Greetings Ihope this issue of our eNewsletter finds you well. It’s great that Spring is approaching and we can hopefully say goodbye to all the coughs, colds and viruses so many of us seem to have experienced over the past few months. Last term, we hosted a Lunch in Whanganui in conjunction with the Quadrangular Tournament at Collegiate. While the rugby didn’t go our way, the Lunch was well attended by local and visiting Old Boys, parents and family of our 1st XV. In particular, we welcomed members from the 1962 and 1966 1st XVs who played (and won) their Tournaments in Whanganui some 56 and 60 years ago. It was also a pleasure to have our new Headmaster, Glen Denham join us and he spoke to the group about his first term at Wellington College and his vision for the school under his tenure. Old Boys will be very pleased to know that the uniform standards are improving under Glen’s watchful eye. Wellington College will be hosting the 2023 Quadrangular Tournament. We also enjoyed a visit to the Collegiate Archives and Museum and were very much impressed with their operation, which coincidently and in a similar vein, was also established by our former Archivist, Paddianne Neely. We came away with some great ideas and spurred on to get our Archives and Museum a secure and permanent home for extensive array of treasures. Our 2022 AGM was held on 25 May to coincide with the St the Association. While many Old Boys, are life members –even right back to the 1940s, an annual sub is needed to continue to produce the annual printed version of the Lampstand, to support the College, manage the Archives and to continue to contract both Steph Kane and Mike Pallin in their roles. The subscription programme will be emailed and posted out shortly. Those with Life Membership will be invited to make a donation. The school continues to go through structural changes - this time, the Tower Block requires remedial work on the exterior panels so students will be rotated into prefabs which will be temporarily installed on the Terraces. It is a bit like ‘back to The WCOBA and Archives team visited the Whanganui Collegiate Museum. (L-R): Mike Pallin, Gary Girvan, Abbey Girvan, Steph Kane and Ted Thomas.
enewsletter News from the August,WCOBA2022
The GlenHeadmaster,welcomesCommunityCollegeWellingtonournewDenham ProgrammeMentoringWCOBAisnowunderway!
2022 ProgrammeReunionUpdateoldboys@wc.school.nz
Wellington College Old Boys Patrick’s (Town) Traditional. It was a clean sweep for Wellington College, winning the Rugby, Football and Basketball. The AGM was the first opportunity for Glen Denham to speak to the Old Boys’ community and he was well-received by those in attendance. We were pleased to hear from two Prefects who spoke about their desire to better understand and share the College’s history with current students. We also welcome Matt Sutherland (Class of 2000) to the Executive as our new Treasurer. We are in the final stages of editing our video on the Archives before it goes ‘Live’. A documentary-style tour will feature a plethora of memorabilia and stories, narrated by Old Boys and staff, highlighting particular exhibits and connections to the school. Likewise, our new Website is in progress and we look forward to launching both of these soon. Watch this space (ie, your Inbox). Over the next two terms, we have five reunions scheduled and I am very much looking forward to attending all five and meeting those who return. As a former boarder, I am in particular looking forward to the Firth House Reunion. Glen Denham will also be at these reunions – his initiation to the reunion programme and looks forward to welcoming Old Boys back to ‘their school’ and seeing the connection between us, fellow classmates and the College community In the 2021 Lampstand, I broached the subject of introducing a subscription for Old Boys as your way to support the future’ with more prefabs being installed and yet prefabs from over 50 years ago still remain as part of the working Asschool.you read through this eNewsletter, you will come across some great stories of Old Boys in the news, an update from the Archives, details of our forthcoming reunions and other events on the wider WCOBA calendar. Our next publication will be the Lampstand at the end of this year. Please get in touch if you have news to share or feedback from this publication.
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TED CPRESIDENTTHOMASlassof 1976 | Firth House Prefect
Obituaries forms will be issued shortly, YOU KNOW...that it was 50 years ago in May, 1972 that the Tower Block was completed and formally opened by Sir Denis Blundell, (Governor-General and Old Boy). What stories the stairwells and lifts could tell – there was and still is nothing worse than finding saliva globules on the handrails (and thus on hands). Some say the Tower Block was an unfortunate addition of Sovietera architecture. What are your memories?
Firth House Reunion Friday, 30 September Morning Tea & Welcome/School Tour Drinks and Dinner Class of 1981 Reunion Friday, 21 October Morning Tea & Welcome/School Tour Drinks and Dinner Class of 1982 Reunion Friday, 28 October Afternoon Tea & Welcome/School Tour Drinks and Dinner Class of 1962 Reunion Friday, 4 November Morning Tea & Welcome/School Tour Lunch with optional Dinner that night Class of 1972 Reunion Friday, 11 November Morning Tea & Welcome/School Tour Drinks and Dinner Class of 2002 Reunion Friday, 11 November Morning Golf/Afternoon Tour & Welcome Beers & Bites
Since the April, 2022 eNewsletter was issued, we have been notified of a number of Old Boys who have since sadly passed away. A full list, with provided obituaries will appear in this year’s Lampstand. In the interim, we thought we would share with you, those who have passed in recent times. Our condolences go to family and friends of those recorded below. If you wish to contribute to an obituary or have a memory to share, please get in touch.
Cohort Name Region Notes 1962 ALLEN, Gary Sol WLG 1974 BARBER, Peter Norman WLG 1973 BISS, John Tattersall HBAY Prefect, Firth House 1967 BRUCE-SMITH, Michael WAIR 1948 BUCHANAN MNZM, John Dermot MAN Firth House 1954 CAMERON, Duncan Alexander BOP Prefect, Firth House 1968 CASSELS, Alasdair Lorne CAN 1947 COOPER, Brian Trevor WLG 1942 COX, Roslyn Woodrow [Woody] [Dr] ENG Dux 1955 DICKENS, Bevan Charles KAP 1948 DIXON, Horace [Harry] WAIR 1947 EVANS, David Mervyn WLG 1947 GARDINER, Boyd Thomas MBH 1st XV 1951 GREENBANK, Donald William BOP 1952 HARTSHORNE, Barry John MAN 1948 HOLMES, Thomas Graham AKL 1st XI Football 1962 HUGHES, Roger David [Dr] ENG Dux 1951 HUMPHRIES, Murray McLean MBH 1958 JACKSON, Malcolm Lawrence WAIR 1957 KOOLMAN, Anton NSW 1963 LUMSDEN, Richard John AKL 1953 McCORKINDALE, Ralph Benson KAP Prefect, 1st XI Hockey 1950 McKENZIE, Richard Tilyard [Dick] HBAY 1st XV 1963 MERRINGTON, Michael John [Mike] AKL 1949 MEXTED, Milton Owen KAP 1st XV, Firth House 1948 MORSHEAD, Frederick Keith KAP 1959 MOSES, Kenneth Roger AKL 1952 OSBORNE, Alan John HORO 1966 REDSTONE, Peter Garth TAS Firth House 1986 ROWE, Cameron John QLD 1944 SCLATER, Ian Kerr AKL 1st XI Cricket 1960 SHERRING, Stephen Peter KAP Firth House 1965 SPEED, Richard Allan [Dr] BOP 1st XI Football, 1964 TAYLOR, Terence Harold Charles [Terry] HORO 1960 TROTMAN, Alistaire Clynton VIC 1957 WELLINGS, Peter Caradus [Dr] WLG Firth House 1965 WILKINSON, Anthony Ralph [Tony] WAIR 1949 YATES, William Edward John AKL 1st XV Staff MAINWARING, Jennifer Anne [Jenny] WLG
2022 ProgrammeReunionUpdate Registration
with the programme and payment arrangements for the following reunions: DID
Do you mind if I tell you a story? Glen Denham asks. The newly-appointed headmaster of Wellington College has gathered colourful stories throughout his varied career –first as a national basketball player, then as a teacher and Glenprincipal.was a Tall Black for 16 years in the 1980s and 1990s – eleven of these spent as captain – and has been rated as one of New Zealand’s best players. I wasn’t very good, Glen says, laughing, just tall He has come from 15 years leading low-decile schools in the UK – some of those as an ‘executive principal’ of several south London schools – then eight years as principal of Massey High School in West Auckland. Now he’s leading the 155-year-old Wellington College, one of the country’s oldest schools, as its first Māori Headmaster My mother, bless her soul, I think she would be proud, Glen, Te Arawa, Ngāti Rangitihi, says. He hopes to see out the rest of his career at the College. In his first week in the role he is outside the office doors early on, telling students to smarten up. Boys, boys, boys, pull your socks up boys, the Headmaster tells them. Good, good, good, good, checking them off as they file past, straightening their black Uniformssocks. are important, Glen says, for being about ‘pride and aspiration’. He implemented them at decile 4 Massey to some controversy in 2015, but says it instilled a change in students’ behaviour and self-perception.
