Newsletter

Pleasant are the laboursthat have passed

A year for celebrating | The heritage is strong The extraordinary things you do | School successes Preparing for the future | Family matters

Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association

2015 | vol 55

It is your School Reunion

B O O K Y O U R F L I G H T S A N D A C C O M M O D A T I O N N O W

Friday 6 – Sunday 8 November 2015

Rangi Ruru Girls’ School

Keep an eye on your inbox, mail box or carrier-pigeon box.

Were you in Form 3 in 1945, 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995?

For more information about events and weekend festivities contact Rachel Vavasour: phone +64 3 983 3782 or email r.vavasour@rangiruru.school.nz

Pleasant are the labours

that have passed

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55CONTENTS ISSUE NUMBER

5 A Year for Celebrating Celebrating the past 125 years while looking forward to the future.

10 Looking Ahead Rangi Ruru continues to lead from the front as it continues to create an inspirational learning environment for current and future students.

12 Julie’s Corner: A Note from the Principal A dynamic built environment is half the story. The other half is providing personalised learning opportunities and experiences.

14 Notes of Wisdom from our 2014 Student Leaders Rangi remains in the hearts of many alumnae. It has contributed to making you, you.

15 Tale from the Earthquakes The Canterbury Earthquakes continue to provide opportunities to connect.

16 The Heritage is Strong Rangi Ruru Girls’ School has strong connections with its M-aori AND its Scottish Roots.

18 The Extraordinary Things You Do It is not about what Rangi alumna are doing, it is how she is doing it: be the best at whatever you do.

29 Looking Back at Recent Events Relevance and fun are the principles to events developed and delivered by the RROGA Committee and its friends. Keep in touch – you are welcome back at any time.

34 School Successes Our newest alumna! Doing her best and achieving great things.

37 Passengers, RADA – London An amazing opportunity for our current performing arts students

38 News from the Association Meet the new committee members and get in touch with your local alumnae.

40 Family Matters Welcome, celebrate and remember our alumnae.

Cover info: Sir Tipene O’Reagan, Peg Moorhouse and Julie Moor with Purity of Spirit – Which Path to Take, kindly donated by Peg for Mana Wahine.

Newsletter

Pleasant are the laboursthat have passed

A year for celebrating | The heritage is strong The extraordinary things you do | School successes Preparing for the future | Family matters

Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association

2015 | vol 55

42 The Calendar Get involved in 2015/16 events including the tournaments, the reunions and the RROGA AGM.

42 AGM Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association 7.30pm Monday, 29 June 2015.

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Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Magazine

A magazine for alumnae and friends of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School

Issue 55

2015

ISSN 2423-0243 (Print)

ISSN 2423-0251 (Online)

Editor Rachel Vavasour

Designer Rosalie Brown, RGB Design

Writers Jo Dodgshun, Acting President Helen Kitson, Patron Liz Lovell, Friend of the Committee Pam Hutchinson, Gibson Girl Jenelle Hooson, Committee Member Amanda Dick, Committee Member Jo Blair, Member of Rangi Ruru Board of Governors Janet Jenkins, Heritage Advocate Julie Moor, Principal Georgie Staples, Head Girl, 2014 Kristy Havill, Head of House, 2014 Kate Burtt, Alumna and Capital Campaign Visitor Sarah Wilkinson, Director of Fundraising Rachel Vavasour, Database and Relationships Co-ordinator Janet Kingsbury, Director of Music Robert Gilbert, Director Theatre Arts Jo Fogarty, Director of Sport Juliet Collins, Curriculum Manager Kate Hastings, Gibson Family Descendant Guy Wellwood, Son of Fay Wellwood (Matson), Gibson Girl

Printer Toltech

Circulation To update or change your delivery address, please email r.vavasour@rangiruru.school.nz or telephone +64 3 983 3782

Editorial contact detailsRangi Ruru Old Girls’ AssociationAdministrator59 Hewitts Road, Merivale, Christchurch 8014New ZealandTel +64 3 983 3782Email r.vavasour@rangiruru.school.nz

AdvertisingIf you wish to advertise in the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association (RROGA) Magazine, please email r.vavasour@rangiruru.school.nz or telephone +64 3 983 3782

CopyrightYou are welcome to reproduce material from the magazine after gaining permission from the editor. All reproduced material must be appropriately acknowledged. The Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Magazine is published by the Rangi Ruru Old Girls Association. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School.

