RROGA Magazine 2021

RROGA NEWS ISSUE 62

Sixty Years of Rural Living

Rosalie Withell Down on the Farm

03. Save the date / Editorial Team

CONTENTS

04. President’s Report 07. Administrator’s Report 08. Philanthropy 10. Note from the Principal 13. Development 14. Elizabeth Reid 16. The Gibson Circle OUR ALUMNAE 17. Victoria Trayner 17

20. Natalie Jones 22. Liz McKerchar 24. Jessy Moffat 26. Georgie McCall 28. Emma McIntyre 30. Rosalie Withell 32. Nikki Ross 35. The Inside Word

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EVENTS 38. Leavers’ Ball 39. Golf Tournament 40. Gibson Girls’ Whaea Ora Morning Tea

HISTORY 41. Gibson Girls’ Whaea Ora Memories 40

46. Sue Harvey 48. History 50. Milestones 52. Legacy 54. Obituary - Alison Jerram

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55. Thank You - Jude Connochie

SAVE THE DATE Up and coming dates for your diary.

2021 REUNIONS 1-2 October 2021 It is your School Reunion if you were in Year 9 (Form 3) in 1941, 1951, 1961, 1971,

Cover image: Rosalie Withell (Anderson) 1947-1949

1981, 1991, 2001, 2011.

2022 REUNIONS 4-5 March 2022 It is your School Reunion if you were in Year 9 (Form 3) in 1942, 1952, 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012.

GIBSON GIRLS’ LUNCHEON

Editorial Rangi Ruru Girls’ School was established in 1889 by the Gibson Sisters. Today we have approximately 3803 active members of the RROGA who contribute and add to the legacy created by the Gibson Sisters. The magazine is published once a year by an editorial team made up of dedicated and willing committee members. It aims to showcase the ongoing philanthropy from the Association as well as record the vibrant social events throughout the past year; all of which see alumnae connecting and reconnecting from the four corners of the globe.

2 June 2022

Editorial Sub-Committee

AGM

EDITOR Felicity Williams (Walker)

16 Aug 2021 GIBSON GIRLS’ WHAEA ORA MORNING TEA 19 November 2021 LEAVERS’ BALL 3 December 2021

ART DIRECTOR Victoria Tait CONTRIBUTORS Joanna Dodgshun (Kitson) Elizabeth Wright (Sharpe) Stephanie Withell (Brown) Amanda Dick Felicity Williams (Walker) GRAPHIC DESIGN Two Hats Creative

ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT 18 March 2022 ANNUAL BRIDGE TOURNAMENT 26 May 2022

PRINTER Ovato COPY EDITOR Naomi Spinsby-Wild Jude Connochie ARCHIVAL CONSULTANT Johnann Williams FRONT COVER IMAGE Kindly supplied by Steph Withell BACK COVER IMAGE Richard Linton

RANGI RURU OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION 59 Hewitts Road, Merivale, Christchurch 8014, New Zealand +64 3 983 3700 rroga@rangiruru.school.nz www.rangiruru.school.nz/alumnae www.facebook.com/RangiRuruAlumnae

To keep up to date with events join the Rangi Ruru Alumnae Page on Facebook.

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT FELICITY WILLIAMS (WALKER) 1968 -1972

in which two seemingly unrelated stories are told side by side...

Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai!

Day, which provide additional opportunities for alumnae to meet up.

Welcome everyone!

At the AGM in 2017 I was elected president of RROGA for a two-year term. I’d become a committee member in 2008, after thoroughly enjoying the reunions and thinking I’d like to contribute back to the richly woven alumnae tapestry which in turn is part of the ongoing well-being of the current generation of students at Rangi Ruru. I see RROGA as embracing history and traditions, while also wearing its looking to the future spectacles. Becoming president, I figured I’d learn as I went along.

February 2021. The Old Ghost Road begins at Lyell Campground. My tramping buddy, with whom I’d done many of the South Island Great Walks, had chosen and set the schedule. I hadn’t done any training, just hoped I’d be able to cope with my regular fitness. My pack, weighing no more than 9 kg (I’m good like that) still felt cumbersome and shoulder-achy as we tramped the longforgotten gold miner’s route to Lyell saddle hut. History all around us, relics, a future that beckoned, arrived, stayed for long enough to dredge every ounce of gold, and then disappeared and became the past.

RROGA is mandated to maintain a calendar of social events.

We take responsibility for the annual Reunions in March, attended by hundreds of past students, we produce an annual magazine, featuring the life and times of various alumnae, along with history and reminiscences.

We walk alongside the history, honouring the legacy of the Gibson sisters and the alumnae who remember being taught by those eminent ladies, by holding a Gibson Girls’ luncheon in March, and a Gibson Girls’ Whaea Ora Morning tea in November. We value our connection with these sprightly women, who delight in sharing their experiences. Check out a pot pourri of memori in this issue.

For current students, we plan the annual Leavers’ Ball in December, where those Year 13 students who have completed their school days are welcomed into the RROGA as new members. Smaller events are the Golf Tournament and Bridge

Day Two was shorter, 12 km, compared to 18 km the day before, but it was still a grunt. Climbing through tussocks and boneyards of rock. History everywhere, but the history of a prehistoric New Zealand, rather than a peopled one. Ghost Lake Hut perched on a thumbed cliff, the payoff of the tough physical day was breathtaking.

Are there ghosts at Ghost Lake? Mist rising off the green water. So, you tell me! Connections with strangers in huts. Made all the more special by their brevity and uniqueness.

I agreed to a second two-year term. There had been more than the usual number of changes within the organisation so it seemed like the right thing to do. We had appointed new administrator, Victoria Tait, in 2018, everything was running smoothly; then in 2020 COVID-19 came along. We did the Zoom thing like everyone else, a few events were cancelled, but we refused to let things weigh us down and so we trudged on. Produced a magazine and against all odds, a nicely revamped Leavers’ Ball. The ball sub-committee realised that with the ever-present threat of only 24 hour’s notice of going into lockdown, there had to be contingency plans. Breathed a sigh of relief when we pulled it off.

Day Three was 14 km, but the two of us were revelling in the remoteness and the challenge of it all. We climbed up to the skyline ridge. That bit of the track that had been an impossible challenge because up until then, there had been no way of connecting through to the old miners’ road from Mokihinui at the other end of the track. Lows and highs. The group of dedicated workers who had dreamed up the vision for this track went high. Very high.

It was 27°C when we arrived at the Stern River hut and we all pulled off our boots and packs and jumped into the river to cool off. Go with the flow. Flung the dripping merinos on top of a shiver of beech trees and they dried in no time.

Challenges, in an organisation like RROGA, lie in maintaining

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Felicity Williams visits Margie Kirkpatrick to do a final proof read. (A Pot Pouri of Memori, Page 41 ) the vibrancy and willingness of a voluntary committee. I can’t thank the committee highly enough for all they do, often behind the scenes in order that events and annual responsibilities are managed effectively.

I loved developing relationships with our much loved and valued Gibson Girls’ and Whaea Ora community. Thank you for letting me interview you, visit you at home, in order that I could accurately retell your stories. You are the heroines of your own lives.

All the committee were massively excited to approve an investment of $300,000 to Blue Skies for the construction of the new multi-purpose building and acquiring the naming rights for the RROGA gallery. It will be a celebration and a place of reflections for years to come.

Like any organisation, the winds of change are necessary and good. In 2019, we undertook a complete rewrite of the constitution to bring it into the 21st century. The constitution is pivotal to everything we do. It is now a modern, relatable document that will well serve future presidents and committees.

Day Four was 8 hours of walking, 23 kilometres. I thought I wasn’t ever going to get to the hut. Are you sure we haven’t missed a turning I asked my friend. Should we activate the PLB? I was beyond exhausted. I was bored.

Endless beech forest. Just keep walking she told me. Two more kilometres, and around a corner, there it was. The hut. My tramping buddy’s husband had walked into the last hut with culinary treats including sachets of Raro.

Heaven-sent, that Raro. I sculled a litre of it. Then I gave the last packet away to another electrolyte deprived tramper.

Philanthropy, giving away money, is a major part of the work we do; the prudent custodianship by a number of hardworking visionary women over the last decades, means we are in a position to give back to the school. We have regular communication with Dr Sandra Hastie and the management

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Windy Wash Day on the Old Ghost Walk

team at Rangi Ruru in order that we stay attuned to current needs as well as maintain our regular annual contributions by way of scholarships and bursaries. Read about our giving on the philanthropy page of this magazine. Under the careful watch of a finance sub-committee, the monies under our guardianship should continue to benefit the Rangi Ruru community for years to come.

Jucundi acti labores. ‘The memory of past labours is pleasant’ The motto of the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association. As prescribed in our constitution when it was formed in 1935.

Day Five was 6 hours of walking. Easier. Undulating, just as the brochure had said. The track was glittery with mica and the Mokihinui River sparkled below. Saw an empty shell of a powelliphanta. Despite yesterday, almost didn’t want it to end. Arrived in Seddonville at the Rough and Tumble Lodge. Civilisation. Finished. Satisfied.

Proud. Connections to ancestors, to the land, to nature.

All good. You should give it a go. 85 kilometres. Not for the faint hearted as my tramping buddy said. Remember to pack your sachet of Raro.

I can say with honesty that I am proud of what RROGA has achieved over the last four years. I enjoyed working alongside a fantastic committee who felt the same way as me about serving the school. The path we walked had more than its fair share of ups and downs but the committee was strong and supportive, and we got through to the finish line.

I say finish line because every journey comes to an end, and on August 16th at the AGM I will step down as president. I will become Immediate Past President and happily offer my support to the new incoming president. The RROGA is in a strong position and should continue to flourish and be a vital part of the wider school community.

Jucundi acti labores!

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

We ended 2020 with two fantastic events, the first of which was the Gibson Girls’ Whaea Ora Morning Tea in November.

It’s always so lovely to see such an amazing turnout at this event and hear the stories of years gone by. The laughter and chatter that fills the room really does show how strong Rangi friendships are. We also had the Leavers’ Ball in December; due to the uncertainty of COVID restrictions, this was adapted to reduce cost and plan for any unforeseen restrictions on numbers. I’m pleased to report the evening was a success, with the girls and their families enjoying an evening in the transformed Gymnasium with delicious canapés thanks to Moveable Feasts.

This year we were able to enjoy a great day of Golf in March.

Thanks to St Margaret’s for their organisation this year and the huge amount of volunteer hours put in by Stephanie Withell. As many of you will be aware, we had to postpone the Reunion Weekend, however we are looking forward to welcoming you all back to Rangi in October.

A big thank you to Dr Sandra Hastie who continues to provide excellent guidance to RROGA; her help has been greatly appreciated over these challenging months especially with advice over COVID event restrictions. I would also like to thank Jude Connochie, who has hugely supported me over the past few years, thank you for all your help and knowledge.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Rangi Old Girls’ Association, it has been a pleasure to work with such a fantastic committee led by Felicity Williams who always brings such high energy and passion to the role of president.

I will be taking an extended maternity leave while I welcome my fourth child. The role of administrator will be taken by my sister Tamara Tait (class of 1990) who I’m sure many of you will remember well.

I hope you enjoy reading this publication that showcases yet again the extraordinary things Rangi women do. Please do get in touch if you have a story to share as well as any old school photos, as we are always wanting to build on the school archives.

RROGA Committee 2021 PATRON Helen Kitson (Robilliard)

HONORARY LEGAL ADVISOR Aleisha Chadderton (Waller)

PRESIDENT Felicity Williams (Walker)

HR AND PERSONNEL Nikki Harkerss (McBreaty)

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Joanna Dodgshun (Kitson)

ADMINISTRATOR Tamara Tait

VICE PRESIDENTS Rebekah Thomas-Hiddleston Cindi Crooks (Hunt)

COMMITTEE Amanda Dick Helen Tait Elizabeth Wright (Sharpe) Robyn Cartwright (Good) Helen Dunn (Bonifant) Abby Thomas-Hiddleston Mandy Brazier (Dowling) Steph Withell (Brown) Janet McGiven

HONORARY ACCOUNTANT Charlotte Bryden MINUTE SECRETARY Cindi Crooks (Hunt) BOARD REPRESENTATIVE Charlotte Gray (Bashford)

Devanshi Gandhi

RROGA BRANCHES HAWKE’S BAY / POVERTY BAY Contact Person: Bindy Headifen (Douglas) p.headifen@outlook.co.nz

AUCKLAND Contact Person: Annette McGrevy (Mead) aamcgrevy@icloud.com

WAIKATO / BAY OF PLENTY Contact Person: Sue Milner (Coutts) randsmilner@gmail.com

SOUTH / MID CANTERBURY Contact Persons South Canterbury: Denise Kenny kennydl@xtra.co.nz And Wendy Cookson colinandwendycookson@gmail.com

NELSON / TASMAN / WEST COAST Contact Person: Barb Hay (Shacklock) haybarbaraann@gmail.com

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PHILANTHROPY The Committee of the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association has always been a strong advocate of supporting the school, its pupils and alumnae in the most generous way it can.