STUFF.CO.NZ, May 2022
The blazer is the korowai. When students leave, I tell them to wear it on the inside now ... you take it with you. Uniforms are important, Glen says, for being about ‘pride and Whenaspiration.askedwhy he wanted to lead Wellington College, Glen goes back to his own education at King’s High School in Dunedin, which he says fostered a sense of self-belief in him. Mr Simpson, the Rector, told my next eldest brother Peter, ‘you’re not going to the freezing works, you’re going to university’, so that allowed me to go to university. We were poor Māori kids. There weren’t many Māori kids in Dunedin, and once Pete went [to uni], we all went He wanted to return to boys’ education, providing aroha and a sense of belonging to every Arohastudent.turned around the third worst-rated school in the UK –Oasis Academy Shirley Park in Croydon – to an ‘outstanding’ rating while Glen was executive principal. He knocked on the doors of the 20 naughtiest students, he recalls, and told the families he loved them – but that they needed to respect the rules. He approached the head of the local south London gangs, asking them to stop lingering outside the school gates to recruit. His goals are different for decile 10 Wellington College. High standards of academic achievement are important, Glen says, as is hiring the best teaching staff for the students. He is keen to see a building academy programme, like the one at Massey High, where students learn to construct a house on school grounds as part of their lessons, then sell them to Kaīnga Ora. Glen is not in favour of dropping NCEA Level One, despite other high-profile schools such as Wellington Girls’ College and Scots moving away from the assessment to focus on other learning in Y11. I’ll have to talk to the board, but I like NCEA Level One. It gives kids a marker for how they are doing. The challenges children face at the school are different from those in Croydon or West Auckland, Glen says, including the challenge of high expectations. Feeling at home at school is crucial. Everyone has a place here. It’s important no matter what you’re interested in or where you come from, you belong here.
A warm welcome for our new newAroha'EveryoneHeadmasterhasaplacehere':ineducationvital,CollegeHeadmastersays.
On Monday, 2 May (and the start of Term Two), the Wellington College community warmly welcomed our new and fifteenth Headmaster, Mr Glen Denham to our school Following the powhiri and welcome ceremony, Glen spoke with much passion about his new role in leading our College and how excited he is to be part of our extensive community. Guests were invited to gather for Morning Tea and we were able to get a couple of photos with Glen; one with the past and present ‘Dream Team’ – Gary Girvan, Roger Moses and Harvey Rees-Thomas and one with WCOBA President, Ted Thomas.
2012 Wellington College was again top in the country for the NZ Scholarship Awards with 152 Scholarships. This should strike a chord with a few Old Boys. An excerpt from the Headmaster’s Newsletter, issued not long after Glen started in his new role. I was standing at the doors of the AGC waiting to take my first Assembly, in my second week at Wellington College. I was excited to get in front of our boys, in a large group and talk to them about the expectations that I had for them and what they could expect from me; most importantly aroha then tautoko, whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and rangatiratanga.
Trial By Jury
News from ARCHIVEStheOurHistoryAcrossTheDecades
1872 The first Board of Governors of Wellington College is appointed. Roll 91. Wellington College and Grammar School affiliated with the University.
1922 J P Firth is awarded the CMG.
1882 Roll 145. Girls’ classes discontinued. Wellington Girls’ College opened in 1883.
2002 The Student Services Building opens. Named after longserving teacher, Robert Bradley and fondly known as ‘The Stable’.
This recently colourised photo from 1957 shows the College’s major production for that year, the Gilbert and Sullivan musical comedy Trial by Jury. (L-R): Hugh Williams, John Rankin, Tony Hinkley and John Wallace with girls from Wellington East Girls’ College.
1942 The first women appointed to the Staff, a wartime measure. The Army occupied the College for Term One. Air Training Corps (ATC) was established.
1902 The Memorial Tablet to the five Old Boys who lost their lives serving in the Boer War is unveiled.
1962 Old Boy, Sir Guy Powles becomes New Zealand’s first Ombudsman.
1972 The school Tower Block opens. Old Boy, Sir Denis Blundell appointed Governor-General.
1892 Joseph Pentland Firth appointed Headmaster.
1982 The Education Department approves building of the Sports and Arts Centre. The College Big Band is established.
1952 Memorial Service in Town Hall for all schools on death of King George VI. Sea Cadets established.
1932 Unveiling of Walter E Bethune Memorial Sundial in front of the Memorial Hall. He was an Old Boy and three times President of the Old Boys’ Association.
1992 Jubilee Year. The 125th Anniversary of the school opening in Woodward Street.
A group of prefects were waiting at the door with me and one of them, Tim, a great leader said, Sir, where is the clipboard? I said, What clipboard? They all said, You need the clipboard, Sir. Every Headmaster has had the clipboard. You need the clipboard. I said, No one has told me about a clipboard. Is this a thing that I need? The boys said in the most earnest tones; Sir, you have to find the clipboard! Harry, our brilliant Head Prefect, had given the school the nod and the boys were all standing. A quick frantic search of my office ensued and like Thor's hammer, Captain America's shield, or NZSO conductor Gemma New's baton, the clipboard was found. I felt the wairua of our past great leaders and took my first Assembly. Thank you Tim and team for looking after me. I have attached a couple of photos of the clipboard and a small section of its history which is proudly displayed on the back. In talking to others, some boys thought that it had the school song on it, others a list of boys who had detention, and others thought there was a list of previous Headmasters. It is a great taonga for Wellington College. I thought that I would name the Friday newsletters The Clipboard in a homage to my esteemed predecessors.