From the Editor

Rachel Vavasour RROGA ADMINISTRATOR

Just today I was standing in a queue at a local sushi outlet. Just in front of me was a young woman with a toddler on her hip. She stood tall, had clarity in her voice as she ordered and paid and used kind and precise words to the slightly whinging toddler who didn’t like what was being ordered for her. There was something about her which made me ask her if she was from Rangi Ruru. My intuitive hunch was correct. So what was it about her that made her, so obviously to me, a “Rangi Girl”? I’m not from Christchurch so it wasn’t years of conditioning and pre-formed ideas. But there is something about Rangi women, alumnae and current students alike, which set them apart from their peers. Both the school leaders in their prizegiving speeches talk of this intangible quality – the Rangi Spirit – which sets them and this School apart from others.

I am in an outstanding position where I meet both the current students and members of the School’s alumnae. I can see that they have the same qualities no matter which decade they are the class of. They have a strong sense of self – an unmistakable sense of empowerment to make things better. They have a gentle but strong attitude and determination. They also seem to have a firm belief in their own values and principles.

Over the last 12 months I have tried to define the “Rangi Girl”. There seems to be no single word which is either accurate or acceptable. And I am just going to have to accept that and adapt!

Speaking of adapting, you’ll notice a few changes to the Old Girls’ Newsletter. The RROGA Committee has taken the bold step of adopting a new look and altered content. The Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Magazine aims to be inclusive with multiple contributors and varied topics. It is photo rich and is committed to bridging the gap between the current students (the future alumnae) and the old girls.

I would love to receive feedback or content ideas for future publications, so please email me at r.vavasour@rangiruru.school.nz, or phone +64 3 983 3782 or send me a letter to 59 Hewitts Road, Merivale, Christchurch 8014

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The year of celebrations was about bringing the family together and celebrating several lifetimes of experiences.

It was hard to not know that 2014 was Rangi Ruru Girls’ School 125th year. The marketing campaign was big, bold and beautiful showcasing our amazing students in their various endeavours. The theme for the year, however, was modest by comparison – it’s all about family. The year of celebrations was about bringing the family together and celebrating several lifetimes of experiences. There was a veritable smorgasbord of partying – something for everyone.

The Mixology Cocktail PartyThe Old Girls Mixology Cocktail Party in April was the first of many celebrations for the year. While the chatter and laughter filled the halls of the magnificent new Science building, the mixologists were brewing up a carefully blended concoction of the official 125 Rangi Cocktail: Rangi

Spirit. School musicians played softly in the background while the drinks flowed and the fabulous food savoured.

Rangi125 House Party

A Year for CelebratingCelebrating the Past. Investing in the Future.

House Party Fundraiser

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Museum OpeningThe Rangi Ruru Museum and Gallery was officially opened on Friday, 24 October 2014. The wind howled but the rain was held at bay and the sun shone. While the new Rangi Ruru Museum and Gallery is the smallest building on campus it is one of the more significant, steeped with many memories. To mark the opening, an exhibition of Helen Gibson’s paintings from the Rangi Ruru collection was curated by Juliet Collins, with thanks to Heulwen Roberts for the background research.

2015 will see the archival collections methodically unpacked, stored and made available for research purposes and exhibitions. This process will require meticulous help from our extended Rangi Family. Keep an eye in later School publications for an invitation to become a Rangi Ruru Museum and Gallery volunteer.

Board and Staff ReunionDuring the planning phase it was decided that the partying should not just be for the alumnae. Past and current Staff and Board

members deserved an opportunity to dance on the tables as well. Many timeless memories were shared, and unsurprisingly many of the stories revolved around the mischievous, the brilliant and the down-right naughty students – all asking the same questions: where are they now and what are they doing?