Our first committee set it out very clearly in the Constitution.

3.1 The primary objects of the Association shall be: 3.1.1 to promote the interests of the School; 3.1.2 to leave a lasting and permanent legacy for Old Girls; 3.1.3 to promote good fellowship amongst Old Girls of the School by reunions, sports, educational events, social functions or any other form of activity the Association sees fit; 3.1.4 to offer such scholarships, bursaries or exhibition to girls at the School or Old Girls, as funds permit;

The Gibson/Webb Exhibitions are named after the Gibson sisters who founded Rangi Ruru, and Betty Webb, a past President and Patron of the Old Girls’ Association.

These are awarded each year by the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association to direct descendants of Old Girls in their senior year at Rangi who show outstanding endeavour and citizenship. These are girls who have maintained a sound level of academic achievement, and also demonstrated qualities that make the school and the community a better place in which to live. These qualities might include courtesy, reliability, persistence, sensitivity to the needs of others, as well as strengths in academic, sporting or cultural areas.

3.1.5 to make donations towards School activities, and improvements of the buildings and grounds of the School as the Association sees fit;

Over the 95 years of its existence, through prudent and wise investments from our treasurers and accountants, the capital base of Life Membership funds, legacies, fund-raising and donations has been built up to enable the Association to grant a variety of scholarships, bursaries, exhibitions and donations to a large number of recipients, both in the School and community.

PHILANTHROPY AMOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021.

End of year prizes

1,487

Year 7 and 8 Old Girls’ Scholarships

8,000

Gibson Webb Exhibitions

3,000

Donation to Project Blue Sky

300,000

(incorporating Alison Kay Bequest)

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YEAR 7 / 8 SCHOLARSHIP CHARLOTTE GORMAN

What was your reaction when you were awarded a scholarship?

When my parents first told me, I couldn’t believe it and I was so grateful. I couldn’t have been more excited.

What do you enjoy studying the most?

My favourite subjects are science, maths and drama. I enjoy those subjects so much and I always look forward to them.

What’s the last book you’ve read?

A Series of Unfortunate Events, I love the series so much!

I have just finished reading the Miserable Mill, where the Baudelaire children are sent to a log mill and Klaus gets hypnotised!

What fun things do you do in your spare time?

I love running, hockey and touch but my favourite sport is skiing. Sometimes I love playing with my brothers on the farm with all of our animals. I am so lucky to have such nice friends and I really enjoy hanging out with them too.

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NOTE FROM PRINCIPAL DR SANDRA HASTIE

Challenge, Change, Courage.

Challenge, Change, Courage. These three words have defined 2020 for our school, for our country and indeed for the whole global community. This year will be remembered as one like no other, a year when we were forced to think on our feet and rely on our hearts in order to determine the way forward. A year when we ran a school remotely without a manual, with no YouTube clips to help, but a positive and committed staff team driven by a united and focussed goal which was “to do what was best for our students”.

The word challenge conjures up a myriad of thoughts often around huge, insurmountable obstacles and seemingly impossible tasks to overcome. As with most challenges we face in our lives, we often experience more success when we have support and can rely on others to help us through.

Knowing that we were all in this together, supporting each other, brought comfort and a sense of calm to an intense situation. A global pandemic was an unexpected challenge, something that we did not have a plan for, indeed never imagined that we would ever need to have a plan for. We were starting from scratch.

We often think that the feeling of pressure and stress is coupled with negativity and is something that we need to avoid, however, it can also move us to action and growth.

An animal who relies on pressure to survive is the lobster.

Yes, I realise this speech appears to be going in a strange direction, however, bear with me.

As you are well aware, a lobster is a soft mushy animal that lives inside a rigid outer shell. That rigid shell can’t expand, so the lobster can only grow by recognising its limitations and acting on them by breaking its outer shell to reform itself. During this time with no outer shell, the lobster is vulnerable and more open to attack from predators.

Recognising this, it instinctively adapts in order to survive, it becomes a lot more aware of its surroundings and will

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move to an area of protection which is usually under rock formations. Within a period of time the new shell hardens, and the lobster re-emerges larger and stronger. It is continually in a state of growing and adapting - the stimulus for this is that it feels physically uncomfortable and knows that change is necessary.

COVID-19 has been that stimulus for us; just like the lobster we have been made to feel uncomfortable. The familiarity of our lives changed overnight, and we were all forced to make changes, to adapt. We had to recognise that the outer shell of our lives, the known and familiar that we had been living and working in, no longer fitted us. We had to accept that there were things we couldn’t control and to recognise that each one of us had a part to play. If we were going to beat the virus, we all had to play by the rules. We became acutely aware that as individuals we were responsible for the health and wellbeing of others.

For some of our community, change came swiftly and without warning as overnight you witnessed your business, career and financial security become uncertain. This challenge has been confronting as you have had to look to redirect your life, assess how to move forward while at the same time keeping your family intact and remaining positive when faced with the unknown. As a community we wanted to help and the launch of the COVID-19 Fees Assistance Fund to help families in the short term gave them some reassurance that their daughter could remain at Rangi when facing such turmoil. I thank each and every one of you who, through your generosity of spirit, has made this happen. We also launched the Community Business Directory on our website, and I ask you to consider using our Rangi family contacts if you have need of services in the future.

COVID-19 did have some positives. It forced us to stop, reassess and perhaps not rush through each day

I want to pay thanks and gratitude to the teaching team. on autopilot. Life for some became simpler. Some of us loved the silence, time at home with our families and the opportunities to slow down. We walked, many of us with our dogs, got that bike out of the garage, and as a country we learnt to survive without fast food. We completed those DIY jobs around our homes, cleaned out those cupboards, got to know our neighbours from a distance, put teddy bears in our windows, and connected with people around New Zealand and the world as we now had time to do so.

We mastered video conferencing through Zoom and Teams and learnt very quickly what you should do and what you shouldn’t do when live and online. Some of us started baking (yes, after 33 years of marriage, I baked my first batch of biscuits and actually enjoyed the experience as did Bruce well he told me he did!).

Masks became our new essential fashion accessory, and the NZ Covid Tracer app downloaded on our phones. The trip to the supermarket was a whole new experience and the courier arriving at our gate with our online shopping was exciting. Each day we connected with our new bestie, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, at 1.00pm and anxiously hoped that the Level would start to come down and we could all get back to life as it was.

As School leaders we recognised that remote learning could not replicate being at school so we set about our task of designing, developing and implementing a model that kept students at the core of all discussions and decisions “continuity of learning” and “continuity of community” were at the centre of our thoughts. The timing of the term break was an opportunity to rethink and reimagine how education might look when operating remotely.

We gathered feedback from our students, parents and staff so that we were able to look forward and best cater for the needs of the students. At the centre of what we put in place was the importance of wellbeing and connection for all of us. We saw it as an opportunity to unlock the traditional schooling structures and look at education through a new lens. We weren’t afraid to imagine ourselves teaching, learning and leading differently.

When we returned to School it was hard not to hug, and we had to have a plan A, B and C for all of our events going forward and we mastered the art of live streaming. What we were though, is terribly grateful and we still are today as we witness what is happening in many parts of the world and recognise that even this opportunity to gather as a community is a privilege.

In spite of that, I have been so thrilled and proud that we have managed to run as many events as possible even with

restrictions. The ability to problem solve and think outside the box was clearly evident when the staff teams from Christ’s College and Rangi Ruru decided that our senior musical production Evita, after being postponed twice, was going to happen no matter what. Who would have thought that our school production would be simultaneously shared across five venues allowing 1500 to enjoy? It was such a sense of triumph for us all - an example of never saying never and I am incredibly grateful to each and every one of you who made this happen.

Another wonderful example was with our exchange school in India - Unison World School. With no hope of travelling, the teams got together and created a virtual school exchange which included, cooking, dancing, singing as well as learning about language and history. Being part of this and hearing the girls and teaching staff of the two schools reflect on their learning, was indeed a worthwhile experience with friendships formed which I know will continue. This approach to exchanges may well be the way of the future and we are excited about the possibilities that this brings with it for our girls.

I want to pay thanks and gratitude to the teaching team.

Thank you for your willingness to take up the challenges of delivering a quality learning programme remotely, coupled with the fact that many of you were also dealing with your families at home with their needs at the same time. During this time of uncertainty, you continued to place our girls at the centre and should feel proud of what has been achieved this year. To the support staff - individually you each had a part to play and you all contributed to the operation of running a school remotely, with efficiency and with such a can do attitude. I personally wish to thank my EA Pauline Clegg for her continued support to me in my role. To those long serving staff who are leaving us - Mrs MacgregorPahl, Mrs Yaakoup, Ms Ogden, Ms Clarkson and Ms Brown - thank you for all that you have given to our school and students.

I would like to make special mention to our Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning Melanie L’Eef who, after 32 years of service to Rangi, will leave us at the end of Term 1 next year. Melanie, thank you for your educational knowledge and leadership that you have shared with us.

You are living proof that we must never stop learning, reflecting and challenging ourselves to be all that we can be.

Over the years you have touched the lives of many students and mentored numerous young teachers forward into their careers. You will be greatly missed by us all and we wish you the very best in your next chapter. Please accept these flowers as a small token of our appreciation.

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acknowledge your love and support particularly in my new found baking skills. During COVID-19 you, along with many others, continued on as an essential worker and I am thankful for the part that you played during this time.

To our Year 13 Student Leavers seated behind me - like the lobster, you too have experienced pressures that have forced you to adapt and change. In your last year where there have been missed opportunities and personal disappointments, as a group you have risen above this with your positive and pragmatic approach. I pay particular thanks to our Senior Leaders and Clan Leaders who, during our lockdown phase, stepped up, and through the establishment of a Student Instagram complete with wacky challenges, competitions and mental health tips ensured that the connection of the sisterhood continued. To all Year 13 girls, I wish each one of you the best as you begin the next chapter of your lives. Just remember these three things:

In this time of change and uncertainty, what COVID-19 has taught us is that we need each other, that connection is essential in whatever form, as is positivity. As we look to 2021, we are mindful that COVID-19 may still be a part of our lives. We need to ensure, however, that we do not wipe our hands clean of this experience and put our remote learning models on a shelf to gather dust.

Instead we need to have courage and see this as an opportunity to shape something to be even better. We keep talking about the new normal but with no real idea what the new normal will look like. What will remain consistent is the kindness, care and compassion of our whole Rangi community and the willingness to look after each other whatever the future holds.

It is perfectly true, as the philosophers say, that life must be understood backwards. But they forget the other proposition that it must be lived forwards.

• If you do not go after what you want, you’ll never have it; • If you do not ask, the answer will always be No; • If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place.

Above all, don’t be afraid of change. You may lose something good, but you may gain something great.

Kia Kaha Nga mihi nui

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DEVELOPMENT REPORT BRIDGET WOODHAM

Legacy is like a family heirloom, it is treasured, it evokes emotion, and it is passed from one generation to the next with the utmost care in the hope that it will never be lost.

When the Gibson Family passed the baton in 1946 to the new caretakers of Rangi Ruru, I wonder if they could have foreseen the abundant future it would have thanks to the incredible foundations that they had laid.

Their inspiration to alter the narrative for young women and pioneer independent education for girls in New Zealand would be the start of something special. Encouraging girls to have a voice, a belief in themselves and confidence to take their place in the world, would become the norm not the exception. That pioneering spirit and the formidable strength of the Rangi Ruru sisterhood that followed continues to flourish today.

Over the years, belief in the Gibson Sisters’ vision has grown, as has Rangi Ruru’s roll. The School, once run from a modest homestead, has slowly evolved into the wonderful campus enjoyed by so many today. Many of the facilities within the campus exist thanks in part to the foresight and generosity of past Rangi families, with each generation leaving a legacy for the next.

To reflect on this is humbling. How often do we stop and truly ask ourselves why we do things a certain way or how something got where it is? How often do we stop and look to the past to understand the present? I wonder if our girls ever sit under the boughs of the grand old trees on campus and give thought to those who planted them? Did those who planted them think of their daughters, granddaughters and Rangi Ruru whānau who may one day sit and laugh beneath them? Who has taken a seat in our beautiful chapel and wondered who sat in those pews before them, what they were grateful for and what space they utilised within the School for spiritual connection prior to the Church being moved on site, which was a philanthropic act in itself? Reflection is a gift and one that, given the fast pace lives we live, we don’t always relish in. But without it, we can never genuinely appreciate what we have.