1912 Roll 412. The Board approve the construction of the College’s first Observatory - the telescope and the accompanying fittings were ordered from England.
2022 Wellington College and Government House entrances
The History of our Main School Entrance
It was 1909 when the main entrance and drive as it stands today was developed. Prior to 1909, the Wellington Mental Asylum was located where Government House now stands. In 1909, however, it was moved to Porirua and Government House was built there. In order to develop the driveway, it was found necessary to take some ground belonging to Wellington College but as compensation, the Board of Governors asked the Government to construct the College’s new drive. Thus, we have a brick pillar entrance of similar style to the Government House entrance.
From the C1910 photo, three brick pillars are seen with large cast iron gates across the wider entrance to Wellington College. Old Boys up until to 1971 will recall this entrance with its large gates. It appears that the middle pillar and gates were removed some time in 1972 to allow school buses to come up the school drive from 1973. The 1973 Wellingtonian noted The school buses come to the top of the drive, halting the 3.30 ‘Grand Prix’.
News from the ARCHIVES
Photograph from the 1971 Wellingtonian showing the crosscountry students exiting between the two left hand pillars before the removal of the middle pillar and gates (colourised) One of the recently unearthed school gates
C1910 Wellington College and Government House entrances (colourised)
Old Boy, Sir James Elliott, in his 1937 biography of Headmaster J.P.Firth, recalls how Firth, being a stickler for punctuality, used to ring the bell himself, but sometimes when teaching would go past the time to stop. “One day, ten minutes after 12 o’clock, the Boss suddenly asked in a very surprised voice, ”What’s the time?” To everyone’s amazement, including the Boss, Jock M---- pulled out a large alarm clock fastened to a dog chain and solemnly announced the time. “Ten minutes late!” The next day the Boss put the responsibility of ringing the school bell on George, the handyman. The boys got full measure but no more.”
When the East School was demolished in 1930 and classes began in the new classroom blocks, the manual bell became redundant but was preserved beside the Memorial Hall which had been opened in 1928.
Former Headmaster, Mr H.A.Heron, in his 1967 Centennial History of Wellington College gives a whimsical account of the early days of the college and of the bell. For nearly three decades the small but annually increasing band of Wellington College boys moved with varying degrees of enthusiasm through the gates into the serene and disciplined atmosphere of the school. From 8.40 until 8.45 their progress would be accompanied by the tuneful bell which still stands in front of the present school, a mute and tongueless reminder of days gone by.
The bell stands beside the main entrance to the school, C (colourised).1960s
The bell during the 1990s adjacent to Memorial Hall.
Generations of Old Boys who attended Wellington College between 1930 and 2016 will remember the old school bell which was displayed prominently on its wooden scaffold as pictured in the photograph from the 1956 Wellingtonian.
News from the ARCHIVES
The bell was an integral part of the East School, that splendid wooden building which was the first to be erected on the College’s current Dufferin Street site in 1874. In the days before electric bell systems, the manual ringing of the cast iron bell was an important feature in the life of those school boys of the day, announcing the beginning and end of the school day and important events between.
During the next major reconstruction, the demolition of the Memorial Hall in 1968 and the construction of the Tower Block, opened in 1972, the bell was moved to the east side of the Tower Block where it stood until 2016. That year, the demolition of the Assembly Hall to make way for the construction of our new Memorial Hall meant that the bell had to be shifted once again and it was dismantled and put into storage where it has remained until recently, sadly, deteriorating under the Royconditions.Smith, a member of the College’s maintenance team, is enthusiastic about preserving items from the College’s past and he has undertaken to refurbish the bell and to reconstruct the timber scaffold. When the work is complete, the bell will be reinstalled in a prominent spot in front of the Memorial Window - appropriate for its status as one of the oldest and most significant artefacts from the College’s earliest history on its current site. ARTICLE by GARY GIRVAN The old School Bell ±
RESEARCH and
Bruce Baldwin brought in a named and framed photo of the 1906 1st XV that included his grandfather Charlie Baldwin (1904 – 1906) that had been lying in a garage for many years. With some frame restoration and re glassing it looks good as new and completes a gap in our records of a formal named photo of the team. Charlie is first left, back row and next to Hāmi Grace.
Recent Visitors to the Archives
It’s a real privilege when a family visits us to donate memorabilia from their Old Boy father, grandfather or great grandfather and for us to take on the responsibility of caring for these family items for the foreseeable future. During July, we received a visit from Old Boy, Ralph Faamalepe-Jones (Class of 1984) and his wife Mandy. Mandy’s grandfather, Allan Carlton Elliott, (1908-1909), was one of many who served in WWI where he was attached to the NZ Rifle Brigade (Wellington Division) and was awarded the Military Medal for acts of bravery on the battlefield at Passchendaele, October 1917. Lance Sergeant Elliott took command during an advance when his platoon officer was killed and continued the advance ‘with the utmost skill’ until he was wounded.
Alan Quartermain (Class of 1953 and Firth House) visited the College with his son Leslie. Alan was the son of Leslie Quartermain, who was on the staff from 1930 to 1956 where he was Head of English and in charge of the Library. He was also a leading authority of Antarctica and author of several books on Antarctica.
After studying for a BAgSci at Massey in 1958, he then completed his PhD in Animal Breeding in the USA in 1965. Alan was a research scientist at Ruakura Animal Research Station. From 1970 to 1974 he worked at the University of Zambia. From 1974 to 1981 he was Associate Professor in animal production at the University of Papua New Guinea. In 2011, he was awarded Officer of the Order of Logohu (OL) – Papua New Guinea Honours.
Wayne Deterte (Class of 1969) brought in a piece of West School building history which was demolished in 1977. His father Morrie Deterte (Class of 1945) rescued a large newel post from the West School stairway that led to the upstairs Library.
From 1981 to 2022, Alan continued to work, consult and advise for numerous organisations and published over 150 articles and reports on animal production. He has now retired to Feilding.
Ralph Faamalepe-Jones, and wife Mandy in the Archives. He would certainly have been killed when another bullet struck the metal matchbox cover in his breast pocket. Mandy also gave us several letters and postcards written by the Headmaster J. P. Firth to Allan and his father at the time. Mandy plans, in due course, to also donate her grandfather’s medals to the Archives.
News from the ARCHIVES
MATTHEW BEATTIE: 1954 - 2019 Servant WellingtonLeaderCollege: 1970 - 1972 Head Prefect 1972 WCOBA President: 1998-2000 and 2014-2019 Soldier and Company Director Matthew started Wellington College in the 5th Form (Y11). He was well-built and tall for his age and played in the 1st XV rugby for three years. In his last year he was a popular Head Prefect. In his day, the only connection between a Prefect and a junior student was when a Prefect gave the junior a detention. Matthew and the other prefects wanted to change that. We soon realised that detentions achieved little. As seniors we gained far more respect and friendship through rational reasoning with juniors. Some changes were made. Juniors began to talk freely with seniors about everyday life. They now ask questions that before they were afraid to ask for fear of being made to look stupid. Matthew didn’t think leadership was about being the front man or performing upon a stage. For him it was about building a stage for others. He believed in duty and that duty was a privilege and not a burden. He called it servant leadership and practiced it his whole life. Matthew passed away in 2019 at the age of 65. In his memory, his family donated The Matthew Beattie Award for Manaakitanga. This award is for a student who, without holding a formal leadership position, has contributed to the school community by their acts of Manaakitanga which reflect their respect, kindness, consideration and care for others. If you ever get the chance to lead, remember that you’re in the service of others.