Under a Wide Sky – The Gala Concert celebrating 125 years of Rangi RuruMany alumnae were delighted to receive, and responded positively to an invitation to be part of the 125th celebration gala concert, called Under a Wide Sky.

Joining the current students in the performing of a commissioned work for Choir and Orchestra by Phillip Norman entitled Wide Sky Shelter, was an enticing prospect. Philip writes: “Wide Sky Shelter is my response to the warmth, humour, and positivity I have experienced at Rangi Ruru during my association with the School over the past seven years. It is a composite musical portrait celebrating the School’s history and spirit. I have dedicated it to the students of Rangi Ruru – past, present and future.”

Deb Errington, Past-RROGA President, opens the Rangi Ruru Museum and Gallery

A YEAR FOR CELEBRATING

The official opening of the Rangi Ruru Museum and Gallery

Beth Bradley and Annabel Sheppard at the Board and Staff Reunion

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While some alumnae had not sung or played since their school days, others had made music their careers. A couple of alumnae were honoured to be asked to join the Rangi Ruru Sinfonia’s ranks. Several rehearsals were required under the directorship of Janet Kingsbury, Director of Music, and Helen Charlton, vocal tutor. There was a tremendous feeling of privilege to be part of such talent and many were very much looking forward to enjoying the other items on the programme after catching glimpses during the final rehearsal. Nothing could have prepared us for the unbelievable display of talent from the School’s performing artists. The performances by choirs, soloists, Kapa Haka, the Jazz Band, chamber groups, dance groups and Sinfonia were simply outstanding. That a secondary school can produce this quality of performance speaks volumes about the value it places on music and the performing arts.

Mrs Kingsbury and her staff are to be congratulated on their dedication, encouragement, fostering of talent and sheer hard work not only in producing a concert of this standard, but also in their on-going direction of a thriving and exciting department.

Market DayRangi Ruru Market Day held in November was a tremendously fun event. Even queuing for the second-hand clothes and home-wares was enjoyable. Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association collected and sold jams and preserves as provided by many alumnae. With just over $30,000 raised for the sports turf and hard courts the event was considered an enormous success and would not have happened had it not been for the enormous amount of volunteer hours clocked in by many members of the Rangi extended family, particularly, Leeann Marriott.

House partyThe evening of Saturday 22 November was a magical one. The long awaited Rangi 125 House Party kicked off just as the skies opened up and the rain poured. The guests weren’t bothered as they mixed and mingled over celebratory gin and tonics and glasses of champagne. Throughout the evening, alumnae, their partners, ex and present Rangi Ruru staff, sponsors, supporters and special guests were entertained by The Hit Men, who showed off their vocal skills, impressive dance moves, and their amazing ability to transform from Elvis impersonators, to

“We know that Rangi Ruru makes a difference to those who spend

time here and we all know of girls who would flourish in the Rangi environment and would value it just as many of you have done,

but for some, to learn at Rangi is a distant dream”

Rangi Ruru Gala Concert: Under the Wide Sky Lucy Laming (Dodgshun) Head of Music 2004 and Caroline Blackmore Head Girl 2004

Market Day 2014

Rangi 125 House Party – Amanda Cooper-Davies, Juliana Hilson and James Anderson

A YEAR FOR CELEBRATING

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crooners, pop stars and even disco dancers. Te Koraha had never looked better, with every corner kitted out in decorations from the decades: 1920s, 1940s, 1960s and the future. The best part of the evening were the school mates catching up – exploring their old Boarding House and reminiscing about their days at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. Rangi alumna, Katherine Free, was the winner of the Rangi 125 Singapore Airlines competition, and made the trip all the way from the United Kingdom for the special event. Special thanks to Rangi

families: No1. Estate, Charles Wiffen, Astrolabe, Giesen Wines and Black Estate for kindly donating the wine and champagne. No doubt a night to remember for all.