With this, I gave thought to the work my predecessors had accomplished in helping raise awareness and funding for the myriad of amenities that have been delivered in the past, that current students enjoy the benefits of. I imagine the wonderful people they must have met along the way, people with a devout belief in the School who wanted to ensure its future.

Over the years, thousands have celebrated their love and appreciation for Rangi through giving to Rangi, bestowing on us the campus we have today.

Most recently, one person who made an extraordinary difference and who will be remembered for leaving an incredible legacy that will benefit Rangi girls and the community for many years to come is Elizabeth Reid (Class of 1941). Elizabeth chose to celebrate her love for this School by leaving a significant bequest. Her gift became the foundation from which this latest development would blossom. It would inspire others, demonstrate the power of giving and leave a lasting legacy.

The latest development, a new Sports and Multi-Purpose Centre and part of the Project Blue Sky master plan, will provide a much needed space to gather, to play, to learn and celebrate in. There are limited giving opportunities, with naming acknowledgements, still available for you to be part of delivering this new legacy. Please connect with me should you wish to know more about how you can make a difference.

So, in looking to the past, I imagine the future for Rangi Ruru.

It looks bright! The 8000 plus individuals - young women, their families and staff who have passed through these gates, form thousands of threads that, when woven together with blue and gold fortitude, create a Rangi Ruru tapestry, strong in spirit and rich in traditions. Today, we remain caretakers of the Gibson Sisters’ vision, celebrate the legacy of generations past and stand by the fact that a quality education is a gift for life.

Recently we commenced development at School, building a new facility that will transform school life for our girls.

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ELIZABETH REID 1930-2019

An enduring spirit of independence Elizabeth Reid’s recent bequest to Rangi Ruru will help create a new legacy for the school; one which will benefit many and ensure the school continues to be at the forefront of girls’ education in New Zealand for generations to come.

Elizabeth arrived at Rangi Ruru as a boarder in 1942 from Invercargill and entered in Form 3. At the time, she was desperate to come to Rangi but couldn’t convince her sister to join her, so embarked on the journey on her own.

She would join her friend Nan Douglas and board the train in Southland for the 12 hour journey to Christchurch. She was terribly homesick but grew to love the school, finishing Form 5 in 1944 before going on to become a nurse.

Elizabeth loved to travel and over the years she and her sister Vacy visited many places.

Elizabeth reconnected with the school in 2016 and soon after was visited at her home in Merivale Retirement Village by Principal, Dr. Sandra Hastie and Head Girl, Meg Dutton. This visit heralded the start of a special connection between Elizabeth and Sandra, and over the next few years, Elizabeth became an important part of the Rangi Ruru family.

Elizabeth embraced the school, and on one special visit was given the grand tour of the school in her wheelchair and a private concert by the school choir, whose performances she loved. She also attended numerous musical events including the annual Performing Arts Showcase at The Piano along with some of her friends from the village. The pleasure these occasions brought her was clear to see.

Her affection for Rangi was evident, with her always asking after the students. Celebrating the school’s successes whenever she spoke with Sandra, truly exemplifying the lifelong connection students make with the school.

Throughout these special years, Sandra and the wider Rangi community grew to know Elizabeth well, appreciating her sharp mind, sense of humour, and enduring spirit of independence.

Thank you, Elizabeth. Rest in peace.

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The Gibson Circle

The Gibson Circle acknowledges the generosity of this group of women who want to make a difference to the lives of future Rangi girls.

Each year, since 1911, International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. In 2015, Rangi Ruru chose this date to announce the formation of a very special group of women – the Gibson Circle.

We understand that making a will is one of the most important decisions you will make. Leaving a bequest is an opportunity to give in the way you have always wanted to but perhaps been unable to during your lifetime. The Gibson Circle celebrates the generosity of people who have decided to leave a gift to Rangi Ruru in their Will and who want to make a difference to the lives of future Rangi girls.

When you let the school know of your intentions to leave a gift in your Will you become part of the Gibson Circle and you join a special group of friends who gather occasionally to share in their love for the School.

Becoming a member of the Gibson Circle is easy and straightforward. Simply let us know that you have already named the Rangi Ruru Foundation in your Will, or you intend to make a planned gift, bequest or a living trust to the Rangi Ruru Foundation.

We are incredibly grateful to all those who have given or who recognise the importance of such a gift and pledged their support.

Such generosity really does help the school.

To find out more about the Gibson Circle or any other giving opportunities, please contact our Head of Development, Bridget Woodham on email b.woodham@rangiruru.school.nz or phone 983 3745. *Members who request confidentiality will remain anonymous

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VICTORIA TRAYNER Felicity Williams finds out why gumboots are the daily footwear of choice for the whole family.

It all Started From the Farm Gate Victoria Trayner is a farmer in Oxford, North Canterbury.

She is a descendant of Waitaha and Ngāti Māmoe, both of which are represented by the Ngāi Tahu iwi.

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Milking cows is something that will never leave me.

You say it all started at the farm gate ...

I would sit with my two sisters on the steps of the cowshed eating afternoon tea while my parents milked the cows.

Then it was off to feed calves, visit the piggery and so on. It taught us a strong work ethic and it was the foundation on which everything was built.

My dad sent all of us girls to Rangi Ruru hoping we would become solicitors or accountants and was shocked and proud when all three of us became farmers!

Agriculture was not offered as a school subject but I was a member of the Young Farmers’ Club which surprised the boarders because I was a day girl.

I loved the art room where I got to explore concepts and to be a problem solver. Agriculture today needs this same level of thinking: we need to problem solve around established concepts as we navigate new environmental policies.

What did you do straight from school?

I completed a double degree from Canterbury University in Fine Arts and History, becoming an Art and Social Studies teacher at Christchurch Boys’ High School. Soon I was running the Agriculture Programme, seeking out agri-sector sponsorship for my students to go to university. During this time I

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also studied part-time to complete a Bachelor of Agriculture from Lincoln University.

Tell me the hands-on things you might do in a day?

I’ve taken on more leadership and directorship roles. There is a lot of reading required for farmers to be able to plan for what is on the horizon in terms of new policies. But I still enjoy getting in the dairy shed.

“Milking cows is something that will never leave me.”

I love time spent with my three daughters, Lacey 7, Maella 4, and Bonnie 1. Picking mushrooms up the hill, feeding lambs and calves, sitting in the tractor next to Dad or Mum. Learning that with hard work, the land will provide.

You did the MBA later with a scholarship from Fonterra. How did the formal qualification change the way you did things?

Good sound governance is needed in the farming sector, especially in this current environment. It was a privilege to study with a group of highly intelligent and inspiring leaders and future governors, to realise the wealth of skill that the agri-sector has across its industries and in its farmers.

You talk about ’the social licence to farm’. Can you explain this?

It’s a term that is thrown around a lot in our present environment as society becomes aware of the impact of farming practices on future generations. We want to tell New Zealanders our stories, what we do and why we do it. It is important for the agriculture sector to be transparent and tell society of all the good practices we are implementing.

So, what’s in the future? A cell phone in one hand and a shovel in the other?

Yes, that’s pretty much it. The next generation of women are going to farm differently because of the innovation of technology, science and the emergence of new policies.

I would love to see agri-business and agriculture as a subject in high schools.

The career possibilities are endless.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see the future CEO of Fonterra be a Rangi girl!

Advice from you for young women who are looking for careers in farming?

As our tipuna wahine did for us, there exists a pathway available for the next generation of women to set out on.

I would encourage more women to seek a career in agriculture. You will be seeking heavenly things for future generations to value and care for!

The next generation of women are going to farm differently because of the innovation of technology, science and the emergence of new policies.

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NATALIE JONES - CLASS OF 2003

RROGA committee member Amanda Dick talks to Natalie about school days and what came next.

Natalie is a Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at the University of Cambridge. Her research is about who is involved in global decision-making on the world’s most pressing issues. Alongside her research, she is also a writer for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB), writing the de facto history of global environmental negotiations. She has attended 20+ UN meetings, is an avid reader and has a strong belief in the global climate movement.

Can you tell us about your qualifications and how you came to work in this field?

When I was at school I couldn’t have predicted the trajectory my life has taken. After leaving Rangi Ruru in 2007 I went to UC and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Science in Physics. People often remark on the odd combination but it made total sense for my mix of interests - I was one of those Year 13 students who took an eclectic mix of subjects and could never decide what I wanted to study at uni, changing my mind multiple times between architecture, music, geology, and so on! After graduating I worked in law for a couple of years, while at the same time finding a passion for climate activism.

Then I thought it was time to do my OE and also combine my passion with my main area of work. Following a stint working at an environmental protection law firm in Mexico I went to the University of Cambridge to do my Master of Laws in International Law, where my dissertation focused on climate litigation. One year at Cambridge wasn’t enough so I stayed to do my PhD in International Law, funded by a Commonwealth Scholarship from the UK Government. As anyone who has done a PhD will tell you, despite it being the “end” of formal education it is actually only the beginning of a journey. While doing it you realise how little you actually know about anything. During my PhD I got the chance to informally work with my nowemployer, the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) which is a research institute at the University of

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Cambridge. I initially wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay in the city after graduating, but when a role came up at CSER I applied and was successful.

Can you tell us about your current research programme?

Currently I am thinking a lot about who is (and who should be) involved in decision-making about “existential risks” like climate change, nuclear weapons, biological threats like pandemics, and artificial intelligence. Who should be at the table when decisions are made about what policies and strategies to pursue? At the moment I am researching how indigenous peoples and local communities are involved in international decision-making.

Because these communities often have intimate knowledge of the land and environment and are among the first and worst affected by global changes, their involvement can have implications for the quality of decisions and policies on climate and sustainability.

My second main strand of work looks at how countries can phase out fossil fuel production. The basic idea is that to reach global climate goals, most of the known oil, coal and gas reserves have to stay in the ground rather than being extracted and burned. But most fossil fuelproducing countries are still planning to keep on doing so or even increase production, which is problematic, to say the least. Understanding the law and governance aspects of how to effectively wind down fossil fuel production is crucial for mitigating climate change.

I understand you have attended 20+ UN meetings, including on climate change, the SDGs, biodiversity, oceans, and wetlands, can you tell us about this experience?

When I went to my first United Nations climate negotiations at the age of 22 I was immediately struck by the opaque and arcane process. These talks are incredibly important for the future of humanity, as so many of the world’s biggest problems require international cooperation to solve. Yet they are conducted in highly technical jargon, often behind closed doors. That makes it very hard for those not in the room to understand, let alone influence, what is going on. At that time I was there with a New Zealand youth delegation, and we were working with other young people from around the world to try and get youth perspectives reflected in the outcome.

In my experience, too often young people are treated as mere tokens in these spaces.

Later, while I was studying for my PhD, I was given the chance to help shine a light on these UN processes, when I was offered work with Canadian-based think tank the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), who run a publication called the Earth Negotiations Bulletin. Writers for the Bulletin attend the meetings, listen to the discussions, and publish daily reports for a global audience of government officials, the business community, and civil society. The aim is to boost the transparency and accountability of the UN talks, and write their de facto history. I’ve been consulting for the Bulletin since 2017 and absolutely love it. Not only is the work interesting but it’s given me the chance to visit countries that I might not otherwise have had the opportunity to, like Kenya, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan, as well as to spend time in my favourite city ever, New York. Overall I find it fascinating how agreements are reached between countries, these massive impersonal, structural entities who in the end are represented by delegates who are very human.

If you could send the world one message right now, what would that be?

You have more power to make change than you think, particularly when you join together collectively with others.

In your view how did Rangi shape the woman you are today?

Rangi nurtured my self-confidence and independence the message at school was always that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. In hindsight I really appreciate the all-girls environment, as it never made me feel like there was any limit to what I could do based on my gender.

Rangi gave me the tools to be a lifelong learner. With such a high level of support for extracurricular

You have more power to make change than you think. activities like music and sports, Rangi also helped me become a well-rounded person with a life outside work.

The name “Wide Sky Shelter” is very apt, as it provided shelter for me as I grew up while never letting me lose sight of the wide world. Overall it set a strong foundation for my next life stages.

I hear you are an avid reader, could you give us a list of your top 10 books of all time?

That’s a tricky one! Fiction-wise, I will always treasure the His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman, the Seasonal Quartet by Ali Smith, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin, and White Teeth by Zadie Smith. For understanding climate change, Fossil Capital by Andreas Malm is a must-read. I love Jane McAlevey’s writing about collective power, particularly No Shortcuts. In terms of writing from Aotearoa New Zealand, I recently enjoyed All Who Live on Islands by Rose Lu and Magnolia, by Nina Powles.

