School Diary

PREFECTS 1982

Back Row (left to right): S.A. Arrell, A.O. Scott, J.M. Perrott, T.W. Crawford, T. Allen. Middle Row: T.A. Heron, S.L. Rees-Thomas, P. Domanski, A.J. Cowie, M.F. Lau Young, A. Spackman, R.J. Sim. Front Row: R.P. Duncan, P. Lima, R.J. Boon, Mr H.G. Rees-Thomas, G.J. Coldham, R.B. Hunt, T. Gongsakdi.

February 1: High hopes, happy hearts, wonderful resolutions. First day back for senior school ...

February 2: Third formers find that all their fears are groundless on their first day.

February 3: A quart into a pint pot — first assembly, and scores have to stand. Prefects are introduced to the school.

February 5: Quest for a champion = Third Form sports.

February 8: All systems go.

February 9: Fierce winds and the hottest day — 32° — for years. Not designed to help studies.

February 11: Third formers are introduced to the musical life of the school.

February 16-18: Sports preliminaries — hard ground and fierce wind make it all rather difficult.

February 20: School Council again runs parking arrangements for cricket match, New Zealand v Australia. Some compensation for our day of cricketing shame, about $260.

February 24: School sports finals held in intermittent showers, heavy rain and high humidity — not a vintage event for competitors, spectators or talent scouts.

February 26: Quadrangular swimming tournament. We again won our fair share of titles, and more.

March 2: Quadrangular athletics at Newtown Park. Success! But third and fourth formers spend the afternoon in hall instead of watching sports. Message — don’t trifle with Mr Gardiner!

March 3-4: Biscuits roll in for Parents Association fundraising. Intention — catering at New Zealand Motocross Championships.

March 7: Athletics at Rathkeale College.

March 8-9: Cricket, tennis and debating — Napier Boys’ High School here and we go to Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

March 11-12: Athletic team, or part of it, holidaying in the sunny south. What a lovely life!

March 15-16: First eleven just loses cliff hanger to New Plymouth Boys’ High. Still, New Zealand won the Test.

March 17: By this time the pavilion is bulging with old phone books collected for School Council funds.

March 18: School builds up to McEvedy Shield fever again as hundreds of supporters prepare for the day.

March 20: Great support for McEvedy team, but the shield didn’t come home.

March 25: A flock of sparrows in the tower block? No, just the third formers twittering their way to B.C.G. tests.

March 28-29: First XI plays Wanganui Collegiate, and wins, and about time too!

March 30: Teams being sorted out as hopefuls clash in combat. Winter sports trials.

April 7-13: A whole week off for Easter!

April 15: Vampire Day. Blood donors give of their best.

April 17: First day of organised winter sports.

April 23: Most impressive Anzac service addressed by Mrs A. Hercus, M.P.

May 5: A most successful day for our runners in the relays at Mt Albert Park.

May 6: Third and sixth formers reap the reward or pay the penalty for work done or not done. Reports issued. May 24: Back to school!

June 2: Southland Boys High School plays first fifteen.

June 3: The march of the lemmings! Third formers take part in compulsory cross-country run.

June 16: Spectators from both schools provide much colour and repartee when first XV’s from St Pats and College play their annual match.

June 20: A television crew films Assembly, briefly.

June 21: We fail to break a 24 year hoodoo, and Christchurch Boys’ High School hockey team gets a lucky win.

June 22: Cross-country teams win three titles in the national championships at Oamaru.

June 24: Recital in Firth Hall by Music group.

June 30: Wanganui Collegiate School and Marlborough College visit us, and lose every contest.

July 1: Exams for half the school add to winter gloom.

July 6: Exams over!

July 7: Auckland Grammar rugby and hockey teams at school. A win to our hockey team.

July 8: Teachers go to school, pupils stay home — “Jumbo” day for teachers courses throughout New Zealand.

July 14-16: Sixth formers endure trial by examination.

July 17: Open Day, and parents with prospective pupils reconnoitre next years battlefield.

July 20: Jazz Band gives concert in Hall.

July 21: First XV visit Silverstream. Alas and alack!!

July 26-31: Mass exodus to Wanganui, New Plymouth and Napier. Cross country teams bring the spoils of victory.

July 29: Culture for the masses. Drama group presents a scene from the play in Assembly.

August: Last week of term. We await with interest and trepidation the result of Tournament. Bad luck!

August 20: This time tomorrow, where will we be? Not in this academy! Holidays!

September 13: School re-starts and public exam candidates renew their resolutions.

September 30: Sixth form tests start and hope, despair and resignation sit on every face.

October 2: Wellington’s weather at its worst. The annual rain dance works again as our cross country team wins four team titles in the intercollegiate races at Karori. Top school for the seventh consecutive year.

October 15: Impressive array of soccer trophies presented in Assembly.

October 20: Mr Peter Blake of Ceramco, speaks in Assembly.

October 21: Oh Boy!! A long weekend. An oasis in a term of trepidation, with exams so close!

November 2: Beautiful silverware! Cross Country awards gleam in the hall as winners receive their prizes.

November 12: The beginning of the end. Seventh formers leave for exams.

November 17: Picking winners from the form sheets? Checking lottery results? Yes and no. Accrediting results at last!

November 19-23: Preview of things to come — next year’s third formers come on tour of inspection.

December 8: They huffed and they puffed. Tug of War championships. Staff team won the finals, of course.

December 10: Another year over!