The FinaleEvery year has a Prize Giving ceremony but there was something very special about 2014’s. Delivered in one of Christchurch’s most awesome buildings it served as a fitting finale to Rangi’s 125 year of celebrating. As Julie Moor, Principal, said in her speech, the Isaac Theatre Royal speaks eloquently of the past and sings strongly for a future made possible by the people of the present. The same can be said for Rangi Ruru’s campus with Te Koraha at the heart and the new buildings created as innovative spaces where inspirational learning will continue to be nurtured for many years to come.

125 Scholarship AppealOn the very special occasion of the Rangi 125 House Party, Mel L’Eef (alumna, parent and Head of Teaching and Learning at Rangi Ruru), announced the 125 Scholarship*.

Mel talked about the honest and real education that Rangi Ruru provides which gives girls the edge to thrive.

“We know that Rangi Ruru makes a difference to those who spend time here and we all know of girls who would flourish in the Rangi environment and would value it just as many of you have done, but for some, to learn at Rangi is a distant dream”.

Which is why we are appealing for your help to extend the Gibson sisters’ vision for the education of young women, by assisting in the funding of this special 125 Scholarship.

Just over $20,000 has been raised to support the scholarship already and with your help, we can provide the means to transform more girls’ dreams into reality!

Please complete the form included in this publication and return today.

For more information, please contact Sarah Wilkinson on 03 983 3728 or s.wilkinson@rangiruru.school.nz

*The 125 Scholarship will be awarded to a Year 9 new entrant, who would be considered an All-Rounder and who exhibits strong values. It will contribute up to 50% fees for five years.

Justine Edwards-Lill and Amanda Crampton Melanie L’Eef

Rangi 125 House Party

A YEAR FOR CELEBRATING

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My last association with Rangi was over a decade ago when my fourth daughter left – so returning for my 50-year reunion in 2013 and the 125th Celebrations in 2014 were two such revisiting times. For many of us who are not professionally involved with education, our associations with school are often in quite distinct timeframes; when we ourselves are students and, if we have children when they are students and often when we return for reunions or celebrations. Every time we revisit our school much has changed – the subjects being taught, the buildings and facilities and the way students are learning.

I had tours through the new wonderful facilities necessitated by the devastating Canterbury earthquakes. My guides were both those who were teaching and also those who had the governance and project management responsibilities. So I learnt of the changes in teaching and learning and also the complex aspects of such a huge development being undertaken around a fully functioning school.

Gone were the long corridors where some spent time – or which echoed of headmistresses approaching footsteps. Now there were wonderful spaces which were used for breakout groups, girls to spend time at interval or lunch and wonderful and interesting art to be enjoyed. The spaces were designed and decorated with the way girls learn in mind.

The solar panels on top of the Gibson Centre, I learned, were for girls to be able to charge their electronic devices. The Gibson Centre was the fourth iteration of a library that I had known. The desk made of the old Wilson Hall floor was especially beautiful. The buildings had been future proofed with the services for future buildings already underground and the suppliers for the buildings were, where possible, South Island based. I admired the stunning concrete panels which

are seen on the outside of several of the buildings; these had been manufactured in Ashburton by Bradford’s Construction. The wonderful living wall in the Science building was given by Fuji Xerox, a school supplier, and the machine which monitors earthquakes – how topical – was on loan from Auckland University.

The glass walled classrooms with screens and technology throughout were a far cry from my remembered rooms in the stable block and the Ferguson Wing. The signed doors forming art work were a nostalgic reminder. I had an early view of the drama and music facility soon to be commissioned and learned of the acoustic details which will enable drums and violin lessons to coexist.

I had cause to ponder that with education as the single biggest agent of social change in society, Rangi Ruru has been at the forefront of this in Canterbury and New Zealand for 125 years. Since the inspirational decision by the Gibson family to provide education for young women, generations of teachers, school leaders, students and parents have responded to, led and in many instances been ground breaking in their leadership of women’s education. The decision by the Board and Management to take yet another step in the path of education for young women, following the Canterbury earthquakes is another milestone.

