

Te Manawa Science Centre.

people and supporting over

He spends three days a week in

University, was made a Member

18,000 people. The organisation

Wellington providing the director-

of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Ian Roche, Dunedin

began with a small hospital, called

general of health, the ministry and

for his work.

QSM (1944-1945)

Johnswood, in Upper Hutt that

Health Minister Tony Ryall with

provided continuing care for older

leadership and advice on issues

Vince, who has been involved in

services to Lawn Bowls

people.

relating to cancer control.

Earth Science at Massey since

Ian joined the Tainui Bowling

1974, said it was as much an

Club in 1975 and for the

The Queen’s Service Medal for

In the early 1990s, as expertise

John was born in Auckland, spent

honour for the staff he worked

past 37 years has made a

grew, Healthcare extended the

his childhood in Wellington, lived

with as it was for him. I just think

significant contribution to bowls

range of its support, establishing

in Melbourne for 12 years and

it is great that what we have done

administration.

its first disability services in 1995.

returned to Wellington before

in Earth Science at Massey is being

studying at the Auckland Medical

recognised.

The organisation continues to

It started with his own club and

School.

the Dunedin Bowling Centre. He

evolve today, seeking innovative

An internationally-recognised

was President of the Centre in

new ways to support our health

A past Chairman of the National

expert on volcanos, Vince said

1988 and led the committee that

system and to enhance people’s

Cancer Treatment Working Party

his interest in Earth Science came

joined the men’s Dunedin Bowling

wellbeing and quality of life.

and a member of the Cancer

about when he went to university.

Centre with the Otago Women’s

Control Steering Committee from

I was always interested in rocks and

Bowling Centre to form Bowls

Doug was Deputy Chairman of

2001-03, he has been a specialist

fossils in general, and when I left

Dunedin. He has been patron of

the Wellington Area Health Board

radiation oncologist at Auckland

school I wasn’t sure what vocation I

Bowls Dunedin since 2009.

and a member of the council

Hospital since 1991. He has

wanted to choose.

He has been a member of the NZ

for the University of Otago

also on the council of the Royal

Wellington School of Medicine.

Australian and NZ College of

After some study, his interest in

and was elected President for the

He is a member of the Medical

Radiologists.

Earth Science peaked on a trip

1993-94 season.

Research Foundation and was also

Bowling Association since 1987

to Antarctica. Since then, he has

Deputy Chairman of the board

For the past decade, John has been

studied artefacts found in former

Ian has promoted Bowls to make

of Trustbank - a government

providing oncology services in

lava flows in Papua New Guinea

the sport more meaningful to

appointed role.

Northland with clinics at Whangarei

and volcanic eruptions beneath

a younger generation and was

Hospital, assessing patients who

Iceland. He was also part of the

instrumental in introducing the

Doug has a real passion for

need radiation treatment which he

team that monitored Mt Ruapehu

national paraplegic singles.

sport and is Chairman of the

provides in Auckland.

before and after the 1995 eruption If you are aware of an Old Boy being recognised in any capacity, please let us know so we can share his honour with fellow readers.

John Childs

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Vince Neall

Ian Roche

2013

| The Lampstand | 41

accolade

Australian

Darryl’s passion and determination meant he was able to raise funds from various willing investors and start building a chain of hotels from Melbourne

Founder of the International

1986 which grew to over 60 hotels

and Adelaide to Cairns, across

College of Management,

across Australia and New Zealand

Australia and eventually to

Sydney (ICMS), Darryl Courtney-

by 2011.

NZ. From this his passion and focus expanded into developing

O’Connor, (1962-1967), has been appointed a Member

Commenting on the award, Darryl

applied tertiary education for

of the Order of Australia for

said I’m very delighted to receive

services industries like hospitality,

significant service to the

this prestigious honour. It really was

business, sport management,

tourism and hospitality sector

a very big surprise and I’m humbled

events, property and many

and to the development of

that my work with the Touraust

others. Today the International

industry education.

Corporation and ICMS has been

College of Management Sydney

recognised on such a large scale.

Darryl was born in a pub in

has an international and

Darryl founded ICMS in 1996

The College is in particular close

Waitotara, a small town in the

domestic student population of

which has since become an

to my heart, as I can pass on my

North Island, raised a publican’s

approximately 1200 students and

internationally recognised

knowledge and experience to the

son and very early developed

enjoys one of the most collegial

business college offering bachelor

leaders of tomorrow. I’m very proud

passions for combining good

atmospheres of any university.

and masters degrees which

of what we have achieved at ICMS

wholesome hospitality with

include applied industry training

and I think our strong international

entrepreneurial business

Darryl’s ties with Wellington

and research respectively.

partnerships and our various

practices.

College remain strong. For the past eight years, he has

tourism and education awards are Darryl is also the Chairman of the

a testament to our commitment

After migrating to Australia in

awarded a prestigious two-year

Touraust Corporation, founding

to furthering progress within the

his early 20s Darryl joined the

scholarship at the ICMS worth up

the Constellation Hotel Group

industry.

corporate world of property

to A$48,000.

with twelve country motels in

development and land division.

Sam Judd: Young New Zealander of the Year Sam Judd of The Sustainable Coastlines

direct participation, wide-reaching media exposure

Charitable Trust was awarded the Coca-Cola

and public advertising campaigns, as well as through

Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year Award.

educational presentations to over 33,000 school students to motivate people to take positive action

The Award gives special recognition to honour and

in sustaining and protecting our coastlines which is

encourage our leaders of tomorrow and promote

an enjoyable activity for everyone.

youth leadership.

The Tindall Foundation is supporting Sam’s work through a three-year Sam contributes to and benefits New Zealand society at a local,

donation to develop a training system and train presenters which will

national and international level through his work as co-founder and

allow TSC’s proven action-and education-based programmes to be

CEO of The Sustainable Coastlines Charitable Trust (TSC).

rolled out to a much wider audience.

At the age of 24, Sam was bitten by a tiger shark while surfing in the remote Galapagos Islands. While recovering, he motivated and

Sam was invited back to the College recently as guest speaker at

organised the local population to remove 7.5 tonnes of rubbish

our 2013 Black & Gold Foundation Awards Dinner - an evening to

from the coast in one day. It was the first time in the history of San

recognise those students who have excelled in the arts and in sport.

Cristobal Island that all sectors of the community worked together for

Along with presenting a number of awards, Sam also gave an inspiring

a common cause and the charity Sustainable Coastlines was born.

speech to the guests about his vision and challenges ahead to clean our coastlines.

TSC is a young, dynamic, multi award-winning New Zealand charity that has successfully motivated over 25,000 volunteers to remove more than 885,907 litres of rubbish from New Zealand’s coastlines.

Since 2008, they have raised large-scale awareness about the challenges of coastline protection and solutions to address it through

42

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

lecture The Freyberg

The biennial Freyberg Lecture was introduced by the Wellington College Foundation six years ago as a means of bringing a top quality presentation on a matter of interest to the wider College community.

The inaugural lecture, in 2007, was delivered by eminent historian, A.W. Beasley CNZM, on the life of Lord Freyberg himself. Many would argue that Bernard Freyberg is the most famous Old Boy produced by Wellington College in its long and distinguished history.

(L-R): Matthew Beattie, Sir Jerry Mateparae and Roger Moses This year, the Foundation invited the Governor General, Lt Gen The Rt

The second lecture, in 2009, was delivered by

Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, to give a lunchtime lecture to senior students

Douglas Mudgway on the life and contribution

in the College on the topic of leadership.

of Sir William Pickering, space pioneer and former Director of the California Jet Propulsion

Sir Jerry gave a superb address, drawing on his own considerable

Laboratory, who appeared twice on the cover of

experience as a soldier, and speaking to the students at their level. It

Time magazine. Pickering gained his love of space in the Wellington

was very clear that Sir Jerry is a father of young men and understands

College Observatory, which he reopened memorably in 2002.

very clearly the challenges facing teenagers today. It was not difficult

Arguably, his contribution on the world stage, is the most significant

to see why this humble but inspiring leader has endeared himself

by a Wellington College Old Boy.

to such a wide range of people within New Zealand society in such a relatively short time.

The third lecture in 2011, delivered by former New Zealand diplomat, Gerald Hensley CNZM, was on the fascinating wartime relationship

We were, indeed, greatly honoured by the visit of our ‘next-door

between Freyberg, Commander of the New Zealand Forces, and Peter

neighbour’ whose advice and wisdom was greatly appreciated by all in

Fraser, perhaps New Zealand’s most respected Labour Prime Minister.

attendance.

The Prime Minister visits Wellington College The Prime Minister, Rt Hon John

met with the College staff over

Key visited Wellington College on

morning tea. He commended

Wednesday 30 October 2013 to

both the Headmaster and staff

meet both students and staff.

on their success in recent years across the academic spectrum

After a welcome from our

and was proud to mention that

Kapa Haka students, the Prime

Wellington College was one of

Minister then addressed our

New Zealand’s leading boys’

Year 13 students in the College

schools. He also briefly outlined

Hall. He spoke about his days as

some of the government plans to

a youngster, his education and

further enhance education success

subsequently his career path that

for young people in New Zealand.

eventually brought him back from Mr Key’s visit concluded by

overseas to enter politics, which eventually saw him elected as Prime Minister in 2008. Mr Key then

meeting some of our Year 13 students where he took great interest in

invited questions from the floor and a good number of wide-ranging

their plans after leaving College and the likely pathways beyond their

questions were put to him by the students. These ranged from student

tertiary studies.

loans, issues of drug and alcohol use, overseas employment options, being a parent of teenagers and his recent meeting and weekend stay

It has been over 20 years since a Prime Minister last visited the

with the Queen and her family.

College – while we can account for four Governors General, not one Old Boy (to date) has gone on to become Prime Minister. Perhaps

With the Headmaster, Mr Key then moved to the staffroom and

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

after today’s visit, we may see one become elected in years to come.

2013

| The Lampstand | 43

The Headmaster pays tribute to four Māori Old Boys Te Piringa is the whanau

the College, taonga including

foremost leaders in the revival

support group for Wellington

Hāmi’s medals, the diary he

of the Māori language. In 1970,

College. I recently attended

wrote prior to his death and

he was appointed as the first

the inaugural meeting for the

other memorabilia which had

Professor of Māori Studies at

year, a very pleasant function

been prized by the family for

the University of Waikato, and in

where I was able to meet with

nearly 100 years. We were deeply

1987, he became the first Māori

many of the young men and

honoured by the occasion and

Language Commissioner at Te

their families.

a special memorial to this fallen

Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. From

soldier is now kept in the College

2003, Professor Karetu was Head

Archives.

of Te Kohanga Reo National Trust.

I reflected afterwards on the Māori presence which has been

He is also a leading composer

with us at all times since the

Sir Paul Reeves is

and organiser in the Performing

endowment of the College in

probably known

Arts.

1853, and is represented today

to everyone

by 9% of our students who

and is one of

Tanemahuta

identify as Māori. At the risk

Wellington

Gray was

of being selective, I believe it is

College’s most

Head Prefect

appropriate to mention just a few

famous sons. The first Māori

of Wellington

of the Māori Old Boys of whom

to become Governor General,

College in

we are immensely proud:

Sir Paul was both a Prefect and

1992. After

students, teachers and their families. Guests listened to Senior Management, Board representatives and TAB

a familiar inclusion at Wellington College Pasifika events.

worked as a professional dancer,

Grace attended

Archbishop of New Zealand,

choreographer, director and

Wellington

before being appointed to his

producer. He performed for five

College from

vice-regal role. While he was

years and gave 850 performances

1904 – 1907. In

very proud of being a Wellington

worldwide in one of the world’s

his final year,

College student, he spoke to

leading aerial theatre companies,

he captained

me of the difficulties he felt in

De La Guarda. In 2005, he wrote,

the 1st XI Cricket team and was a

identifying as a Māori in the

produced and directed Maui- One

member of the 1st XV. He went

1950’s. I was delighted to get

Man Against the Gods, a stirring

on to represent Wellington in

to know Sir Paul and benefitted

combination of Kapa Haka and

Cricket and was a Māori All Black.

personally from the bi-cultural

aerial theatre, that has now

Tragically, Hāmi’s life ended at

perspective he brought to our

played to over 75,000 people in

the age of 25 as the Wellington

nation. We are delighted and

New Zealand. Tanemahuta has a

Regiment fought for Chunuk Bair

proud that his grandson is a

great pride in his College, and has

in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

member of the College today.

returned on a regular basis over the years.

in brass at the back of our

Professor Timoti

Memorial Hall.

Karetu was

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi,

a Prefect in

Engari he toa takimano taku

Some years ago, the College

Firth House,

toa

experienced a truly memorable

the former

ANZAC Day service when Hāmi’s

Wellington

whanau, led by the Paramount

College hostel, in 1956. A noted intellectual, Timoti Karetu

a warm welcome to new

laughter which has become

leaving school, Tanemahuta

is recognised as one of the

Support Group extended

an abundance of food and

1951. Sir Paul became Anglican

Te Heu Heu, presented back to

and Pasifika Parents’

College life and enjoyed

member of the 1st XI Cricket in

Chief of Tuwharetoa, Sir Tumu

College TAB Pasifika Leaders

leaders share stories about

T.M. (Hāmi)

Hāmi’s name is recorded forever

In February, the Wellington

Amongst the new families were a number of Old Boys who were astonished and pleasantly surprised that some of the current teaching staff who taught them some 30 years ago, were still here to teach their sons!

Liz Sidler, PPSG (Liz’s husband Richard [Sala] Sidler, is an Old Boy of the College (1979-1983) and is a current member of the College’s Board of Trustees).

My strength is not that of one, It is a strength of many.

Roger Moses, ONZM Headmaster

Reverend Au Liko (right) and Parent and Old Boy, Mau Moananu (1981-1986).

44

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

update Academic

Student earns a Duke University Scholarship Andrew Tan-

runner up to the Dux.

Delli Cicchi is one of two New

My goal is to work in

Zealand students

third world countries to

who are North

develop basic education

Carolina-bound on

strategies that are not

scholarships to Duke

only efficient but cost-

University.

effective and available to all, he said. I believe that

The Robertson Scholarship

creating education systems is the

recipients have received the

bedrock for progression.

opportunity to study and live at the university, worth $100,000

Andrew has lived in different

per year.

parts of Asia throughout his life, and was struck by the ugliness

University of Canterbury Graduate and Old Boy improves Mighty River Generator Jasin Long (Class of 2008), graduated from the University of Canterbury Mechanical Engineering programme with Honours in April.

In the final year of the professional programme, all students carry out a research and design project as part of a team on projects that are sponsored by industry. For Jasin's final year project, he was tasked by Mighty River Power to investigate their generator’s braking mechanisms.

Mighty River has nine power stations on the Waikato river. Brakes are required in order to shut down the hydro turbines in order for control and safety. However with any high friction task Mighty River needed to know whether over time, brakes were eroding. If they were producing any sort of fine dust, then this could cause electrical shorting in the generator. Jasin and his team conducted experiments on the brakes, assessed the material’s properties and gave their findings and recommendations to Mighty River on ways that they could improve their braking mechanisms.

of inequality and social injustice.

Congratulations

with the local Soup Kitchen,

This is the second occasion that

Victoria University presented Distinguished

plans to study a 'design-your-

a Wellington College student has

Alumni Awards to John Campbell (1977-

own' programme in sociology,

won the Robertson Scholarship.

1981) along with five other graduates at a

psychology, and economics.

Deputy Head Prefect in 2008,

prestigious black tie dinner in July.

He was a Prefect in 2012, and

Hunter Douglas, was also a

was awarded Proxime Accessit,

recipient.

Andrew (2008-2012), who led Wellington College's involvement

Not your typical OE holiday

The presenter of TV3’s nightly current affairs show Campbell Live is known for a unique and effective communication style, and a determination to seek answers on a wide range of issues.

When Edward Stace (2001-2005) completed a BMedSc(Hons) research degree at Otago University in 2009, little did he know that this research project would lead on to being awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. The Scholarship, one of three awarded this year to New Zealand University graduates, will allow Edward to continue his research interests and pursue a Doctorate of Philosophy (DPhil) at Oxford University. His research investigated growing bone tissue from stem cells for storage and future transplantation.

At Oxford, Edward plans to study for a PhD and to continue his studies in tissue engineering and further develop his education in preventive medicine and public health.

Edward trained as an officer in the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army and was a member of the NZ Youth Olympic Rowing Squad.

The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for foreign students to study at the University of Oxford in England.

Rhodes Scholars can study any full-time postgraduate course offered by the British university.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

The Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, and Edward Stace, from Otago University, who received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University.

2013

| The Lampstand | 45

update Academic

One of life’s success stories

From rugby star to lecturer, there seems

and bide my time while I made it in rugby. The

to be nothing Porirua’s Arden Perrot

first essay I got back was covered with red ink,

(1998-2002) can’t do.

he said.

But success has not always been easy for the

It was that first failure that woke Arden up to

former Hurricanes flanker, and he is using

what he could achieve by using the support

his talent to show others that there is always

around him. I thought it was good, but I

time to turn their lives around.

obviously couldn’t write academically. I was advised to do a writing course, which helped

Arden is now a lecturer in Youth

me realise that education could be learned,

Development at WelTec and a star in Victoria

that it’s something you can actually get better

University’s Know Your Mind campaign.

at. I used to think you had to be born with it.

His life looked a lot less promising at the end of his college education.

Setting rugby as my main goal made me realise that if I could set goals in

The only things that mattered were rugby and girls. I failed every year at

other areas, like education, then I could do it.

college. “There were more than 1500 boys at my school and I think I got lost in the system, he said.

The first person in his family to gain a degree, he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Education and received the Victoria

Despite playing Rugby at Wellington College, he quit the sport

Medal of Academic Excellence earlier this year.

after leaving college and found himself unemployed and without qualifications. Once you get on to that path of failing, it’s hard to climb

For Arden, the lessons he has learned have been an opportunity to

out.

give back to his community and help others, I became a mentor and a tutor because I knew I could save some students in the same way I'd been

An intervention from his father led Arden to travel overseas, where

saved. I could show them how to be better at studying and how to tap into

he coached and rekindled his love of Rugby. When he returned to

other people’s strengths and learn from them.

Wellington six months later, he set his mind on training, eventually earning a spot in the Wellington rep team.

He said his success, in Rugby and his new academic career, had not come overnight, but that the key was setting goals and slowly working

It was only to avoid labour work after training that Arden signed up

towards them. I’ll do it because I now know that the price of success is

for university courses. I only really went to university to muck around

doing what you should. do, whether you feel doing or not.

Helping to make our International Students’ feel at home Wellington is hoping to attract 1000 more

group, is in many ways a poster child of

foreign students to the city in a move

this process. Kartik was joined by current

that could add $27 million to the city's

Y13 student and Prefect, Fame Vonjibunta

businesses each year. At the end of 2011,

[pictured right], who replied to the Mayor’s

the capital hosted about 6000 overseas

welcome speech.

students, worth about $162m a year. City officials hope the number will grow to 7000

Kartik left Singapore at 13 to study at

by the end of 2013.

Wellington College, becoming a Prefect and strongly involved with our International

Education New Zealand figures show

Students’ association. After returning to

that the average foreign student spends

Singapore for Military Service, he returned

$27,000 a year while studying in New Zealand. Wellington is already

to complete a Bachelor of Commerce at Victoria University, where he

internationally recognised for the business, accounting and law

has subsequently found a job.

programmes offered by its universities, which attract a significant number of students from Asia every year.

A self-confessed fan of Wellington, Kartik said the city's traditional education providers are well-equipped to handle the flow of students,

Kartik Retna (2003-2005), [pictured above left] who welcomed a group

as well as the shock of stepping into a completely foreign culture,

of foreign secondary school students in the Town Hall in March this

which he conceded was not easy.

year, alongside Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown and a Whitireia kapa haka

46

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Good Sorts

The Kenyan Carpentry Programme

While we were at the

Part two of Loki’s vision will be

year. However fundraising is

recent WCOBA Melbourne

maintaining and renovating the

essential. So far I have raised $8.5k.

Dinner, we met an interesting

orphanage itself and surrounding

Money raised prior to my departure

and passionate young man,

buildings needing repairs. While

will be used to purchase materials

Loki Grant (2002-2006).

working on these projects, the

needed to build the school within

team will work with as many

the KCC slum project. Any left over

Loki trained as a carpenter,

young people as potential

money will be used on my returning

working in both Wellington

apprentices, teaching them the

trip to fund the programme.

and now Melbourne where has

basics of structural design and

worked on renovations of old

completion.

homes, apartment buildings and

Loki said that the programme Loki emailed us on the eve of his

will continue to need constant

contracts with the NZ Army. He

As the project continues, Loki’s

departure to Kenya, where he

fundraising for materials,

currently works for Ausform

goal is to set up a programme

will be for the next seven weeks,

stationery and tools. He has the

Construction and shared a vision

which will continue to operate

working at an orphanage and

full support of his employers in

he has had to ‘change some

independently with the hope

assisting with building a school

Melbourne and is now hoping

lives and improve communities

he can return and expand on

for KCC (Kitendo Children’s

that other companies will get on

in Kenya’. With the full support

the project by introducing more

Charity) slum project. He will also

board and support his vision.

of his employer, the ‘Kenyan

trades including plumbing and

scope out suitable locations for

Carpentry Programme’ was born.

block-laying.

his return visit when he runs his

He would be hugely grateful if

classes in 2014.

any Old Boys could help in some

Loki is currently in Kenya where

Loki’s long-term vision is to

he is setting up carpentry and

ensure that these young people in He says: I have made some very

fundraising campaign or just even

woodwork classes based in an

Kenya will face a brighter future

promising relationships with people

helping to raise awareness.

orphanage where he and his

by providing training in a pre-

over there that can help with my

team will teach young men how

trade course and give them hope

particular goals, so I am very

Here is a link for the donation

to use and maintain hand-tools.

of being employed within the city

confident this project will be up and

page: www.gofundme.com/

He then will start them off on

and at the same time improving

running shortly. When I do, I will be

kenyancarpentry and on

basic construction concepts of

their surrounding communities

setting it all up as a non profitable

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

tool boxes and picnic tables.

and living conditions.

organisation and returning next

KenyanCarpentryProgram

way, whether it be supporting the

Asthma sufferers benefit from Adam Glover’s ‘Long Ride Home’ We last featured Adam Glover (1986-1989) in

Having had no previous touring experience, he left

the 2011 Lampstand about his journey back to

London intent on self-sufficiency. He carried a tent,

Wellington from London by bike. We are please

gas cooker, pots, pans, clothes for all conditions, spare

to report he finally made it home.

tyres and other spare bike parts. The total weight was about 50kg. On the way he learned to deal with

Adam thought it would take just a year to cycle from

punctures, broken chains, cycling in snowy conditions

London to Wellington, but 708 days later he has

and 50 degree heat while travelling through countries

finally made it home. The 40-year-old left London

not renowned for their safety, he said.

on 2 April, 2011, and was greeted in Wellington on 3 March 2013 by many supporters.

Mountainous landscapes in many countries proved the most difficult task and taking an hour to travel a

His 31,000km journey took him across Europe

kilometre because of altitude sickness was common.

to Turkey, through Iran and northen Asia, China,

Adam averaged 100km a day with his biggest being

Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia,

an exhausting 210km stint in China.

East Timor and Australia. He then caught a container ship to Auckland, where on arrival, he headed straight to a fish and chip shop.

After raising more than $2500 for asthma, he is already planning his next adventure - cycling from the top of North America to the bottom

Adam took on the challenge with little training but said was motivated by a desire to raise money for asthma - an illness he suffers from.

of Argentina.

If you would like to support Adam Glover's fundraising visit www.adamglovercycling.com

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 47

An Unsung Hero: The Story of Edric Baker and the Kailakuri Health Centre

New Zealand’s Own Mother Theresa

Old Boy, Alistair Gooch (19551959) wrote to us to bring to

The Kailakuri Project - A satellite

light, the inspiring story of fellow

health centre was established

Old Boy and classmate, Dr Edric

some five km away at Kailakuri

Baker ONMZ.

specialising in services for diabetics and TB. Here Edric was

Attached is the article I have

able to put into practice what

put together of Edric Baker’s

he had been working towards

amazing career, especially in

for many decades. The diabetes

Bangladesh for some 30 years

programme was managed and

and the Kailakuri Project for the

run entirely by diabetics. The

last seven years. The Kailakuri

TB eradication programme was

websites are www.kailakuri.com

managed and run entirely by

or http://sites.google.com/site/

persons who were either being

kailakurihealth.

cured, or had formerly been afflicted by TB.