What’s your best memory of your time at Rangi?

Some of my most fun memories are from being a member of Resolutions and the Senior Orchestra, including all our trips and concerts. But actually - and this is betraying my nerdy side - my best memories are from classes, like learning Physics with Mr Machin and Dr Low, Classics with Ms Ogden, and Music with Mrs Kingsbury. Their energies for their subjects were really infectious. I remember all the teachers being so supportive and for encouraging me to be curious and extend myself.

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LIZ MCKERCHAR RROGA committee member Steph Withell finds out about cattle and why studying maths is so useful.

Liz McKerchar has worked in the farming industry for 33 years, starting off in her gumboots on her family farm in Darfield before heading to Rangi in 1975 to board.

After travelling in her twenties, she returned to Canterbury and the farming life, where she has developed a particular love of livestock and genetics.

With my husband John, we farm his family farm, “Shrimpton’s Hill” behind Cave, South Canterbury, which has been in the McKerchar family for four generations. The property is 1430 hectares, with a range of tussock, rolling and heavy flats. We farm 1500 stud Hereford cattle, 200 stud Border Leicester sheep and varying numbers of finishing lambs, depending on the season.

We specialise in breeding Short Gestation Hereford genetics for the dairy industry with the aim of enabling “extra days in milk” for the dairy farmers. The average gestation length for Herefords is 282 days and by concentrating on breeding for shorter gestation for over 20 years, we now have calves being born up to 30 days earlier and commonly 3 weeks earlier than the average. We have an exclusive contract with Livestock Improvement Corp (LIC) to supply them with Short Gestation Length (SGL) Hereford genetics. It is currently their largest selling beef option and adds in excess of $4 million annually to the economy, through the extra days cow milk, by shortening their gestation length. We have an on-farm bull sale at the end of September, where we auction up to 200 R2 Hereford bulls.

What are some of your memories from Rangi?

I distinctly remember my first French class with Dr Tobin, when she spoke only French to us and we were all made to kneel while she measured the height of our hems, and checked we were wearing regulation knickers. Thankfully some of the other students had learnt some French at intermediate level and were able to help us understand what Dr Tobin was asking of us. Darfield Primary School didn’t prepare me very well for this experience! Mrs Hibbert was always fun in P.E. and Mrs Morris and Miss Heaps are memorable for inspiring me in the Sciences.

Geography was also a favourite and instilled my love of travel and natural history.

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What were your favourite activities, academically speaking?

I really enjoyed the lab work in Chemistry and Biology and played a lot of sport. The inter-school tournaments were always fun.

What event stands out as a memorable one?

I was captain of Hockey and anytime we beat St Margaret’s was a huge occasion. I also remember fondly the Rangi 90th Jubilee in my 7th Form. My Dad was the Chairman of the PTA at the time, so as a family we were very involved in the celebrations.

I am so grateful for the friends I made, and also the pride in being a Rangi girl over the years. Our year group get together annually for a lunch and it’s fantastic to catch up and see each other - there’s always lots of reminiscing and laughs.

What did you do right after leaving school?

I was heading to Lincoln to do AgSc, and was questioned by my parents what I would do with that, as my brother was going to get our family farm, as boys did in those days! We had a family friend who was a pharmacist and my parents thought that would be a great job for me. I headed to Heretaunga to the Central Institute of Technology (CIT) Pharmacy School. In hindsight, I should have taken a gap year as my heart wasn’t really in the course and I only completed the first year, before coming back to Christchurch. I really wanted to travel so got a job in a Pharmacy and did the Dispensary Technicians course, while saving for overseas adventures and spending the weekends on the farm at Darfield. I spent four years travelling, with the final year spent nannying for Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in New York.

Was there anything you learned or did at school that prepared you for what you do now?

The sciences and maths have definitely come in handy especially with planning seed mixes and the breeding program. While I didn’t get my AgSc degree, I married someone who did.

Describe a typical day?

Our son Hamish returned to the farm 12 months ago, so my day has changed dramatically, in that I’m not having to do the same yard work or feeding in the winter. My role now is more administration and that can take up half a day most days. This involves accounts, consents, emails, applications, webinars and data entry.

Apart from farm admin, I am on 3 charitable trusts, The DMC & CMB Burnett Charitable Trust, The St. David’s Pioneer Memorial Church Trust, and Camp Lindisfarne Trust, am a J.P., volunteer at the Timaru Hospice shop, and look after all the bookings and money collection for Lindisfarne Camp. Most days I have to do something for one of these off-farm organisations.

What do you find most satisfying about what you do?

We get great satisfaction from the genetic progress we make by shortening the gestation lengths of our clients’ dairy cows, which then gives them extra days in milk, which correlates to more money for them.

Could you explain genetic progress?

We aim to breed cattle with short gestation lengths, without compromising the growth, fertility and carcase characteristics of the animals.

What is the long-term aim?

It always seems a long wait from making the breeding decisions to progeny testing the offspring.

What are the best things about the rural lifestyle?

Having the freedom to make your own decisions and the space to do it in. We are privileged.

Regenerative farming is big right now. What’s your take on this and how do you approach it?

We are in our third year of using regenerative farming practices and strongly believe in their principles. There are

varying definitions of regenerative farming, but we see it as a potential game changer in drought-proofing our drier country, and have changed the way we farm in the aim of future-proofing the sustainability of our business.

We have approximately 200Ha in multispecies crops, with up to 28 different species in some mixes. We have greatly reduced our glyphosate usage and have not used any synthetic fertiliser in this time. We also intend to reduce our need for baleage in the winter and are making more hay to aid in reseeding our pastures. Our grazing management has changed to having greater numbers for shorter periods, on smaller areas, leaving higher residuals and allowing quicker pasture recovery periods. Our aim is to improve our soil ecology, drought proof, reduce leaching and run off and give our stock a greater variety in their diet. We know we are operating a more sustainable business with these practices, and in doing so are sequestering more carbon. By benchmarking our carbon levels, we aim to take advantage of the opportunity to realise carbon and diversity credits in the future, and to offset the omissions from our livestock.

Any advice for young women wanting get into farming?

Farm ownership is very difficult these days without marrying one, inheriting one or winning Lotto, although through our sponsorship of the NZ Dairy Industry Awards, we see that it can be done. Farming requires being a “jack of all trades’, so just about every subject is useful in some way, some days. Studying agriculture at tertiary level isn’t necessary to farm but it is very handy if you wish to be in the agricultural servicing industry and would allow more options if ownership isn’t an option. Most farmers would be very happy to let a young person spend some time with them to see if it ‘spins their wheels’ before committing to studying Agricultural formally.

Love what you do, it makes it a heap easier getting out of bed in the morning!

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JESSY MOFFATT Victoria Tait spends 5 minutes with the co-founder and coach of the Coast to Coast Rangers.

The Coast to Coast Rangers Programme is run through the Aspiring Youth Development Trust, which was established in 2015. The Coast to Coast Rangers is a program, as well as a charitable trust, that Jessy co-founded with the aim of motivating, supporting and giving opportunities to the children of lower-socio economic families, in order to broaden their horizons by way of Adventure Therapy. The program selects students, aged 16 to 18 years, from Linwood College, and trains them to kayak, hike, cycle, run and raft, as well as equipping them with the skills needed to complete the Coast to Coast multisport race, which is held annually in February. The program is all about the journey the individual student embarks on and the challenges they face along the way.

Can you tell me what inspired you to start this Coast to Coast Rangers Programme?

After I left Rangi Ruru in 1998 I had the opportunity to work in New York with children from the Bronx children’s Psychiatric department and mentor them in the outdoors.

I worked with some of the toughest and mentally unstable youth and I absolutely loved it. It was a privilege to work alongside these young people.

When I came back to New Zealand many years later I knew I wanted to continue with my youth work. I was extremely passionate about working with under privileged and at-risk youth and also very passionate about sport. I wanted to find a way of connecting the two. In 2014 I cofoundered the Rangers programme.

We have now had around 70 rangatahi participating in the programme.

What has been your most unforgettable moment with the Rangers?

One of my boys was selected to join Richie McCaw and be a part of the ‘Tough Mudder’ race in Auckland. We were interviewed on the Project television show, flown to Auckland and we raced alongside Richie McCaw, navigating our way around an 18km track full of mud, water and obstacles. It was an amazing experience for our young man as he was able to meet someone who has

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always been a positive role model in his life. Richie and Dan Carter run a trust called the ISport Foundation which supports the Coast to Coast Rangers programme.

This was a lifetime experience neither of us will forget.

If you have one message for our younger generation what would that be?

When an opportunity presents itself, take it! You never know where it may lead you, who you may meet, or what you might learn.

Can you share a memory from your days at Rangi?

Camp at Boyle River! This was a standout experience from my time at Rangi. To be in a stunning environment with a great bunch of likeminded girls doing some cool activities, challenging ourselves and getting dirty! What a great memory.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love that I am in a position where I am able to witness the young people shine. It’s a fabulous moment when I see the rangatahi that I work with step outside their comfort zone and achieve things they never thought possible. When their whānau are able to witness this, it makes it even better.

A great bunch of likeminded girls doing some cool activities, challenging ourselves and getting dirty!

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GEORGIE MCCALL

On a Bluebird Southern Day Georgie McCall is a dairy farmer in Kelso, West Otago. She is passionate about agriculture and has always had a keen interest in sustainable profitable farming systems. Together with her husband Adam, and in partnership with Adam’s parents, they run a 300ha self-contained dairy farm, milking 600 cows once a day. They have 3 children Oliver (9) Matilda (5) and Jonty (2) who keep them on their toes! The farm is bounded by the Pomahaka River and they have been involved since the inception with the Pomahaka Water Care group – a farmer led catchment group covering 2060km2 of land set up to improve water quality in the Pomahaka river.

RROGA President Felicity Williams speaks with Georgie McCall about Farming, Sustainability and juggling a career and children.

Tell me about the journey you took, academically and socially to get to where you are now.

I was raised on a sheep and crop farm at Dunsandel until I was 12 years old, when it was converted to dairying. I had little interest in farming to this point – I always loved being outside as a kid but I wasn’t farming mad. Share milkers were employed on the farm, who taught me to milk and feed cows and calves and, I just loved it. I loved the science and maths involved – feed budgets, pasture allocations, soil science and plant science which all affect grass growth and quality and ultimately milk production, not to mention the animal science involved in working with cows. Add to that the challenge of fitting it all together with financial budgets and the fact you are working with uncontrollables such as weather and milk price which can have a significant impact on your business. It sounded challenging but it was great because it was also measurable – the decisions you make today can be seen in the vat tomorrow, or the next grazing round.

The people I worked for and with through high school all had university education, and with an interest in farming and science, it was a natural progression for me to head

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to Lincoln to complete a B Agr Sc. I think in the past there has been a stereotype that farmers are not, academics – however this is just not the case! Whether they have a university background or not I think farmers are some of the most clever and resilient people around.

Rangi did provide agriculture at senior levels, however I decided to concentrate on biology and chemistry to give me a good grounding for when I started at Lincoln. I was also lucky enough to have my fees paid, for the entirety of my study thanks to a DairyNZ scholarship, for which I was very grateful. I do think people underestimate the large amount of highly skilled jobs agriculture provides to New Zealanders. I hope that there is much more awareness now for students leaving school, that to be a part of the agricultural industry doesn’t mean you have to wear gumboots to work every day!

I never thought that I was going to be a farmer – I had a passion for dairy farming and at the time I was going through high school, the dirty dairying campaign was just starting. I remember feeling so aggrieved that people thought so little of us. So at this time my goal was to work

I do think people underestimate the large amount of highly skilled jobs agriculture provides to New Zealanders. with farmers on sustainability, and get the science on what was happening, put it in a package to take to farmers and look atways we could improve our environmental footprint, as well as educate the public on the facts. I worked in the Resource Care team for ECan in Timaru after leaving Lincoln, and this is when I realised how much I really wanted to be farming, and that I could influence people through being a farmer, as farmers listen to other farmers before they listen to anyone else!

Consequently I moved south to work on the dairy farm which Adam’s parents had a third share in. I wasn’t completely sure of what I was doing or where I was going! Adam got a job as a consulting officer for DairyNZ and after 18 months, we had the opportunity to have a go at managing the farm together for the equity partnership. Over the last 14 years we have worked really hard and bought out the other partners to be in 50% ownership with Adam’s parents – something we are really proud of.