The University of Otago Graeme and Mary Fogelberg Entrance Scholarship
• The applicants’ academic achievements while attending Wellington College; and
Shortland Chambers Law firm (Auckland) were delighted to announce that junior barrister, Rayhan Langdana (Head Prefect, 2011) has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to undertake his postgraduate study in the United States. The Fulbright programme was founded by Senator J William Fulbright in 1946 in an attempt to promote cross-cultural exchange in the wake of World War II. Previous New Zealand recipients of Fulbright Awards include Judges, Prime Ministers, professors, and several Members of Chambers. Rayhan joined Shortland Chambers as a junior barrister in 2019 and will begin his LLM at UC Berkeley in August 2022. Rayhan will complete a Master of Laws in electoral law at the University of California, in Berkeley, California. Rayhan graduated with an LLB (Hons) and a BA in History and Politics in 2018 from the University of Auckland.
The Matthew Beattie Scholarship
Fulbright Scholarship takes former Head Prefect to the USA
Wellington College: 1953-1957 University of Otago Vice Chancellor: 1994-2004 Graeme had an academic background in business, then rare in New Zealand university leadership. He graduated and lectured in accountancy at Victoria University before completing an MBA and PhD at the University of Western Ontario. He returned to Victoria as Professor of Business Administration and was Deputy VC there before taking on the Otago job in Established1994.
• The applicants’ involvement in sporting, cultural, or other community, or extra-curricular activities; and
• The applicant’s proposed programme of study.
Students to benefit from two recently-added scholarships, donated by two esteemed Old Boys
GRAEME FOGELBERG CNZM
in 2021 from a generous gifting of funds from former University of Otago Vice-Chancellor, Graeme Fogelberg and his wife Mary Fogelberg, this scholarship supports students from Wellington College who exhibit leadership potential to undertake first-year undergraduate studies at the University of Otago.
The 2021 inaugural recipient was Isaiah Opai. Isaiah was the College’s 2021 Pasifika and Māori Sportsman of the Year, and was a member of the College’s 1st XV, McEvedy Team, played for the NZ Fijian Schools’ 7s team, CSW Touch Player of the Year and a Prefect.
In conjunction with his presentation at the National Library, Rayhan came to visit Wellington College, and following a tour of the school, met with some of his former teachers and with Headmaster, Glen Denham. Rayhan then spoke briefly to the Y13 students, fondly recalling his time at Wellington College, and wished the 2022 cohort all the best as they strive for success in whatever they choose to do past school.
The Headmaster of Wellington College will convene a selection committee to select a recipient of this scholarship based on the following criteria:
Andy was also pictured beside the Roll of Honour with the names of Old Boys, far, far too many of them, who lost their lives during the First World War. He’s holding the sword of Captain Alex McColl, who was killed in action on 2 June 1916, on the Western Front. McColl Street, Vogeltown, is named after him. His, and his College mates' stories are superbly told in Wellington College History teacher and historian, Colm McNulty's book, A Brotherhood So Splendid.
Old Boys state of bliss in the Sunshine State
Old Boys also living in the state will be most welcome at the next gathering – get in touch: oldboys@wc.school.nz
The film has been selected for Cannes Film Festival Docs-in-progress and examines institutional failures that have enabled human rights abuses to continue inside Gloriavale for decades.
Darrin Wilkinson (Class of 1982) recently meeting up in Sarasota with fellow Floridians. (L-R): Darrin Wilkinson, Geoff Bridges (Class of 1965), and John Pether (Class of 1963). They all look like they are living the dream and enjoying the Wellington College connection.
Mayor Andy Foster (Class of 1979) returned to Wellington College to feature in the video to promote the push for upgraded accommodation for the Wellington College Archives. He said, The Archives are a treasure trove, full of artefacts, memorabilia and stories from College Old Boys and Staff - sportsmen, politicians, Governors' General and soldiers.
I want to do much more to tell our stories, the stories of our forebears. it adds richness, understanding, and I think pride in who we are and in where we have come from. Wellington City Council is working on a Heritage and Identity Strategy which we will develop with input from mana whenua, heritage groups, and the wider community. We have many treasure troves around our city which can contribute to this, and Wellington College's Archives are undoubtedly one.
The filming and compilation of the stories is being managed by WCOBA Executive Member, Richard Boag and the completed documentary will feature shortly on our new website.
Andy is pictured with Richard Boag (Class of 19981) in the Archives which is too small and is earthquake prone.
Enlightening, heartrending doco lifts the veil on 'NZ's secret cult'
Wellington Mayor returns to his old school Filmmaker, Fergus Grady (Class of 2004) has a new documentary film called Gloriavale which premièred in Wellington through the NZ International Film Festival and will then open in cinemas around the Fergus,country.below left, and Noel Smyth previously made Camino Skiesabout six strangers walking the 800km Camino de Santiago.
More Than A Game
Ben Johnson (Class of 2006) and Robbie Lawton (Class of 2007) are the co-founders of Werk Agency and were listed as a finalist for the Emerging Gold Services award at this year's Wellington Gold Awards. Ben (the Creative Director) and Robbie (the Marketing Director) own Werk Agency, a creative and marketing agency on Cuba Street, and have a growing team of 12 staff.
Ben said, it is incredible recognition for our dream team of creatives and marketers, and we are honoured to have been acknowledged for the results and work we do for our amazing clients. The two started their company months before the world was thrown into lockdown during a global pandemic – great timing! Nevertheless, they put their heads down and helped their small client base. Covering both marketing and creative, they worked with their clients through a period of great uncertainty and helped them develop new direct-toconsumer strategies and substantially increase their online revenue. If you are looking at ways to improve your own business, get in touch with Ben and Robbie. Make sure you mention you are an Old Boy! www.werkagency.co or hello@werkagency.co
Rugby, Reunions and Reminiscing
All in a day’s Werk
The purpose of the group is to find ways to utilise the positive power of sport to empower people and create positive change within our community. We are taking the approach of creating community solutions to community problems.
Our congratulations to Tim Brown (Class of 1975) who won the ‘Welly Business Section at the 2021 WELLY AWARDS Ceremony (postponed to earlier this year). Tim, as the Chair of Wellington Airport and the face of ‘Infratil’ recently retired after 27 years as part of the team at this major investment company.
As our first project, myself and 27 friends including other Wellington College Old Boys Khoi Dinh (Class of 2006), Ashad Langdana (Class of 2016) and current teacher Vishan Appanna will be attempting to set the new Guinness World Record for the 'Longest Marathon Indoor Football (Soccer) Match.' The current record is set at 36 hours and our playing group aims to smash it by playing non-stop for 45 hours. While setting a world record is a good reason for the record attempt, the main reason we are taking on the record is to raise funds to provide greater access to counselling for the more vulnerable members of our community. The record attempt will take place over the weekend of Friday, 18 November - Sunday 20 November at the Boyd Wilson Arena at Victoria University of Wellington and will be live streamed for people to watch If you are interested in how you can support our cause and efforts please contact Karl via email at morethanagamenz@gmail.com or give him a call on 021-082-95700.