Have a read and see if you can accommodate this story in

In 2006, Edric transferred from

the Lampstand for the College

the Church of Bangladesh to

Community to read, marvel at

The Vision – Providing Health

ready to embark on what has

a local NGO, the Institute of

and even make contributions.

Services by the poor for the

turned out to be his life’s work

Integrated Rural Development

poor - Kontum, near the Ho Chi

- developing health services for

and shifted over to work full time

After Wellington College, Edric

Minh trail, was a volatile part

the poor, by the poor. In 1983,

with the Kailakuri Health Centre

Baker ONZM (1955-1959) studied

of the country and at times the

he went to Bangladesh. Under

(The Thanabaird clinic continues

medicine at Otago University,

expatriate hospital staff were

the auspices of the Church

to operate under the Church of

graduating in 1965. At that time

evacuated out. On returning after

of Bangladesh, Edric went to

Bangladesh staffed, as Ed had set

the Vietnam war was building

one of these occasions, Edric was

Thanabaird in the remote north

it up to operate by locally trained

up. In 1968, Edric volunteered to

struck by how the local (totally

of the country. Here, starting

personnel). Today Kailakuri has a

work with the NZ Surgical Team

untrained) staff had managed to

from scratch, he taught literacy

staff of 90 persons, of whom Edric

in Qui Nhon, the provincial capital

keep the hospital running. This

and numeracy before training

is the only one with any formal

of Binh Dinh Province in (then)

awoke in him a vision of health

local people to become ‘barefoot

medical qualifications. Everybody

South Vietnam. The Surgical

services for the poor by the poor.

medics’ for the Church Clinic.

else has been trained on the

Team worked at the Province

The situation deteriorated in the

In accordance with his strong

job. All staff take part in weekly

Hospital and attended to civilian

Vietnam highlands and Edric was

beliefs, he worked hard to identify

training and re-training sessions.

casualties.

detained for four months.

fully with the locals – living in

Edric is head trainer, consultant

similar accommodation and

and Medical Officer in Charge.

He recalls his first lesson, After

He may well have spent the

several hours of traumatic war

rest of his life in Vietnam

surgery on a patient who made

had he not been deported

Through a mix of formal training

area with a mixed population

full recovery, I saw him come

by the communists after this

and ‘learning by doing’, the

of Bengali Muslim, indigenous

back three months later to die of

imprisonment. He set about

Thanabaird clinic was built up

minorities the Mandi (many of

dysentery. That was the first step in

equipping himself for a lifetime of

to a staff of 55 by the year 2000.

whom are Christian) and Borman

my awakening.

service to the poor. Over the next

Of these only two had been to

(Hindu).

eating the same food.

The Centre services a very poor

few years he obtained Diplomas

high school. The programme was

After a spell in New Zealand,

in Tropical Medicine, Tropical

dealing with 16,000 outpatients

Prior to Edric and the Kailakuri

Edric transferred to a highlands

Child Health and Obstetrics in UK.

and some 700 inpatients a

Project, these different ethnic

mission hospital established

He then obtained tropical and

year. With assistance from Kiwi

and religious communities would

in Kontum by Dr Pat Smith.

obstetric experience by working

volunteer paediatric nurse Libby

have had little or nothing to do

This served the ethnic minority

in hospitals in Papua New Guinea

Laing, village health-workers

with each other. It is a measure

hill tribe people known as the

and Zambia.

also provided antenatal care,

of Edric’s personal stature and

preventative health, nutrition and

personal commitment that he

family planning services.

has been able to bring these

Montagnards.

By the early 1980s, he was

48

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

disparate groups together – each

Patients pay for their care when

day starts with joint prayer and

they are able. It is estimated

the whole community, including

that their contributions make

outpatients and inpatients, prays

up about 5% of the cost of the

together for about 20 minutes

total. In time it may be possible to

before the day’s work with

get this up to 15%. So continual

patients begins.

fundraising is required from the Kailakuri Project Support Teams,

Last year the staff of 90 dealt with

here in NZ and some in US.

33,000 outpatient visits (25,500 in 2007), all seen by paramedics

Edric returns to New Zealand

while 21,000 people received

every two or three years to

health education which in many

support the Project by carrying

or most cases is life and death

out a speaking tour of New

information on how to live. This

Zealand to maintain support

At present also, there is a need

treatment of her cataracts and

is more health education than

here. He was interviewed by TV

for funds for two new low cost

she could see again. She became

given by all Auckland hospitals

and radio on his 2012 tour and

buildings – one for the village

a diabetes health educator,

put together.

made a plea for another doctor to

health programme, another for

married a local young man and

maintain the workload. You can

the new doctor being sought.

now has a child.

In addition paramedics (locals)

access the TV interview on:

There is an urgent need for funds

treated 1100 in-patients (921

http://tvnz.co.nz/

to improve the management of

Sujit – a diabetic came from a

in 2007), some extremely ill.

close-up/wednesday-

burns. So it goes on.

mission station. Edric brought

Diabetes is a serious problem

september-5-5064939/

and 1200 patients are currently

video?vid=5065259.

under supervision (892 in 2007),

him to Kailakuri, treated him Difficulties (delays) getting money

with insulin, taught him how

transferred internationally is just

to treat the diabetes and look

another irritant.

after himself. He went to open

with more than 700 on insulin.

Difficulties, even obstruction,

TB treatment has been very

from local authorities is a

successful – the only programme

major irritant – the road to

The first diabetes patient, Sultan,

school certificate. He now runs

supported financially by the

Kailakuri is currently being used

was treated with the help of a

the diabetes programme with its

Bangladesh Government. The 70

by large (usually overloaded)

diabetes hospital in Dhaka. A very

1200 patients.

patients treated resulted in a 94%

trucks picking up local crops of

intelligent young man, he became

cure rate (60 in 2007) which is

pineapples and bananas. The

a paramedic in 1984 because of

What is being achieved at

better than even the NZ rate.

dirt road immediately around

the successful treatment and now

Kailakuri is unique. Historically

the Project is regularly churned

at 50 is still a health educator at

antagonistic ethnic and religious

Other treatments – antenatal/

up in the rainy season, so the

Kailakuri. Now there are 1200

groups are working together.

obstetrics, general illnesses and

authorities dug it up to repair it –

diabetes patients.

minor surgery arise mainly from

but the repairs haven’t happened

the harsh environment and

so patients are seriously

Another, Shilpi – an 18 year-old

the Morgan Foundation, visited

extreme poverty of the region.

inconvenienced with knee-high

girl, was brought to Kailakuri

Edric last year in Bangladesh and

More complex surgery has to be

muddy access.

from across the country, having

calls him New Zealand’s Own

done outside and patients are

college every Friday and passed

Gareth Morgan, who establised

heard about the project. She was

Mother Theresa. You can read

sent away for this. And all this

Money is the most important

so weak and wasted she couldn’t

Gareth’s recount here: http://

with no Government financial

problem – the funds required to

stand on her own. She was blind

garethsworld.com/blog/morgan-

support!

maintain the operations... Edric

due to cataracts arising from

foundation/new-zealands-own-

tells of a time when the money

diabetes. After treatment she put

mother-teresa/

The total cost of operation for

ran low and staff had to be cut.

on 25kg. The project arranged for

the last year was NZ $222,000

One man was invited to take a

($110,000 in 2007) – covering

month’s leave. His answer – I

salaries, feeding 60 – 80 people

will not take pay but I will not

3 to times per day (up to 6

stop work. The project’s finances

times/day for diabetic/nutrition

require constant and careful

patients), medicines, surgery,

scrutiny, as most medicines are

transport and administration.

purchased from a nearby (eight

Even taking the exchange rate

miles away) pharmacy where cash

into consideration, that’s low cost!

is essential.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 49

From Schoolroom to Boardroom John Rutherford (1963-1967), an engineering

development. They were wrong about that.

graduate left New Zealand in 1971 for the

Boarding life was very different to the home

United States aged 21. At the time, the USA

life I had experienced. In those days the first

was at the leading edge of world trends. The

year boys were treated a bit like subhumans,

Woodstock rock concert has just happened, San

publicly humiliated and made to serve the

Francisco was the city of love and the Vietnam

whims of the more senior boys. It was a tough

War was in full stride. It was an exciting time and

first year away from home. I hated it but felt I

I really came over here to be part of it, he says.

had no option and that my parents expected me to cope. I did cope - in fact I don’t ever

The move has been rewarding for John. He

remember uttering a complaint, although they

took up computer science at the University

could clearly read in my eyes that I hated it.

of Connecticut, really as a way to enter into

Some boys got their mouths soaped, some

the United States. He was talked into going

got dunked in the toilets, others had their

to Harvard Business School in Boston, and to

possessions taken by the senior boys and were forced to write lines as punishment for crimes

pay off his student loan he took a job with a management consultancy firm, Bain & Co. He never looked back.

that the senior boys committed. At night the class (Third Form) all shared a common bedroom - that is all 30 of us. If you spoke after

John recently joined with Hamilton Helmer in 2013 to found Strategy

9.00pm and were heard by a teacher on duty, you were taken out into

Capital, a hedge fund investing in large US technology companies.

the corridor, bent over, and strapped in your pajamas. It was a lot

Prior to Strategy Capital he co-founded Parthenon Capital Partners, a

different than home!

US$2 billion private equity firm in 1998 and was a Managing Partner until his retirement in 2012. John was also co-founder and former

Boarding school, while having many elements of prison life, actually

Chairman of The Parthenon Group, a 150-person boutique strategic

had its good points. First, we became great friends with many of our

advisory firm founded in 1991. Previously he was a Director of Bain &

classmates - after all, we went through boot camp together. We felt

Company.

much more integrated with the school than the day students that we viewed as part-timers (not real men). As one rose through the ranks

So how did John reach such dizzy heights from a small country at the

of boarding school, one obtained power and life became much more

bottom of the world? He recalls some of his memories as a youngster convenient. (including his time at Wellington College).

Unfortunately, I left right at this time to return home. At Wellington Probably luck is the main thing I had going for me, but certainly the

College I was placed into the top form of six academic levels. Initially

early school experiences shape who you are and develop your talents.

I found the work largely repetitious of what I had already learned.

As a result I became lazy. The culture of the boarding establishment

In my case, my parents decided to place me in a private school when

was to do as little schoolwork as possible and play sports as much

I turned eight. They had learned of a boy’s school that provided

as possible. I played sports - Rugby, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming,

excellent preparation for high school. It was called Wellesley College

etc. However I was not particularly good at them, especially those

and was located in Day’s Bay. The Headmaster, ‘Hoppy Stevens’, had

requiring hand-eye coordination. I quit trying in class and proceeded

a well-deserved reputation for strict discipline. He had an uncanny

to move from the top of the class down to the bottom. It was clear

knack for knowing how boys think and what particular mischief they

that I was failing. I needed to be stretched and challenged, just as I

were up to.

had been at Wellesley. I needed an environment where succeeding academically was valued positively. My parents realised that the

We would receive two or three hours of homework every day, but

situation was unlikely to improve, so they decided to have me live at

I treated this as a serious responsibility and always did all of it. So

home and attend the same school, but as a day student.

I developed early the habit of hard work. On reflection, much of my make-up was already determined by high school. I was serious,

My interest in the school did not improve, but my interest in study

steady, and hardworking, with a flair for logic and I got along with

did. I had a nationally competitive final set of exams at the end of

people.

high school. These I took very seriously and earned very strong grades. Many of my smoking companions had dropped out of school

My teenage years were largely defined by Wellington College, the high

by now and so I only saw them occasionally. I remained uninvolved

school I attended from age 13 until 18. The school was about forty-

in the school itself. I came across a boy Simon James, who was in

five minutes from our home so there was little reason to board at the

charge of the school textbook storage room. I joined up with him

school other than that my parents thought it would be good for my

in this subterranean vault where we would shelter away, largely

50

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

invisible to the world, and make toast, coffee and smoke cigarettes.

say on my recommendation was that I attended the school, period.

We thoroughly enjoyed our freedom and showed precious little Today Wellington College is not the same school. It brought in some

responsibility.

exceptional leadership and now has remade itself into the preSome friends and I went a little wild during the teenage years. We

eminent NZ high school of today. Would that I could have had my

would just take my parents’ car and drive off to some public dance

high school experience in the special place Wellington College has

hall. We would smoke and drink if we could find some alcohol. One

become!

sorry adventure I still remember with Paddy Battersby was buying a bottle of pre-mixed screwdriver, vodka and orange, finding a deserted

These days, John is married to Ann Ellen (marrying in 1977) and they

alley in the city, and drinking it straight, just the two of us. Needless to

have three adult children. John retains his New Zealand citizenship

say, we were both ill and I still won’t drink screwdrivers to this day.

together with dual United States citizenship. Throughout his business career, John has travelled with great frequency, well over thirty trips

Mr Holt was my teacher during my last two years. He was a very

per year. He also travels to New Zealand every two - three years. His

bright, retiring mathematician who taught the top students and

children all have New Zealand citizenship as he believes it is important

maintained some degree of control because he was so reasonable

that they could choose to live in New Zealand should they wish to do

and knowledgeable. I respected him highly and found that he would

so at any point in their lives.

warn me when the bureaucracy was about to launch an attack. He saw that I had ability and would find challenges to stretch me. When

John recently moved to Florida where he is taking Spanish lessons and

I graduated from Wellington College, the most the Headmaster would

now travelling frequently to Latin America.

That’s the Spirit Mathieson Carlyle, a current

This ranged from jumping off the

Y12 Student and a recipient of

bow, swinging on the yard swing,

the WCOBA Auckland Branch

going ashore for team building,

Spirit of Adventure Scholarship

cleaning up a beach, sailing in the

recounts his memorable voyage.

luggers – the smaller boats, and climbing up the masts.

I’m not much of a boatie. I get seasick easily and my most frequent

For the first eight days of the

sailing experience is cruising on the

voyage, we were shown how to

Interislander. So I was uncertain,

raise and strike (bring down) each

yet very excited about sailing on the

sail and other key tasks. As each

Spirit of Adventure. Together with

day passed, the crew had less and

39 other teenagers and ten crew,

less input. The idea being that come

we formed Voyage 645. Sailing for

trainee day, we would be able to

ten days around the Hauraki Gulf

do everything ourselves. For me,

we soon became firm friends and

trainee day was the highlight of my

still remain in contact via facebook.

trip. The night before, we elected who would take over all the key

Each day followed a set routine,

roles of the ship. These included

woken at 6.30am by the generator

Captain, four ‘Watch leaders’, 1st

and the lights going on. Then up on

and 2nd Mate, two cooks, two

deck for a swim, that also doubled

engineers and two navigators.

as a shower. Breakfast was at 7.15, followed by our morning meeting to

On trainee day, the crew sat in

the people under my command,

discuss what we were going to do

their lounge, on hand only should

we ran the entire main set of sails

for the day. Then clean-up.

anything go seriously wrong. We

for this section of the boat. What a

I am most grateful for the

Each morning, the whole boat had

teenagers were in charge of the

blast, working as a team to get the

scholarship from the Wellington

to be scrubbed inside and out. Then

ship! We cooked all the food,

sails up and down in time.

College Old Boy’s Association and to

we had to prep the boat for sailing

started the engines, planned our

and learn standard sea procedures,

sailing route, steered the ship, and

Since I’ve been back, many people

Career’s Adviser, who helped me

followed by lunch. After lunch we

managed all the sails.

have asked me about my voyage on

apply. I would really recommend it

would hoist the sails, and sail away.

days of my life!

Mr Ernie Rosenthal (1958-1961), the

the Spirit of Adventure. I suppose it

to anyone, from Y11 to Y13. It’s an

I was lucky enough to be elected

is pretty similar to a school camp,

amazing experience and something

Each day we would do something

Watch leader with responsibility for

but with a few fabulous twists. I can

that you will never forget!

that we had never done before.

the area of mid-ship. Together with

honestly say, it was the best ten

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 51

Taking on the World...

When Mike Hewitt [left], (1997-

Mike’s relationship-centred

2001) and Liam Taylor, [right]

approach doubled with a ‘Nothing

(1985-1988) crossed paths in

is Impossible’ mind-set fuels him

Auckland early in 2012, they

to get out of bed in the morning

started hatching a plan to

and make a difference in some

leverage their expertise and

shape or form making every day

experiences in a number of

worthy of a standing ovation.

industries to create a brand that would be a vehicle to take

Ask Liam what the secret to

on the world. After a number of

success is and he will tell you that

flat whites and long blacks the

it takes a lot of hard work, staying

lads dream became a reality

one step ahead of the rest and a

when DARKHORSE was born in

fantastic imagination, that is the

November 2012.

philosophy and passion that he brings to DARKHORSE.

They saw a gap in the market for a multi-layered front foot,

Liam thrives on the creative

innovative, creative and high

process, delivering unique

energy approach to engage

experiences that drive an

brands with target audiences

increased level of brand

through meaningful and relevant

engagement and loyalty to its

campaigns. They also wanted

clients.

to showcase what the best country in the world had to offer

Liam has a diverse background

by creating unique money can’t

having gained a Bachelor of

buy experiences targeting both

Parks, Recreation and Tourism

inbound and local corporates and

Management from Lincoln

individuals.

University before embarking on

established Exclusive Events NZ in

Good Group, Air NZ, SKYCITY and

a career in the outdoors as an

the resort town of Queenstown,

Kathryn Wilson. The guys aren’t

Mike gained a noteworthy

instructor at Outward Bound New

focusing solely on destination and

going to stop there. They have

apprenticeship which has

Zealand, and later co-founding

event management. Liam now

a number of new clients on the

included working for iconic

Back-country NZ, a leading

has over ten years’ experience

horizon and have the intension

NZ and Australian start-up

adventure guiding company

producing large scale events and

to expand into the Australian

companies Charlie’s Juice and

based in the South Island.

bespoke adventures throughout

market in the near future and

New Zealand. Having worked with

move into different industries.

Nutrientwater, then some of the world’s most sort after brands

While pursuing his passion for

which has included Red Bull, Moet

snow sports, Liam has worked as

and prominent individuals

The guys have created a culture

& Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom

a Ski Patroller in New Zealand and

including Sir Richard Branson,

that reflects their personalities

Perignon, the list goes on...

the USA, and later a professional

and Larry Page, Liam has learnt

which has made the DARKHORSE

Heli-ski Guide for five consecutive

the importance of delivering

HQ an inspiring and fun

Mike’s background working

seasons, gaining qualifications in

premium service with the quality

environment that includes

for these brands has covered

Rock Climbing, Mountaineering,

of an international standard.

everything from Dedon standing

everything from building and

White Water Kayaking, Risk

running a company from scratch

Management, Advanced

Since launching DARKHORSE, the

Liam has a slight emotional

through to executing global

Emergency Care and Avalanche

guys have had amazing growth

attachment to through to a Veuve

initiatives across multiple aspects

forecasting.

and are fortunate to be working

Clicquot table tennis table which

with a number of Global Luxury

doubles as the boardroom table.

of a business which have included

several of NZ's leading companies

desks, a large white board which

multi-million dollar national sales

There was a shift in focus for

brands which includes the likes

programmes, creating money

Liam when he realised the

of Moet Hennessy, Domo Luxury

DARKHORSE: PO Box 47131,

can’t buy brand experiences

potential for experience-based

Furniture, Mini, DB Breweries

Email: mike@darkhorsenz.com

to fostering key relationships

events for corporations and

and Estee Lauder Companies,

Website: www.darkhorsenz.com

across multiple levels within an

their staff, along with catering

as well as some great New

organisation.

for individuals. In July 2007 Liam

Zealand brands which include

52

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Birthday Celebrations and Congratulations!

When Laurie Bade celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends in January, he must have remembered the dramatic moments on 21 March, 1945 when he cheated death.

Flight Lieutenant Bade, who joined the RNZAF as a mature pilot, spent many hours flying Douglas transport aircraft between New Zealand and the Solomon Islands he ran until he was about 80.

and was also a flight instructor at Whenuapai, training the later echelons of young pilots for

Laurie was a representative

combat in the final stages of WWII.

sportsman, representing Wellington in Athletics, Hockey

On the day in question, for

survived into their 90s. Laurie has

attended from 1927-1929. He

and Harriers. He also played

some reason unresolved even

three children, Ian (1955-1959),

then went to work for Hope

representative Rugby and

by a Board of lnquiry, the C-47

Keith and Catherine and five

Gibbons (bicycle importers) in

Basketball in the Airforce. Laurie

Douglas Dakota NZ3501 was in

grand-children and two great-

Taranaki Street until early 1940

and his wife built a house in Tawa

collision mid-air with a Ventura

grand-children.

when he went into the RNZAF.

in 1949 and lived there until a few

Laurie returned to Hope Gibbons

years ago, Mrs Bade passed away

NZ4518, shearing off half the port wing, about 14 feet of it. Laurie

About 100 guests attended

after the war then shortly shifted

in 1996.

managed to bring the crippled

Laurie’s birthday party including

to MacDuffs (later to become

Photos: ABOVE RIGHT: Laurie at

plane and all its five crewmen

Barry Jobson (1954-1958)

Woolworths) before setting up

Wellington College (c) 1926.

safely back, landing at Whenuapai

representing the Old Boys’

his own importing/wholesaling

in Auckland. The pilot of the

Association and Development

business in the early 1950s which

Ventura unfortunately perished

Manager, Tony Robinson

with his plane but he had kept it

representing the College.

aloft long enough for all his crew

Laurie’s nephew, Roger Booth

to parachute to safety.

(1958-1962), Deputy Mayor of

ABOVE: Laurie at his birthday celebrations earlier this year.

Class of 1996 remember the good times

Kapiti Coast District Council also Laurie was awarded the Air Force

attended and spoke.

Cross in 1945. The citation reads [Flight Lieutenant Bade] is an

Laurie (we believe) is now the

outstanding captain of transport

oldest member of the Wellington

aircraft who had a sound

College Old Boys’ Association.

reputation as an extremely steady,

When he attended Wellington

devoted and reliable pilot]. But

College, he proved himself on the

that was before the accident, Laurie

sports field as a ‘good all-round

remarked.

athlete’. Asked what he thought contributed to making him a

He now lives at Summerset

centenarian, he replied ‘old age’.

Village Paraparaumu and

Hadden Morrison (1992-1996) emailed us to say a group of his fellow cohort members met up for a WCOB lunch in Wellington recently and hope to make it a regular occurrence.

participates enthusiastically in

Laurie was born in Berhampore,

Please touch base with Hadden if you would like to attend the next

activities arranged there.

went to Berhampore then

get-together. Hadden.Morrison@plunket.org.nz

Island Bay schools - from the Of the three boys and three girls

latter gaining a matriculation

in the Bade family, all but one has

to Wellington College which he

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

(L-R): Sloan McPhee, John Bell, Andrew Dowie, Peter Ashby, Ryan Brooks, Evan Belford, Craig Pearce, Danny Jones, Dave Calder, Hayden Walker, Ollie Martin and Hadden Morrison.

2013

| The Lampstand | 53

Dodging Disaster and Boxing On Former Master, Ken Bliss (1954-1969) believes in giving life his best shot.

Once a week for half an hour, Ken heads to The Terraces in Howick and a health centre to do what many people half his age shy away from, building up fitness with a strength and conditioning course, complete with boxing gloves and weight training. Life is well worth living and the best way to get the most out of it is to look after your body,says Ken. I strained my Achilles tendon last year and it stopped me in my tracks for months. I couldn’t walk properly or play bowls. By the time I had sat around resting the leg, I was putting on weight. The tendon was the same and I was bored silly. For the first time, I started to feel old.

Ken Bliss, is following the exercise advice

Ken has good reasons to treasure life – as a 21 year old in the RNZAF

of personal trainer Jennie Millen.

he served during the Pacific War at Bougainville and Guadalcanal.

He had applied to train as a pilot, but was too tall for the cockpit, so

reversed back to Marton because of a ‘hold up’ on the line. We diverted

he sought to become a navigator. My father refused to give permission

through Taranaki and it took 24 gruelling hours to finally arrive at

and as I was then under 21, I couldn’t do a thing about it, so trained as a

Frankton Junction – twice the time of the usual journey. I was feeling very

radio technician, servicing the Corsairs. My father probably saved my life,

sorry for myself. To my surprise, my family was waiting anxiously on the

because the attrition rate in the air was terrible.

platform. It was then I found out the train I should have been on had gone down at Tangiwai. The second class carriages, where I would have been,

Besides enemy action and the Japanese hedging in on both sides of

had gone into the river with the engine and everyone in them was lost,

his base camp at Bougainville, there was another danger. Ken was a

including the librarian where I worked. Those last drinks with my mates

member of the surf lifesaving team hastily formed there after several

had saved my life.