Tell us a bit about the Pomahaka Water Care Group and Sustainable Farming in general.

The Pomahaka Water Care Group came about after the Otago Regional Council held a meeting in Tapanui in 2012 where they put up some water quality graphs from the Pomahaka River, they told us that it was one of the most degraded rivers in Otago. As farmers, we were pretty shocked.

The river is very important to the community for swimming and fishing, so a few of us farmers got together with Landcare Trust and had a meeting to look at what we could do. We knew we had to work at catchment level, and it had to involve everyone from sheep/beef/ cropping and everything in between and not be a blame game. Everyone in the catchment has an effect on the river and it was about how each and every one of us could look at what we were doing and raise the bar.

We fund our own independent testing 3 times a year on places we have identified on the Pomahaka River as well as its tributaries – allowing us to identify hot spots and address what is going on. It also gives us a baseline, so now we can look back over time and see what is happening.

We have also undertaken experimental sediment traps at small scale and measured the results. E coli reductions of up to 90% and significant reductions in N leaving the traps allows us to repeat it throughout the catchment with the knowledge it will work. Most recently we have been

granted $3.7 million from the government for the Pomahaka Corridor Planting Program which will involve 100km of riparian fencing and 216, 000 native riverbank species being planted within the catchment. Our local nursery would be a key supplier of plants and our fencing would be sourced from local producers. A win-win for our local community.

To me ‘sustainable farming’ is being able to farm profitably, with minimal effect on the environment. With ‘sustainability’ there is no end point – I like to think we are forever changing, evolving and improving. When I look back on my 14 years of farming, the uptake of improved practise in terms of irrigation, fertiliser, effluent use and winter grazing within the industry has been huge, and in many cases has involved significant capital investment. We are still evolving and improving and will continue to do so.

What are some sustainability issues for farmers and ordinary NZers?

I think going forward we need to, each and every one of us, stand up and take responsibility and admit we all have an effect on the environment and work together to get them solved. Unfortunately, years of underfunding of infrastructure all over NZ is now coming back to haunt us. Until these issues are resolved it is going to be hard work to make improvements in water quality in urban areas. In terms of rural areas I think there has been a real change in attitude and thinking.

Catchment groups have been started up by farmers all over NZ to try and identify the issues in their catchments, where farmers own the issues and work to address them. This is where the real tangible success happens. Whilst we have all made significant improvements, we still have a long way to go but I feel excited by what I see going on within the agricultural industry.

What do you love most about what you do?

I get to work in the outdoors with animals (and my husband)! There is nothing better than sitting in the paddock on a bluebird southern day listening to the cows munching their grass or watching calves frolic about in the paddock. And even when you come in on those cold snowy days there is nothing more satisfying than having a nice hot shower and knowing you have braved the elements in order to get everything done for the day. There is definitely no such thing as a day off when farming!

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I think females are definitely catching up in the sport!

EMMA MCINTYRE RROGA Committee member Liz Wright weighs up – pun intended– the pro and cons of competitive weightlifting.

Emma McIntyre has held the NZ National Weightlifting title in the 64kg women’s category for two years.

She also represented New Zealand and won bronze at the Australian Open in February 2020.

Was fitness something you were interested in at school?

Yes, I was pretty active in sport throughout school. I focused on athletics but also went through phases of playing netball, hockey, football and touch rugby.

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Can you tell us what excited you about weightlifting and how you got involved?

I was introduced to weightlifting through CrossFit classes and I always enjoyed the barbell movements. Then some friends who did weightlifting encouraged me to give competing a go, and I never looked back. I found lifting really empowering, and it is an amazing feeling being strong enough to do anything in life.

I think people would expect you to look bigger. Can you talk us through some of the myths that surround weightlifting, especially in regard to women?

I think it is a common misconception that lifting weights will make women

look really muscular but that is often not the case. It really depends on your genetics and what kind of lifting training you do. It takes a lot of hard work and gym time to really build up muscle and why can’t it be attractive for women to look strong?

Sports like weightlifting have weight categories too, so you are only competing against people who are the same weight as you. I think it is a shame certain sports are still thought of as predominantly male sports. Society really needs to change their views on this as it’s so healthy for people to be doing some weight training. I certainly feel like I still get ‘judged’ for competing in weightlifting, particularly by the older generation!

I recently read that the first-ever men’s Weightlifting World Championship was held in 1891, but it wasn’t until 1951 that a man was able to clean and jerk 180kg.

It took another 10 years for a man to snatch double their body weight. The first-ever women’s competition took place in 1987, and women were able to reach those same two milestones in less than half the time.

Can you explain some of these terms to us? First, what does it mean to ‘clean and jerk’? Second, would you agree that women are reaching weightlifting milestones faster than men in NZ? In weightlifting, we perform two movements in competition. The ‘snatch’ is lifting the barbell from the ground to

overhead in one movement.. The ‘clean and jerk’ is lifting the barbell from the ground to the shoulders first, and then lifting it overhead. At the end of last year, there were 5 females and 3 males who had international grading in NZ so yes, I think females are definitely catching up in the sport! Our national championships now have just as many females as males competing which is awesome to see.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Rangi?

It’s probably not surprising but I think my favourite memories of Rangi were the ‘away’ trips competing with the athletics team, and school camps at intermediate. However, I did enjoy class time as well, particularly maths.

What does the next five years look like for Emma McIntyre?

I plan to continue trying to balance a full-time job and training as much as I can. We are currently waiting for the borders to open so we can get in some more international competitions.

My goal was to try and qualify for the 2022 Commonwealth Games but this is looking more tricky with the very limited opportunities to compete at the moment, so my next goal will probably be the next World Championships.

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ROSALIE WITHELL (ANDERSON) 1947 -1949 Stephanie Withell speaks with her mother-in-law to give us an insight into 60 years of farming.

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Farming is always about learning new ways of doing things.

Rosalie Withell worked in the farming industry for 60 years. Farming was in her blood as Rosalie was born into a farming family in the Ellesmere district. She trained as a dental nurse after leaving school and after a short time working on the West Coast, she returned to Leeston as their local dental nurse. Rosalie met John Withell, a local farmer, and married him in 1955.

What did you enjoy about your days at Rangi?

During my time at Rangi I made wonderful lifetime friends.

We had just come through WWII so lived a restricted life in the confines of the Boarding House. One of my first impressions of Rangi was the number of girls learning to swim and learning lifesaving skills. I was determined to gain my Bronze Medallion even though I had a fear of deep water. Sally Murray was my very patient instructor and helped me achieve my goal. Miss Atkinson was a wonderful dressmaking teacher. Thanks to her, I learnt sewing and how to make my own clothes, and she taught us how to draft patterns.

Can you describe your life on the farm?

I enjoyed a busy life on a mixed cropping and stud sheep farm. My day consisted of dealing with farm agents, ram buyers, field day visitors and providing cups of tea and meals when required. I took messages (no cell phones) and looked after the accounts and farm finances with a handwritten cash book and, more recently, on the computer to prepare GST returns. During spring, I could be called up to help with the “lambing beat” and the tailing. l loved my garden, and belonged to numerous groups Girl Guides, Plunket, Rural Women’s Issues, and the local church. I enjoyed singing in a choir and even learnt to play bridge, which made life interesting.

Farming is always about learning new ways of doing things.

Being dependant on the weather, we found the introduction of irrigation in the late sixties helped enormously to create certainty of production - imagine your garden without water in a drought.

Also, modern machinery has taken a load off the physical work required on farms.

Can you tell us about regenerative farming?

This is a recent American term where farmers had overcropped their land and did not use cover crops, therefore damaging the soil.

NZ farmers have long used direct drilling (to cut down on cultivation), rotational cropping and pasture to assist with maintaining the soil structure. This is basically what regenerative farming is about.

What does the future hold for you now?

My husband and I retired from the farm and passed over the ropes to our sons. I still visit the farm and give a helping hand when asked, and I enjoy watching changes and progress being made.

What advice would you give to young women in farming today?

I would highly recommend farming as a way of life to young women, many of whom are working with their partners or in their own right.

Living on the farm has many advantages - a great place to bring up children, meet other farming families, and be involved in the rural community, which is very rewarding.

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NIKKI ROSS 1994-1998 Credit - Victoria Tait Anchored in individualism and crafted in Bali, Nikki Ross’s jewellery creations are designed to be noticed. We speak with Nikki about the people, places, and experiences that have influenced her work, and how her time at Rangi has inspired her latest design.

To me, jewellery is a part of every persons' story when collected over time.

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When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career as a jewellery designer?

I came to Bali in 2011, having left working in the Finance industry in Sydney with no idea what my path ahead would be. Always a lover of silver jewellery, I had done a small silversmith course in the evenings through a polytech in Sydney for fun. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would end up having my own jewellery business.

When I found out there was a well-known village named Celuk not so far from where I live and it’s the so-called ‘golden pentacle’ of silver and gold artisans, I went exploring. This is where it all began. I found my passion and the business followed from there. Bali has a collective mix of creatives and open-minded expats which is where I found my confidence to give it a go.

What is the best thing about your job?

The freedom that it gives me – I work my own hours and get to live on the beautiful island of Bali. I am doing something that I love, whilst supporting a Balinese family-run business. It really doesn’t feel like a job to me.

How would you describe your collections?

I would describe the design manifesto as raw edgy and strong - however at the same time my pieces are deceptively simple.

The concept of my jewellery brand is that each piece is sold separately, allowing ‘the adorner’ to style it together as you want. This encourages mixing and matching, allowing for individual expression. I like to design for a customer to have the confidence to be noticed. All pieces are in 925 silver or a high quality heavy 18 carat gold plate.

Where do you find your design inspiration?

Everywhere! Fashion is a big thing, what people are liking at the time, where I am personally at the time of designing collections – for example, some pieces I have designed during the pandemic have had more of a spiritual element to them.

I get so many ideas thrown at me by friends. I am a creative, however not a drawer – I have an eye for things and I know what I like and what I don’t. So between me and my clever silversmiths, we are able to come up with the finished product together.

Who would you most like to see wearing your jewellery?

Name two icons you admire - one living, one dead.

Dr Shelfali Tsabary is a wisdom teacher and my living icon and who has taught me a lot about myself since becoming a mother. “When you parent, it’s crucial you realise you aren’t raising a “mini me” but a spirit throbbing with its own signature”.

Princess Diana “I like to be a free spirit. Some don’t like that, but that’s the way I am”.

Where is your favourite New Zealand holiday destination?

I don’t know if it’s a holiday destination because I still call it my home, but when I come back to New Zealand I really don’t want to move far from where I grew up and where my family still live on the farm in Kurow, North Otago.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?

MANIFEST – manifest manifest. Manifest what you want and where you can see yourself in the future. Picture yourself being there already.

Best memory from your days at Rangi?

The closest of friendships that were made and still now when I see girlfriends (which is not so often) it really is like no time has passed and I love that. I was a boarder so friends made during this time in the Boarding House really are like family.

You recently designed a pendant for Rangi Old Girls’. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this?

I wanted to use the original Rangi logo which is a timeless and original design. The shield shape itself is a symbol of strength and protection. People these days, I believe, are looking for personal jewellery pieces they can connect to, and that tell their story. This pendant is a proud symbol of the past to hold onto. It’s a buildable and collectable piece which can be easily be worn alone or effortlessly layered. To me, jewellery is a part of every person’s story when collected over time.

Who have been your biggest mentors in life and what is the best advice they have ever given you?

My Mum and Dad definitely my biggest mentors and biggest supporters, I have probably made a few questionable moves in life but they have always been there to support me whether they have agreed with the idea or not. I do remember about 6 weeks before I was due to start university my Dad saying “you don’t have to go to university just because everybody else is, you can do what you want”. That was huge and it definitely changed the path of my life. I moved overseas within about 8 weeks of that conversation. So the advice there is “you can do what you want”. Anybody can do what they want. Change the mould. Don’t be afraid.

What do you want women to feel when wearing your jewellery?

Strong, empowered and brave. To have the confidence to reveal their own signature flair because everyone has their own unique one that should be honoured. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

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Hand crafted, ethically sourced and made to last.

With so many requests for jewelry memorabilia, we have had Nikki Ross design a unique pendant. It features her signature shield design with the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association logo and motto Jucundi acti labores which translates to The remembrance of past labours is sweet

Available in both sliver and gold and available to purchase at a discounted rate though the Rangi website https://nz.patronbase.com/_RangiRuru/Store/Item?id=41 or contact the RROGA Administrator for details.

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OUR ALUMNAE 2021

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DIANE ROSS (1958 – 1962) recently published Great-Grandpa’s Tree.

MIRANDA HITCHINGS (2006 – 2012) is the co-founder behind the social enterprise, Dignity.