1966 1st XV Team Members (L-R): Lloyd Powell, Wayne Carleton, Brett Windley, Richard Laurenson, Mark Oram, Dave Halliday, John Saunders and David Howman.
1962 1st XV Team Members (L-R): John Myers, Rick Ronald, Richard Bramwell, Jeremy Cooper, Bruce Waddel, Clark Pollitt and Dave Heather.
In conjunction with the Whanganui Tournament, players from two former 1st XVs gathered to remember their ‘Quad at Collegiate’. The 1962 team played Collegiate first up, winning 6-3. The game against Nelson in the final saw the exact same score, with a win to Wellington College. Four years later, the 1966 team played in the final against Collegiate and won 14-8 (They beat Christ’s 18-6 in the first game). Members from both teams enjoyed catching up and reminiscing on their rugby playing days and were vocal supporters at this year’s matches. Marvellous that 56 and 60 years on, the camaraderie remains just as much as their passion for their old school.
Karl Moresi (Head Prefect, Class of 2009) is a co-founder and board member of a newly formed group called More Than A Game (MTAG).
We are taught and learn from the experience of others to look for ourselves and examine what’s there, to see what’s being shown and from the seeds being sown to think for ourselves, to mean what we say and say what we mean, become better tuned, to hear what is said and see what can be done, to take part in what happens within and around us, to care about others and think of their needs; We are taught and learn with our eyes and our ears, to then in our thoughts and our deeds, read and study, explore and examine, research and inquire, audit, critique and review what we have done, and in judging, broaden our outlook and deepen our drive; As it is both within our work and without that others to us have given their trust, we must for them and to better ourselves, foster our vision and open our minds, keep abreast and aware and continue to learn, to show that we do listen; we can and will help and that we continue to care.
It was many years later before I realised that this light does come, that it dawns on us through a wide range of interacting factors, and that it can come in one or more of several forms. Moreover, I’ve come to appreciate more and more that for each of us, whatever that light turns out to be, it’s how we see and act on it that matters in life. ‘Accepi’ does after all translate as ‘receive’ and/or ‘accept’.
Barry Johns (Class of 1959) has recently written a paperback book titled Random. It is a moving and sensitive compilation which ties together certain life experiences and events in a personal history. Topics included are: Samoan Diary, Sabbatical (France), Jem (a special dog), The Making of a Barrel of Wine, recent writings, my painting and personal philosophy. The book has 218 pages and includes 31 photo and painting images. The Polynesian image on the front cover is taken from a painting by Barry. The price for this special book is $35.00 + postage if any ($5.60 within NZ) for direct sales. Orders by email to bj@oogywawa.co.nz
‘Random’ Book Release KeepTouch!in
Iexpect that for many of us, ‘What’s In A Motto?’, (Lampstand, December 2021, Issue # 10; p.12) will have pulled back the curtain of time and had us reflecting on the years gone by. Those College words (lumen accepi et imperti (take the light and pass it on) truly do hold so much wisdom.
By way of saying thank you to Wellington College for what you helped to instil in me and in the hope it might resonate with others who have also benefited from their College years, I’d like to express it this way:
NZ HERALD
Steph Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer, Email: oldboys@wc.school.nz
Six years to create 'the' book on New Zealand's basketball history
FOSTERING VISION
If you have any news, touchpleaseor2022includeanfeedbackmemories,orobituarytointheLampstandsocialmedia,getinwith
I for one, Robin Philipp (Class of 1960), [and residing in England], am often reminded of the motto and sitting through the many different gatherings in what was then the Assembly Hall. Instead of concentrating on whatever was going on, I not infrequently used to find myself absorbed in the wonder of the large stained glass window with its College seal and my attempts to interpret the Latin motto underneath it. It just did not seem possible that from the mix of subjects we were being taught in class, I could possibly become enlightened in any way such that something might take hold and then in time be of use to anyone else.
For six years Roger Booth (Class of 1962) has given most of his time to creating an authoritative history of Basketball in New Zealand. History of New Zealand Basketball is hitting book shop shelves after a series of nationwide launches/reunions throughout June and July. Roger's love of the game started when he was in the third form at Wellington College in 1958. As part of Roger’s research, he met with former national captain and Wellington College’s new Headmaster, Glen Denham. Roger said, Glen was the most incredible person I've ever interviewed. I could ask him about any player he had been associated with and he could tell me everything about them from exactly what they did on the court, what they were like as an individual, to their background. To order a copy of the book, which is $60.00, email Roger via chrisrog@outlook.com
A Personal Reflection on the Motto
Back in April, Sam was again in the headlines. He must have one of the most enviable jobs in the world, when he was the Caddy at the US Masters in Augusta for Australian, Cam Smith. Sam has had a lucrative few weeks when Cam won the unofficial fifth major of the season –you can google what Sam collected as the winning caddie.
RSVP to Richard Boag (Class of 1981) by email rboag@outlook.co.nz to confirm your attendance and deposit $125 into this account: TSB: 15-3971-0148933-00 using reference ‘Initials/Surname’. You can also call Richard on 021 522 257.
There will be a cash bar, however, included in the ticket price will be an initial allocation of sponsored wine on each of the tables. OBU extend an invitation to Auckland-based Old Boys, in particular, those associated with WCOB and Varsity to attend the PleaseLunch.
It was a great English Summer for Old Boy, Tom Blundell (Class of 2008), with his third test century for the Black Caps, against England at Trent Bridge in June. Together with Daryl Mitchell, the pair made 236 in the partnership. Their efforts also became the highest New Zealand stand in England, beating Martin Crowe and Bruce Edgar’s 210 in 1986 at Lords. Congratulations, Tom on an outstanding effort.
Sam learned to play golf at Whitby Golf Club and went on to play most of his golf at Manor Park representing the Club in the Duncan Cup competition. He also represented Wellington at Junior level but by the age of 22, he knew he wasn’t going to be a professional. Therefore he moved across to the Gold Coast and took up a golf position at Royal Pines. There he worked for 18-months before he started caddying for Brad Iles when he competed on the Nationwide Tour in 2007.
The WCOBA community were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Don Neely MNZM MBE. Husband to retired Wellington College Archivist, Paddianne Neely, Don gave much of his time to our Archives, working on such projects as the history of the Quadrangular Tournament, Archival displays, and research for our Lampstands Don dedicated his life to cricket as a notable player, cricket historian, and author, a life member of NZC, a trustee of the New Zealand Cricket Museum, and former President of NZC and Cricket HeWellington.alsospent 14 years as a New Zealand selector, including seven as convener of selectors. In 2008, the new Basin Reserve scoreboard was unveiled and named after Don in his honour. It was another good day at the office in July for Old Boy Caddie: With a remarkable five successive birdies to start the back nine, Cam Smith – whose caddie is Old Boy, Sam Pinfold (Class of 2002) –chased down ‘home hope’ Rory McIlroy, to become the first Australian since Greg Norman at Royal St George's in 1993, to claim the famous Claret Jug in winning the Open Championship at St Andrews.