United States servicemen were swept out to sea.

Ken went on to teach physics and maths at Wellington College, before Most of these boys came from the middle of the United States and had

moving north to Auckland. Retirement from teaching gave him a

never seen the sea, Ken recalls. The beach was beautiful, a paradise to

chance to take up many new opportunities, including landscape

them. They would float on lilos and be carried out. If they didn’t drown

painting. Donning boxing gloves is just his latest adventure.

and drifted along the coast, the Japanese would pick them off, or the tiger sharks would get them. As the tallest lifesaver, I was the one who stood the

After the number of close calls I’ve had in my life, I think I owe it to myself

furthest out in the water, feeding the line to our strongest swimmer, whose

to keep fit and have the most fun I can.

HOW WE CALCULATE YOUR COHORT FOR OUR REUNIONS Example 1: Started 1960 • Left 1963 • Cohort is still 1964 Form 3 Form 4 Form 5 Form 6 Form 7

job it was to reach the Yank and bring him back in. We made about 100 rescues and each time, we were out there with the sharks.

Ken returned home from the war unscathed, to start his life anew by enrolling at Victoria University of Wellington and gaining a bachelor

Upper 5 1961 1962 1963 4C1 5C1 5U2 Thus 1964 is your Cohort Year

1960 3C1

of science with physics major. At the same time, he worked at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, documenting solar activity and its effect on radio waves.

A momentous year for Ken was 1953 – he graduated and was looking forward to heading home to Hamilton for Christmas. That bright Christmas Eve he had no inkling of the danger he was in.

I was in the pub with my workmates celebrating Christmas and a pretty good year – shouting rounds and really enjoying myself – and I missed my train. I sprinted to the platform waving my ticket at the guard as the next train prepared to pull out. He didn’t want to let me on, because the ticket was for the previous train, but it was Christmas, so he relented.

The train was so crowded I had to sit in a corner on my suitcase and was kicking myself for missing the other train, especially when we stopped and

54

| The Lampstand | 2013

Upper 6 1964 6XX

(ie the five years from Form 3 to Form 7/Upper 6th) Example 2: Started 1961 • Left 1963 • Cohort is still 1964 Form 3 1960 3XX

(because you began College at another school) Form 4 Form 5 Form 6 Form 7 Upper 5 1961 1962 1963 4C1 5C1 5U2 Thus 1964 is your Cohort Year

Upper 6 1964 6XX

(ie the five years from Form 3 to Form 7/Upper 6th) 1963 is the year from which your anniversary of leaving school is calculated, by adding 10, 20, 40,, 50, 60 years etc. Your cohort leaving year may not be the actual year you left Wellington College, but captures all those fellow students who you were at school with, irrespective of how many years you were at the College, or the years you actually started or left.

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Willy Moon - Star on the Rise When Willy Moon (2004) lived

precocious intelligence. It defined

U2, he has been profiled in the

in Wellington, he was a thief

my schooling.

British and American press, and

and a drug-user who left school

championed by The White Stripes'

with no qualifications. Now he

Everybody else would be learning

Jack White. He has appeared

is one of the music world's next

things I already knew and

in The New York Times, Vogue, Q

big names, with a song used in

understood, so I developed a sense

and Interview magazines, and

an Apple ad and an appearance

of laziness through that, because I

performed on The Tonight Show

on Jay Leno's TV show in the US.

never needed to try. Then I reached

with Jay Leno.

a certain age where it caught up He's signed to a big record label

with me and I lost enthusiasm for

Even more significant for any

and getting the kind of attention

learning.

recording artist in this digital age, his undeniably catchy single, Yeah

and media coverage overseas that no Kiwi other than Kimbra

Two months after he turned 18,

Yeah, was picked up by Apple and

could dream of.

Willy left Wellington for London

used in television commercials for

again. He occasionally stole to

its new range of iPods.

Willy Moon (previously Sinclair),

feed himself. I really had to steal

is the first to admit it's a long way

things in order to eat.

some of the album's rawness. I like tension between things. I always

His debut album, Here's Willy

liked the idea of having a seemingly

Moon, on which most of the

buttoned-up character who loses it,

he had no idea of what to do with

But in the space of five years,

tracks are written, recorded and

or the other way around.

himself or where he was headed,

largely under the radar of his

produced by Willy, was released

often in trouble with the law,

homeland, Willy has become

in New Zealand in April before its

In August 2013, Rockstar Games

Willy came and went from several

poised to be one of the biggest

release in Britain.

included Railroad Track in the

high schools and left without any

new names in music.

from his life in Wellington, when

Grant Theft Auto V soundtrack His sartorial image - he's often

list. Ubisoft also launched a new

quite got there. Before the age

Signed to recording giant Island,

pictured in dapper 30s-style dress

Assassin's Creed Black Flag trailer

of 13, I suppose, I was a child of

best known for Bob Marley and

and hairstyle - contrasts with

featuring Railroad Track.

educational qualification. I never

Our Newest Old Boys: Class of 2013

The 2013 Leavers’ Lunch for the Class of 2013 [306 students] was the finale event for the students before they headed off for study leave and subsequently, their exams. Students sat in their 2009 Y9 form classes with many still having most of their original classmates intact. There were also three tables of ‘Newbies’ - those who started here after 2009. A small number of students were invited to share their memories of the past five years with their cohort and there was much laughter as some of those Y9 awkward moments were remembered.

Dylan Johnson (2002-2007) was the guest speaker - he touched on his time at the College and more recently, keeping in touch with both the College and good mates. The Headmaster concluded the lunch with a big thanks to all the students for their great contribution to College life.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 55

update Sports

Music + Rugby = Baby Staff, students and Old Boys were delighted to hear that the end result of the Physical Education and Music Departments merger was one Miss Laura McRawles, the daughter of Music Department Head, Katie Macfarlane and Athletics ,1st XV Coach and husband, Lincoln Rawles.

Laura was born in late May and has already clocked up a few airpoints. She attended the Big Sing Chorale Competition in Dunedin, where the Wellington College Chorale won a silver medal and has been seen on the sidelines at a number of 1st XV matches as well as other significant events held recently at the College.

I am sure that Old Boys will join us, in sending their best wishes to the new family, and that both Katie and Lincoln relish the enjoyment

Bedecked in her Wellington College Blazer and black n yellow pants,

of parenthood, just as much as we all have enjoyed the their

Laura seems to have adapted to her busy parent’s shared workloads -

commitment to Chorale performances at our Reunions and the

though at this young age - sleeps through most of it.

successes of the 1st XV.

Wellington College gains another All Black Congratulations to Jeffrey

instead of Joe Moody who broke

Toomaga-Allen (2004-2008) who

his leg in the ITM Cup final.

is our most recent All Black,

When the All Black selectors

having just been selected for

convened to pick over their

the end-of-year, northern

options, they decided to take an

hemisphere tour.

apprentice loosehead prop and while Jeff usually plays tighthead

Jeff [pictured left], who had to

he has apparently been training a

withdraw because of a knee

fair bit in his new position.

injury from the All Blacks earlier this year, has been picked for his

Jeff joins fellow Hurricane

maiden international voyage as a

and Lions teammate, Dane

replacement prop.

Coles (2004) in the team and is Wellington College’s 34th All

The 22-year-old was selected

Black.

All Black 7’s Coach comes a calling Wellington Lions and NZU20

big, fast and strong and a great

back, Ambrose Curtis (2005-

prospect for the future, Coach,

2009) has earned his first

Gordon Tietjens said.

cap for the NZ 7s squad after trialling for the team last year.

56

great ITM Cup rugby for Wellington.

Our last All Black 7s player was Buxton Popoali’i (2003-2007)

He hasn't played sevens at this level

who appeared in two sevens

before, but he certainly has the skill

tournaments for New Zealand in

Ambrose played 2nd XV for

set. He was unlucky not to make

2010. He was again on the New

Wellington College 2008/09 and

my squad last year, when he had

Zealand sevens squad in 2011

was one of the Academy's 1st

a shoulder injury, but he has come

and now plays for Otago in the

inductees in 2010. Ambrose is

back strong and has played some

ITM Cup.

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Big Night Out

update Sports

Hockey Heaven

Peter Taylor (19972001) shows off his 2012 Wellington Sportsperson

Congratulations to Alex Shaw

of the Year and Sportsman

(2003-2007) who made his New

award while netballer

Zealand debut with the Black

Katrina Grant displays her

Sticks Hockey team as part of

personality of the Year

the World League NZ squad

trophy presented at a

that played in Rotterdam.

function at the Wellington Town Hall.

Last year, Alex won several Auckland Hockey awards, winning

Peter's bronze medal, when

Men’s Outstanding Player of

rowing with Storm Uru in

the Year. He also captained the

the lightweight double in at

young Auckland team to win the

Alex Shaw during the match

the London Olympics was

National Men’s Tournament (he

from the Oceania Cup Hockey Kookaburras v Black Sticks Men, 1

enough to sway the judges over 1500m runner Nick Willis and Black

was just 22 at the time).

November 2013.

A Wrong Put Right

Sox captain Rhys Casley in the Sportsman of the Year category.

Peter then faced stiff competition for The Dominion Post- sponsored premier award from the other major winners but he won the day.

The former Wellington College student's row at Eton Dorney was simply too good to overlook.

Peter has knocked on the door of these awards previously but never taken home the spoils so he was a popular winner and there was a strong rowing contingent in the town hall to celebrate his success.

The future for Peter is exciting. He and Storm Uru have gone their separate ways, with Peter jumping into a lightweight four, which is already showing promise and could well be Peter's ticket to the Rio

A wrong done to sports broadcaster and Old Boy, Keith Quinn (1960-1964) almost 50 years ago was righted at the College recently. Keith became the oldest cricketer to have been capped by the school when Headmaster, Roger Moses surprised him at a special ceremony.

In 1964, Keith, an opening batsman, was promoted to the College's 1st XI and was duly capped in a official ceremony. After one good score, he ran into poor form but was still surprised and disappointed when a month later he was asked to return his cap so it could be passed on to another player.

Roger invited Keith to present the caps to the current 1st XI and at the end of the ceremony, surprised him by presenting him with his own cap.

Keith was a member of the 1st XI in 1964 and it was not right that his cap was taken off him. I'm very pleased that we have remedied that situation.

The cap I presented to him even had 1964 embroidered on it. I think Keith was chuffed to receive the cap, and so he should have been. It's been an honour, even if a belated one; said Roger.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Olympics in 2016.

On the same evening, four former sporting heros were announced as Inductees as Sports Legends of Wellington including Mark Nicholls (1917-1919) for rugby.

Mark was in the Wellington College 1st XV. He made his debut for Wellington in 1920. In 1921, he was selceted as an All Black, playing in all three tests against South Africa. Mark played at both first and second five-eight. As well as being an excellent goal kicker, he was regarded as a great tactician, with a gift for exploiting weaknesses in the opposition. Mark represented New Zealand 51 times, including ten tests, and scored 284 points.

In 1924, he was selected for the All Blacks’ tour of the Northern Hemisphere where he played in all four internationals and scored 109 points on the tour. In 1928, after touring South Africa, Mark produced a book called The All Blacks in Springbokland. During the 1930s, Mark became a Wellington and then New Zealand selector.

2013

| The Lampstand | 57

Keeping the Tradition OBU is one of New Zealand’s largest Senior Rugby Clubs.

With first class facilities including our artificial training surface at Boyd-Wilson Park, expert coaching and the best social spirit in Wellington rugby, there is something for everyone keen on rugby.

Old Boys of Wellington College in the 2013 OBU Premier Team - (L-R): Ian Kennedy, Titapu Paira,a-Lewington, Jesse Johnson, Joe Hill, Stuart Simonsen, Tom Everton, Zek Sopoaga, Luke Campbell, Luke Fiso and Seminar Manu.

As an aside, Luke Fiso and Jesse Johnson were selected for the 2001 NZ Universities U21 team, that coincidently was coached by old By, Ian Tulloch (1984-1988) and just this year, Zek Sopoaga was in the 2013 team.

To find out more, email the Club Captain, Pete McFarlane: peter_mcfarlane@xtra.co.nz and set your 2014 rugby in motion now.

OBU is a ‘top four’ Premier Club and has eleven Old Boys of Wellington College in its Premier team alone.

Just who was fueling Team NZ? If you saw Dean Barker with a

equation. They were fantastic, said

small plastic tube in his mouth

Slyfield. They produced high-quality

during an America's Cup press

nutrition - and we ate what a lot of

conference, don't panic. It

people eat in restaurants, though

wasn’t oxygen, as some fans

you didn’t find a lot of nouvelle

mistakenly thought. It wasn’t

cuisine portions here.

vodka either, though he'd probably have preferred that.

In typical Kiwi fashion, it's an

He was re-hydrating, sucking

egalitarian food regime. The

in some isotonic fluid. All part

shore crew, support crew,

of the science of nutrition

engineers and designers all ate

which was hugely in play as the

the same tucker. There was no

America's Cup teams battled it

special diet for the sailing team

out for the Auld Mug.

but plenty of variety through carbohydrates, protein and other

Emirates Team New Zealand chefs Romeo Dowling-Mitchell (left) and Harry Lynsky (right) preparing a meal on the ETNZ base.

Oracle Team USA's trainers

food groups. On one rest day, a

reckoned that their sailors

chocolate cake was plonked on

okay for them to have some wine

and then crash. In fact, there was

chewed up something like 6000

the kitchen server fronting the

or beer with dinner. Harry said

even a Nespresso machine on

calories on a training run in San

dining room. Crew were nearly

happiness is an important part of

the tender/chase-boat! Harry said

Francisco Bay. Emirates Team

trampled in the rush. Well, says

their diet.

supplements added up to around

New Zealand's trainer, David

Slyfield, you have to have some

Slyfield, doubted the calorie

treats. You have to enjoy your food

A big focus was on the timing

useful sponsorships and suppliers

output was quite that great but

as well.

and quality of the nutrients

for a team to secure.

$10k per man, so they were very

throughout the day. Recovery

agreed that the sailors' diets were managed to ensure optimum

The kitchen crew worked out of

and hydration were key, and

Harry said the crew had been

performance in such a taxing

a shipping container that was

supplements were another huge

so pleased with how friendly

sport.

converted into a kitchen (it was

factor (a couple of their suppliers

everyone was in San Francisco

shipped over with the rest of

were Musashi and PowerBar).

- they were often stopped and

So Team NZ chefs Harry Lynsky

the base’s gear). While eighty

Another sponsor was Nespresso

cheered on. As he neatly summed

(1988 -1992) and Romeo Mitchell-

percent of what the crew ate was

- caffeine was built into their diets

up, It was the best place for a

Dowling were key people in

provided on site, for dinner, they

as a supplement, and was closely

regatta.

the vital plate-to-performance

were on their own and it was

monitored so they didn’t spike

58

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Wellington Firebirds Appointment Glenn Pocknall (1992-1996)

In the off-season he has travelled

has gained reward for years of

overseas to further his coaching

service to Wellington Cricket by

CV, and has worked in India,

being named Assistant Coach

Holland, Australia, England and

of the Firebirds.

most recently, Ireland, where he

update Sports

coached the national women's Glenn has devoted his career to

team and U19 men's team, that

Cricket coaching, and has looked

he was delighted to be named as

after Wellington age rep teams

Siddons assistant.

at every level, plus the provincial A side and the champion Karori

Glenn was a promising off-spinner

Club side.

from the Karori Club, but soon after emerging from the junior

That's when I turned to coaching.

Four Old Boys are with the Firebirds this season: James

He has become increasingly

ranks had an accident, cutting his

involved in the senior rep team,

hand on glass. It didn't seem very

Glenn was at a loss to explain why

Franklin (1994-1998), Josh Brodie

the Firebirds, most recently

serious at the time, but I cut the

Wellington had not won any of the

(2001-2005), Illi Tugaga (2003-

helping coach Jamie Siddons in

tendons and ligaments of my first

big domestic trophies in recent

2007) and Michael Pollard (2003-

the area of analysis - statistics,

finger. I was not able to grip the

years. We've certainly had the talent

2007). Harry Boam (2004-2008)

results on certain grounds, the

ball properly and it soon became

for the past few years. Being on the

is taking a year out and in fact is

advantages of batting first or

obvious I was not going to be able to

inside, I've seen the development of

coaching the College’s 2nd XI.

second and so on.

play cricket to the level I wanted.

players under Jamie's tutelage.

NRL dream finally realised Last year, Charlie

letting the other players down.

Gubb's (2003-2008) days

But I knew that was in my

were spent as a semi-

control, so it wasn't going to

professional player

happen. Whatever happens,

for Queensland Cup

he's still living his dream.

Aiming for Perfection

champions Wynnum Manly and making ends meet with a nine-to-five job.

A 1st XV player in his school days, Charlie joined the Hunters Rugby League Club

Now he has started his NRL career.

in Wellington and soon earned a

The front rower made his Warriors

contract with the Warriors' U20 team,

debut off the bench in their 30-13

with whom he won a grand final. But

loss to competition-leaders South

when the Club opted not to keep him

Sydney, having travelled to Perth

it was Wynnum where he ended up.

under the assumption that he'd be watching from the stands. But when

His work over the offseason won him

Congratulations to Pratik Tailor (2007-2010) who

fellow prop Russell Packer was a late

a full-time contract, which he recently

was recognised at Victoria University’s Blues Awards

scratching, Charlie got the tap on the

had extended through to the end of

Ceremony for its top sportspeople and sports

shoulder from coach Matt Elliott that

next season.

administrators last month.

Charlie's older brother Peter (2002-

The Blues Awards, are the highest sporting accolade that

he'd been craving.

I've been 18th man a few times this

2007), who's an outside back, is still on

season and so I try not to get too

the books at Wynnum and will play for

excited because when you find out

the Residents' side himself this year.

you're not playing - it's just too hard to

He played a pre-season game for the

take. When he told me I was playing,

Broncos earlier this year and there

a rush of excitement came over me,

are positive signs he'll earn an NRL

Charlie said. The only thing I was

contract of his own.

nervous about was getting tired and

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

can be attained at University level.

Pratik, who when not studying at University works for Wellington College’s IT department. He is a member of the Brooklyn Smallbore Rifle Club and was recently awarded trophies as their Club Champion, 20 Shot Champion, Master Grade Champion and Master and A Grade Handicap.

2013

| The Lampstand | 59

Reaching for the Skies: The 1st XV Phenomenon One of our newest Old Boys,

When he was 14, Nelson was

Nelson Asofa-Solomona (2009-

picked for the Wellington Orcas to

2013) was the most talked about

play an age-group representative

player in 1st XV rugby this year.

fixture against Counties Manukau.

The 1st XV lock, flanker and No.8

This is when Nelson became

stands two metres tall and weighs

the Storm’s property. Nelson

120kg. His explosive running game,

elaborates: Jim actually missed

combined with aerial prowess,

his flight to the game so he sent

nimble hands and a huge work-

out a representative to watch it on

rate, has made Nelson the subject

his behalf. I was told later that the

of newspaper articles, social media

representative said, we have to get

hype and a tug of war between

this boy. games, scored 605 points and

ten games. The season ended

What persuaded Nelson to sign to

had four players selected for

in a closely fought National Top

Two years ago Nelson’s life was

with league? A lot of the kids I was

New Zealand honours. Nelson

Four Semi-Final against Hamilton

vastly different and he could

hanging out with were directionless,

was named Player of the Year

Boys’ High School. Nelson laments

have been lost to New Zealand

league was so willing to help, willing

and produced some blockbuster

I cried after the Hamilton game,

altogether. Nelson recalls he was

to do everything to take my career

performances, including a Man of

as I realised First XV Rugby was all

‘a bad kid’ who got ‘suspended a

further; they gave me hope.

the Match award for a televised

over. Nelson says I will miss the

game against Rongotai College

brotherhood here at Wellington

two codes, union and league.

few times’. Nelson admits ‘nothing seemed to be going right’. He was

Since signing the Storm contract

and four tries against Hutt

College, especially all the little things

angry he wasn’t selected for the

(a contract which is reviewed

International Boys’ School.

we shared together.

1st XV in 2011 and received a very

when he turns 21), he has

tempting offer to be educated

travelled to Melbourne several

In 2013, a team with apparently

Notes:

elsewhere. I was offered a

times, in addition to receiving

less talent, won 18 of 22 games

• Nelson holds the discus record

scholarship to go to Brisbane Boys’

personalised support like a

and advanced to the National

at the McEvedy Shield with a

Grammar School. They offered to

training programme. Nelson

Top Four for the sixth time. What

throw of 53.60 metres.

pay all of my fees. My parents and

expands; I have been to Melbourne

were the differences between the

• Nelson had a yo-yo test score

I went to see Mr Moses and laid it

about six times, the last time I

2012 and 2013 combinations?

(An endurance test, similar to

all out. Nelson was persuaded

went I did some fitness tests, skills

Last year we had all the talent, but

the beep test) of 19.2 this year.

to stay at Wellington by Roger

sessions and on the last day I

there weren’t enough leaders, we

All Black Conrad Smith is said to

Moses, who Nelson describes as

played a game.

weren’t taking advantage of what

have reached 19.4.

we had. Personally I was playing

• He insists he ‘doesn’t drink or

Nelson was initially aggrieved

too much like an individual. This

chase girls’, he is happy with his

Cousin and former All Black prop,

not to be considered for the NZ

year a lot more teamwork has gone

own company and that of his

Neemia Tialata (1999-2000) played

Schools’ this year, after making

in and as a senior I have become

family, who will be moving over to

a key role keeping Nelson at

a big impact for the Barbarians

more of a leader.

Melbourne to support Nelson.

Wellington. When I got suspended

in 2012, but his stance has

Neemia took me to meet some of the

mellowed in the last few months.

Winning the Premier One final

Tupou Sopoaga (2006-2010), a

Hurricanes. He told me this could

It’s fair they leave me out, because

has been the highlight of my

member of the Wellington College

be you, and he reminded me what

there are lots of good players

life. We were copping it from the

1st XV and 2010 NZ Schools’ team,

being a ‘Coll Boy’ is all is about.

and I will be working in a league

Silverstream supporters beforehand

made his debut for the Cronulla

environment next year and the

and doubted ourselves, but I knew

Sharks in the NRL this season.

other guy in a rugby environment.

we were going to win with about

an ‘inspirational man’.

Nelson wasn’t an instant hit

four minutes to go. We had a lineout

Nelson is interested in sports

Melbourne Storm Rugby League

The rugby environment at

and our Captain James Blackwell

science and is keen to become

franchise saw plenty of potential.

Wellington College has been

was so calm under pressure. He

a personal trainer should his

Aged 14, he signed an agreement

overwhelmingly positive for

came up to me and simply said

professional ambitions not be

to join the Storm’s development

Nelson. He has been a member of ‘Nelson, get me up’, he won the ball

system. Nelson, who had been

two successful 1st XVs and admits

playing Rugby since he was four

he has ‘matured’ greatly.

at Wellington College, but the

years old, only played his first game of league aged 13.

60

In 2012, the 1st XV won 16 of 20

| The Lampstand | 2013

and we cleared.

realised. He says his motto in life is: Never look up to anyone, never look down on anyone.

Wellington’s winning streak after

As told to Adam Julian of Sky

the Silverstream defeat lasted

Sport’s 1st XV Programme

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

update

Wellsy: Coach Extraordinaire

Sports

Chris Wells is a name that

the past? The last eight finals

is familiar to many past

have been contested between

and present schoolboys in

Wellington and Nelson and the

Wellington. A PE teacher for

results in the last few years show

many years at Wellington

that Christ’s and Wanganui are

College, Chris initially forged

slipping further behind?

his reputation as a respected Athletics and Rugby coach at

I am not worried about the future

Rongotai College.

of Quad. It’s a great tournament with a rich heritage. The onus is on the schools that have struggled

Chris Wells attended Wellington College from 1971-1975, years

Wells recalls; We wanted to

had incredible size and power up

recently to work harder. The best

that had an significant impact

beat them bad, the relationship

front, including Ross Kennedy and

victory I was involved with was the

on his life. A keen sportsman,

was great, but there was always

Neemia Tialata. Silverstream was

2000 win against Nelson College

Chris described his ability as

an extra intensity involved in

strong too. In those days the path

in Nelson. They were co-coached

‘modest’ meaning that teaching

Wellington and Rongotai games. We

to the Top Four was different, so we

by former All Black and later

and coaching became the next

played at Wellington College and

got another life and our success did

Wellington College assistant coach

and only option, Chris recalls:

John Jackson scored a memorable

not surprise me.