Yet returning to Rangi Ruru there is something that does not change. It is an essence which could be remembered by some through the Rangi motto Whaia to Te Rangi or in the Rangi Values of Respect, Aroha, Endeavour, Generosity of Spirit and Integrity and Honesty.

It is the sense of being a community which we remain part of regardless of the frequency with which we visit.

Kate Burtt

Rangi Ruru RevisitedKATE BURTT

With education as the single biggest agent of social change in society, Rangi Ruru has been at the forefront in Canterbury and New Zealand for 125 years.

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Since 1889, Rangi Ruru has been developed and sustained by gifts and donations. The school fosters a love of learning, a generosity of spirit and a healthy culture of philanthropy. As a member of the school community you are an important part of this history.

Giving brings us joy and happiness and therefore my role is to provide a bridge between the needs of the School and your passion to help meet these needs. And there’s a lot of passion in the Rangi family!

Remember it is not the size of the gift that matters, but your participation that is valued most.

Planned GivingLeave a Memory Morning Tea, was a very special gathering on 11 March. It referenced this year’s International Women’s Day theme ‘Make it Happen’: an opportunity to assess the progress made towards achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women across the world.

At the morning tea guests heard speakers Julie Moor and Kate Burtt talk about how the education of girls is fundamental to achieving peaceful and sustainable societies and how every day, at Rangi, we see the benefit that inspirational teaching and learning provides, empowering each generation to take on life’s challenges and opportunities.

Julie also talked about the legacies that live on in our memories, the benevolence and spirit of the Gibson sisters, the Nancy SB McMillan and the McRae Peacock scholarships which enrich students’ lives today and safe-guard the school for the future. Whilst it means so much to the school to be remembered in

someone’s will, it’s sad that the school was unaware of their intentions and couldn’t thank them in person.

Alumna and Partner with Wynn Williams, Sue Anderson, then talked about the importance of reviewing our wills every five years and making sure the wording is correct. Often names of trusts can change over time and our intentions may not be realised as a result.

The guests listened to a wonderful performance from Year 11 music scholars Grace McKenzie and Isabella Gregory. Grace has just been appointed to the second violins in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – National Youth Orchestra.

The morning tea was the perfect occasion to announce the founding of the Rangi Ruru Legacy Society, which will be formally launched early next year as membership grows and the group becomes established. The School is thrilled that several members have already confirmed their intentions and we look forward to welcoming new members at the next Leave a Memory Morning Tea, later in the year.

Becoming a member is easy and straightforward. Simply let us know that you have already named Rangi Ruru Foundation in your will, or you intend to make a planned gift, bequest or a living trust to the Rangi Ruru Foundation. You will join a special group of Rangi Ruru supporters* who will

Looking ahead Raising funds to take Rangi Ruru into the next 125 years

Sarah Wilkinson DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING

The legacy you’ll join

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meet up regularly for luncheons, morning teas and exhibitions, to enjoy meeting fellow members, interesting speakers and talented students.

For more information, please contact Sarah Wilkinson on 03 983 3728 or s.wilkinson@rangiruru.school.nz.

*Members who request confidentiality will remain anonymous.

New Buildings, Same Spirit….After the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, the Board of Governors decided not to replace the damaged buildings in an ad hoc manner, but to take the opportunity to redesign the whole school campus and to build a school designed around the needs of tomorrow’s leaders, focussed on personalised learning and grounded in best practice teaching and learning. Project Blue Sky was the name given to this vision, reflecting the School’s name.

We invited four architectural firms to present and after a lengthy process McIldowie Partners from Melbourne were contracted to provide a cohesive campus design that would create sustainable and flexible environments, combining the heritage and traditions of 125 years with modern facilities for future learners.

A redevelopment on this scale requires significant investment. Insurance and other monies have allowed us to get so far. The success of this project will ensure that each of the key learning outcomes for a ‘complete Rangi girl’ is provided for: Academic, Cultural, Sport, Social and Pastoral.

Given the complexity of the development, Project Blue Sky has been staged in order to meet our most urgent need.