OLD BOYS’ UNIVERSITY RUGBY CLUB will be hosting a Lunch in Auckland at the Remuera Club, 27-33 Ohinerau Street, Remuera on Friday, 26 August at 12 noon for 12.30pm. Cost: $125 per person Bryan Waddle (Class of 1966), known as the voice of New Zealand Cricket and All Black, Conrad Smith are the main guest speakers.
Who's your Caddy?
Sam has been able to travel the world with the game he loves. The passion and professionalism he brings to his duties caddying for Cam Smith on the PGA Tour have been crafted over the years, carrying the bag for many players including a previous major champion. He is well-recognised on tour for his work ethic and professionalism but it hasn’t been a smooth pathway to the PGA Tour. He has paid his dues, taken opportunities, met a lot of great players and established strong, brotherly friendships with fellow PGA caddies.
Hurricanes flyer, Wes Goosen signs to play for Edinburgh in Scotland Howzat for Tom!
Lang may yer lum reek [We wish you good luck and good fortune for the future]. Edinburgh Rugby have bolstered their back-three options for next season by signing the Hurricanes winger, Wes Goosen [Class of 2013]. Wes, who can also play outside-centre, has scored 30 tries in 66 Super Rugby appearances for the Hurricanes since making his debut in 2016.
Another ‘Golden’ Year for Rower Congratulations to NZ Men’s 8 Gold Medalist, Phillip Wilson (Class of 2014) who was awarded The Les Mills Hutt City Sportsman of the Year 2022 and also took out the Supreme Award. Following that award, Phillip then went on to win the Supreme Award at the Dominion Post Sport and Recreation Awards of 2022. He also took out the Sportsman of the Year category. To top off his award-winning year, Phillip also won the Welly Sports Section at the 2021 WELLY AWARDS Ceremony (postponed to earlier this year).
Most of us start out as slender backs and move into the front row eventually. Kemara HauitiParapara (Class of 2014) has gone the other way. There is not much of the Otago halfback. He would be 82kg dripping wet and would not last five minutes up front these days. But the 25-year-old Wellingtonian says he was a little chunkier once. Perhaps he was pulling our leg, but he blames the trip to school. The bus stop was right outside some shops and his go-to was chicken and chips. I started off playing rugby as a prop, he said. I’m serious. I worked my way out through all the forwards to halfback. It was hard because the bus stop was right outside the bakeries and you could pay for food with your bus card. So I’d be like, ‘Mum, I need some more bus money and I’d be spending it at the bakery every day’.
Kemara was an active young man, who was a talented softballer and also enjoyed a lot of success at waka ama.
For six weeks, Naitoa moved back too and was able to enjoy all there is (sleepless nights included) about being a new father
the bench for a game against the Blues. The attitude was 'just get me out there'. His Super Rugby career began with four wins from his first six games.
Softball was my No1 sport. I have a lot of friends playing and they call me back in every now and then for a game or two. But the seasons sort of overlapped and I struggled to stay fit in the softball season because you were just standing around in the field eating pies. I was a much better softballer player than a rugby player, he said.
The 2022 season was by far the busiest Naitoa has been. He played 14 times for the Chiefs. Only three of his outings were as a starter but he gained a measure of social media stardom after one. He was named manof-the-match after a win over the Rebels and delivered an interview that covered nail-painting, Stevie Nicks and Tim Horan's nickname. Naitoa is currently playing club rugby with the Bay of Plenty Steamers. 2023 is a World Cup year and, for Ah Kuoi, it is already looming large in his mind.
Phillip joined the Petone Rowing Club in 2015 and quickly showed his passion for rowing and its values through hard work and dedication. He always makes the effort to catch up with younger members of the Petone Rowing Club and often takes the opportunity to get on the water with them for a training row.
Otago’s diminutive halfback no lightweight on the paddock
Regardless, he made the decision to focus on rugby and it turned out to be a good decision. He captained the Wellington College 1st XV in his last year at school and was part of the New Zealand team which won the U20 World Championship in Georgia in 2017.
The 2020 Super Rugby season was scrubbed, due to the pandemic, but Super Rugby Aotearoa was keeping the (flood) lights on in a rugby-obsessed country. Naitoa made his first four Chiefs starts but the team lost all eight games and finished bottom of the standings. 2021 went much better, for the Chiefs and their ever-improving young lock. Naitoa started six of the eight games he featured in as the Chiefs reached the final, losing to the imperious Crusaders.
At a time when rugby needs genuine characters, Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Class of 2017) could not have timed it better. Naitoa proudly displays 'Mum' on his head-gear, his father, Ken, is his rugby hero, he speaks from the heart, sings Stevie Nicks in interviews, loves Bob Marley and paints his nails. He is pretty handy at rugby, too. It is the lock's third Super Rugby season and he has relocated to Tauranga for a club rugby stint. The 22-year-old is dead-set on being an All Black. His earliest rugby memories and his first rugby hero are both connected with his club - Marist St Pat's. He would go along and watch his dad play, then the premier team and also play his own game every Saturday, from when he was five until he was 12. His brothers and sisters played rugby, basketball and netball but he had his eyes trained on making it as a rugby professional. He played age grade rugby, lined out for Wellington College and made the NZ Schools’ set-up. He made one NZU20s in 2019 but, hampered by an injury, missed out on going to the World Rugby U20 Champs. Never in my whole life did I ever think I'd leave Wellington, he adds. My dream, growing up, was to play for the Wellington Lions and then play Super Rugby with the Hurricanes. With no offer forthcoming from Hurricanes, as 2019 was winding down, Naitoa signed with the Chiefs for the 2020 season. It was his first time moving away from home and it was to Hamilton, a place he jokes that 'no one ever goes holidaying to'. His partner, Kayla Rangiawha, was pregnant with the couple's twins so he was allowed to do much of his pre-season training back home. He moved out of his family home and straight in with his partner and their family. Naitoa made his professional rugby debut at the end of January, 2020. He was named on Naitoa ‘Nails It’!
Kemara played his one and only game for the Hurricanes against the British and Irish Lions that year as well, and he has played 43 games for Wellington in the NPC. He got an opportunity in France with Oyonnax in the Rugby Pro D2 league. When he returned he was at a loose end until an opportunity opened up with Otago, making his debut for the province in the heartbreaking 23-22 loss to Counties-Manukau.
Life was looking good and he was preparing for his first away trip to South Africa when the Covid-19 pandemic started hitting hard and New Zealand went into a stringent lockdown. The plan had been, initially, for Kayla and the twins - Rylee and Reegan - to come up to Hamilton but all the restrictions meant it was best for her, as a young mother, to stay home and get all the support the young family needed there.
• work exploration – what might be of interest to the student in the world of work?