John Mills. They were a very good

My passion for schoolboy sport

try in the corner.

was born at the McEvedy Shield

side and the game was tight all Sky Sport Interviewer, Adam Julian

the way. Brendan Watt scored an incredible try to win it for us.

Athletics event. It’s such a big and

After Rongotai, Chris spent

asked: How do you get the best out

colourful event and I resolved after

some time at Newlands College,

of boys? Chris said, Stressing the

my teaching degree that I wanted to

coached the Johnsonville

tradition of success, is a big part of

Over the years you have had an

teach at Wellington College.

premiers and took some time

the culture at Wellington College. High

intense rivalry with Silverstream.

Tell us about that?

off rugby and teaching. In 2000,

expectations both on and off the field

As a rugby player, Chris was a

he secured a job at Wellington

are demanded. The Rugby Academy

winger who reached senior club

College, where he has been a

that started here in 2006 has been

When I was at Rongotai, our team

level in Wellington and played in

prominent figure since. In his

a revelation. The academy starts in

never beat Silverstream. We lost

a very successful 1st XV that only

first year teaching at Wellington,

Term Four and anybody can turn up

four years in a row by six points. At

strengthened his resolve to return

Chris was an assistant coach of

to take part in physical conditioning.

an after match function one year,

to his old school. He scored five

the 1st XV with Dave Murphy.

You can’t attribute our success to one

I heard some rather unflattering

tries with the 1975 1st XV.

Despite losing three times to

coach, as the system of high-standard

words spoken about me, by a

Silverstream, including the

coaching here at the College is what

member of their staff. I felt like I

After earning his teaching degree

Wellington final, Wellington

has been the key thing.

was being looked down upon, and

Chris applied for a position at

College made the National Top

Wellington College but none was

Four final. Chris recalls: The 2000

Has the Traditional Quadrangular

the games against Silverstream.

forthcoming so Rongotai College

side was a very good team. We

tournament become a relic of

When I got to Wellington, we lost to

there was always an extra edge to

‘was the next best thing’. Starting

them three times in my first year.

in 1981, Chris stayed for nearly

I was thinking, I would never beat

a decade and certainly had a

them. In 2001, however we won by

big impact. Rongotai won the

18-13. Seminar Manu (Southland

McEvedy Shield three times in

Rep) scored a last-minute try from

1981, 1982, and 1989, in the latter

a charge down. After that game,

year by a record score. Rongotai

Wellington beat Silverstream nine

has not won the Shield since!

times in a row. Don’t get me wrong

He also coached the 1st XV from

I respect Silverstream, but I enjoyed

1983-1988. A top four side in

beating them.

Premier 1 every year, Chris took

As told to Adam Julian of Sky

Rongotai to its first top four and

Sport’s 1st XV Programme

Wellington championship in 1985.

TOP: Chris, playing for the 1975

In 1986 Chris beat his old school

1st XV. BOTTOM: With the 2001

for the only time at Rongotai.

1st XV.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 61

Ian Kerr (1951-1952)

LETTERS College. He won of course. With

Geography Trip, South Island, 1967

School trips are relatively common

respect to Alexander Grant, he was

In the mid 1960s, Ray Hill and I were

these days but in the 1960s at

At the Hastings Golf Club recently,

my PE partner at a concert given by

both teaching 6th Form Geography.

Wellington College, it was a fairly

31 Old Boys, from the four schools;

Wellington College in the Town Hall

It was always a challenge to make

novel idea, so there was no one to

Wellington College, Wanganui

which included a PE demonstration.

6th form courses relevant to

give us advice. However, Ray and

Collegiate, Christ’s College and

The PE Master I remember as being

the lives of the students, and it

I planned it fairly carefully, and to

Nelson College, enjoyed an

very strict but I can’t at the moment

was an attempt to get out of the

keep the cost down we decided

afternoon of golf. The team event

remember his name. I incurred his

classroom and into the real world

that we would all camp out in

was won by Wellington College and

displeasure on the odd occasion.

that we floated the idea of a trip

tents and for the students to cook

to the top half of the South Island.

their own food. Some were very

Hawkes Bay

two Old Boys featured in the main prizes. Bob Morrison had the Best

One of the these was the boxing

The students were enthusiastic,

experienced at this but for others

Stableford and Warwick Bringans

tournament. In the first round, I

even though we realised it would

it was an entirely new experience.

had the best nett. Neil Kittow

was drawn to fight my best friend

be doubtful if we could obtain

The students were quite resourceful

collected a prize also for runner up

Gordon McKenzie. Gordon decided

permission to go during term time.

and this aspect of the trip was very

in the Stableford Comp.

the best way to win was to give

Accordingly, we planned the trip

successful.

me a bloody nose because we had

to take place in the first week of

This is the sixth occasion we have

been practising and he had already

the May school holidays (dedicated

One of our concerns was that

held one of these days and they

done this. All I could think to do

teachers that we were to give up

students would bring alcohol, so

played twice each year, in May and

was to fight back as ferociously as

our first week of holidays).

early on we said that the trip was

November.

possible with the hope of avoiding

to be alcohol free (little did we

this. So off we went hammer and

The idea of the trip was to help

know!). Acting in loco parentis, we

John Pether (1959-1953)

tongs to the great enjoyment of

the students become conversant

had to be careful that there were

Sarasota, United States

the school audience who cheered

with the geomorphology and bio-

no untoward accidents. There was a

jecpether@gmail.com

and stamped with excitement and

geography of the northern part of

contingent coming from Firth House

Below is the direct link to my new

acclaim. This sort of behaviour by

the South Island. I had graduated

(experienced at circumventing the

audio book, Hound of the Baskervilles

the audience was seriously frowned

from Canterbury University in 1963

rules) and we heard through the

written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

upon by the PE Master and we

and in the previous couple of years

grapevine that some boys were

and narrated by myself. It was

incurred his serious displeasure.

during geological and geography

going to stash some booze in their

produced by Trout Lake Media, of

Gordon was eventually accorded

courses we had gone on a number

packs. As a result, we let it it be

Canada.

the winner. He went on to meet the

of field excursions to study

known that we might do a ‘pack

eventual champion Dick Gray - a

Canterbury and the Nelson region

inspection’ before we left. That was

The audio book is available for

magnificent boxer. Dick also played

and many of us thought that these

just a bluff of course.

around $1 and is downloadable to

for the 1st XI as a spin bowler

were the best parts of the courses.

Kindle, I Pod, I Phone, Android or

where he performed with brilliant

It was a little of that experience that

On the trip we engaged the services

500 plus MP3 players.

success. He could turn the ball off

we were trying to give the 6th form

of a bus and driver who stayed

the pitch what looked to be least 45

students. We also thought that it

with us the whole way. We took

degrees.

would be a bit of an adventure and

the ferry to Picton, and our route

a lot of fun.

for the week was: Picton to Maruia

http://www.amazon.com/TheHound-of-the-Baskervilles/dp/ B00BX9C54G

Ernie Barrington, Staff (1964-1967)

Springs, then to Christchurch and

Auckland Tony Munden (1939-1942)

efb102@yahoo.com

Otago

Dear Stephanie, I have written

mundens@slingshot.co.nz

a piece about the 6th Form

What a magnificent edition the 2012

Geography Field Trip that Ray Hill

Lampstand is. I really appreciated

and I ran in 1967 (plus two photos)

and enjoyed it. Unfortunately at my

that you might like to include in the

age I am probably more personally

next Lampstand.

concerned with the obituaries.

The group photo is pretty good but Two particular ones were Stuart

the camping photo not so, but I

Jones and Alexander Grant. Stuart

thought it worth including because

was also a very good tennis player

it gives a little of the flavour of the

and I played with/against him at

trip.

62

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

In the meantime,

identified. I still have

you might like to

‘somewhere’, my Pipe-

advertise it through

Band Cap Badge. The

the Lampstand. It

tartan we wore was the

would be interesting

Cameron of Erratt.

especially to former students and staff

Also, there were around

of the early 1950s

six of us boys (all forms)

(my cohort is

who received a book

1953). There are

scholarship, irrespective

also memories of

of our position in the

my dad (Q), although he is only

College.

briefly mentioned in the book. The on to Arthur’s Pass. We camped at

bus after our various stops, but

book is available through www.

We were all Heritage boys, as our

Maruia and in the bush at Arthur’s

an incident occurred on the West

amazon.com if you search for Alan

deceased fathers served in WW II

Pass. Even in May it was certainly

Coast after we had lingered at the

Robertson Quartermain

and died. I am not sure as who or

cold at the Pass! After briefly hitting

Punakaiki Rocks (Pancake Rocks).

Greymouth, we sped north up the

These are spectacular layered

Alan has devoted more than

the commencement of the year

West Coast and on to the Nelson

limestone rocks with blowholes.

28 years of a long and varied,

had to present ourselves to Mr

Lakes region and had the luxury of

After spending quite a bit of time

sometimes exciting, oft time amusing

Heron, who signed papers and our

a lodge for a couple of days. Bliss,

there, we rounded up the students

professional life to higher education

mothers in due course received the

after Arthur’s Pass. The final stop

from the various paths and set off in

and research for agriculture in

money for books.

was Motueka and then the ferry

the bus. A few miles up the road, Ray

Papua New Guinea. Alan currently

back to Wellington.

suddenly noticed that his son was

lives in PNG with his family at the

I am unable to find any information

not on the bus. We turned the bus

University of Natural Resources

with regards this through the RSA,

Ray Hill was a great colleague to

around and shortly we encountered

and Environment. In 2011, he was

as Heritage has closed down.

have on the trip because of his

Charlie runnng down the road with

invested as an Officer of the Order of

I hope also that someone may have

ability to make light of situations

tears streaming down his face. A

Logohu (OL) in the PNG New Year’s

some history of this.

with humour. The South Island was

much relieved Charlie (and parent)

Honours.

new to him because he had come to

clambered onto the bus.

New Zealand from the UK in 1964,

where this originated but we all at

Bernard Spolsky (1944-1948) Don Burte (1955-1958)

Professor Emeritus, Bar-Ilan

via a one year stint at Tikitiki District

Teachers don’t get much immediate

Auckland

University, Jerusalem, Israel

High on the East Coast north of

feedback on their efforts, but

burte.family@xtra.co.nz

bspolsky@gmail.com

Gisborne. What a transition. While

sometimes in later years an

Please find a copy of a slide [below]

I was happy to see my story in the

he was there it was announced

appreciation is heard, and several

found recently in my collection. This

2012 Lampstand. To update, I have

that the secondary division was to

students related that the geography

is the Pipe Band Barracks week.

a new Basque beret; Language

close at the end of the year, and

trip of 1967 was the highlight of

Known participants are:-

Management is out and a Latvian

that’s how we got him at Wellington

their 6th form year. One student,

Bottom Row (L-R): not known, John

version appeared in time for their

College. On the trip we also had

Brian Hurst, went on to become a

Stewart, Donald Burte

referendum on language policy and

help from one of the assistant

geography teacher. Later we also

2nd Row: not known, Martin Strong

a Chinese translation is promised;

house masters at Firth House,

heard stories of student escapades

(Pipe Major), not known

also The Cambridge Handbook

Haddon Kelly, who was completing

on the trip that we were glad not to

3rd Row:- none known

of Language Policy with other 30

a geography degree at Victoria

know of at the time!

4th Row:- none known.

chapters by experts has now

Postscript: Ray Hill passed away in

I hope that this will be of assistance,

sociolinguistic history of the Jewish

June, 2013 (in Napier) after a brief

more so if the students can be

people.

University. Ray also brought his younger son, Charlie on the trip.

appeared. I am now finishing off a

One of the highlights of the trip was

illness, aged 81. Remembered with

a visit to a coal mine on the West

affection.

Coast, and in groups we descended down in a lift to the coal face a

Alan Quartermain

long way underground. This was

(1949-1953)

scary for those of us who were

Papua New Guinea

claustrophobic, but it was worth it

aquartermain@unre.ac.pg

to see what the coal miners had to face every day.

Dear Stephanie I have written the enclosed book

We were always fairly careful

[pictured right] and would be

to make sure we had the full

pleased if you could donate it to the

contingent of students on the

Archives.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

2013

| The Lampstand | 63

Obituaries

Wellington College and the Old Boys’ Association extends its sincere condolences to the families and friends of those listed below for whom the Association has received notification of death since the 2012 Lampstand. (•) An obituary (sourced from the media or from family) is included on the following pages for some Old Boys. If you can assist us by adding to an obituary or providing one that we do not have, we would be most appreciative. The list is recorded in cohort years.

Class of 1933 • FRAZER, Kenneth John MC. MiD 1914 - 2012 of Te Puke Wellington College 1929 - 1933 Major, NZ Army WWII 7706, 27th Machine Gun Battalion.

• GAWITH, Alan Antill DFC, USA Bronze Star 1916 - 2013 of Nelson Wellington College 1929 - 1931 WWII RAF Pilot Class of 1934 HARVEY, Stuart James (Jim) 1916 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1930 - 1934 TOSSMAN, David 1918 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1930 - 1935 Class of 1935 CURTIS, Randall Alfred Wilmur 1917 - 2013 of Tauranga Wellington College 1931 - 1935 • RICHARDS, James Harrey (Ray) ONZM, DCS

1921 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1935 WWII, Lieut. Fleet Air Arm Navy Pilot Class of 1936 • BLAKE, Collis John MNZM, JP 1918 - 2012 of Levin Wellington College 1944 - 1948 Firth House HELLBERG, Claude John 1918 - 2012 of Germany Wellington College 1932 - 1934 Class of 1937 HARRISON, Thomas Roydon (Tom) 1921 - 2013 of Dunedin Wellington College 1933 - 1936 RNZAF F/O 162 Squadron HILLOCK, William (Bill) 1919 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1933 - 1935 RNZN • TWEED, Moore, John (Dr) MBCH, BrCP, FRACP, MBE

1920 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1933 - 1938 Firth House Class of 1938 BURTENSHAW, George Allan 1921 - 2012 of Wanganui Wellington College 1934 - 1936 O’DONNELL, Barrie George Michael 1922 - 2013 of Waikanae Wellington College 1934 - 1938 • PALMER, Nevill Reginald 1919 - 2012 of Taupo Wellington College 1934 - 1936 • QUINN, Kenneth Fleming (Prof) 1920 - 2013 of Waikanae Wellington College 1934 - 1939 SYDDALL, Alex 1920 - 2013 of Christchurch Wellington College 1934 - 1938 RNZAF: F/O

64

Class of 1939 CRAIG, Robert McKenzie 1921 - 2012 of Havelock North Wellington College 1935 - 1937 DOVEY, Lawrence Edward (Laurie) 1920 - 2013 of Te Puke Wellington College 1935 - 1936 NZRAF FRASER, Charles Henry (Ray) 1922 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1935 - 1938 WWII 22nd Battalion Class of 1940 TAYLOR, Leslie Norman 1923 - 2013 of Lower Hutt Wellington College 1936 - 1939 WWII Class of 1941 • CAMPION, Richard Meckiff OMNZ 1923 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1937-1941 1st XV 1941 Staff: 1958-1959 CARPENTER, Peter Russell 1923 - 2012 of Dannevirke Wellington College 1937 - 1939 Firth House SOLE, Keith Langdon 1923 - 2012 of Auckland Wellington College 1938-1941 • TREVENA, David Stewart 1923 - 2012 of Blenheim Wellington College 1937 - 1940 Staff: 1957-1961 Class of 1942 COOPER, Peter Leonard 1924 - 2012 of Calgary, Canada Wellington College 1938 - 1942 GLASTONBURY, Trevor John Alfred 1923 - 2013 of Wanganui Wellington College 1938 - 1939 KNIGHTON, Graham Ramsay 1924 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1938 - 1942 WWII PEDLAR, Ian James 1924 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1938 TOBIN, William John Dollimore 1925 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1938 - 1942 Class of 1943 BROOME, Graeme Stuart 1925 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1939 - 1942 Class of 1944 CHAPPELL, Roger Henry Fergusson 1927 - 2013 of New South Wales Wellington College 1940 - 1943 CROWTHER, Alan James QSO 1926 - 2013 of Christchurch Wellington College 1940 - 1943 MADDEN, Peter John 1926 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1940 - 1943

| The Lampstand | 2013

Class of 1945 • AARONS, Ian MB.ChB, MD, MCPA, FRCPA 1928 -2013 of Adelaide Wellington College 1941 - 1945 • NIXON, Oliver James (Ollie) 1927 - 2013 of Mount Maunganui Wellington College 1941 - 1944 1st XV 1944 STEELE, Charles Richard (Dick) 1927 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1941 - 1944 WILLIAMS, John Gregor 1928 - 2012 of Auckland Wellington College 1941 - 1944 Class of 1946 BRIDGES, Ronald Gordon 1928 - 2012 of Palmerston North Wellington College 1942 - 1944 Class of 1947 BURMAN, William Bruce 1930 - 2012 of Wellington Wellington College 1943 - 1947 CUMMING, Sydney James 1929 - 2012 of Lower Hutt Wellington College 1943 - 1947 DOYLE, Ian James 1927 - 2012 of Levin Wellington College 1943 - 1946 Firth House, 1st XV 1946 NEWBY, Anton Clare (Tony) 1930 - 2013 of Wanganui Wellington College 1943 - 1946 RNZAF W/O 14 Squadron, Firth House • SPENCE, Robert Alfred (Bob), QSM 1928 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1943 - 1946 Class of 1948 BURDAN, David Arnold 1931 - 2013 of Levin Wellington College 1944 - 1946 HOPKIRK, Robert Douglas (Bob) 1930 - 2013 of Lower Hutt Wellington College: 1944 - 1949 NAPIER, Edward Duilo 1931 - 2013 of Upper Hutt Wellington College 1944 - 1947 SALKELD, Arthur Donald 1930 - 2012 of England Wellington College 1944 - 1945 Firth House, WWII Evacuee • STENHOUSE, David 1932 - 2013 of Palmerston North Wellington College 1947 - 1948 • WARD, David Roland 1931 - 2012 of Wellington Wellington College 1946 - 1948 Class of 1949 CALDWELL, John Keith 1930 - 2013 of Palmerston North Wellington College 1945 - 1947 1st XI Hockey 1946 DYKES, Maurice Leslie 1932 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1945

FINDLAY, Brian Paton 1931 - 2012 of Napier Wellington College 1945 - 1946 • MATHER, John Joseph 1932 - 2012 of Rotorua Wellington College 1945 - 1948 TURNER, Trevlyn William 1932 - 2012 of Christchurch Wellington College 1945 - 1949 Class of 1950 • GRUNDY, Clive Arthur 1931 - 2012 of Geraldine Wellington College 1946 - 1948 HOPKIRK, Donald Featherstone 1932 - 2012 of Waikanae Wellington College 1946 - 1950 PALMER, Graham Croxton 1932 -2013 of Mount Maunganui Wellington College 1946 - 1950 1st XV 1950 • PRESTON-THOMAS, Grant 1931 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1946 - 1950 Class of 1951 BROAD, Arthur Martin 1933 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1948 Firth House Class of 1952 • NODWELL, John Gordon 1934 - 2013 of Brisbane Wellington College 1948 - 1952 Class of 1953 BRANDON, Terence Charles (Terry) 1935 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1949 - 1954 FRANCIS, Clive Lindsay [Dr] 1936 - 2012 of Waikanae Wellington College 1949 - 1953 1st XI Cricket Captain (1953), Prefect Class of 1954 • BARNES, Derral Arnold 1937 - 2012 of Wellington Wellington College 1950 - 1953 McARTHUR, Roberts Gordon 1937 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1950 - 1953 1st XI Hockey 1953 McGAFFIN, Terence Alan 1936 - 2013 of Bulls Wellington College 1950 - 1952 POMEROY, Brian Lewis 1936 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1950 - 1954 SADLEIR, John Roddick (Jack) 1937 - 2012 of Suffolk, UK Wellington College 1950 - 1954 Firth House WARDLE, George Frederick 1937 - 2013 of Pongaroa Wellington College 1950 - 1952 Firth House

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Class of 1956 • ADE, Graham John CPEng 1940 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1952 - 1956 Auckland Branch Convenor WCOBA HAWKEY, James Noel (Jim) 1938 - 2013 of Christchurch Wellington College 1952 - 1954 Class of 1957 STUBBS, Victor John 1939 - 2013 of Paraparaumu Wellington College 1952-1957 RICHMOND, Terence 1939 - 2012 of Auckland Wellington College 1953 - 1957 Class of 1958 COCHRANE, Andrew Alexander (Andy) 1941 - 2013 of Gold Coast, QLD Wellington College 1954 - 1957 Firth House MARTIN, Donald Lewis Maunsell 1941 - 2012 of Sydney, NSW Wellington College 1954 - 1959 WILKINSON, Kenneth Gresson William (Bill) 1940 - 2012 of Masterton Wellington College 1954 - 1955 Firth House Staff 1954-1960 (English/French) Class of 1959 MacDONALD, Barry David 1941- 2013 of Brisbane Wellington College 1955-1959 SMITH, Robert Chadwick (Bob) 1942 - 2013 of Rotorua Wellington College 1955-1958

Class of 1960 • STOKES, Peter Graham QSM, JP, NZDSM, DIPPHTY

1942 - 2012 of Havelock North Wellington College 1956 - 1960 Head Prefect, 1960, 1st XV 1959 - 1960 YALDEN, Michael Alexander (Mike) 1942 - 2013 of Taneatua Wellington College 1956 - 1958 Sgt, NZ Army Class of 1961 IRAIN, Milton Gary 1944 - 2013 of Paraparaumu Wellington College 1957 - 1959 OAKEY, Alan Wallace 1943 - 2013 of NSW Wellington College 1957 - 1961 SPENCE, Michael Frederick 1943 - 2013 of Lower Hutt Wellington College 1957 - 1960 Class of 1962 HOLLIS, Raymond John 1944 - 2013 of Levin Wellington College 1958 - 1961 Class of 1963 • BYDDER, David Edward (Dave) 1945 - 2013 of Kapiti Coast Wellington College 1959 - 1962 Firth House DOAK, Cedric Frank 1945 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1959 - 1963 Class of 1964 POWELL, Daniel Llewellyn 1946 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1960 - 1964

Class of 1985 CUDBY, Warwick Brett 1967 - 2013 of New Plymouth Wellington College 1981 Class of 1992 • WALKLIN, Andrew James 1974 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1988 - 1990 Class of 1993 McGINLEY, Dolan James 1975 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1989 - 1993 Class of 2002 METHAM, Michael Mokateke 1984 - 2012 of Hamilton Wellington College 1998 - 2002 Class of 2004 DAJNOWSKI, Adam James 1987 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 2000 - 2003 Class of 2005 • TRUESDALE, Andrew James 1988 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 2001 - 2005 Staff • CRIST, William Frank 1919 - 2012 of Hastings Wellington College 1948 - 1963 RNZAF WWII Squadron Leader RAF 610 Squadron HENDERSON, James McLeod (Jim) D: 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1981-1987 • HILL, Ray D: 2013 of Hawkes Bay Wellington College 1965 - 1976

Class of 1965 STANLEY, Peter Charles 1947 - 2013 of Otaki Wellington College 1961 - 1964 Class of 1968 CLOUT, Gregory William 1951 - 2013 of Upper Hutt Wellington College 1964 - 1967 • McARTNEY, David Ewan (Dave) 1951 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1964 -1968 Class of 1971 HYDE, Michael Galbraith 1953 - 2013 of Sydney, NSW Wellington College 1971 Class of 1975 BRASTED, Paul John 1957 - 2012 of Sydney, NSW Wellington College 1971 - 1975 Class of 1978 RAINBIRD, Thomas (Tom) Reginald 1960 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1974 - 1978 Class of 1979 WEAVER, Neil Michael 1961 - 2013 of Waikato Wellington College 1975 - 1979 Class of 1980 BARNETT, Christopher Miles 1962 - 2013 of Napier Wellington College 1976 - 1980 Class of 1982 • STRANGE, Adam Hunter Andrew 1965 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1978 - 1981 Firth House

The Mighty Totara Has Fallen When our beloved former

that breadth by commencing

Wellington College Master,

this eulogy just by

Frank Crist passed away

addressing everybody

late last year, there was an

present as ‘friends’ .