A little about Diane:

Miranda started Dignity with the mission to provide free period products to those without access through a buy-one give-one model with corporates. Since then, the company has provided 30,040 boxes of period products (pads, tampons, menstrual cups and period underwear) to 130 schools and community groups across the country without access. Dignity has also been core members of Positive Periods, the group which urged the government to provide free period products in schools and are now advising The Ministry of Education on the period product rollout.

After leaving Rangi Ruru, Diane graduated university with a BA in Languages (French, German and Latin). Diane travelled with her husband and first-born child between 1972 and 1974 in Canada, Europe, and the UK before settling in Masterton until 1996. During this time, they had their second child and Diane taught languages in secondary schools. Diane started writing Great-Grandpa’s Tree when she was 30 and recently completed it just prior to her 75th birthday. Although it may have taken 45 years to complete the novel, there were 20 years in between where she didn’t even touch her handwritten manuscript.

With the storyline cemented in her head right from the start, she would pick up the story, read the last few pages and pick up where she left off, whenever time would allow. Diane said “It’s been an exciting ride and an exercise in perseverance’’.

When asked if she had another novel in her, she told us that she already has one in the making and to watch this space, although this time she doesn’t plan to take 45 years to complete it.

For this work, Dignity has been a finalist for The Wellington Gold Awards, The Sustainable Business Network Awards, and the KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year awards (Community) and has been featured widely in the media.

Through her full-time work as a behaviour change consultant for UN subsidiaries at Flinch, Miranda supported the development and rollout of a Comprehensive Sexuality Education advocacy campaign in Chile, Bangkok and Ghana.

She now works as a Community Investment Specialist at NZ Post, helping develop their community strategy and including the rollout of free courier services for charities and a circular economy solution.

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BRIDGET FOGARTY (1990 - 1994) Bridget, along with two friends, Becky Ollivier and Jane Langley, has published a stunning book on motherhood - Little Gems; Marvels and Musings on Motherhood from Around the World.

This beautifully illustrated gift book celebrates pregnancy, labour, birth, and motherhood, with fascinating folklore from across the world and through the generations. It is rumoured to be read and loved by HRH Prince Harry.

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WORKS BY EMMA FITTS The Christchurch Art Gallery is currently exhibiting works by Rangi Old Girl Emma Fitts (1993 -1997) Follow the below link to view, and watch Curator Melanie Oliver share some thoughts on three works by Emma Fitts. https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/multimedia/exhibitiontours/works-by-emma-fitts

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MIRANDA BURDON (1984 - 1988) | JOSIE LAMBERT (1989 -1993) Launching Food Nation in 2020, sisters Miranda Burdon and Josie Lambert are on a roll. Recently taking out a WIN at the World Plant-Based Awards in New York, followed closely by the 2020 FMCG Business Product of the Year Award, these sisters know how to pack plant powered goodness into your diet. Made with fresh locally sourced ingredients, Food Nation is Food for All…even you carnivores out there.

To find out more about Food Nation’s Magic Mince, Happy Patties, Amaze Balls and which New World or Pak’n’Save stocks this plant powered goodness, go to foodnation.co.nz

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ANNABEL CRAW (1996 - 2000)

KATE RUSSELL (1977 - 1982)

Annabel, along with her husband Hamish and children Harriet, Charlotte, and George farm Ridgecliff, a sheep and beef hill country property on the north eastern coast of Banks Peninsula.

In 2019, she diversified into accommodation, offering guests a coastal country escape at Accrington Farmhouse which is a heritage six-bedroom home located in the heart of the farm.

Since leaving Rangi in 1982 (starting in Form 1 in 1977), Kate spent more than twenty years in the not-for-profit sector (CEO of Cystic Fibrosis NZ and Canterbury Medical Research Foundation for 15 years). For the past three years, she has been working as the Programmes and Partnerships Manager for the Parks unit at the Christchurch City Council. Her job is to engage with community and ensure that individuals, community groups, schools, and businesses who want to do voluntary work in one of the more than 1200 parks throughout the greater Christchurch area, are empowered to do so, and are provided with the resources they need.

Recently, Annabel has developed and begun to implement a 20-year vision for supporting indigenous vegetation on Ridgecliff which will see substantial native tree-planting and regeneration. She has begun to share regeneration projects on the Field Notes section of her website, talking about seed sourcing and the reverting steep pasture land into native bush https://www.ridgecliff.co.nz/fieldnotes

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Emma Fitts Anorak for Rowena Cade

Emma Fitts Bomber Jacket for Marilyn Waring

The unit runs volunteering days for weeding and clearing the ground, planting plants and trees, track building, trap building, and monitoring to ensure our precious native fauna are not affected by carnivorous pests. Kate’s team, which includes urban rangers who work specifically with schools, create and run events year-round for anyone who wants to become a volunteer in their local park.

Emma Fitts Sports Jacket for Marlow Moss

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LEAVERS’ BALL 2020 We felt privileged this year to be one of few organisations who could hold a large scale event. After much tweaking to ensure we were prepared for an immediate COVID lockdown at any point, I’m pleased to report the result was a success. December 4th was a perfect summer evening. The event started with drinks on the lawn followed by a cocktail evening in the Kerr’s Gymnasium, where our theming team had their work cut out transforming this space from a basketball court by day to a glamorous ball room by night.

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With a DJ hitting all the right notes, the 2020 graduates danced the night away with friends and family. Many thanks to Moveable Feasts who were caterers and event managers, as well as to the volunteers on the ball subcommittee, without whom the evening would not have happened.

The Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association is delighted to welcome these brand-new alumnae into our ranks.

GOLF Thanks to Steph Withell for this report.

This year, our annual golf tournament was held at Coringa Golf Course on Friday 19th of March and was hosted by St Margaret’s OGA.

A field of 58 golfers enjoyed golf on a stunning autumn day.

Margaret Black, who won the Best Gross prize, said: “I had a lovely day at the Combined Schools golf. The course was in good condition, the food was great, the people I played with were fun. I was lucky enough to win The Best Gross even though I felt as though I didn’t play that well.”

Our raffle was fabulous, thanks to wonderful sponsors, and most ladies won a prize. They included a voucher from

Lizzie’s Cuisine, a petrol voucher, Barkers sauces, lovely fruit cakes. One lady won two nights’ accommodation at an Akaroa House, kindly donated by Rosalie Withell.

I wish to thank Ali McQueen, Dr Sandra Hastie, Mandy Brazier, Helen Joblin, Victoria Tait, Margaret Black, Jo Dodgshun, Emma Bradley, Victoria Gibbons, and Ruth Cooper who assisted with this event.

The 2022 date and venue are yet to be confirmed by RROGA.

The 2021 RROGA competition winners were: Betty Murray Cup for Best Gross: Margaret Black - Gross score of 94 Armstrong Cup for Best Net: Jeanette Inkson – Net score of 69 Ellece Royds Salver for Best Stableford: Lal Mulligan with 36 points Parents & Friends Cup: Helen Joblin Helen Kitson Putting Spoon: Margaret Black

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GIBSON GIRLS’ WHAEA ORA MORNING TEA 20TH NOVEMBER 2020

The Gibson Girls’ Whaea Ora Morning Tea was attended by 78 Old Girls on the 20th November 2020. A lovely morning was had by all with selection of sandwiches, fresh fruit and, of course, Rangi fudge.

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Jan Clark (1952)

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Mauren Landreth (1949)

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Jill Wilson (1952)

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Robin Sheppard (1952)

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Margie Kirkpatrick (1943)

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Aldy Butcher (1934)

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Aldy Butcher (1934) with Daughter Sally Butcher, also an Old Girl.

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A Pot Pourri of Memori Felicity Williams, RROGA president, wanders along the lanes of memory to chat to these alumnae about their school days and finds out what a ditty bag is . . .

Margie Kirkpatrick (Howarth) 1943

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Jan Clark (Bilbrough) 1952 I was a boarder, a Mrs P girl, and I was at Rangi for five years. On Thursday night the list went up for darning.

Matron put it up. On Saturday morning, if your name was on the list you had to turn up and sit there and mend your underwear, or your socks, whatever it was they’d found. It was inspected before they let you go!

when she bent her fingers they bled!

We spent the whole year on the Pot Stands talking about the Parker/Hulme murder case – it was the news of the day, and it was fascinating to us. We all became expert eavesdroppers on our parents’ conversations in the evening, and the next day, at lunchtime on the Pot Stands, we all pooled our knowledge.

We were permitted two baths a week, at least that’s what I seem to remember.

Girls of today wouldn’t understand that!

Toni Hill (Boyd Clark) 1946 ‘I loved everything about school!’

Especially my singing with Victor Peters.

We were allowed only one Sunday out a month. If you were going out, it had to be approved by your parents, most likely the family of a girl at the school. It was silly really, that rule.

Jill Wilson (August) 1952 I was sitting on the ‘Pot Stands’, which was the name given to seating around the tennis courts. We had our lunch there every day. We’d compare lunches.

One girl always had the perfect lunch – her mother was a doctor and she liked her daughter to have nutritious food.

Every Anzac Day we knitted peggy squares, they were for blankets. We also made ditty bags.

Editor’s note: Ditty bags small bags made out of old flannelette sheeting from the Boarding House. The soldiers would use the bags for treasures and the suchlike while they were deployed.

Robin Sheppard (Cleland) 1952 The era of the chilblains! It was the boarders that got them really badly. The Stable Block wasn’t heated. One of the boarders had very short fingers, and

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Mrs Stokes, she taught at Rangi for about 40 years, and she was a most beloved teacher. She taught English, you learned a lot, she taught far more than the prescribed school work, she taught us about life.

Mrs Stokes retired around the time the Presbyterians took over.

In my last year at school, 1950, Miss Mason told Sally Murray and me to go Mrs Stokes’ funeral with her. We were very proud to represent the school like this. We had to wear clean uniforms, hats, gloves, shoes, shiny and bright.

Miss Mason drove us down to the Linwood crematorium. She may have bought us an ice cream on the way home. I have many fond memories of Mrs Stokes.

Lynette McCleary (Forsey) 1946 I am part of the Gibson Girls because my first year at Rangi Ruru was 1946, the last year the Gibson sisters were still there, having recently sold the school.

Both Miss Ethel and Miss Winifred taught us that year. We really respected those two ladies; they were gentle women. In fact, they both taught us

manners – not as a special subject – but by example. You could say they were our role models in learning to be ladies.

I liked History and English. I couldn’t do sums - still can’t! I arrived at Rangi as a very shy girl, and I was put with twelve new girls, who had also attended other co-ed Primary Schools. Coming from crowded classes of 30 boys and girls to the contrast of a small, all-girl class, my shyness fled – vanished – and I haven’t been shy since. Form Three was the first time I could say that I loved going to school.

I got to know the girls better by being in a small class, and they were great girls, and I love seeing them again, at RROGA and Gibson Girls’ reunions. I’m 90 this year, and looking forward to attending a few more functions, to see the friends I made at school, 75 years ago. That’s what Rangi did for me – I found a place where I belonged – and had fun while learning.

Thank you, Rangi Ruru.

Aldy Butcher (Taylor) 1934 I was born in 1920 and I started Rangi at age 8 in Std 2 and stayed right through to Upper 6th form, completing 1 year after Matriculation (University Entrance) aged 17/18.

At school I was very active in athletics, tennis and netball. I was junior athletics champion, runner up senior champion and senior champion a couple of times.

In my final year I was practising hurdles over the hose at home, tripped, hurt my ankle and then couldn’t compete.

I would compete at Wilding Park on a Saturday morning with the school tennis team.

One strong memory is going to sports day at Addington Racecourse on the

tram which came down Rossall St and we sat on the open-air top deck.

My friends at school became lifelong friends and after the war we would meet monthly at each other’s houses in the evening, until we all got old and changed to lunchtime outings. This was still happening until I was the only one left.

Maureen Landreth (McGiffin) 1949 I attended Rangi from 1949 on, beginning in Form 3, and left during 1952 in Form 6, at the end of Term 1, because I had a job offer at the National Radiation Lab in Christchurch. I was in the office and I learned on the job. My primary job was to handle the radiation films.

Every person or business who used X-ray machines had to be registered, and my job was to process the films, which recorded any radiation that the operators might receive. Physicists in the labs then evaluated the results. It was a safety measure for anybody in the country using an X-ray machine.

Operators wore a film on their lapel that measured any stray radiation that the person operating the machine may have received.

Even Ballantynes had an X-ray machine. For shoe fittings! 99.9% of the time there was no problem, but the odd one needed investigating.