• work experience – extended work shadowing (e.g. following an employee for 2 – 3 days to get an understanding of the role); work experience placement where a student works in a work place for an extended period of time (this is the model of the current Gateway programme but this can be expanded beyond the traditional trades focus); mentoring. In addition to meeting the needs of the students of Wellington College, we are very aware of the need to give our teachers the opportunity to get informed and updated about how their subject areas can be seen in action in the workplace. This would enable them to talk with students in an informed way about where the subject can take them. We are keen to get this process underway but are conscious of the need to start slowly in order to build a programme which is sustainable, and which can grow as we build our capacity to manage and coordinate it. In the first instance, we are looking for people who are willing to participate so that with the WCOBA, we can build a database of people who we can contact to support our students. Our goal is to have coverage of all six Vocational Pathways. Our initial focus will be on Year 12 – 13 students with a view to expanding coverage as we build capacity and finalise a school wide career education plan.
• enable students to gain skills, confidence and knowledge and have the experiences that enable them to make informed decisions and choices about their pathways; and
• work experience – testing and refining interests and preferences in the world of work
• work exposure – visits to classroom to talk about particular roles, connections with subjects, larger companies
CALL TO ACTION! If you are interested in being part of this programme please complete the form by clicking HERE Social Community&Services InfrastructureConstruction& Manufacturing&Technology (FoodIndustriesPrimary&Fibre) IndustriesService IndustriesCreative
National and international research points to the importance of young people having first-hand experience of the workplace in building their knowledge and awareness of opportunities. This experience can be broadly classified as: • work exposure – what is interesting about the world of work?
The purpose of Wellington College Careers and Transition Department is to:
• provide staff and the school community with opportunities to gain the skills, develop the knowledge and confidence, and have the experiences that enable them to support student choice and decision making.
While the Archives team were in Whanganui, they managed to get some of the boys in the above photo named. The photo was taken in 1954 at the Tournament in Whanganui. 1. Charlie Anderson 2. Graeme Fogelberg 3. Hugh Williams 4. John Strong 5. Ron Beveridge 6. Ross Macdonald 7. Chas Pitt 8. Rodney Ashton. Let us know if you can put a name to any other faces.
Wellington College Careers And Transition Department
Mentoring programme gets underway highlighting a diversity of opportunities, unusual/unfamiliar roles; small group visits to workplaces; speed dating • work exploration – visits to school for interviews with students about roles, skills sets and career journey; mock interviews; student visits to businesses to observe, talk with employees with differing roles and experience;
• support students as they progress through and beyond school
Hamish Davidson is the new Head of Department having commenced at the beginning of Term Two this year. Hamish comes to Wellington College after seven years as Head of Pathways | Ngā Huarahi at Aotea College. Prior to that, he had experience at WelTec, the Ministry of Education and senior leadership at Onslow and Upper Hutt Colleges. With the other members of the department, Hamish is working to review the programmes and processes within the Department to ensure that they reflect best practice and are able to respond to changing circumstances and the pandemic induced uncertainty faced by many students.
We are seeking to work with the Old Boys’ network to start giving our students the workplace experience needed to inform their pathway planning. This could include:
Head UpdatePrefect’s ± I was speaking to one of our Old Boys outside of our school gates on Tuesday morning. He said he had been a student in the ‘80s and he had never been back. I asked him why, and he said that he felt that he had had his time and that none of his teachers were there now. We wandered up the drive and he marvelled at the new turf and the new indoor cricket facility being built. He told me a few stories of his time here and thanked me for showing him Iaround.saidto him that my job was to serve, love and care for our current boys but, importantly, to make sure that our Old Boys still see this as their home. I told him that I tell our students to take a piece of the school with them (not literally.) Over time they will have absorbed not only information, knowledge and skills, but also values, culture and history. I want them to take that experience and use it to make a difference in the world. He said he will get in touch with our Old Boys’ Association and reconnect. I finished by saying, Staying in touch with the people we went to school with is really important. Only they (and our families) knew us as children. Keeping in touch with our real self will help us to be honest and true, so don’t lose the friends you made at school Our Old Boys are like streetlights along the road. They don't make the distance any shorter, but they light up the path and make the walk worthwhile. Receive the light and pass it on.
Clipboard
Kia ora koutou Continuing our work with our College Archives, we are now planning to put up photos of old groups, such as the Prefects, the 1st XV, 1st XIs representing Hockey, Cricket and Football, the McEvedy Shield Team, up on the walls in the Maths and Science Block corridors. We are also working to find interesting memorabilia and information to add to assemblies, such as old Scholars Boards and sports Ourequipment.school’s supporter culture has grown greatly this year, and we have had many big turnouts to important Friday night and Saturday games, with some loud chants, old and new. We hope to have a big turnout at the Football and Basketball finals this week. Later this year, we aim to reimplement the house system at Wellington College. This is to increase extra-curricular participation and increase the sense of belonging which is so important at our school. The five new houses will be named after relevant Māori place-names around our school.
GLEN DENHAM, HEADMASTER
The
We have tremendoushad support from our Old Boys over the years. I have spent time with a number of them, and it is always a huge pleasure. I can hear and feel their passion for Wellington College, and their aroha and pride for our current boys. I can’t thank them enough for their support and continued interest and commitment to their College. Our current boys love to see Old Boys at Wellington College and at cultural, arts and sporting events. They appreciate the Old Boys who went before them and they are always determined to make them proud. They know the legacy that our Old Boys have forged. We have a number of sports semifinals and finals coming up over the next few weeks and, if you are an Old Boy reading this, we would welcome your attendance. Wellington College will always be your Theschool.diversity of destinations from where our Old Boys have come and what our Old Boys do continues to set the bar for our current students. Every occupation or vocation is covered by the 22,000 active Old Boys that we have. I like to think that Wellington College is like Tāne Mahuta, in the Waipoua Forest. The branches, like our Old Boys, grow in a thousand different directions, tall and strong, and covering a vast section of the commercial, educational, sporting, health, philanthropic and political landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. The trunk and the roots remain connected and in the same soil
SCHOOL News 19 August 2022
HARRY ZANGOUROPOULOS SENIOR A BASKETBALL MAKE PREMIER FINAL
A comprehensive 105-85 victory over HIBS has seen the Senior A team qualify for the Premier Final against St Patrick’s (Silverstream) this Friday, 26 August at the ASB Sports Centre in Kilbirnie at 7.30pm.