So, let us now praise

outpouring of communication

But what unites us

a famous man. As

University College. As he said of

between fellow Old Boys

all and brings us

everyone present

himself in an interview only a

and the WCOBA Office as

here today is our

will attest, Frank

couple of years ago, he had a go

classmates, sportsmen and

friendship with

was, throughout

at everything. That was a major

staff shared their memories

Frank and

his life and in every

understatement for, in a list

and anecdotes of Frank’s

Greta.

life, particularly those of his Wellington College years.

So, friends of Frank and Greta from all walks

Crist, to comfort Greta and one another.

After a fine career at Dannevirke High School, in 1937 he entered the then Auckland Teachers'

sense of the phrase,

Training College and Auckland

which is exhausting just to read,

a Big Man: he was Big

he played and obtained Blues

in stature and heart, big

in Rugby, Swimming, Athletics,

in his accomplishments,

Cricket, Tennis, Table Tennis,

We thought the best way to sum up

of life, we are foregathered

Frank’s persona was to reproduce

here today to celebrate the over

country and to the communities

wonder whether he won the cup

the eulogy given at his funeral by

flowingly full and rewarding

he served, and big in his

for the best all-round athlete in

Hugh Williams (1953-1957), close

life Frank led throughout his

friendship, concern and caring for

his final year? Could anyone else

friend and Frank’s 1st XV captain

93 years, to acknowledge the

those with whom he came into

have been in contention?

of 1957.

multiplicity of contributions he

contact - especially for those less

made to New Zealand - principally

well favoured than he.

big in his contributions to the

Hockey, Squash and Softball. I

And to prove he was not

When one looks at the numbers

the communities of Wellington,

of people present and the

the Bay of Plenty and the Hawke's

Physically, Frank was a strapping

also qualified as a teacher.

diversity they represent, it might

Bay - and through our presence

individual with a sporting prowess

Volunteering for the Royal New

be thought not to acknowledge

and recollections of William Frank

which matched his robust frame.

Zealand Air Force in 1941, he won

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

there just for the sport, he

2013

| The Lampstand | 65

The Mighty Totara Has Fallen his 'wings' and then spent four

the Peter Stuyvesant

years in the European theatre

New Zealand Golf

for over 19 years until

flying, and training others to fly

Championships in

his retirement in

single-engine aircraft including

1976.

1965, a position he held

1984.

those who have followed him (and who capitalised on his prowess at Hastings Boys' High School) he served the school with distinction during his 19 years as

Spitfires. He was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader,

Even in his less

To divert for

its head, considerably increased

a rank he carried through to

active later years,

a moment.

its educational, sporting and

his command of the Wellington

he continued

Frank had two

community reputation, and

College Air Training Corps

to follow sport

spiritual homes

played an enormous role in

Squadron from 1947-1960.

avidly, especially Rugby, Cricket and,

Apart from the sidelight of

as many present will

helping beat the Axis, he played

know, Racing.

for four years for the New

in and from the mid-1960s. They were Wellington

raising the overall standards, and standing, of the school to the point it proudly occupies today.

College and Hastings Boys' High School. It is no

Over the course of that

Zealand Combined Services in

Friends, even if that list were all,

secret that, at that time, he would

distinguished career, Frank

Rugby and later in Cricket. He

a list of sporting achievements

have liked the Headmastership

garnered some recognition of

represented the RAF in Athletics,

such as that would, on its own,

of Wellington College - and

the place he occupied in the

Rugby and Squash.

warrant a eulogy on his passing.

Wellington College would have

communities he served. In 1970,

But sport was merely one of the

liked him to be its Headmaster.

he was awarded the prestigious

Returning to New Zealand, Frank

many areas where Frank was a

At that stage, it would have been

Woolf Fisher Travelling Fellowship

locked the scrum for Wellington

Big Man.

right for both, and he would

which gave him six months

have been the great success at

overseas. In 1981 he was

1952. He played 103 first-class

He was a Big Man in his

Wellington College as he later was

awarded Rotary’s highest honour,

matches in all, at a time when

professional achievements as

at Hastings. But - as fate would

the Paul Harris Fellowship.

there were many fewer games

well, especially in the field of

have it - the Headmastership

And in 2010, in recognition of

which qualified as first class. He

education. He was a teacher at

at Wellington College did not

his standing in the community

was an All Black trialist from 1948

Wellington College from 1947-

become vacant at the right time

and his services to education,

to 1950 and, as I understand it -

1963 where, unusually for a

for Frank, and as a consequence

the Hastings District Council

but not from him, he was robbed

master at a secondary school,

he threw his considerable

conferred on Frank, its highest

of wearing the Silver Fern only by

he was not so much admired

energies and abilities into the

honour, the Civic Award for

a cruel and inopportune injury.

as revered by the boys for the

Headmastership of Hastings

Outstanding Community Service

in Rugby for four years up to

sporting success he brought

Boys' High School. Despite that,

in the field of education. Those

Alongside playing, he coached

the College, the breadth of his

Frank's continued strong links

successes and awards were well

the Wellington College 1st XI in

skill and learning - apart from

with Wellington College and the

deserved but, though they are

Cricket for six years to 1952, the

the entire range of subjects of

College's strong links with Frank

notable in themselves, there are

1st XV for ten years to 1962, and

Chemistry, Mathematics and

are evidenced by the many, many

many who feel Frank's services

the Tauranga Boys' College 1st XV

Science, he also taught Latin - and

occasions over the years when

were under-rewarded by the

in 1964. He may not have been

for his manliness. He was an

Frank has returned to Wellington

nation as a whole.

playing competitively, but all who

object lesson to the students as

College as the principal guest

played in his 1st XVs knew he was

to just what they might achieve.

and speaker at many, many

That is especially the case

reunions. As Roger Moses, the

because, in addition to the

far fitter than any of us!

Having obtained a Diploma of

present Headmaster, who is here

accomplishments recounted,

Later, he continued to play

Teaching in 1951, he resumed his

today, would agree, Frank was

Frank was a Big Man in his

Squash and Cricket, and then

university studies and graduated

always a most welcome guest at

friendships to many and his

turned his sporting abilities to

with a BSc in 1961, majoring in

Wellington College.

contributions - many unsung

Golf, a game at which - as many

Geology. From that point his

here will know - he excelled to

career, deservedly, took off.

Returning to the narrative, even

the point where he won the

He became Deputy Principal of

in 1965, Hastings Boys' High

Hastings Golf Club Intermediate

Tauranga Boys' College from

School was a large school with

In Wellington, he served as

Championship both in 1973

1963-1964 and then, as a large

over 1000 students plus about

Vice-President of the Wellington

and 1974 and was a member of

proportion of those present will

1500 adults enrolled in the

Rugby Union and President of

that Club's team which nearly

recall, became Headmaster of

evening classes, and well over

the Centurions Rugby Club. In

won - they were runners-up - in

Hastings Boys' High School in

100 staff. With no disrespect to

Tauranga, he served on the Bay

66

| The Lampstand | 2013

to the communities in which he worked.

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

The Mighty Totara Has Fallen of Plenty Rugby Union. And in the

was Rotary. Joining the Hastings

nearly won a scholarship, and has

regard which each of us, in our

Hawke's Bay, he served on the

Rotary Club in 1965 and

been a success in the rest of his

varying roles, felt for him.

local sub-union of the Hawke's

becoming Secretary for over 20

life because of Frank's inspiration.

Bay Rugby Union.

years from 1969, and President in

As the former student said, he

In the 2010 interview mentioned

1991-1992. Frank remained active

has been grateful all his life that

earlier, Frank said that if he had

Also in the Hawke's Bay during

in and contributing to Rotary - not

Frank helped a ‘ratbag of a kid’ in

his time over again he wouldn't

the 1970s and 80s, he was a

quite until his death but until ill

the way he did.

change a thing. How many of

foundation councillor of the

health precluded his continuing

Community College, a long-term

participation.

us, looking back over our lives, Secondly, Frank was a member

would say we wouldn't change

of the management committee

a thing about them if we could.

Promotions Committee and

That is truly a remarkable

of the Akina Activity Centre, a

Frank's statement was that of an

was on the Advisory Committee

chronicle of Frank's putting

specialist school for ‘drop-outs’ in

accomplished and happy man.

of the Hawke's Bay Secondary

his achievements and abilities

education.

Teachers' Training outpost,

to work in furtherance of the

all roles leading to Frank's

interests of the community in

Thirdly, and typical of the man, is

said his life had been one of a

significant influence in the

which he worked. But important,

that, recognising the desperation

wonderful sense of grace. His choice

establishment of the Eastern

significant and deserved as those

and lack of opportunity for those

of words puzzled me at first but,

Institute of Technology. He was

achievements were, they are

in jail, Frank voluntarily spent

well-knowing Frank's passion for

an educational advisor and

merely temporal achievements.

six years teaching mathematics

words - he was always in demand

member of the Sir James Wattie

I suggest to you that the

to those in prison - until that

as a speaker or as a raconteur,

Memorial Trust, a member of the

quintessence of the man Frank

worthwhile programme was axed

and was a ‘whizz’ at solving cryptic

Anakiwa Outward Bound Trust,

was, is shown by the - almost

by officialdom.

crosswords - I looked it up. He was

the originator of the Hawke's Bay

entirely unpublicised - helping

Secondary Schools’ Principals

hand he extended to many who

But the final area in which

and an ‘exceptional favour’

Association in 1965, a committee

had not enjoyed the advantages

Frank was a Big Man was in

granted to him.

member of the Hawke's Bay

he had enjoyed.

the relationships he had and

member of the Tertiary Education

Superannuitants' Association in

Also in that interview, Frank

saying his life had been ‘a privilege’

the friendships he formed -

Sorry Frank. For once in your life

the late 80s and early 90s, and

May I give you just three

first with Shirley, his lovely

you were wrong. It is we who

was appointed by the Governor-

examples. One of the many - now

and lively partner for over 30

have had the ‘privilege’. It is we

General as a lay observer to

numbering in the hundreds of

years up to her untimely death

who have had the ‘exceptional

the Law Societies of the Central

emails expressing their sympathy

in 1982, and then with Greta,

favour’. That was granted to

Hawke's Bay region for three

which Greta has received, was

whom he married in 1984

us by being, in so many ways,

years from 1983.

from one former student of

and who has been his loyal

and throughout his long and

Hastings Boys’ High School, a boy

and constant companion and

highly-regarded life, his students,

And, as is testified by the

who, until Frank literally seized

helpmate ever since. Her love

colleagues, team-mates, fellow

presence of so many members

upon him, was a ne'er-do-well at

and companionship for Frank

Rotarians, fellow members of a

here, one of the principal avenues

school.

has been manifest to all. Her

multitude of other conmmunity

through which Frank performed

His family was uninterested in

support for nearly 30 years - right

organisations, but above all, and

his service to the community,

him. Frank seized him one day

up to the day of his death - was

in every instance, and on every

from the lower form

complete, unstinting and selfless.

occasion, being friends of William

class that he was

Every one of us - and many who

Frank Crist, a Big Man in every

in, marched him

cannot be here today - extend our atom of his being and every

to the top form's

sympathy, our deepest sympathy,

classroom and said

to Greta as, despite the support

Stay here and get

of her family and despite the

PHOTO LEFT: Frank at the Firth

nothing less than a

support of us all, she faces the

House Reunion in 2010, recounting

top 10 finish in all

future without Frank.

one of many stories about life

your subjects by the

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

aspect of his life.

in the hostel - in particular -

year's end. He did

Frank's friendship, coupled

the infamous Dagwood who

that. He passed

with the sage advice he gave

mananged to infiltrate the

School Certificate.

so many of us and the example

ceiling structures to ‘spy’ on the

He passed UE. He

and inspiration he furnished is

housemaids.

gained a Bursary,

testified by the enormously high

2013

| The Lampstand | 67

Obituaries AARONS, Ian MB, ChB, MD, MCPA, FRCPA 1928-2013 of Adelaide Wellington College 1941 - 1945

While we were unable to source an Obituary for Ian, we did come across a letter he wrote to the Lampstand in 2004 which tells of an outstanding career and some anecdotes from his time at Wellington College.

It was around 1993 that I wrote to the College requesting the words to the song Forty Years On we used to sing during Assembly. As I was on the point of retiring (for the first time) I thought some of the words could well apply to that occasion. I received a very pleasant letter from the then Headmaster including the requested verses. There was also a comment therein that the School records included an Israel Aarons but not an Ian Aarons. I truly meant to reply forthwith, thanking him and the school for his prompt reply and also pointing out that in 1946 I had changed my name by Deed Poll to Ian - a name I was always known by at school and by friends. That at least would settle the College record straight. Sadly various events took over and the reply was overlooked.

That aside, although the aim was indeed to retire then, colleagues and the ‘Firm’ I worked in, talked me out of it and in fact I carried on working mostly part-time for a further ten years. It was my attendance in Dunedin, 2002 for the commemoration of the 50th year since graduation from the Otago University Medical School in 1952 that I came to my senses and realised that the time for retirement was well overdue! Yet, because of further peer pressure and the comment that I had not yet reached the ‘use by date’, retirement did not happen till 31 December 2003!

It is with much hesitation that I add the following, but considering that at long last this letter is being written coupled with the fact that I have finally come to the end of my career, please forgive me for reminiscing about aspects of my past related to the College. I guess I owe allegiance to Wellington College, which gave me the

68

foundations for my future. However, sadly, all is not quite that simple.

While it’s now truly past history perhaps you might be interested in a few facts.

WW II changed the format of the College considerably and by necessity some of the younger teachers left - some, regrettably to be killed (a delightful Mr Dale, comes to mind). Sadly, because of these circumstances, classmates and I came under the spell of a few less-capable teachers. One in particular, took us for Maths and Science - ineptly.

His lazy teaching methodology was destructive to me (and I believe others). I gained little if anything from him, while at the same time he managed to instil fear and an intense lack of confidence. Perhaps I was mentally immature, but I did badly in my first attempt at what was then called Medical Preliminary disastrously in Maths - a subject that had become frighteningly mysterious!

Yet, miracles can occur! By immense contrast, there came into my life next year a marvellous teacher, a man of great worth who, for reasons best known to him, had faith in me and consequently altered my entire student and later life. I admired him and still do, for it is to him I owe what became my future. His name was James (Jimmy) Hall. While we met after my graduation in Medicine when he openly showed much joy and pride, I feel my gratitude to him was totally insufficient. Even now, I wish I had sought him out to make him understand and acknowledge my positive feelings towards him and how much I owed and admired him.

Unfortunately, I left Wellington soon after and lost contact. I do not mean to sound melodramatic, but this regret haunts me.

However, there is another event that I feel I should relate out of interest, for it taught me very much. It took place in one of Jimmy Hall’s classes, in 1945. I was in what was called 6R as I had to repeat the Medical Preliminary of the previous year, this time more successfully but was obviously not bright enough to be placed in 6A. The Headmaster at the time was Mr Hogben. We were in what was then the West School (is it still

| The Lampstand | 2013

standing?). He openly sought me out in the class. As I stood in front of my classmates, Mr Hogben openly and loudly suggested that as I had done reasonably well in Maths and Science this time (thanks Jimmy!) I should sit the then new University Entrance exam and head for an engineering course. I remember thanking him but indicated my desire was to try for medicine and nothing else. He became agitated as I repeatedly refused his request. Then, in front of my peers he angrily pointed out that: 1. I did not have the intelligence to enter medical school let alone become a medical doctor; 2. My character was wrong for that profession; 3. I came from the wrong social group.

Standing in the front corner of the room, adjacent to the windows, was an embarrassed, pale, sad-looking Jimmy Hall and the class was so quiet!

I remember telling Mr Hogben that he had every reason to question items 1 and 2 as far as they concerned me but he had no right to comment on the social aspect (referring to my Jewish background). He stormed out slamming the door and for better or worse that was the last occasion we spoke to each other, as I was now obviously persona non grata! I can’t understand why this discussion was not held privately in his room. I would have stayed an extra year in the College were it not for that event but was later also assured by both James Hall and another great teacher James Cuddy that I could now manage University and would be happier there. I gladly took their advice and ultimately was fortunate enough to be one of the six non-scholarship students selected directly to Medicine from Victoria College - as it was called then. I truly do not know how many applicants for medical school entry there were that year from Victoria College but I believe it was in the vicinity of 200.

Immediately after graduation from Medical School in 1952, I sauntered up to the Headmaster’s residence, diplomas in hand to ‘show off the impossible’. But pride is inexcusable and perhaps it’s as well that the event did not happen - the cleaning lady

told me that Mr Hogben had just left Wellington College and New Zealand for the UK. These events taught me that a teacher has immense power - mostly for good but sadly at times for the opposite.

While diagnostic medicine was always and remained my true love, I have done much teaching throughout my career, be it at first most reluctantly but later with much enjoyment.

I have undertaken numerous under- and postgraduate courses not only in New Zealand but also London and ultimately in Australia, both Melbourne and Adelaide.

Included were training sessions mostly for Pathology Registrars but also candidates for the Colleges of Physicians and of Surgeons. I was invited to be an examiner for the College of Pathologists of Australasia, a position I held for 16 years till I realised that some of the candidates knew more than I did!

I still think that Wellington College’s Motto is a gem and I hope most sincerely that in my time I was able to pass on to students and colleagues what knowledge and experience I might have gleaned over the years. However, because of the unforgettable influence of Jimmy Hall and a few other teachers I hope most sincerely that I managed to combine this with patience, encouragement, positivity and humour.

It is with very considerable hesitation that I enclose for your perusal a copy of my CV. Please do not misconstrue its enclosure as arrogance or the like on my part.

Ian’s CV reads like a medical journal on its own. A graduate of Otago University’s Medical School in 1952, Ian’s posts include Medical House Officer, Hastings Hospital, various GP and Obstetric Locums, Pathology Register at Dunedin Hospital, Senior Lecturer in Pathology at OMS, Senior Consultant Pathologist at Otago Hospital, Forensic Pathologist at OU, Membership and Fellowship of Pathologists of Australasia, Research Fellow at Institute of Pathology at London Hospital Medical School, Renal Transplant Diagnosis and Research at St Mary’s Hospital, Denver Hospital

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

and Medical School processing renal transplant tissues for immunological and electron microscopy studies and diagnostic research, Senior Lecturer of Histopathology and Experimental Pathology at SMH, Associate Professor in Pathology at OMS, Pathologist in charge of Surgical Biopsy and Cytology Services, Immunofluorescence and Electron Microscopy at OMS, Co-deputy Director and Senior Consultant and Renal Pathologist at Dept. of Anatomical Pathology, Prince Henry Hospital, Melbourne, Senior Special Pathologist, Head of Renal Pathology, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Clinical Senior Lecturer at Adelaide University, Honorary Senior Consultant Pathologist at Adelaide’s Children’s Hospital, Pathologist Clinpath Laboratories in Adelaide, Locum Pathology in Cavan, Ireland and Examiner for Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. Ian has also had 48 publications and presentations produced.

Beloved husband of Vivienne and father of Jonathan, Erin, Debbie and David. Grandfather to Emily, Caitlin, Holly and Zeb. Father-in-law of Dale.

Brother of the late George Aarons (1948-1953).

ADE, Graham John 1940 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1952 - 1956 Auckland Branch Convenor WCOBA Graham was born in Seaford Sussex England in 1940 at the beginning of WWII. The threat of invasion meant that he was immediately evacuated to ‘Runabouts’ which was a children’s home where his Aunt was the Matron.

At the end of the war Graham attended Lewes Grammar School in Lewes Sussex. It was difficult living in England after the war, so in February 1952 Graham’s family came out to New Zealand.

Graham attended Wellington College from 1952-1956. In 1957, he completed an Intermediate year

at Victoria University, followed by three years of Civil Engineering at Canterbury University. He graduated in 1961.

Graham belonged to the Port Nicholson Sea Scouts and spent most of his leisure time on the water or tramping in the hills around Wellington. It was at this time of his life that he developed a love of all sports around water.

Engineering was Graham’s passion.

He just loved the challenges engineering put in front of him every day.

Over many years he was involved in projects both in New Zealand and Overseas including: • Site Engineer on Bridge/Wharf construction in New Zealand.

• Design Engineer in Consultants office, Civil and Harbour Works • Design/construction of Taharoa Iron Sands off shore loading system • Project Engineer on many Oil, Gas, Effluent pipelines, Harbour and River crossings, and Outfalls in New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia • Design Consultant for Oilfield access bridges and unloading facilities • Bahrain Freeport Cold Storage complex and Napier Spiralveyor ship unloading facilities • Engineering/Construction of numerous Marina Projects including dredging, Reclamation, Breakwaters, Floating wave attenuators, floating berths, on shore facilities and services in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and South Pacific nations In 1975, Graham was presented by the New Zealand Institution of Engineers with the Angus and Furkert Awards for the best papers complying with the conditions of the awards.

For many years, Graham worked for IPENZ assessing Engineers for CPEng. He joined IPENZ as a Graduate member. He gained Professional Membership in 1964/65 and became a life member in 2009. He was registered as a CPEng in 2003.

For many years as well, Graham was the Auckland Treasurer of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association. He was on the Bucklands

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Obituaries

Beach School PTA for a number of years and was a life member of the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club. He really enjoyed his golf and belonged to the Howick Golf Club for many years.

Graham really enjoyed water and anything to do with water. He bought and sold a few yachts over the years.

The last yacht ‘Dedication’ a Davidson 35 he bought as a hull and deck and proceeded to pop it on the front lawn where it became a very expensive garden ornament for a couple of years!

Two years almost to the day Graham finished fitting it out in his spare time.

It was a credit to him. Dedication was a beautiful Yacht.

Graham didn’t manage to find the time to retire. He was always too busy designing some new project. He did make time in the last few years to travel with his family. Much to his families disgust, Graham would always manage to find a Marina to look at. Always the Engineer!!

surfboards and would use these in his competitions and then put them up for sale as a winning surf board.

As in later life, Derral was very diligent and helpful and would help his father on the milkrun he had, before going off to school at Wellington College.

He says it was all very hygenic, filling billies with milk summer or winter.

Sometimes these hadn’t been washed and other times rain would be running off his nose into the billie along with the milk.

In the mid 1950s, Derral won a Dominion Scholarship to become a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy and was one of only three winners from the whole Commonwealth. He went to England for training as an officer and pilot and became a fully qualified pilot.

He served at various Naval Air stations around the UK and served on the aircraft carriers HMS Eagle and HMS Centaur in 891 and 899 squadrons. He served in the middle east and was involved in the disturbances in Aden in the early 60s and also served in the Far East and down into the Pacific.

As a family we have lost a wonderful, loving husband, father and grandfather. The Engineering world has lost a very talented and clever Engineer.

On leaving the navy he moved to Bournemouth in the south of England and got a job towing targets for AA gunners. This was a brief experience after some hair raising experiences where the inexperienced gunners targeted him rather than the target.

Graham is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Rochelle, Granddaughter Isabella and Fletcher his loyal loving dog.

BARNES, Derral Arnold 1937 - 2012 of Wellington Wellington College 1950 - 1953 Derral was born in Masterton and was one of three children.

They lived in Masterton for a while and then moved to Paekakariki.

It was here that Derral acquired his love of the sea with swimming and diving.

He became a surf lifesaver and won many medals for his Club and eventually went on to become a New Zealand Surf Lifesaving champion. He would make up his own

He moved onto Saudi Arabia to train pilots to fly Lightning jet fighters.

Most of them were princes. Whilst in Saudi Arabia he and a colleague set up a business diving for tropical fish, catching them and freighting and selling them in the UK. For a while he was a pilot with a budget airline called Court Line flying to Spain etc. They had planes of every pastel colour apparently. With two colleagues, Derral started a company for Mohammed Al Fayed of Harrods fame. They had a jet and flew all over the world on demand. This brought him into contact with the rich and famous including people like Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond and Roger Moore. Derral reckoned that Al Fayed

2013

| The Lampstand | 69

Obituaries was a good employer once he had him trained so that he didn’t demand instant transportation without flight plans. Al Fayed was a very meticulous man and the plane would be fully catered for every trip but invariably not much food was eaten. Derral didn’t like to waste anything, so he took whatever was left over home.

Derek reckons that while living in Bournmouth they had the best cheeseboard in the South East of England.