Miss Lough was our form teacher, she took us for Art and English. She was a strict lady and expected a lot from us. I remember going for my bronze medallion in life saving, but I’m not sure I could save anyone now!

I remember Miss Mason as Principal, she was a lovely gentlewoman.

In our 5th form year, we were advised by Miss Lough not to sit School Certificate - it was a 4 year course. However 9 of us did sit, and 3 of us passed, myself, Jill Walkham (Thomas) 1949, and another girl, called Prue Durrant (Raphael) 1949.

After passing school certificate I found in form 6 that I had 13 free periods a week, and it was not a good situation, no one’s fault, just the way the system worked. I loved the job at the National Radiation Laboratory, I was only 15 when I began, and I worked there for 5 years before marrying at 21 yrs.

A life-long interest in photography started at the NRL. Another aspect of my work there was photography and printing articles of interest to the physicists. Today we have scanners but back then it was a photographic process. That knowledge of darkroom work led to the creation of my own darkroom for black and white photography.

Margie Kirkpatrick (Howarth) 1943 I attended Rangi for nearly 10 years, I came straight through from Kindergarten. I hated school because I was dyslexic. But I was good at maths and sewing and sport, especially tennis and netball and swimming. The swimming baths were freezing cold. I remember receiving the bronze medallion.

and America. I went to England to meet my father’s relations. He was born in Yorkshire and he’d been in the Battle of the Somme. He came to New Zealand after the first world war, to recuperate after shell shock and met my mother, Irene Caldwell, and they were married in 1920. She had to leave her job as the head theatre sister at Christchurch hospital, as they didn’t allow married women to work.

After I came back from England I went to Auckland, I was there for 18 years and I worked in the medical laboratory. I was a technician. Once again I learned on the job and I was there for so long I think I ended up as part of the furniture!

I married later, in my 40s. I had a wonderful marriage for 30 years. We travelled a lot and spent 10 years cruising around the world. After my husband died 18 years ago, he insisted I keep travelling and I kept cruising the world for another 10 years. I loved travelling on my own.

Now I live in a retirement villa, at Russley Village and I am still driving now in my 90s.

I ask Margie what the secret is to longevity. I went through the second world war, and the Great Depression.

To be positive, to be happy, to lead a good clean life, to not drink too much.

After school I worked for a dentist in Harley, I didn’t have any training prior, you learned on the job in those days.

In 1952 I travelled overseas, I was away for a total of seven years and halfway through I went to England

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Every Anzac Day we knitted peggy squares, they were for blankets. We also made ditty bags.

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Mauren Landreth (1949)

Margie Kirkpatrick (1943) Miss Mason taken at the 75th Jubilee (1964)

From the school magazine: July 1924 WEDDING. During: the May holidays an event of much interest to all concerned with this school took place, when Miss Rouse was married to Mr. J. Stokes of Lyttelton. The wedding took place in the Rangi-ruru Assembly Hall which was tastefully decorated with bronze chrysanthemums and autumn leaves. Miss Rouse wore a fur trimmed coat and brown skirt with a pretty brown hat, and she carried a bouquet of chrysanthemums with long trails of asparagus fern. As Mr and Mrs Stokes were leaving the house after the reception they were given rousing cheers by a large representative gathering of school girls who had assembled on the drive to give them a hearty send off. Early this term the girls showed their affection for Mrs Stokes by presenting her with a set of fish knives and forks and a cut glass water jug. We wish her every joy in her new life .

(This was a Press transcript in relation to the wedding.)

Margie Kirkpatrick (1943)

Bible given to Mrs Stokes by the Old Girls in her memory

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SUE HARVEY 1958 - 1964

Rangi Ruru values carry on for the rest of your life I would like to share with you how the values I learnt at Rangi Ruru along with what my parents taught me have lasted a lifetime into retirement.

I was never an academic student at school and in fact disgraced myself early on by getting 16/100 for a geometry test, much to the horror of my teacher, Mrs Wylie. However, in the school stream I was in, like all at school, we were taught the value of service to others and making a difference with our lives whatever that turned out to be.

I didn’t really have any goals for when I left school and, looking back, I was a slow learner – however, my development came later as I entered the nursing profession and little did I know the heights I would reach on that journey.

My initial success occurred after working overseas in Intensive Care Units and undertaking post-graduate studies in that speciality. Once back in Sydney, I commissioned new Intensive Care Units at two major hospitals – imagine starting from scratch with nothing and creating high tech units with the new Medical Directors with money being no problem – spend what you like to have top class units!

I rose to the top of my profession when working in Australia and was involved in amalgamating 3 major hospitals in Melbourne, Victoria. I was head-hunted to join a brand-new Executive Team and took on the role of Executive Director of Nursing and Patient Services.

The Victorian Government had high expectations of the work of our team and for my efforts I was nominated as a finalist in the Business Women of the Year Awards. I didn’t win however I was thrilled as I had far outweighed my initial expectations since leaving school – the foundations of which had already been set - they just needed to blossom.

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So if you are unsure where you might be going, don’t despair as there is always a pathway ready to be revealed to you when the time is right, as I found out to my delight.

Now I am at the latter end of life and I would again like to share with you how rewarding a retirement experience can be and you can still serve others – just like the initial values we learnt at school.

Three years ago I bought an independent apartment at the Bert Sutcliffe Retirement Village in Birkenhead in Auckland. It was one of the best decisions I made and my family, while initially being unsure, now see the value of life continuing in a new environment. I have met many new friends and had such fun going to all sorts of activities and outings – so I now have a varied life in a different direction. However, I want to share with you an unexpected development that happened that has enriched my life further.

We had a visit from the NZ Convenor of Peggy & Friends Knitting in your Community which was sponsored by Ryman Healthcare for all its villages to think about embracing. I duly went along to the presentation and we heard all about knitting Peggy squares to be made into blankets for community needs. Those attending thought it a great idea but no one put their hand up to organise such a group. Yes, you guessed it – I decided with my organising skills I could tackle this and, even if I say so myself, our group has been wildly successful.

We now have 35 members who joined the group and some come to our weekly gathering to knit in the lounge and have a cuppa, and others knit from home as they prefer that. This year all our items are being donated to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and they are sent

out round New Zealand to where the need is the greatest. Any spare wool left over is knitted into kitten blankets for the SPCA. With my co-convenor we produce a monthly newsletter so the entire group and village manager knows what we have achieved. We also have successfully sought community grants to help us buy wool so we can keep knitting. The NZ Convenor says we are her star group, having made knitting for others such a pleasurable pastime for villagers.

However, it doesn’t stop there. I was asked to assist with the group of knitters in the Rest Home here in the village and so 3 of us go weekly to knit with them and exchange views on life.

The Rest Home Knitters range from 85 – 96 years old and they are a delight to be with. Several others just come and sit and listen to us chat – so we are reaching out to this community within the village. You should see the scarves they knit and Peggy squares which they donate to our main group to be used with our items.

This week we had a delightful surprise – we were served fruit cocktails by the activities coordinator and our ladies said they wanted to entertain us in their home – so hospitable of them and much laughter ensued. I think there was a little bit of extra strength in the cocktails!!!

So, from a beginning in learning through the Rangi Ruru values - these have carried on right through my life to be used in the most unexpected and enriching ways. Something not to be missed and you too can surprise yourself with what lies ahead in your journey through life.

So if you are unsure where you might be going, don’t despair as there is always a pathway ready to be revealed to you when the time is right, as I found out to my delight.

Above: Some of the boarders in the 1920s.

Left to right: Meudail Moray Smith, Nell Marrie, Molly Matson, Enid Matson, Billie Allen. Rangi Ruru

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HISTORY CONTRIBUTED BY JOHNANAN WILLIAMS

A Walking Tour of the Rangi Ruru Site Take a walk around the Rangi Ruru site and you’ll find many buildings, gifts and objects that enhance the school grounds.

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THE JAPANESE GARDEN Between the Science Centre and Art and Technology Building.

Since 1994, Rangi Ruru and Yokohama Jogakuin have had a special relationship which has developed through the arrangement of exchange visits. In 2000, the two schools formalised this arrangement with the title ‘Sister Schools’, and the first garden was created. This is the second garden, established to mark this relationship and forms a special part of the rebuild of the school, post quakes.

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THE SCULPTURE The Bather by Terry Stringer: English Courtyard.

This was presented to Rangi Ruru by Mr & Mrs J.H. Willis in memory of their daughter Georgina, a 7th form student killed in a car accident in 1990. This courtyard included the previous Gibson Library.

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WAHAROA West entrance to Mana Wahine.

Carved by Riki Manuel and featuring the Gibson Sisters, Te Koraha flowers and Celtic imagery representing the school’s Presbyterian roots. The carving speaks of our ancestors and the links between Pākehā and Māori. The Kaitiaki (Guardians) stand firm at the base representing the founding parents of Rangi Ruru and the range of cultures who support and protect the school. Above them, Helen and Ethel Gibson look over and welcome. The flowers taken from the plasterwork of Te Koraha represent the blossoming of each girl.

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THE GYMNASIUM Gymnasium.

The present gymnasium, named the J.L. Kerr Gymnasium (or Jack’s Gym) for the School’s Bursar (a noted sportsman), was opened in 1976 by the Governor-General Sir Denis Blundell.

This replaced the relocated Air Force building that had served the school for 30 years (this sat between the Archives/ Gallery and Te Koraha.) The Fitness Centre was opened in 1992. The Wilson Hall, demolished post-quakes, provided extra space.

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BARBARA HILL COURTYARD Barbara Hill Courtyard.

Barbara Hill was the first woman to chair the Rangi Ruru School Board, having already been a member for nine years. She was a prime mover in the Centennial Building Project, and the securing of St Andrew’s for the Rangi Ruru site. The courtyard was part of the Centennial Project, and marks her significant contribution to the school.

The Orb Seed sculpture by Rebecca Rose (Rangi Ruru Old Girl) was commissioned and donated in 2009.

POOL AND GARDEN Beside the Gibson Centre.

The 2010/11 earthquake sequence changed the face of the school. New buildings were opened and this garden, seating, and water feature were gifted by the PTA to enhance the site. The sculpture, The Seers, by Chris Booth, an earlier gift of the PTA, was re-erected.

The PTA and the RROGA have raised significant amounts to enhance the campus over the 97 years the school has been on the Merivale site.

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SCIENCE-ARCHIVES / GALLERY-1947 This was the first building built and opened at Rangi Ruru after the Presbytery purchased the school from the Gibson Family. It was a purposebuilt science laboratory and heralded a new era, with the school also being registered for accrediting purposes.

In 1978, a new, much larger science block was opened. The block was later extended and for many years, housed Languages. Stripped back again, the Old Girls’ Association paid for the refurbishment as Archives and Gallery to honour the long history of the school.

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ST ANDREW’S AT RANGI RURU St Andrew’s at Rangi Ruru.

In 1986, St Andrew’s Church was moved from its original site (by Christchurch Hospital) to the grounds of Rangi Ruru.

The refurbished building opened in 1987 as a joint use parish and school building, and in 2017 the school took over ownership of the building from the Parish. The church contains many plaques celebrating the people and life of St Andrew’s and, more recently, objects and plaques that celebrate Rangi Ruru have been added.

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MATHEMATICS Like many buildings on the site, the building housing the Mathematics department started life as something else. In 1978, it was opened by the then Minister of Education as the Science Block, replacing the 1946 building that is now the Archives and Gallery. This building and the present gymnasium are the remaining buildings from the ‘Plan for Progress’ fundraising of the 1970s.

90TH ANNIVERSARY TREE Te Koraha Lawn.

Golden Elms were planted to mark the 75th (by the about to be demolished Languages Block) and 90th (on the west lawn of Te Koraha) Anniversaries of the school. These trees have matured to provide welcome shade for the students and a beautiful backdrop to the school.

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TE KORAHA = THE WILDERNESS. Te Koraha.

The house sits at the heart of the school. Work began on the building in 1884, shortly after Arthur Rhodes purchased the property. The original Tudor-style house designed by Armson, Collins and Harman forms part of the ground floor. After Rhodes’ marriage to Rose Moorhouse in 1892, they enlarged the house by adding a matching two-storeyed wing with veranda and balcony facing east. It incorporated the corner rooms, a library with built-in strong room, a ballroom and accommodation for 8 servants, and nurseries. It was the Rhodes family home until Arthur’s death in 1922. His son Tahu was living abroad and put the building up for sale, and the Gibson sisters purchased it as a new site for the school in 1923.

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SCIENCE Science.