SCHOOL News
OPINION: IT HAS BEEN A BIG FORTNIGHT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A POLITICAL BENT. Last week 120 Youth MPs sat and were reported on by 19 members of the Youth Press Gallery under the watch of the first Youth Clerk or Youth Parliamentary CEO. In the week before that, the slick, well-funded campaign to lower the voting age to 16 was heard in the Supreme Court. “Youth” are seeking a declaration that the voting age of 18 is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights. Being one of the Youth MPs privileged to sit in the big green chairs, I will not and cannot support lowering the voting age to 16. The two days of the Youth Parliament and what followed proves to me that some need to practise what they preach. Many who spoke passionately about the need for their voice to be mine, not Matt’s. They believe in free speech so long as it’s their speech that is free. This is not our liberal democracy the Youth Parliament is meant to champion. Storming out and having temper tantrums is not the Kiwi way. Having a contest of ideas is. Right from day one, some Youth MPs made it clear that, if things weren’t done their way, they’d act. One boasted during a break that, if anyone did anything he deemed “racist”, he would do a haka in the chamber. Some wanted to annoy the Speaker in the hope of being ejected from the Remember,chamber.this is from people who claim they’re mature enough to vote at 16. It makes it clear to me that they want the rights of an adult but none of the responsibilities, such as tolerance and respect for another’s opinion. We heard plenty of speeches on mental health, racism, Māori self-determination, beneficiary debt write-offs, rape culture, CV skills, and of course, Make It 16. Another Youth MP, whose motion was refused by the Speaker, stormed out in a huff. When it was my chance, I spoke on youth paediatric services, being someone with a lifelong chronic condition and having had a life-threatening disease. I’ve got scars, but wanted to speak up for those who did not have this awesome opportunity. I wanted to raise the absolute need to end an age barrier in healthcare that denies those under 16 access to “adult specialists”, despite chronic conditions being no respecters of age. Not every area can have a Starship, so we must deliver to all patients, wherever they are, the full expertise of doctors, irrespective of age. By not doing this, we are paying the price in social and other health costs. Never mind in prisons. It’s easy to look for problems, but another to advance solutions not slogans. This is why the voting age must remain at 18. When it comes to healthcare, “Don’t Make It 16” is a campaign I’d back. heard and for compulsory civics education showed an uncivil intolerance for our democracy. The event that highlighted this for me was a pre-planned walkout, when Matthew Fisken, the Youth MP for ACT’s Nicole McKee, stood to make a speech on firearms. A number of Youth MPs left the chamber as he started to speak. Did I agree with everything Matt said? No, but some of it I did. This was his speech on a matter important to him and he deserved the right to be Norheard.didIagree with all that other Youth MPs said, but I didn’t disrespect them or the Youth Parliament by walking out. Did I believe Matt had an equal right to be heard? Absolutely. It shows that some who want to be heard at age 16 want only their voice to be heard. Not The 1st XI Football team have made the final of the CSW Premier competition against HIBS and are looking to win back-to-back titles. It would brilliant to see Old Boys there helping the team with your support!
Earlier this year, National Party Deputy Leader, Nicola Willis introduced her Youth MP - James Broome-Isa, a Y13 student at Wellington College. A very special young man, said Nicola, who has had health challenges throughout his life that have seen him in and out of hospital for long periods, including a recent battle with cancer. I was so moved by James's application to be my youth MP, and his mission to use his experiences to advocate for others, excerpted below. "Many of the sick youth of this city do not have a voice. They might be in a place where they are concentrating all their efforts on facing down their illness. I have been there. They might still be too small to stand up and be heard. I have been there too. Even though a new hospital building is being provided, there are still gaps in the provision of services and access to services that I would appreciate the opportunity to highlight. I believe my experiences bring a unique insight into this world. And if I can use my voice and the opportunity at the Youth Parliament to shine a spotlight into this world to make it better for others, I would very much appreciate it." Good on you James. I have learnt a lot from you already. I'm so glad to give you this opportunity to further your mission to improve the way our health system delivers for children and families. When the Youth Parliament gathered in July, James gave his speech to the House, as follows: I'm 17, but I can't support lowering the voting age.
Wednesday, 24 August @ 7:30pm at Petone Memorial Park.
Magical Musician Sporting Honours
BASKETBALL: Senior A ‘Young guns’ make NZ team. Dov Silberstein and Troy Plumtree have been selected for the NZ U15 Basketball team to go to Guam in November for the U15 FIBA Oceania Championships.
Last year, he was the principal cellist of the NZ Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra as well as the principal cellist for the NZSO National Youth Orchestra. In 2019, he performed the Haydn D major piano concerto with the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta, and in 2020 he performed the first movement of Grieg's piano concerto with the Hutt Valley Orchestra. After this, he performed the first movement of Grieg’s piano concerto with the NZSO in their Young Artists Showcase. In September this year, he will play in concerts at the Martinborough Music Festival for its fifth anniversary. In his spare time, Benjamin enjoys mountain biking, reading and darts.
FLOOR BALL: Four Wellington College students have been selected for the NZ U19 Floorball Team. Congratulations to Aston Ash, Sam Elkin, Kester Law and Tobey Ulrich. They will play at the ASB in September against Singapore and Australia hoping to gain qualification for the World Champs in Copenhagen in 2023.
POWER-LIFTING: Congratulations to Harry Sheng (Y13) who has been selected for the NZ team to compete in the World Junior Powerlifting Championships due to be held in Istanbul in September.
FENCING: Congratulations to Joel Ball - NZ Representative at Fencing Joel Ball Lahood (Yr 11) has been selected for the NZ U17 Fencing Champs. In July, he represented NZ at the Oceania and Australian Cadet Championships in Sydney, and in August the Commonwealth Fencing Championships in London.
ATHLETICS: Congratulations to Para-athlete Corran Hanning for winning the Emerging Talent Award at the Blind Sport New Zealand Sports Awards. Competing in multiple track and field events against both able-bodied and Para athletes at regional and national level competitions, it’s hard to adequately describe Corran’s achievements. He has already achieved a dizzying array of medal wins, records, titles and PB’s in an exceptionally wide range of events: 100m, 200m, 400m, Shotput, Discus and Javelin. Corran currently holds National Para Records for Junior boys at 100m, 200m, 400m, Shotput, Discus and Javelin, and at the 2021 North Island Secondary Schools Athletics Championships he also finished in the top six out of all of the Senior Boys in both Shotput and Discus. With a rare combination of speed and power, Corran is a true allrounder, and we look forward to watching his development in track and field events in the coming years. Once he begins to compete in open level events, there will be a few current NZ record holders watching his performances closely!
BADMINTON: The Senior A badminton beat Scots to retain the Dean Galt Trophy as winners of the CSW Premier Championship. With four Y12 students and a Y11 student, this bodes well for Team WC over the next couple of years. The team is Alex Galt (Captain), Kavin Cumarasundaram, Rex Wong, Rick Wong and Lavindu Perera. Alex took the Silver Medal in the Individual Champs.
Benjamin Carter has played piano, cello, and ukulele from a young age. He is currently a Year 12 student at Wellington College, where he has been awarded many prizes for artistic excellence. He studies piano with Jian Liu and cello with Eleanor Carter. Benjamin has previously had cello lessons with Jane Young, and piano lessons with: Beverley Mosley (his grandmother), Eleanor Carter, Douglas Mews, Stephen de Pledge, and Freddy Kempf. He has played cello in the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta and currently plays in the Wellington Youth Orchestra. Just this week, Benjamin was part of the NZSO Young Artists Showcase - a concert of works from secondary school students across New Zealand who played alongside the NZSO musicians.
CRICKET: Marco Muollo (Ngāi Tahu) has been selected for the New Zealand Māori Secondary Schools’ Cricket team. He will be the first Wellington College student to represent at this level. Marco will travel to Auckland and will stay at Orakei Marae, Takaparawhau (Bastion Point) with both the NZ boys and girls teams in January 2023. They are scheduled to play three matches.
The recent Unity Concert - a new student initiated performance evening showcased the richness of cultural diversity in our school community. This was a fantastic night, full of colour, music, dance, humour and celebration!
SCHOOL News