In 1985 Derral, moved permanently back to New Zealand, and bought a house in Wellington. He became an Airline Inspector with the NZCAA, and he was constantly and gently amused that New Zealand CAA would send him over to Los Angeles and Heathrow airports among others, to make sure they complied with NZs aviation requirements.

Derral was a member of Featherston Wine club for a number of years. He was involved with the Brevet Club and the RSA being treasurer of both.

He was a member of Civil Defence for a while, the Royal Society and the Computer Society.

BLAKE, Collis John MNZM, JP 1918 - 2012 of Levin Wellington College 1944 - 1948 Firth House Collis and his wife Helen are possibly best known for funding the popular Levin Adventure Park, with its development starting in 2001.

Collis Blake did things differently from most people. He was a man who thought laterally and was a great businessman. He was a philanthropist, a supporter of farmers and young people. Not a talker, but a doer, someone who got on and made things happen.

Born in Otaki, an only child, Collis had his primary schooling at Otaki School.

He would ride his pony there and leave it in the horse paddock. He had his secondary schooling at Wellington College.

70

He spent his first year at Victoria University enjoying all it had to offer, but not passing a paper. His mother wanted him to be a veterinarian but Collis wanted to be a farmer, and he did a Diploma of Agriculture at Massey University in Palmerston North.

He and his wife Helen built up their farming interests. Collis realised farmers were not getting much for their stock, and bought two butcher shops.

Long-time friend Alan Smith said Collis was a person who thought outside the square. He had remarkable business acumen and a sharp analytical mind. Collis said, Never owe the banks a penny. Work your butt off and manage on what you have and free yourself of debt or one day they will call you to account. It was that calling to account that thrust Collis Blake into the public eye.

He went to a forced farm auction in the early 1980s. Collis stood at the door and asked all farmers not to bid.

It was the beginning of his fight to keep people on farms and put a stop to mortgagee sales at a time of rapidly increasing interest rates, peaking at 20%. He started the Provincial Support Group, which helped farmers throughout the country stay on their land by restructuring famers’ debts and helping them move on. He often reached into his own pocket for rural people.

In the 2000 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Collis was made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for services to farming and the community. A year ago, he was admitted into the Kapiti Horowhenua Business Awards Hall of Fame for supporting community initiatives over 25 years.

Collis shared in the construction of the Clubhouse at Lake Horowhenua, and for the Hockey Turf, he provided an interest-free loan and, supported the AP&I Stadium. At Waiopehu College he and Helen were instrumental in the Health Centre for students and supported the on-going costs of a part-time doctor and with contributions to Ronald McDonald House in Wellington, where folk

| The Lampstand | 2013

from his region stayed while young members of their family receive medical treatment. In the month before he died Collis was still asking the question, what can we do about these kids?

So much of what Collis and Helen have done bears his unique mark.

A concern and a compassion for children. A demand that folk be fairly treated and offered justice. Just as he had a passion for the land and for farming he had a passion for this community and the people in it.

Otaki MP, Nathan Guy said he would remember Mr Blake for his ability to get things done, as well as his generosity and concern for younger generations. His work has saved lives and made our community a better place to live.

Collis Blake is survived by his wife Helen of 50 years, and two daughters, Barbara and Susan, as well as grandchildren Sarah, John and Helen.

BYDDER, David Edward (Dave) 1945 - 2013 of Kapiti Coast Wellington College 1959 - 1962 Firth House From Marc Paviour-Smith (Class of 1963).

I’m sad to report the death of Dave (David Edward) Bydder. He had not kept good health for some time.

Dave was an Old Boy (1959-1962) and lived at Firth House during those years. He was my best friend at school but our lives went in separate ways after that and only linked when school reunions came around.

I was delighted to be able to bring him to the recent Class of 1963 Reunion where I know he really enjoyed himself catching up with old mates and seeing the old and familiar parts of the school that still remain. We both had a lot of fun reminiscing.

He farmed all his life in the Wanganui region but several years ago he

retired and moved to Raumati. He leaves wife Trish and two daughters.

He was a good cricketer at school (possibly 1st XI but my memory is poor on that) and a handy rugby player.

While at Massey University he made the Manawatu rugby team (196769) playing 18 games and eight with Feilding. He also played for NZ Universities in 1968 in two ‘Tests’ against Japan. Mark Sayers, another Old Boy and former All Black also played in those ‘Tests’.

In later years, when farming, he represented Wanganui (1970-73) in 28 games and played an All Black Trial in 1970. I always enjoyed his rugby stories, especially the one about his first match ‘derby’ match v King Country where he came up against the mighty Colin Meads and his brother Stan.

In retirement Dave played golf at the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club.

CAMPION, Richard Meckiff ONZM 1923 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1937-1941 1st XV 1941 Staff:1958-1959 Life was an exuberant theatrical experience for Richard Campion, so it was only natural he should make it his career. He even said he never thought of acting as acting, just being.

His outstanding productions were the formation of The New Zealand Players in his early years and, closer to home, his family, including daughter, Academy Award-winning film-maker Jane Campion, who credits him with the illustrious path she took.

For the past decade, Richard ’s deep theatrical involvement, though never his attendance at theatrical events, was limited by poor health, but punctuated, in 2004, by the award of a New Zealand Order of Merit

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Obituaries for more than 50 years of service to theatre. That included acting in, directing and producing innumerable productions for stage, television and film and helping to establish the Downstage and Mercury Theatre companies.

His daughter Jane’s love of theatre came from him and her mother, Edith Campion was the most acclaimed New Zealand actress of her era.

Richard ’s probably came from home, too. His mother was an inspirational storyteller.

His father was a butcher and the family of eight children, which followed Exclusive Brethren dictates, lived in Wellington’s Mount Victoria, where Richard claimed he probably killed the last rabbit. The young Richard escaped religious confinement largely by becoming an Evening Post paper boy, buying a bike with his pay and noting, through the windows of houses on his run, that not all non-Brethren homes were dens of iniquity.

There were no books in the Campion house but he used to sneak into the library, not far from The Post, and read them. In school holidays he was sent off to a farm and it was on one of these excursions that he spontaneously kick-started his acting life.

He had borrowed, for the journey home, a Richmal Crompton William book and recalled in an interview: The whole train was exposed to Little Dick, roaring with laughter. I went back to Clyde Quay School and organised some of the boys to act it out. Just as we were ready, poliomyelitis hit and we were all sent off.

He saw his first real play as a student at Wellington College, presented by Wellington Repertory, and thought it astonishingly phony and, later, his first opera, where he could hardly stifle his amusement. He was later to direct opera.

At Wellington College and Wellington Teachers’ Training College he came into the orbit of two of the country’s finest theatre exponents, Bruce Mason (1938) and Ngaio Marsh.

Mason, at the stage he knew him at school, struck him primarily as a very elegant wing in the 1st XV. We appreciated the same sort of things.

He knew about acting and he’d been to a few plays. Richard was in the 1st XV in 1941. That same year, he was involved in producing the Crimson Coconut – the main item of a concert in aid of the patriotic fund.

Marsh he encountered at Training College, but it was the later influence of Maria Dronke, a talented and exotic German Jewish emigre, which seems to have been greater. He recalled her reading New Zealand poetry with a German accent so it was both electrifying and funny, at the same time giving her young New Zealand audience an understanding of themselves.

Richard graduated as a teacher and went back to teach at Wellington College. He was confident he was a good teacher. A noted head of what was the New Zealand Drama School, George Webby, described him as inspiring and the catalyst for amazing student productions. Webby also described Richard as an inspirational dreamer.

But what ‘stuck like a biddy- bid’ in Richard’s mind was George Bernard Shaw’s declaration that people who can, do, and people who can’t, teach.

In 1945, he married heiress Edith Hannah, only child of George and Jessie Hannah and granddaughter of the industrialist Robert Hannah, founder of the shoe chain, one of the great dynasties of New Zealand retailing.

The young couple set off by flying boat to train at The Old Vic in London, he as a producer, she as an actress.

There they worked with some of the greatest actors, designers and scripts of the day.

A story he told of that time, weeping in an interview in the 1990s as he did so, is a manifestation of the merging of his life and art. He was in Manchester, his story went, in the early 1950s, still at the Old Vic and involved in an outdoor production, when a real-life drama began playing

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

out at a nearby pond. The trees were all black, the bark was all black, with a glint of green here and there.

Suddenly a person rushed up to shout: There’s a baby fallen in the pond.

Richard and others abandoned the play and rushed to the pond where a group of British people were all pointing at a submerged baby carriage. The baby had drowned. They thought they couldn’t get their feet wet, or thought they weren’t allowed to get into the pond, conditioned not to do anything on their own initiative.

It wouldn’t have happened in New Zealand.”

After three years, abandoning Britain and its woefully obedient population, the Campions returned to New Zealand and together founded The New Zealand Players. Their first production, in the coronation year, was The Young Elizabeth. They toured, giving thousands of New Zealand school children their first taste of theatre.

When New Zealand theatre was down on its luck in the 1960s, Richard spent time in Australia, first as resident producer for J C Williamson in Melbourne and later for the Elizabethan Theatre Trust and visiting tutor at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. Back in New Zealand, he directed the New Zealand Theatre Centre, promoted by the newly formed Arts Council.

For a while, he also went farming in Horowhenua, but theatre was too deeply imbedded in his being. He said of his sidestep into agriculture that he felt he was imitating life in the theatre and after a while you are in danger of imitating imitation.

After his marriage to Edith foundered, he married his second wife, Judith, then headmistress of the exclusive Hawke’s Bay private girls’ school Woodford House. They were alike in their love of theatre, though Judith’s delight was in being a great audience rather than an actor. Twenty years younger, Judith eventually left her principal’s job to share life with Richard in Wellington.

Until well into his 80s, Richard played golf and tennis and swam at the Thorndon pool, within walking distance of their home. Together, the couple attended an extraordinary number of Wellington theatre productions, musical events excluded.

Even in his last year, unable to hear or fully understand the production he was at, he could still absorb the atmosphere which had fuelled him all his life. The Dominion Post ETUATA, Tom Hardley (Junior) 1966-2012 of Wellington Wellington College 1979-1983 When Tom Etuata did not show up to dinner, his brother knew something was wrong. Half an hour later, he found him dead on the floor of his Greenlane flat, having suffered a brain aneurysm.

Tom was the Chief Executive of the Pacific Media Network. He also worked as a fitness instructor at Les Mills and lived a healthy lifestyle.

So his sudden death stunned his family, who have been told by the coroner that Tom had a blood clot on his brain that burst suddenly and would have killed him instantly.

His father, the Rev Tom Etuata, told the Weekend Herald the family were struggling to comprehend why such a fit and healthy man was cut down in the prime of his life. We are still dealing with the grief and pain. A parent should not have to bury their child; that’s not the way it should be,he said.

We have the same name, so when he passed away there was some confusion.

People were ringing thinking it was me who had died. I told them that I wished that was the case, that it was reversed and it was me instead of him.

Mr Etuata said his son spent much of last Saturday with his brother Steven.

They had planned to meet again that night to have dinner in Ponsonby and watch Auckland play Canterbury in rugby’s ITM Cup final.

2013

| The Lampstand | 71

Obituaries After waiting 30 minutes, and not able to get his older brother on the phone, Steven Etuata drove to his flat and found him dead. As a church minister I go and comfort people in these situations, Tom Etuata Snr said.

Recently I was helping a family here in Wellington deal with the tragic death of their son aged just 32, not realising that we would have that kind of pain pierce through our hearts ourselves two weeks later.

Tom Etuata Jnr was born in Niue and moved to Wellington when he was aged 4. His father and mother, Akeletama, had come to New Zealand two years earlier to undertake training with the intention of returning to Niue and working for the Government. But they decided to stay, and moved their children over as well.

Tom went to Mt Cook Primary School and Wellington College, where he was a Prefect and excelled at sports.

After school, he had several casual jobs before he started working for the Government’s Valuation Department and then the Ministry of Defence.

Twenty-four years ago, he married Viola and moved to her homeland, Samoa. They stayed for six years.

Pauline Winter. His vision, energy and commitment to broadcasting in New Zealand and into the Pacific will be sorely missed by many Pacific people both in New Zealand and in the region.

His interest in Pacific initiatives and issues meant the service he offered was not only professional, but reflected his deeply held commitment to Pacific broadcasting.

He is survived by Viola and their daughter Summer, 18.

FRAZER, Kenneth John MC. MiD 1914-2012 of Te Puke Wellington College 1929 - 1933 Major, NZ Army WWII 7706, 27th Machine Gun Battalion Ken Frazer was born in 1914 in New Zealand, where his father, Sir Francis Frazer, was a judge.

There he worked as a bank clerk and courier, but in 1940 he joined New Zealand army and served in North Africa and Italy, rising to Major. He was awarded the Military Cross for leading allied troops back to safety through lethal desert minefields after the fall of Tobruk.

He achieved a great career, he was a very hard worker. Tom was the pride of the family, his father said.

After the war, his adventurous spirit led him to serve as a District Officer in Palestine and in Gambia for ten years until its independence; there he even toured with the District Nurse, delivering babies! Thereafter he settled in Athens on his small pensions, and worked gratis both for the American archaeological mission at Sardis in Turkey and for the EES as a surveyor and draftsman. He first worked with Jack Plumley at Qasr Ibrim (1963, 1966 and 1969), surveying the fortified citadel and planning the ‘cathedral’ area. In 1966, he joined Bryan Emery’s team at the Saqqara Sacred Animal Necropolis (soon they were sharing desertwar reminiscences over midnight whiskies!).

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs paid tribute to Tom as well. The sudden and untimely death of Tom Etuata is a loss not only to his family and community, said Chief Executive

To Ken’s intrepid exploration, surveying skills and fine draftsmanship, the Society owes the published plans of the vast and dangerous catacombs of the ibises,

While there, Tom became involved in broadcasting and on his return to New Zealand, began working at Auckland’s Radio 531pi as a sales manager. He later moved to Radio Niue FM and after the two merged, he was named CEO. Tom Etuata Snr said his son revelled in his job and was passionate about his heritage. He had been back in Niue this year to teach locals about healthy eating and fitness, and came back with a love of his culture and a strong connection to his roots.

72

| The Lampstand | 2013

falcons, baboons and cows and of the shines outside them. This he achieved with a pre-war theodolite and tape-measures, while constantly hampered by excavation work, inadequate lighting, bad ventilation and armies of fleas – a colossal achievement.

After Emery’s death in 1971, Ken continued working at Saqqara.

In 1974-76 he helped the writer to complete the Sacred Animal Necropolis excavations and interpret the site’s building history. From 1975, he worked for many years with Geoffrey Martin and the EES/ Leiden team on the New Kingdom Necropolis, undertaking more perilous underground work and producing many of the published tomb-plans. In 1977 and 1981 he worked at Anubieion, and finally in 1994-46, when over 80, he sportingly returned to the Sacred Animal Necropolis to check and amend his splendid drawings, on which he had worked for years in Athens.

A staunch Kiwi and proud Scot, Ken was interested in and communed amicably with all humankind, whatever their race, faith or status.

His courage, loyalty, endurance and will-power speak for themselves; his trustworthiness and sense of honour were unbreakable. Whatever the circumstances, he never complained, while his constant optimism, good humour and determination inspired others. He was generous of spirit and of pocket; in Athens, all unbeknown, he helped many aged, handicapped and lonely people. In camp his stories, jokes and unexpected presents made him a legend with staff and workers alike. He was a wonderful colleague and friend, and an unforgettable human being.

Egypt Exploration Society GAWITH, Alan Antill DFC, USA Bronze Star 1916 -2013 of Nelson Wellington College 1929 - 1931 WWII RAF Pilot Alan Gawith was one of the last remaining veterans of the Battle of Britain, having served

as a fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force from the beginning to the end of World War II. From his first mission on the day war was declared in Europe, on 3 September, 1939, Alan flew dawn and night interception patrols and several missions during the desperate defence of British air space the next year.

The defeat of the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain prevented Germany from gaining air superiority and is credited with saving Britain from a planned German invasion.

Alan received the Distinguished Flying Cross for bombing and destroying a German communications centre in the Netherlands in May 1941,disrupting the Luftwaffe’s fighter wing at Eindhoven for several days.

In 1944, as the senior British liaison officer of the RAF, he worked with the United States Air Defence Command to plan the invasion of Normandy, France, and was later awarded the Bronze Medal for his services with the attack.

Alan was born in Masterton, the second child of seven and the eldest son. The family lived on a farm at Longbush. Because of the distance from town, a school was set up in a cottage on the property for the Gawith family and some neighbours’ children.

When the school was shut in 1927, the Gawith boys were sent to stay with an aunt in Palmerston North, where they spent three years living in a tent on the back lawn. Alan attended College Street Normal School in Palmerston North, then Wellington College and Nelson College.

He moved back to Wellington to study law at Victoria University in 1935.

In 1937, he applied for a short service commission with the RAF, learning the ropes at the Elementary Flying Training School at Scone Airfield, Scotland.

His father objected to him going, warning that war was imminent. Alan

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

replied that if that was so, he would be fighting in it anyway, so he had better get all the training he could.

After completing training, he joined No 23 Squadron, based in Stamford, England, which flew night time missions with twin-engined Blenheim bombers that had been converted into night fighters via the installation of Browning machine guns.

He served with the squadron for two and a half years. When he left at the end of 1941, he was the only pre-war pilot left alive.

In 2007, Alan spoke with the NZ Air Force News about just how close the Battle of Britain had been. The Luftwaffe’s bombing campaign of RAF airports in early August 1940 had left the force almost at breaking point, he said. Whether you were flying or working on the ground, you were working around the clock and had been for so long that exhaustion had just about collapsed Fighter Command.

Then, German bombers targeted London, and in retaliation, Winston Churchill ordered the RAF to bomb Berlin. From then, cities, rather than airfields, were targeted by both airforces, something that gave Fighter Command just enough space to recover, Alan said. It was divine intervention, I’d say. Another day or two and it would have been all over.

Alan always saw his service to the RAF during the war as his first priority.

Everything else, including personal matters, came after.

He had met his sweetheart of many years, Elliot Wallace, on Mt Taranaki.

The pair were keen trampers and were both in the Tararua Tramping Club. At the time, Mr Gawith was at university and Elliot was still at high school.

They formed a bond after Alan decided to ‘bush bash’ his way down Mt Taranaki, rather than take the easy way, and his eventual bride-to-be followed in his tracks.

pair married in October, 1939. Alan could get a leave pass for only 48 hours to cover the ceremony and honeymoon.

The couple had three children, Alan, Eila and Sally. Elliot and the children returned to New Zealand in March 1945, followed by Alan in October that year, after the end of the war.

The family settled in Masterton and he again took up the law books, completing his degree in 1949 and joining his uncle’s law practice, said his daughter, Eila Young. The Americans wanted him to go back to Washington after the war, and I think [Admiral Louis] Mountbatten wanted him to go to Burma. But he felt he needed to get home because my mother’s nerves were shot.

Alan served for many years on the former Masterton Borough Council and farmed sheep as a sideline on a property he bought in Lansdowne.

The Guy Fawkes night bonfires in the paddock were legendary and very popular.

Alan remained with the law firm until his retirement. His son followed him into the profession and the firm, becoming the fourth generation of Gawiths to practise law in Wairarapa.

Alan was devastated when Elliot died in 1970, but found happiness again with Shirley Woodman, the widow of another RAF veteran. The couple married in 1978 and moved to Nelson in 1987.

Alan enjoyed a quiet life in his retirement, developing some close friendships with neighbours, and keeping active with walking and tai chi, his daughter said.

With Eila, he attended the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Britain commemorations in England in 2005.

I remember him saying he was just one of the lucky ones who survived. Going up at night, with no radar or anything, it was pretty horrific. The Dominion Post

They reunited in England, when she was caught by the outbreak of war while visiting family in Scotland. The

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Obituaries

GRUNDY, Clive Arthur 1931 - 2012 of Geraldine Wellington College 1946 - 1948

and Soccer, was in the school chess team and was the heavyweight boxing champion.

Clive had been involved in archery for many years, being a member of Christchurch, Dunedin, Geraldine and Timaru Clubs.

After leaving school, Ray then had to complete two years National Service in the Army. In 1954 he entered St Mark & St John Teacher Training College, Chelsea, London, for a two year course. His main subjects were Geography and Physical Education.

He was also a member of their Chess and Soccer teams.

In his retirement he fostered archery at the Geraldine High School, built target butts and purchased beginners equipment and had regular competitions every Thursday afternoon. He had a dream to start an archery club in Geraldine and started Sunday sessions for adults in the schools grounds and with this, basis a club was formed.

In 1954 he married Margaret McMullen with sons Adrian (19681972) and Charles (1969-1973) born in 1955 and 1956 respectively.

He was still shooting competitions in his seventies even after major heart surgery such was his passion. He was a unique character who in his own way contributed much to archery and people in his community.

Upon completion of teacher training.

Ray’s first appointment was to Credon Secondary Boys’ School at Bermondsey in London. After two years he was appointed Head of Physical Education. In 1958, to further his career, Ray started a five year part time degree course at the London School of Economics majoring in Geography. He graduated B.Sc (Economics) in 1963.

By this time Ray wanted to get away from the stress and congestion of London so, after considering various options, he decided to emigrate. He wrote to every Education Department in NZ and was subsequently accepted for a position at Tiki Tiki Māori District High School (12 miles north of Ruatoria, 96 miles north of Gisborne).

Hill, Raymond Ivan (Ray) 1932-2013 of Hawkes Bay Staff: 1965-1976 Ray Hill was born on 17 April 1932 at Stockwell, London, England.

His primary education was at St Mary’s School Clapham, London, but in 1940 he was evacuated to West Hoathley, Sussex, a quiet rural village. Ray commented that when walking the country lanes they would often look skyward to see the vapour trails and dogfights of the Battle of Britain, not realising the significance of what was going on.

Schooling was transferred to West Hoathley and in 1943, upon passing the 11 plus exam, Ray returned to London to attend Henry Thornton Grammar School at Clapham Common. In 1951, at the age 19, Ray left Henry Thornton Grammar having matriculated in seven subjects. He had been in the 1st XI for both Cricket

In September 1964, the family set sail from Southampton on the Shaw Savill liner Southern Cross arriving in Wellington six weeks later having passed through Las Palmas, Cape Town, Durban, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. Then followed a train, bus and car ride to get to Tiki Tiki.

Wellington College Social Team 1975.

Ray is in the back row, far left.

2013

| The Lampstand | 73

Obituaries On arrival, Ray was informed that in December 1964, the High School section of the school would be closed.

He was offered a teaching role at Ruatoria but subsequently accepted a position at Wellington College where he began teaching in February 1965 with a focus on Geography, Physical Education and Junior Maths. He also set about enhancing the status of Soccer at Wellington College and in 1967, his 1st XI won the inaugural NZ Secondary Schools Championship.

Another win followed in 1971. He was also involved in Cricket, Life Saving and Basketball. Ray stayed at Wellington College until May 1976 at which time he decided to have a break from teaching so left and went to work for Air NZ Cabin Services at Wellington Airport.

In February 1978, Ray returned to teaching at Hutt Valley High School specialising in Physical Education and Maths. He took Soccer and Cricket teams and also developed an interest in a sport at the school called Orienteering. This interest was to last 20 years. He eventually concentrated his sporting focus on Cross-Country Running and in 1983, HVHS won the National Secondary Schools’ Individual Cross-Country Championship and the Team event.

Ray was always an advocate for activity outside of the classroom so willingly participated in school trips for outdoor pursuits in Marlborough.

He also liked to organise social sporting activities involving both staff and students.

In 1986, Ray retired from teaching which he advised was mainly due to failing eyesight. He got a job with the National Bank in Wellington where he stayed until April 1992 at which stage he officially retired at the age of 60.

He kept himself busy maintaining his house on a challenging section at The Ridgeway in Mornington, Wellington.

By 1995, Ray had decided that while he and wife Margaret loved their home of 23 years, they needed easier access and a flat section so in January 1996, they moved to Upper Hutt.

schools and also joined the local Bridge club. They stayed in Upper Hutt until 2006 when they decided to move to Napier to be closer to family which by now included four grandchildren.

Hutton, John Brassell

Sadly, in 2009 his wife Margaret developed liver cancer and passed away that year on 29 September.

Ray struggled with his loss and never really got over it but he remained as active as he could be and continued to live independently.

John Hutton was born in Pahiatua and attended Pahiatua High School until the fifth form when he enrolled at Wellington College. His sporting skills were soon evident at College where he became a member of the College’s 1st XV and 1st XI and a prominent tennis player. He was a boarder at Firth House.