The original Science building was the beginning of a change of emphasis in education for Rangi Ruru from a school with a strong tradition in the arts to one equipping young women to succeed in all disciplines. This is the third science block on the campus, built to be environmentally responsive, to show how systems work and to provide teaching and learning opportunities for the 21st century. The building was opened in 2014 as part of the postquake rebuild.

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MILESTONES

Philippa Shipley and Josh Taylor

WEDDINGS Date 26th March 2021 Where The Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre Groom Josh Taylor Philippa Shipley to Josh Taylor at The Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre. Bridal party included following Rangi Alumnae of ‘08: Claire Marshall, Melanie Shipley, Julia Newman (Watherston) and Hannah Diack.

BIRTHS Greer Rose and Ila

GREER ROSE

REBEKAH THOMAS-HIDDLESTON

Ila Rose Hewson Born 19th March 2021 Weight 2.72kgs

Hazel Sylvia Frances

DEATHS

Hazel Frances

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Judith Hanna née Wood 1934 Barbara Stewart née Winstone 1940 Nanette Robson née Willis 1944 Rosemary Thompson née Mathias 1945 Yvonne Sheppard née Coxhead 1947 Jocelyn Beaven née Beadel 1947 Erie Cusack née Monro 1947 Caryl Matheson née Buckley 1951 Claire Gibson née Wilson 1951 Wendy Weir née Sim 1953 Heather Morrish née Johnston 1958 Val Brown née Prouting 1964 Jenny Atkinson née Ford 1967

Philippa Shipley and Josh Taylor

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LEGACY

We welcome the 2021 daughters of old girls.

DAUGHTER

MOTHER

Harriet Abbott

Melanie Ann Souter 1988

Maya Barnett

Kimberly Barnett (Cook) 1997

Isabella Carr

Sarah Jane Graham Carr (Grant) 1992

Alexa Crosbie Bo Cruikshank

Laura Anne King 1998

Amelie De Luca Holly Dickinson Abbie Donaldson

Andrea Donaldson (Burdon) 1986

Eleanor Falls-Anderson Blaise France

Penny Kate France (Morrow) 1995

Penelope Frost Victoria M George

Rebecca Mary George (Skelton) 1988

Charlotte Gorman Sophie Gray

Charlotte Melanie Gray (Bashford) 1987

Meg Jones

Kathryn Ruth Jones (McIntosh) 1984

Laura Kelso

Sally Mary Ruby Kelso (Moffatt) 1984

Isabella Kennedy

Barbara Kaye Kennedy (Paterson) 1981

Tessa Langman

Lucy Grace Ellen Langman (Sandrey) 1989

Emily Leech Chloe Malone

Charlotte Robyn Malone (Walker) 1987

Jaye Marshall

Rebecca Ann Rupp (Seebeck) 1990

Kelsey Marshall

Rebecca Ann Rupp (Seebeck) 1990

Billie Moffatt Abbey Moody Greta Mortlock

Lainie Janine Smith-Mortlock (Smith) 1990

Connie Newton

Tara Kim Newton (Murney) 1991

Charli Norton

Karolyn Bernadette Diana Norton 1987

Kate OConnell

Rose Janet Pearcy 1981

Sophie Orchard Martha Polizzi

Charlotte Louise Tooby 1990

Nicole Ridd Alice Roxborough-Judd

Jendy Neroli Judd 1981

Charlotte Roxborough-Judd

Jendy Neroli Judd 1981

Molly Shield

Alice Mary Sheild (McRae) 1991

Pieta Sidey Penelope Sutton

Sarah Catherine Sutton (Borthwick) 1991

Maddie Upton

Nicole Kay Upton (Woolman-Durey) 1990

Evie Wilkinson Amelia Willis

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Eloise Withington

Caroline Frances Withington (Sharp) 1980

Amelia Young

Nicola Jane Young (Skelton) 1990

Olivia Yule

Amanda Jean Yule (Thomson) 1982

GRANDMOTHER

GREAT GRANDMOTHER

GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Catherine Anne Crosbie (Malcolm) 1969

Rosemary Lyle Cross (Adlington) 1961 Jillian Jean Dickinson (Minson) 1959

Jean Agnes Minson (Stevenson) 1926

Margaret Agnes Anderson (Neilson) 1947

Elsie Margaret Anderson (Jamieson) 1904

Eleanor Jane Muriel Anderson (Wilson) 1890

Lynne Frost (Early) 1964 Robyn Mary Bisset (Lyttle) 1959

Naida Mary Lyttle (Gardiner) 1933

Adrienne Frances Barnett (McDougall) 1964

Margaret Vera Kempthorne (Davis) 1931

Ruth Frances Mossman (Johns) 1955 Janice Edith Mary Moffatt (Hartnell) 1956 Jane Alison Paterson (Manning) 1949 Lyndsey (Lyn) Joy Leech (Aitken) 1955

Joy Carleton Aitken (Smith) 1931

Ada Carleton Smith (Thompson) 1900

Janice Edith Mary Moffatt (Hartnell) 1956 Aeila Moody (Newton) 1945; Alison Freda Gardiner (Murray) 1942

Norma Janet Pearcy (Palmer) 1946 Mary Marguerite Farrell (Armstrong) 1957 Majorie Ann Ridd (Henry) 1932

Shona Mary McRae (Macfarlane) 1931 Janice Andrea Sidey (Black) 1960

Katrina Ruth Burgess (Ritchie) 1960 Marjory Ann Willis (Free) 1955 Janet Isobel Sharp (Bishell) 1956 Robyn Mary Bisset (Lyttle) 1959

Naida Mary Lyttle (Gardiner) 1933

Diana Paterson Thomson (Scott) 1956

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It is a wonderful thing to have had a life following your passion and inspiring others to follow their dreams. While Ally followed a more traditional path of being a teacher, she also managed to be a woman way ahead of her time. From the very beginning, her passion was always for ‘all creatures great and small’. In later life her work on stream ecology and her school resources on sustainability sit alongside her nomination for a teaching excellence award and the amazing stories from some of her 2,500 students. Ally’s life was never far from nature, the land and the water. What a truly inspirational woman.

ALISON MARGARET JERRAM (MULHOLLAND 1963) 1950 – 2016

Ally was born on 11 November 1950 at St George’s Hospital, Christchurch, to Arthur (Rangi Ruru Board 1965-72) and Lois Mulholland (Lyttle 1938).

She had an idyllic, simple and carefree upbringing in a happy, loving home at “Ladybank”, Darfield with her older sister Jilly Taylor (1962) and brother Mark, who was 5 years younger than Ally.

The children played in the wheat silos, raised pet lambs by the score, fed out to the sheep, and then, of course, there were Ally’s horses.

A passionate horsewoman, there was pony club every Sunday next door at Bangor and then hunting with the Christchurch Hunt Club.

She loved the farm at “Ladybank” and maintained a keen interest in it throughout her life. She was very proud of the heritage of six generations of farming at “Ladybank” and the contribution her father, grandfather and great grandfather made to New Zealand agriculture.

Ally was passionate, feisty, loving, stubborn, loyal, intelligent, intuitive, with a wonderful sense of humour and a deep love and passion for nature in every form.

Ally had a wonderful secondary schooling at Rangi Ruru from 1963 until 1967 when she was a School Prefect, House Prefect and Captain of Hockey. Ally was first chosen for the A team in 1964 and also represented Canterbury the next year, together with her sister, Jilly.

The school magazine is littered with mentions of her participation in all aspects of school life including a 3rd placing in the discus in 1966 and 1967, and a mention of her role in the play “The Poet” in 1966 where she was commended on being “a suitably slovenly maid”!

There are also wonderful written contributions from Ally in the school magazine every year she was at school – both prose and poetry.

Her first entry, in her first year, 1963, is a classic titled –

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The Young Lady From Rangi There was a young lady from Rangi, Who ate too much “kai” from a “hangi” The doctors in vain, Tried to cure the bad pain, But in sorrow attended her “tangi”.

In her final year at school she was awarded the prize for French, presented by the French Government. This language talent she passed on to her daughters, Jane and Pippa, who both later excelled in the French language.

After Ally left Rangi she attended Lincoln College, where she completed her B. Agr. Sc. She met her future husband Pete Jerram there in 1968.

Ally began her teaching career on the West Coast, freshly out of Lincoln and with no teacher training. Her principal there remembers Ally as “much loved, respected, inspiring, supportive, full of wit and energy with a great love of her pupils and her subject”.

Not surprisingly, these are all qualities that fellow teachers and students attached to Ally throughout her subsequent teaching career at Marlborough Girls College to where she moved in 1988.

She contributed hugely to education in Blenheim. Her career at MGC spanned almost 30 years. She was a teacher, a dean, HOD Biology and staff rep on the Board of Trustees.

Ally was Mrs Jerram to around 2,500 girls whom she taught. Many of these will remember her as a cross between St Francis and the SPCA! If a sparrow flew into a window, they took it to Mrs Jerram who’d care for it in her office, even take it home until it was sufficiently recovered to be released.

Girls talk of her influence on their career pathways, inspiring them to become vets, ecologists, doctors, nurses. It is clear that Ally was a wonderful role model and mentor.

Ally’s influence stretches far beyond Marlborough.

In 2002 Ally was awarded a Royal Society Teacher Fellowship. During that year she worked with staff at the Marlborough District Council on stream ecology. She continued to work closely in this area after her scholarship year and produced resources, such as Critter cards that are in all NZ schools. Ally was an integral member of the national panel that revised the Education for Sustainability achievement standards and she wrote resources for these.

Ally was widely regarded as an exceptional teacher. However, she never sought recognition for herself. Some years ago girls nominated her for an excellence in teaching award. To proceed to the final stage you had to write a piece outlining your own teaching achievements. Ally took it no further. It was never about her. It was always the students.

An appropriate final comment on Ally the teacher is from one of her ex-students: “I’m grateful not just for what I learned but the way you made me feel: alive, inspired, worthy”.

Ally is survived by her husband Peter, son Tom and youngest daughter Pippa, both medical specialist doctors. Jane, her elder daughter, predeceased her in a tragic loss on Mt Blanc while studying in France for her PhD in geotechnic engineering, which was subsequently awarded In Memoriam.

Thanks to Jilly Taylor for this wonderful tribute to her sister Ally.

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JUDE CONNOCHIE

your wings are showing!

Jude Connochie has been the database fairy – the original one she tells me – and now one of several, at Rangi since 1991.

During that time she has used data bases, created databases using the knowledge from the polytech course in business computing she graduated from in 1991, and unravelled and trouble-shot the myriad of issues that arise from this constantly changing technology.

How long have you been working at Rangi?

On and off since 1991, when I started there was no database, however, there was a programme. It was called IES. Can’t remember what that stands for now, except it was a company in Rotorua. My first task was to enter all the information about every girl. That then became the official register.

Nearly all data bases for students at that time were written by teachers in the schools, who then shared them around and it grew from there.

How does your job now compare with then?

Back then there was no computer network, in fact there were very few computers. The database would have come to me on a floppy disc. 5 1/4 and 3 1/2. We loaded the program from the disc to the computer and then backed up the data that we inputed onto our own floppy discs. It was quite a procedure and you had to take care. That still holds today.

Technology changed and we adapted.

Now I work with the school database, and attempt to keep track of the Rangi Alumnae along with the current school students and their families.

One of the things I really enjoy is the treasure hunt of family connections; sometimes I can track an incoming student back five generations by searching in our database.

I’ve created a number of family trees to show this.

Your finest moment?

I loved being Director of Boarding. I left Rangi in 1996 when my family moved to Blenheim, I came back to Rangi in 2002 to do admin in the Boarding House and then a couple of years later became Director of Boarding. I did everything! Not only the data base, but I worked with students, staff, and families. Very varied.

On a personal note?

I have six grandchildren between me and my partner, three of whom live in the Blue Mountains, two in Wellington, and the youngest in Christchurch. So that is a great interest. I enjoy sewing for them, particularly pyjamas!

I love the 5K park run most Saturday mornings and walking on the Port Hills.

I do enjoy the Friday morning staff waiata at Rangi. It’s an opportunity to learn more about all things Māori, and the songs are in my head all through the day, and sometimes at night when I’m trying to sleep.

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I really enjoy working alongside Victoria Tait, who is the RROGA administrator.

Especially around reunions, because I enjoy seeing women embracing their peers, their friends from all those years ago, and more and more I see girls who were students during my time here at Rangi.

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The Vision Unfolds Sport and Multi-Purpose Centre COMING SOON

Today’s Gift Tomorrow’s Legacy

Show Your Support Today Project completion: 2022 To donate visit: rangiruru.school.nz/support

Maureen Landreth (McGiffin).

Annual Debutante Ball, Rangi Ruru 1953.

Photo courtesy of Maureen Landreth (McGiffin).