On the morning of Sunday 2 June 2013, Ray suffered a heart attack.

He managed to call the Emergency Service and let them know his address but collapsed while talking to them. St John were soon on the spot, his heart had stopped beating but they managed to revive him in the Ambulance. He spent the next six days in Intensive Care where there was an early glimmer of a possible recovery but by the end of the week it became apparent that it was not to be. By Saturday 8 June, treatment had moved from thought of recovery to that of comfort and dignity. He slipped away from this world at 12.19pm that day with family present.

Ray’s life was one well lived. From a modest background in London he became a respected Teacher. While always an Englishman at heart, there was no doubt in his mind that the move to NZ benefited all of the family. It gave him the opportunity to teach at both Wellington College and Hutt Valley High School which he considered two very good schools.

It also gave him far readier access to the great outdoors for tramping, canoeing, sailing and orienteering.

He was always willing to take family, friends and work colleagues along on the journey. His life was not one of great affluence but certainly once rich in experience. Always a word to say and a story to tell.

Adrian Hill (1968-1972)

There he maintained his interest in Orienteering by helping out at local

74

| The Lampstand | 2013

B.Agr.Sc., M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D, F.N.Z.I.Agr.Sc.

1928 - 2012 of Tauranga Wellington College 1945 - 1946 Prefect, 1st XV 1945-1946, 1st XI 1946

John’s University education began in 1947 at Massey Agricultural College. In 1950 he was awarded the Sir James Wilson prize, and in 1951, he graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and in 1953 graduated with a Masters degree with First Class Honours. He kept up his sporting interests playing Rugby and Tennis for Massey and Manawatu, and in 1949 was selected in the New Zealand Universities Rugby team.

In 1954, John lectured at Massey College. Between 1955 and 1957, John studied at the National Institute for Research in Dairying at the University of Reading, completing a PhD in lactation physiology, studying the effect of growth hormone and oestrogen on milk production and composition.

In 1958, after competing his PhD, he joined the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as a scientist in the Nutrition Section at Ruakura Animal Research Station in Hamilton.

In 1961 John was appointed section leader of the Nutrition Section.

This was the beginning of a long distinguished career in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. In 1968, John was awarded a Post Doctoral Fellowship by the United States National Institute of Health to study calcium and energy metabolism in lactating cattle at the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University.

On his return to New Zealand, he established No. 5 Dairy at Ruakura as a premier dairy research unit and attracted many local and international scientists working on improving the efficiency of milk production.

Amongst these were methods which could be used on farms as management tools.

John considered his biggest achievement in Agricultural Science was the development of a technique for farmers to accurately measure ‘by eye’ the amount of feed available in their pasture from week to week as a basis for planning and management decisions on the farm. This became known as ‘feed budgeting’ and was used throughout New Zealand and in Australia and Ireland. Later as Director of the Agricultural Research Division he took responsibility for the successful introduction of exotic sheep genetic material and supervised major changes in the development of MAF’s research strategies and resources.

In 1975, John became an Assistant Director of the Ag Research Division under Dr Lyn Wallace. He was awarded the McMeekan Memorial Award in 1976 by the NZ Society of Animal Production for an outstanding contribution to both animal production and the Society. In 1990, he was awarded a New Zealand Commemoration Medal in recognition for his services to the nation.

MAF shifted the Agricultural Research Divisional Headquarters to Wellington in 1979 with John appointed Director.

He worked and lived in Wellington until he retired in 1989 and moved to the Bay of Plenty where he and his wife Yolande built a new home and garden. Initially, they grew Sandersonia lily tubers for export to Japan before developing a beautiful collection of exotic trees, a vegetable garden, and from 1993 an avocado orchard.

He was very influential in New Zealand’s agriculture sector through membership of many relevant industry and professional bodies.

These included the executive of the Meat Industry Research Institute of NZ; the National Committee of the International Dairy Federation; the Standing Advisory Committee of the NZ Livestock Improvement Council; the Meat Producers Board’s Animal Production Advisory Committee; the Maximum Quarantine Advisory

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Obituaries Committee to the Minister of Agriculture; and the Research Advisory Panel to the Minister of Lands.

He was a staunch advocate for research and of his staff, never being afraid to speak his mind when he perceived decisions being made using little supporting evidence. His senior staff valued his capacity for work and his leadership. He was always well prepared for any meetings and presented his views with authority and conviction. Hard work, refusal to tolerate argument that was based on emotion rather than fact, accountability for ones own decisions and actions, and loyalty to staff.

He was a man to be respected.

One could disagree with him and he encouraged debate. He had a mischievous side and at times became a devil’s advocate seeking well reasoned opposing views. He could never be ignored.

John maintained an interest in sport and exercise through jogging and tennis. He could be described as a sports fanatic, having been fit and active for most of his life, and an interested, sometimes painfully passionate spectator when supporting his children or grandchildren on a sport’s field.

He had an opinion on ‘everything rugby’ based, of course, on extensive knowledge.

Amongst his passions were gardening, and music especially opera.

Written by Douglas Wright, CNZM (1944-1948) MATHER, John Joseph 1932 - 2012 of Rotorua Wellington College 1945 - 1948 Bruce Heather (1953-1957) wrote to tell us a bit of Johnny Mather.

Johnny Mather was a Ngaio Boy and a top athlete. I do believe he held the Wellington College 100 yards title for many years. The time was remarkable at something around 10.3 seconds but It may have still been a record when we went metric!

Leaving College, he was a senior wing three-quarter for Onslow Rugby Club in the early fifties . His brother Dave Mather started College in 1952 and lives in Petone.

McARTNEY, David Ewan (Dave) 1951 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1964 -1968 As a founding member of the group Hello Sailor, Dave McArtney was at the heart of the New Zealand rock and roll scene in the late 1970s and 1980s. A guitarist and songwriter, Dave penned the hits Gutter Black, Pink Flamingo and All Around This Town.

His death at age 62 resulted in an outpouring of love and admiration from members of the New Zealand music scene, many of whom he had played with or taught as a tutor later in life at the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand.

Dave had something of a nomadic childhood, attending a variety of schools as his bank manager father moved the family several times. At Milford School in Auckland in the early 1960s, Dave became friends with Harry Lyon, with whom he would later form Hello Sailor.

The 13 and 14-year-olds maintained a friendship when Dave’s family moved to Wellington after a year of high school at Auckland’s Westlake Boys’.

At Wellington College, Dave had a band called The Ohms, in which he played guitar.

He began a degree in English literature at Victoria University before transferring to Auckland University when his parents moved north. He rejoined Harry Lyon and the pair flatted together, playing as a Bob Dylaninspired folk duo on Sunday nights at Levi’s Saloon.

Dave and Lyon dropped out of university in 1972 to become professional rock musicians. At university, Dave had met then-

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

gardener Graham Brazier and later the pair flatted and composed together at a St Mary’s Bay house known as Mandrax Mansion. They had two speaker stacks at the flat.

Brazier had written Hello Sailor on one, Dave had written Goodbye Dove on the other. Hello Sailor stuck.

with his girlfriend Donna Mills, the daughter of future Auckland Mayor Les Mills.

In 1983, Dave re-joined Brazier and Lyon in a new venture called The Legionnaires, which eventually went back to the old name of Hello Sailor.

The three joined forces and in June 1975, they played their first professional gig, at the Trees Tavern in Tokoroa, followed by two weeks at the Leopard Tavern in Napier.

Dave married Donna in January 1985 and they had two children, a son, Gabriel, in 1985 and a daughter, Moana, in 1992. The family lived in Europe and New Zealand throughout the 1980s and in 1990, Dave returned to University and completed his degree in English literature, majoring in Renaissance poetry.

Hello Sailor’s fame grew as they played venues around Auckland and supported international act Melanie, who was touring her hit song The Rollerskate Song.

Hello Sailor and the Legionnaires played gigs throughout the 1990s, releasing the album The Album in 1994, which produced the single, New Tattoo.

In 1976, they appeared on television music shows Ready to Roll and Grunt Machine, hosted by Paul Holmes.

The band recorded their eponymous debut album and released it in 1977, touring New Zealand on their intensive but highly successful Rum and Coca-Cola Tour.

In 2000, when Lyon began tutoring at the Music and Audio Institute, Dave was also brought in to tutor.

Hello Sailor toured extensively and played support for international acts and the festival circuit throughout the 2000s. They released the album, Surrey Crescent Moon in 2012.

The album Hello Sailor produced the charting singles Blue Lady and Gutter Black, which later found fame as the theme to the TV drama Outrageous Fortune.

It was the first New Zealand-produced album to achieve gold-selling status and the band were awarded with many awards at the following year’s RIANZ Music Awards.

Hello Sailor played numerous gigs at Ponsonby venue The Gluepot in 1978, released their second album, Pacifica Amour, the same year, and toured to Los Angeles. However, overindulgence in the party scene and too much competition saw them return unsuccessful. A subsequent trip to Australia was also unsuccessful and the group returned to Auckland and disbanded in 1980.

Dave started the new band The Pink Flamingos, which released two albums while in New Zealand and Australia.

Despite drawing large crowds and receiving critical acclaim, financial mismanagement saw the band founder and Dave went to Europe

Hello Sailor’s last outing was a show in Waihi on New Year’s Eve 2012, where they played with Jordan Luck and Andrew Fagan’s band.

Dave’s last words to his wife Donna were that he was working on a new arrangement for a song.

NIXON, Oliver James (Ollie) 1927 - 2013 of Mount Maunganui Wellington College 1941 - 1944 1st XV 1944 From Garth England, (1941-1945) Another of our old class mates has passed on. Ollie Nixon died at Mount Maunganui in April. He was an oustanding sprinter at the 440yd distance and represented the College at McEvedy Shield. He was also a good hockey player and I think, he was in the 1st XI 1943/44.

From Ollie’s wife Val: Ollie passed away peacefully wearing his Cricket Society Shirt and watching the Super 15 Rugby.

2013

| The Lampstand | 75

Obituaries He would have been thrilled to see Adam Scott win the Masters golf but just missed this event.

The Motor Neuron Disease had reached his lungs so he was finding it difficult to breathe and talk on the last couple of days but his mind was still very alert and active. I will miss him dreadfully after 61 years of marrage.

NODWELL, John Gordon 1934 - 2013 of Brisbane Wellington College 1948 - 1952 John Nodwell was born in August 1934 in the town of Danniverke. He was the second child and only son of Arthur and Dorothy.

His sister Lindsay was five years his senior and the childhood that he and Lindsay shared was quite idyllic in spite of the fact that their father served overseas during the war.

After his return from the war, Arthur and Dorothy moved their family to Wellington - where John continued his education at Wellington College.

He was an outstanding student academically, even gaining the distinction (at that time anyway) of being the only student in the senior year of gaining a 100% grading in Mathematics.

After finishing at College, John went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Canterbury University, where he spent happy years.

Upon graduating, John worked in the public service for a short time before suffering severe emphysema, which in those days was an extremely serious lung condition and at times, John was close to death. He had several surgeries and spent four months in hospital. It was at this stage he met Pamela, an English girl working in New Zealand and before long they were married and embarked on what was to be a working holiday in the UK. After two years, along came Kevin and two years later Lisa.

Sadly the marriage failed and John,

76

who had travelled to Australia several times through his work with Kelloggs in London, was offered a position at Goninan, an engineering company in Newcastle, where he met and married his wife Carol in 1972.

academics he worked alongside.

In 1974, John was asked if he would like to take up a position with the Burmah Oil Company in the UK. As engineers in John’s field were doing anything to earn a living in those days, thanks to the Whitlam government’s desire to nationalise the oil industry, this was a lifeline John and Carol relished.

His wife Herta had died a couple of years earlier and the couple, described as very private people who did not want the fuss of a public funeral service, had no children.

Burmah’s headquarters were in Swindon in Wiltshire and they were very fortunate to be able to rent a national trust cottage in the small village of Steventon some 40-minutes drive from Swindon. They spent almost three years there and it was such an incredible experience. They relocated from Sydney to Brisbane in 1985 and both felt immediately at home becoming fanatical Queenslanders.

John had a passion for engineering, continuing to work until he was 75 years of age, loving almost every minute of it, and over the years was privileged to work with colleagues he admired and respected, many of whom are friends to this day.

John loved all animals - wallabies, birds and ducks and most especially his cat Sidney. John was also an avid reader, loved good food and good wine, and also music, mostly classics and jazz. He played the piano, although self-taught, and sometimes the quality of his music was dependent upon how much wine he had consumed or conversely how much wine the listener had had.

Nevertheless, Christmas will not be the same without John playing carols.

Roger Nodwell, (1954-1956) QUINN, Kenneth Fleming (Prof) 1920 - 2013 of Waikanae Wellington College 1934 - 1939 Kenneth Quinn’s tenure at the University of Otago spanned just three years, but in that time he made an indelible impression on the students he taught and the

| The Lampstand | 2013

Professor Quinn died in Karori, earlier this year. His death notice kept brief to the point as he had requested. He was 92.

Kenneth’s appointment to the Chair of Classics at Otago University, replacing Prof. Guy Manton, was announced in late July 1965. At the time, he was a reader in the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Melbourne.

However, the news of his appointment caused something of a stir in Dunedin as he had already built up quite a reputation, having published two important books, The Catullan Revolution (1959) and Latin Explorations (1963), and was working on what would become a major book on Virgil’s Aenoid, eventually published in 1968.

As Emeritus Prof John Barsby notes in his forthcoming history of the Otago Classics Department: There are three main things to say about Quinn’s tenure of the Chair. One is that he was the first Otago Professor of Classics with an internationally recognised publications record.

Second, that with his so-called New Critical approaches he introduced a new dimension to the study of Latin literature, which some students at least found quite inspiring.

The third thing is that Quinn left more or less intact the structure of the teaching programme, which was still heavily biased towards language and literature with the occasional historical survey paper added as background. He did, however, leave a small but significant legacy by the introduction of classical studies as a free-standing non-linguistic stage 2 unit, which pointed the way to major future developments.

Retired Otago University Professor of English Alan Horsman was Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the time of Prof

Quinn’s appointment and remembers his former colleague with mixed feelings, describing him as a brusque, decisive man, who could also be a real livewire.

Prof Quinn was not approved of by the university’s ‘old guard’ in his subject because he discussed Latin poetry in a way similar to that in which English poetry was discussed.

His methods however, certainly appealed to many students.

Born in Greymouth on 25 December, 1920, Prof Quinn attended Wellington College then completed a BA at Victoria University in 1943, before serving with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in WW II. After the war, he was awarded an army rehabilitation scholarship to study at Emmanuel College, at the University of Cambridge, where he took first--class honours in classical tripos, getting his Cambridge BA in 1947 and an MA in 1952.

It was while he was at Cambridge that he met his future wife, Herta Ilse (her nickname was ‘Gamby’), an Austrian.

He was also the Commonwealth Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge (1957-58). After Cambridge, Prof Quinn returned to Victoria, where he was a lecturer from 1949 to 1955, and then moved to Melbourne as a senior lecturer, being promoted to a readership in 1960.

Prof Barsby says Prof Quinn played his part in Dunedin by serving on several university committees, but one sensed that he had not been as influential in these circles as his three predecessors had been. In its record of appreciation at his departure, the senate noted that, like Socrates, Prof Quinn saw his role as that of a man who asked awkward but stimulating questions, and expressed its gratitude to him for fulfilling this role so well, a comment which can be read two ways.

In January 1968, Prof Quinn accepted an invitation to lecture at the University of Illinois, near Chicago, on Virgil’s Aeneid and, the following year, he resigned from Otago to take up a position at the University of Toronto.

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Obituaries A long-term friend of Prof Quinn says he was considered a big fish in a small pond at Otago University and his relationship with the ‘establishment’ was scratchy at times, so he was delighted to receive an offer from overseas.

autobiography.

Not so Herta, who had made many close friends, friendships which she kept up long after they left Dunedin.

A devout Christian, Nevill had trained at Flock House in Bulls and worked for the Herd Improvement Association as a herd tester, and later as a successful Manawatu dairy farmer.

In Toronto, he received many lecturing offers, particularly from the United States. The couple returned to New Zealand on sabbatical leave a number of times, and on the last such occasion bought a house in Raumati South to which they retired.

PALMER, Nevill Reginald 1919 - 2012 of Taupo Wellington College 1934 - 1936 Nevill Palmer, 93 was killed his bike was hit from behind by a light truck in Taupo where he had been collecting stamps for charity.

Just before, he had been at a local business to collect used stamps which staff kept for him, and had almost fallen over after losing his balance.

He had explained to a person in the office that he had low blood pressure after biking into the town. Employees at the office said his regular visits would be sadly missed.

Nevill, who had lived alone since his wife, June, died three years ago, was known for his independence, said his daughter Frances. He was a free spirit... he loved cycling and often biked into the township daily. It’s really sad he died in such a horrific way, but it wouldn’t have been him to be sitting in a chair.

After retiring to Taupo, he collected used stamps from local businesses to give to charities such as the Leprosy Mission and Bible Society to help raise money.

PRESTON-THOMAS, Grant 1931 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1946 - 1950 When Grant Preston-Thomas knocked off work as an engineer with the Municipal Electricity Department in Wellington, he got his next big buzz in life by becoming the capital’s best known volunteer ‘bushwacker’.

When he retired, aged 60, from the task of having to keep Wellington’s power supply plugged in, he embarked upon the task of cutting walking and cycling tracks through mainly western suburbs hill country.

He performed this role alone for years until one day in 2000, when he was working up on Wrights Hill, house-father Derek Pope (1965-1969), a retired restaurateur, happened along.

Derek was a frequent visitor to the Preston-Thomas home both before and after cancer took hold of his longterm mate earlier this year.

Nevill was born in Wellington in 1919, and went to Wellington College.

Along the way, the pair were also joined by fellow bushwhackers Dave Henderson, Wayne Holmes and ex-GP Jock Fleming, who, in his mid-80s, before his death held the title of Wellington’s oldest track-builder.

Collecting stamps had been a passion since primary school. His father, Alfred, worked at the BNZ head office in Wellington and would bring home stamps from countries in the British Empire for his son, Nevill wrote in an

The merry band hewed out treelined, track tunnels through the city’s undergrowth on Wrights Hill; at Zealandia, where they built tracks in and around the bird sanctuary and on both sides of the valley, behind Karori

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Park, above Otari-Wilton’s Bush, around Karori Cemetery, on Johnston Hill, Trelissick Park in Ngaio, Mount Victoria and links between Highbury, Brooklyn and Aro Street.

During a 22-year retirement period, the lanky Mr Preston-Thomas, often dressed in his trademark khaki shorts and sandals, did ‘the whole nine yards’ by putting in thousands of hours, armed with his grubber, pick, pruning saw and loppers. With these implements he developed tracks that many thousands of Wellingtonians and visitors now enjoy every year.

provided heating for cooking, water heating and filling the copper for washing. Kerosene lamps and candles provided the lighting. The toilet, remote from the house, was a long drop and the family draught horse pulled the plough that tilled the fields, and the cart that collected provisions at the swing bridge.

When money became more plentiful, the family shifted from Otaki to Manurewa in Auckland before shifting to the Hutt Valley suburbs of Belmont and Days Bay. While living in Days Bay, the teenager caught the coal-fired ferry Cobar across the harbour, before boarding a double-decker tram to Dufferin St and Wellington College, opposite the Basin Reserve.

The keen bush walker, with an aversion to steps, specialised in constructing zig-zags that were user-friendly for people like his wife Alison, who unwittingly became one of the city‘s most discerning track connoisseurs.

After leaving College, Grant joined Railways in 1951 on a cadetship with the signals branch and the department put him through an engineering degree at Victoria and Auckland universities.

ln putting a number of these tracks through, Grant was happy to break rules he had already bent in the first place, when it came to seeking permission from Wellington City Council to penetrate the land. The council and the mountain biking Kennett brother gurus wisely learned how to work alongside Grant and his mates.

With Railways, he worked at the Kaiwharawhara Depot on Hutt Road and in the Hutt Workshops. He helped resignal the North Island main trunk line while based in Te Kuiti and Taihape. He was also happy to bunk down in basic railway huts on wheels in the more remote areas of the King Country, while working alongside people like veteran Raetihi track maintenance man, Avril Pehi.

Grant often found it easier to apologise to the council after he had built tracks which deviated from plans, rather than seek permission to change the route in the first place.

His childhood days in a tough depression environment on a rough Otaki farm at the foot of the Tararuas, meant he accumulated impeccable track-building credentials from an early age. As a young student at Otaki School, he walked 3.5 kilometres from the basic family homestead to a suspension-bridge roadhead where the school bus collected him.

This Riverdale farm childhood prepared him admirably for his subsequent career as an electrical engineer and a volunteer track builder.

The farm was a dairy farm with no road access, no electricity, no running water and no radio. Driftwood

He spent a year in Christchurch based in the signals office and from there made many trips to Greymouth. It was in Christchurch that he first met Alison Hughes, his wife of 50 years.

About a month ago, as the cancer took hold, Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and councillor Andy Foster decided Grant and Alison Preston-Thomas should take a trip in a 4x4 with the councils track manager, Dave Halliday. Mr Halliday drove them up and over the Kohekohe track above Otari-Wilton’s Bush, which leads up to the Skyline track. Grant walked back down the hill to savour the fruits of his track-building labours for the last time. He took joy from the fact Wellingtonians loved walking and

2013

| The Lampstand | 77

Obituaries biking on his tracks. The Kohekohe track was one of the last constructed by his ‘Dad‘s Army’ team while he was still alive.

On the drive up the hill, Mr Halliday obtained approval from the PrestonThomases that the track would be named ‘Grant’s Track - The Kohekohe Walk’. The Dominion Post RICHARDS, James Harrey (Ray) ONZM, DCS

1921 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1935 WW II, Lnt Fleet Air Arm Navy Pilot Ray Richards was an influential publisher who encouraged the writing of many uniquely New Zealand voices, including Barry Crump and Mona Anderson, and introduced the wider public to the works of painters Peter McIntyre and Toss Woollaston, and photographer Geoff Moon.

He was also one of the now-thin ranks of WW II veterans.

The one-time editor, managing director and publisher of AH & AW Reed was a man of words, who never missed the opportunity to say something striking, not even on his deathbed.

As his grandchildren gathered for a final farewell, he told his wife Barbara: They have love dripping from their eyes. As more family gathered, he commented: This is an extraordinary experience, I must remember their names... He died soon after.

Ray joined the Reeds’ new Wellington offices aged 15. I was as green as grass; nobody could have known less about the world than I did, he told the Listener magazine in a profile.

When war came, Ray joined the navy and was one of a handful of Kiwis who flew with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.

Sprite helicopter so that he could see the last Corsair FG-D1 flown by a Kiwi.

He had flown a Corsair in the British Fleet Air Arm, taking part in several Pacific battles, including an air raid on Japanese-held oil fields in Palambang, Indonesia. I’m feeling overwhelmed . . . it is hard to believe I used to fly this, he said at the time. He earned a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the war.

He returned to Reeds in 1946 and was married to Barbara for 64 years. Ray was born to be a publisher, she said.

His first book as a publisher was Wayleggo, by Peter Newton, in 1947.

It featured tales of high-country farm life and sold 60,000 copies. The family firm of Reeds was taken over in 1983

by Associated Book Publishers.

Ray and Barbara Richards set up New Zealand’s first literary agency in 1977.

Clients included Maurice Gee, Witi Ihimaera, Dorothy Butler, Joy Cowley and Tessa Duder.

Booksellers New Zealand gave him a lifetime achievement award in 2001 and said he had a unique visionary presence in the growth of New Zealand children’s literature.

and follower of Rugby and an integral member of the 1st XV that year and in 1959 - regularly playing at full-back.

David Stenhouse was born in Sutton, Surrey, England in 1932. He proposed the ‘4-factor’ theory of evolutionary intelligence and was active in ethology, education, evolutionary biology and philosophy of science in Australia and New Zealand.

While in the senior school, Peter had his mind firmly set on training to be a physiotherapist once he completed College. Academic success was something that Peter had to work at, and with strong application and diligence, he was successful in gaining entry to the Physiotherapy School at Otago University. Once completing his Diploma in Physiotherapy, and gaining practical experience, Peter set up a practice in Wellington, where he combined his passion for Rugby and physiotherapy treatment for those with sports injuries. He assisted the Wellington Rugby Union and was also the official physiotherapist for the Springboks in their Rugby Tour of New Zealand in 1981.

David spent his childhood on the outskirts of London and in SouthWest Scotland, where his parents were from. His paternal grandfather, also called David, was the Headmaster of the Sandbank school.

The son of J.F.M. & M.M. Stenhouse, he had one sister, Joyce. His parents moved to New Zealand when he was in his teens.

After taking degrees in both Philosophy and Zoology at the University of Otago, he lectured at Universities in New Zealand and Australia - in the Department of Zoology at The University of Queensland, the Department of Education at Massey University, and the Department of Psychology at Massey University. He is the author of a number of books and articles.

STOKES, Peter Graham

SPENCE, Robert Alfred (Bob), QSM

QSM, JP, NZDSM, DIPPHTY

1928 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1943 - 1946

1942 - 2012 of Havelock North Wellington College 1956 - 1960 Head Prefect, 1960, 1st XV 1959 - 1960

Athletics New Zealand Life Member and past President, the Reverend Bob Spence QSM of Wellington died in May, aged 86.

Bob served on the track and field committee and was convenor of the records committee of Athletics NZ for many years. He was President of Athletics NZ 1985-1986 and was made a Life Member in 1991.

Bob received the Queen’s Service Medal in the 1997 New Year’s Honours for community service. Bob was also a Life Member of Athletics Wellington and was a long time Patron of Wellington Harrier Athletic Club.

This year, he was flown to the Wairarapa Air Show in a navy Sea

78

STENHOUSE, David 1932 - 2013 of Palmerston North Wellington College 1947 - 1948

| The Lampstand | 2013

The climax of Peter’s time at Wellington College was in 1960 when he was appointed to the prestigious role of Head Prefect in his final year at school. A person with strong people skills, Peter undertook this task with effective maturity, leadership and diplomacy that were recognised by staff and students alike.

A keen and talented sportsperson, he showed prowess as a sprinter, excelling in the senior 100 and 220 yards College Athletics events. He then captained the Wellington College Athletics Team in the McEvedy Shield.

Peter was also an enthusiastic player

Peter’s experience and skill in his profession and an ability to relate effectively to others from all walks of life were recognised, when he was appointed the physiotherapist for the All Blacks – a role he undertook with considerable acceptance and appreciation by those across the Rugby fraternity.

In 1984, Peter was awarded a QSM for Community service in the New Year’s Honours List. He also served as a JP in the Hawkes Bay where he had retired in the late 1990s although did operate a practice in Flaxmere.

Peter attended the 50-years on College reunion in 2010 and as Head Prefect of 1960, spoke to the College assembly, where he outlined some of his memorable and valued experiences at College as a student.

Peter passed away on 28 December 2012 and is survived by his wife Joan, sons Ritchie and Robbie and daughter Lesley and their families.

STRANGE, Adam Hunter Andrew 1965 - 2013 of Auckland Wellington College 1978 1981 Firth House Members of the advertising and film industry

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Obituaries paid tribute to Adam Strange. The ad maker died in a shark attack at Auckland’s Murawai Beach.

The father of one had been at Silverscreen productions for more than ten years before working independently. His portfolio included work for Telecom, NZRFU, Pepsi, Casio and the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority.

Sugar & Partners creative partner Damon O’Leary told NBR ONLINE the advertising community was in shock over the tragedy. There’s so many people in advertising with egos and he was one of the nicest in the industry.

Adam had a great talent for animation, live action and special effects.

Joyride films producer Anzak Tindall said he was a one of a kind and a special friend. He had worked on short film Aphrodite’s Farm with Adam, which won them the Berlin Crystal Bear. Adam also won a Cannes Lion, among other awards, for his craft. His strengths built on from his graphic design background were his photogenic eye, powerful directing of action sequences and thorough knowledge of modern postproduction techniques.

In recent times, Adam had been overlooked locally but was held in high demand in Asia. Adam had a ‘never-say-die attitude’ towards creative projects and had just recently mentioned making a film about surfing. One of Adam’s favourite words was ‘intrepid’ and I think this is a great way to sum up the great man and the way he has departed us.

TREVENA, David Stewart 1923 - 2012 of Blenheim Wellington College 1937 - 1940 Staff: 1954-1960 David Trevena was born in Palmerston North, in 1923, the eldest of three children.

His father Albert was a primary school Headmaster who moved around rural schools in the central North Island.

David attended Waipawa District High School for the third form but the family moved to Wellington where David attended Wellington College for the next three years.

When David left school, he started working as a law clerk for a barrister’s office in Wellington, while embarking on a law degree. This was interrupted by his conscription into the army in 1941 where he trained in the artillery and was stationed on Mount Victoria, manning anti-aircraft guns. David then moved to Christchurch where he trained as a radio and radar operator before training women in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps as anti-aircraft radar operators.

David joined the Fleet Air Arm and in 1944, aged 21, went to England where he continued training, including learning to fly Tiger Moths. During leave, David and his friends would cycle around England, including London where he could hear German V1 flying bombs at night. Once the war was coming to an end, there was little training done.

With the war over, David returned to New Zealand in 1946, went back to University, where he completed an MA - his thesis was on delinquent boys - and also attended Teacher Training College. He taught at primary schools in the Hutt Valley and at Clyde Quay School where he met his future wife, Beverley, who was also a teacher. In 1954, David became known to the secondary teaching service and was seconded to Wellington College as a teacher of French and English, where he taught for seven years.

After Wellington College, David taught at Taita College for five years as Head of English and French. In 1966, he moved with his family to Blenheim where David held the position of Deputy Principal at Marlborough Boys’ College. David held this position for 18 years, and one of David’s achievements was the fundraising and organising of the building of the squash courts for the College.

David was never in favour of corporal punishment so instead he ordered pupils to collect rubbish around the school grounds.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Upon retirement in 1983 David and Beverley travelled overseas sometimes with the Friendship Force - grew orchids, and was involved in the Marlborough Historical and Genealogy societies. David was a keen gardener, providing the family with fruit and vegetables, and he had a short stint at hobby beekeeping.

After his secondary education years, he discovered his passion. It was no surprise to anyone, given his caring, generous nature that he was attracted to becoming a paramedic.

His journey towards this goal started off as a volunteer for Wellington Free Ambulance, and he enrolled at Whitirea studying paramedicine.

David served on the committee for the Marlborough Theatre Trust for several years and he was a founding member of the Blenheim Riverside Railway Society. He served on the committee for 28 years and was heavily involved with the construction of the railway, including the laying of railway lines, organising working bees, building the railway station and driving the trains. Despite David’s short illness, he kept working on the roster of train drivers in the months before he passed away.

Andrew impressed with his natural aptitude for the job, and excelled in his studies. After his graduation he was offered a full time role. His colleagues reflected that he had a fine combination of skills that made Andrew very successful at his job: his medical knowledge, his superb instincts, and his keen sense of humour.

David is survived by his wife Beverley, three daughters and one son, and six grandchildren.

TRUESDALE, Andrew James 1988 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 2001 - 2005 Andrew attended Wellington College from 2001 - 2005.

During his time he participated in a diverse range of activities from every aspect of the college, earning himself an enormous social circle. He was well known for being approachable and good-humoured, forming friendships with juniors, seniors, and his school bus driver who would sometimes take a detour from the bus route to drop Truesy at his door.

While at the College, Andrew played Cricket and Hockey, umpired Hockey, stage managed drama productions, and was a ‘canteen line’ regular.

He performed well academically in a wide spectrum of subjects as he searched for his passion. Throughout his time at Wellington College, he personified the spirit of the school motto by making the most of all the opportunities he could find.

When Andrew was diagnosed with a brain tumour, his response epitomised his outstanding character.

His immediate reaction was to find a solution and a way to fix it. As the illness progressed, his concern turned towards how his family was coping. Throughout this time he was desperate to return to work, eager to pass on his remaining plastic toy watches which he gave to young patients.

Andrew showed an admirable determined optimism and maintained his witty quips right until the end.

Like his approach to golf, he was rarely angered by his illness. While most golfers who hit a tree - rather than a fairway - become frustrated or worried about their score, Truesy took it in his stride, maintaining a laid-back tone and always keeping a calm and rational approach.

At one point Andrew was asked if he could do it again, without the tumour, would he have done things differently? Most would expect a typical answer mentioning travelling more or reclaiming a missed opportunity. But instead Andrew replied no, I’m happy with how I’ve lived my life. This shows his maturity, wisdom, and just how happy and proud he was of what he has left behind.

Jerome Cargill (2001-2005) and Jason Roche (2001-2005)

2013

| The Lampstand | 79

Obituaries TWEED, Moore, John (Dr) MBCH, BrCP, FRACP, MBE

1920 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1933 - 1938 Firth House Eulogy to Doctor John Moore Tweed

by Malcolm Tweed On behalf of my father, thank you for making the effort to attend today. Especially those who‘ve come from as far away as Auckland, Christchurch, Invercargill and Melbourne and those who have sent messages from England, South Africa and America. Our thanks also go to those who have made today possible.

Dad has directed this funeral. Do this and keep it simple. Dad also liked succinct; so here is a vignette about Moore, my Dad and your friend.

For Dad‘s medical and care industry colleagues, friends and medical and contacts; Dad was his last patient. He diagnosed his ailment. He determined his treatment. He chose peace.

For those of you, like me, who aren’t scientific Dad and I were the same age when we lost our fathers. Dad was 54 when his father died at the age of 83. For the family who might at this time find some comfort in symbolism, when Debby and I made our final trip to Wellington to be with Dad our room at the Wellesley Hotel was the Martin room.

And for those among us who might lean towards the spiritual, on the night Dad died, neither Debby, Jessica, Duncan or I slept well and our cat had a major personality malfunction, and our dog for the first and only time in her life used the cat flap to go outside and bark incessantly, at something...

And for those wondering how the Tweed households reached across the generational divide; in two respects Dad was ahead of his time.

He and my mother started their family when in their mid 30s, and Dad once had a black car, well before it became fashionable, at least in Auckland. Dad grew up, immediately

80

post the Great War in a large and sprawling family reaching from Ashburton and Martinborough to Dublin. He spent several young years in Dublin with his late brother Bill and sister Phillipa while their mother Marjorie helped care for her ailing parents. He witnessed the Great Depression, and on his return to New Zealand, was never comfortable about attending school wearing shoes, when others couldn’t afford to them. Modesty and humility were a life long hallmark.

Despite enlisting in the army at the start of WW II, Private Tweed’s ambition to study medicine meant he was never called up. He struggled to come to terms with what he considered this privilege, and given to him when others he knew, were making the ultimate sacrifice. He later became a Major in the Territorial New Zealand Medical Corp.

But he was chuffed at surviving Dunedin’s climate, made easier by living at Knox College until he qualified Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the age of 24.

Two years later in 1948, he married my mother Margaret and together they made their way to London.

Dad completed postgraduate study with a Research Fellowship from the Empire Rheumatlsm Council, became a Member of the Royal Australian Colleges of Physicians. He later became a Fellow of both colleges.

This was a time of great happiness for Dad and my mother. No theatre in London was left unattended. We have boxes overflowing with programmes.

On their return to New Zealand, he assumed the running of his father’s GP practice in Willis Street.

And just after he began his rheumatology journey, which would lead to the establishment of a rheumatology unit at the Hutt Hospital, and public recognition in 1991 when he was awarded a MBE, tragedy struck.

Margaret died at the age of 42. They’d been married 17 years. His world collapsed. How Dad managed to hold everything together is testimony to

| The Lampstand | 2013

his courage and character, and to the love and support of a network of family and friends, who both supported him, and cared and on occasion put up with me.

Sad times did give way to good times, and Dad’s 1967 marriage to Margie laid the platform for 28 years of love, happiness and joint endeavour. They were inseparable. Whether travelling, socialising, playing golf, tennis or bridge, or door-to-door fundraising for the Arthritis Foundation, they did it with total dedication. If Dad was the meticulous planner, Margie, the consummate administrator, made sure it got done.

With Margie’s death Dad’s world was again rocked. Losing one wife is hard enough but losing two by the age of 75 was a cruel twist of fate. But with courage Dad got up again. He packed in a further 17 years of living. He needed little encouragement to enjoy social, intellectual and artistic times with a tight, and perhaps shrinking, group of friends. And with his regular visits to South Africa, he could also just be, a grandfather.

As a grandfather, or simply Moore to Jessica and Duncan, Dad the romantic also fell in love again. This time it was to Debby. If l hadn’t married her, he might have had a good run at it.

Theirs was a very special relationship.

I came across a great complement to Dad amongst his papers and I’Il finish by sharing this with you. l have always been very impressed by Moore’s willingness and help and have valued his meticulous work, always carried out cheerfully with wisdom and diplomacy. Despite an exceptionally heavy workload, he has always been willing to give generously of his time, with care and thoughtfuIness.

as you can.

In 2010, the Morgan Foundation Kiwi battler of the year joint-winner said when accepting the award that he was limited only by what his body would let him do. He won the award for his efforts in rising above a lifetime fight against cystic fibrosis, a disorder that did not prevent him becoming a sports coach and administrator extraordinaire and the President of his local Lions Club.

Andrew’s older brother Paul died at age 12, when the younger sibling was just 10 years old. From the time of his brother’s death onwards, Andrew knew his own life would be cut short.

Because of this, he adopted an altruistic, carpe diem philosophy and lived life to the full.

He was the son of Doug and Margaret Walklin, who shared every day of their two sons‘ respective life sentences by ferrying them to and from doctors’ surgeries and regular hospital treatment sessions.

Andrew, who was never a healthy baby, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 15-months-old. Recognising unusual signs in both their sons, the Walklins took the boys for specialist consultations in Auckland. It was there the family received the news that neither son would make old bones.

Brother Paul’s death made Andrew determined to stay active and keep healthy to fight off the disease. Once Paul died, the family’s all-consuming focus was to place as much effort as possible upon keeping their younger son alive for as long as possible.

WALKLIN, Andrew James 1974 - 2013 of Wellington Wellington College 1988 1990

Privately, in the wake of his brother’s death. Andrew did admit to feeling depressed. But, in responding to the support of family and friends, he was not a person to allow negative thoughts to consume him. Indeed, he resolved to live each day as if it was his last.

Andrew Walklin lived his abbreviated life according to a simple philosophy: Do what you can as long

Andrew attended Northland Primary School and Wellington College from 1988-1990, before moving on to work as a groundsman with the Wellington City Council after leaving College.

Cricket was a passion for Andrew and

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Obituaries preparation of the Anderson Park wickets near Wellington’s Glenmore Street as a groundsman was a labour of love. In 1996, he spent a year playing Cricket at the High Wycombe Cricket Club in the United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand.

Back home, the gregarious side of his nature saw him take on and enjoy working in the food and beverage industry. As the need for pure oxygen feeds through his nose increased, he was forced to give up this work at such well-known Wellington establishments as Theo‘s Greek Taverna on Pirie Street and the St John’s Bar and Restaurant.

When his infected lungs became increasingly raspy and his body required more and more hospital treatment from the respiratory team at Wellington Hospital, once again Andrew never gave up on life. In between consuming intravenous antibiotics to clear up his system, he turned his attention to voluntary coaching and community-focused activities.

Throughout his short adult life, Wellington Hospital was in fact Andrew’s second home. It was a place where the orderlies, Nursing staff, doctors and specialists all knew him on a first-name, personable basis.

He regularly consumed a cocktail of 44 pills an hour before breakfast each morning and conserved his strength so he could go out and coach the Rongotai College and Onslow College 1st XI cricket teams.

The medication regimen made a nine-to-five job difficult and to compensate, Andrew took on administrative activities such as a vice-presidents role with the Karori Cricket Club. He was also elected President of the Tinakori Lions Club, a position he held till two years ago.

Things became even more serious for Andrew earlier this year, when a leg had to be amputated in July as a result of associated diabetes and kidney problems.

Living with cystic fibrosis was like breathing through a straw every day of his life, he once said. It’s like

a climber climbing Everest. He’s on oxygen to reach his goal. We also have to go on oxygen, but for CF people we haven’t quite knocked the bastard off. A goal for me each day is to get through it.

Andrew had no idea for most of his life how long he would live, but regularly told friends and family he was determined to make the most of the time available to him. He knew how to face facts and when it was his time to go. Two days before his death, Andrew summoned his parents to his Wellington Hospital bedside and told them he could not fight the disease affecting him any longer.

The man who worked for others died, having achieved more in his life than most people do in their regulation spans of ‘three score and 10’.

Dominion Post WARD, David Roland 1931 - 2012 of Wellington Wellington College 1946 - 1948 David Ward was born in Wellington on 8 December 1931. Growing up in Northland the eldest of four boys, he attended Northland School, Scots College (intermediate) and Wellington College.

After serving in the College ATC unit, he developed a love of aviation, going on to join the Territorial Air Force before becoming an air traffic controller. It was as a controller that also he found a love of travel. CAA postings took him to Palmerston North, Hamilton, Christchurch, Nadi (Fiji) and back to Wellington during which time David and first wife Mavis, raised five children.

After the accidental death of first wife Mavis, David married Catherine Bell in December 1985 and shortly thereafter began a long period of world travel. David and Catherine’s travels took them to India, Nepal, South East Asia, Europe and included a year teaching English to airline pilots in Guanghan in the far west of China.

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

In 2001, and thanks only to the timely intervention of his brother Neville, a couple of off duty surf lifesavers and an off duty Emergency nurse, David was lucky to survive breaking his neck and drowning in the New South Wales surf. A week in a coma and then a long period of rehabilitation followed and for the next 12 years , David’s every movement was a struggle although he never heard to grumble or complain. Only slightly hampered and aided by his walking stick, he and Catherine went on to continue their travels until just a couple of years ago.

In addition to a love of flying and travels, David was a long serving Freemason and sadly missed his longed for 50 year medal by only two years. He was also immensely proud of his time at Wellington College, seldom missing an opportunity to visit or attend College functions. In 2010 and accompanied by family members, he had the rare privilege of addressing the annual Wellington College ANZAC assembly on the occasion of the unveiling of the updated WW I bronze memorial plaque recognising the death of his uncle, and Old Boy Roland Leslie Ward on the battlefield at Gallipoli in August 1915. As well, David’s father, two brothers and two sons are all Old Boys of Wellington College.

WCOBA Ties and Badges Don’t forget about the Wellington College Old

Boys’ Ties and Lapel Pins - available for purchase from the WCOBA Office or via the feedback form.

The Ties retail for $30.00 each and the Lapel Pins are $5.00 each.

You can also subscribe to a Life Membership to the Association for $150.00 which gives you your certificate and Lapel Badge, and will help support the Association in its endeavours with the College.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION

This is to certify that A. N. Old Boy who attended Wellington College during 1945-1950, is a Life Member Dated at Wellington, NZ this 1st day of November, 2012

of this Association.

EMAIL ALERT

David passed away at the Churtonleigh Hospice on his 81st birthday after a very short battle with cancer. He is sadly missed.

Next

Back

Mike Ward (1968-1971)

oldboys@wc.school.nz WITH REGRET In the 2012 Lampstand, I inadvertingly included John Millen (1951-1955) in the list of obituaries.

I am pleased to advise that John is in fact well and truly alive, living in Denman Island, British Columbia, Canada and when I contacted him to apologise for my insensitive error, he replied that he is fortunate to be alive and well and am hoping I will get to go skiing with my grandsons again this winter.

My Email Address Hi Stephanie Here’s my email address: anoldboy@email.co.nz Regards

2013

| The Lampstand | 81

Photos from the Past

Secondary school boys from Wellington College leaving the Paramount Theatre Wellington after watching a screening of "Macbeth." Photographed by an Evening Post staff photographer on the 25th of March 1983.

A group of boys from Wellington College using radio equipment to commentate on sports day over a loudspeaker system. Photograph taken on 17 March, 1950 by an Evening Post photographer.

The Wellington College Orchestra in the school hall, taken 21 September, 1956 for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff

Wellington College classroom.

Date unknown

photographer.

Wellington College (c) 1875

Scenes from early 1960s

Sports Day, 1960. Athletes/staff unknown.

As Archivist, Paddianne Neely sets to work on displays for the 150th celebrations, she often comes across unnamed photos amongst her collection. Perhaps you may be able to identify these people, places and dates. Please contact the WCOBA Office: oldboys@ wc.school.nz remember, if you have any old photos of the College and/or students, please think of sending to the Archives for future displays.

82

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI

Isaac Newton’s Apple Trees Available Here’s an opportunity to grow a direct descendant of one of the most famous apple trees in physics.

In the home garden at

Dominion Physical Laboratory

All sale proceeds will go

Woolsthorpe Manor, Isaac

(later renamed the Physics

towards supporting the Gifford

Newton’s family home near

and Engineering Laboratory) in

Observatory Trust’s operations,

Grantham in Lincolnshire,

Gracefield, Lower Hutt.

providing astronomical facilities

Old Boys may like to subscribe to The Collegian (the

at the Gifford Observatory behind

England, stood (until 1814) an old apple tree. In 1666, Isaac

Through the combined efforts

Wellington College for all young

was staying there, because the

of Fred Knox, Les Roberts, Eric

astronomers in the Wellington

University of Cambridge had been

Cairns, Stewart Dixon and the

region.

closed due to the plague. He

Gifford Observatory Trust, a

could well have seen an apple

strictly limited number of bare-

Isaac Newton’s Apple Tree scions

fall to the ground from that very

rooted 2 to 3 metre high Isaac

are priced at $34.78 + $5.22 GST

tree, inspiring him to think about

Newton’s Apple Tree scions

= $40.00

extending the effects of earth's

that have been grafted onto

gravity out to beyond the moon.

semi-dwarfing rootstock are

Interested buyers should contact

Isaac Newton’s Apple Trees are of

now available for sale. The tree

me as soon as possible to arrange

the ‘Flower of Kent’ variety, best

roots are packed in sawdust and

payment, pick up and planting in

as cooking apples.

wrapped in sacking – a preferred

your garden prior to mid October.

method of transplanting, as

The Collegian College’s quarterly hardcopy and digital newsletter) to acquaint themselves with current news of the College and forthcoming events.

Each issue includes news from the Headmaster, the Head Prefect and the Board, as well as coverage of our Arts and Sporting activities and success stories achieved by our students, plus academic news, international students’ activities and the Old Boys’ Assoc.

Scions (descendants) of this tree

planting is easier and there is

Duncan Hall (1971-1975)

The Collegian link can be

were planted in the grounds of the

no possibility of root binding.

Gifford Observatory Trust

emailed to you or you can read

UK’s National Physical Laboratory.

They should be planted before

Treasurer

each issue on our website.

On Arbor Day 1957 a scion was

mid October while they are still

duncan.hall@computer.org

Check out past issues of The

planted by Mr. J.B.C. Taylor in

dormant. They are available on a

(04) 476-7400

Collegian and The Lampstand

the grounds of New Zealand’s

first come – first served basis.

on our Wellington College Website.

KELBURN NORMAL SCHOOL CENTENARY 2014

ARE YOU A WELLESLEY OLD BOY?

16 - 18 MAY 2014

Kelburn Normal School is about to turn 100!

All past pupils and staff are invited back to school for a weekend of celebrations!

If you went to Kelburn Normal School register your interest in our Centenary reunion now!

Website: www.kelburnnormalschool100.com Call: 022 385 2819 Or write to: Centenary Committee, Kelburn Normal School, Kowhai Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012

PS: Pass it on! Please tell any KNS friends about the Centenary - the more the merrier!

RECEIVE THE LIGHT AND PASS IT ON

Wellesley College turns 100.

Join us to celebrate and reconnect.

Labour Weekend 2014 For more details www.wellesley100.co.nz

KelburnNormalSchoolCentenary

2013

| The Lampstand | 83

The Memorial Window was unveiled when the Memorial Hall was opened on the 2 March 1928. It was designed by an artist (name not known) employed by the firm who made the window. This firm was Kelly & Co of Finsbury, London, who are described in a document from the Wellington College archives as an old established firm that has had much experience in designing stained glass windows, especially for memorials to men who had fallen in the Great War. Sir Charles Fergusson is speaking at the official opening of the Memorial Hall. The group is ranged below the memorial window include Fergusson, Charles (Sir), 1865-1951; Field, William Hughes, 1861-1944; Sinclair-Burgess, William Livingstone Hatchwell, 1880-1964; Ward, W F, 1900; Rolleston, Francis Joseph, 1872-1946. Former Headmaster, JP Firth sits at the far left.

84

| The Lampstand | 2013

LUMEN ACCIPE ET IMPERTI