> Stage 1, completed in 2014, utilised insurance monies and focussed on

repairing the cultural hub of Te Koraha and provided new buildings for our core academic facilities.

> For Stage 2 to be realised, a Capital Campaign has begun to meet the immediate needs for a Sports Centre and to complete the new Performing Arts building. A voluntary Capital Campaign Executive group, led by Grant Close (former Rangi Ruru Board Chair) was appointed in 2014 to lead Stage 2 of the Campaign and a team of valued campaign volunteers are currently meeting with colleagues, friends and associates face-to-face, to talk to them about the campaign, and inviting them to make gifts.

> Stage 3 an auditorium is planned for Stage 3 and will begin as and when additional funds become available.

In recognition of the importance of Project Blue Sky, members of the Board have made personal gifts to the Campaign. Together, the Rangi community has so far raised over $600,000 towards the fundraising target of $8 million.

Our Challenge – raising funds for Stage 2: Arts and SportsStage 2 will cost $18.7 million to complete the Performing Arts facility and to deliver a brand new Sports Centre. A sum of $2.7 million from insurance will carry over to Stage 2, leaving a net cost of $16 million.

The School has committed to half of the funds required, with the remaining $8 million to be raised through a concentrated fundraising Capital Campaign.

The only proven way to raise a large sum of money over a relatively short period of time is

for committed volunteers – who have already evidenced their commitment by making a personal gift – to approach their peers, friends and associates with an invitation to join them and echo their example.

Therefore, we hope we can call upon the commitment of our Rangi family – our board members and staff, current families, former families and our alumnae – to make Stage 2 of Project Blue Sky a reality. We believe that $8 million can be raised in gifts and pledges, through our focussed Capital Campaign over the next five years.

This process has already begun.

For more information, please contact Sarah Wilkinson on 03 983 3728 or s.wilkinson@rangiruru.school.nz

Message from the Campaign Chair Ultimately, the responsibility for the success of this Campaign rests with those individuals who believe in the vision of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School.

We are fully committed to raising $8 million for this crucial project.

Every member of the School Board and the Campaign Executive has made a pledge to the Capital Campaign and is working for the project on a voluntary basis.

We have a growing network of friends, donors and sponsors who believe that this project will make a tremendous difference to the quality of education for the Rangi girls of today and the future.

Your support is welcomed, and greatly valued.

Thank you GRANT CLOSE Capital Campaign Chair

The Gibson Centre, completed in 2014

Performing Arts and Merivale Lane Theatre. Open June 2015

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Rangi girls, whatever their age, continue to question and learn, they think, they are engaged, they step up and they care.

Someone recently asked me whether students today know more or less than students ‘in the past’. Given the broad scope of ‘in the past’ this was a rather big question, but my answer was that they know different things and develop different skills and that is not therefore better or worse.

The students graduating from high school today can’t necessarily give a list of dates or facts from history, or quote poetry, identify the subjunctive or even less likely, decline a Latin verb, although some can. But they are critical thinkers, frequently discerning good information and dodgy information. They can apply understanding to a wide range of contexts. They are less Anglo-centric and more global in their awareness and they have a range of skills from interpersonal to problem solving to technological. Their self-awareness in many instances is astounding. They know and understand different things to their parents at the same age. I have read NCEA and Scholarship answers, which are

returned to students after marking, and the depth of thought and breadth of knowledge and understanding in some of those examination answers was breath-taking.

We have, quite rightly, changed what and how we teach. We have certainly moved away from a model where everyone sits in a class and learns the same thing, preordained by a higher authority, at the same pace in the same way. That model went a long time ago. But in the last two or three years we at Rangi Ruru have moved increasingly towards far greater personalisation, which means suiting learning to the learner, rather than the other way around.

Personalisation takes many forms. It can be as simple as having input into what to study, as a range of contexts can be used for the same topic. It can be doing a different achievement standard from some other class members because it better fits your ability or interests. Thus one girl might be doing different work to the girl next to

JULIE’S CORNER NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Personalisation Suiting learning to the learner

Julie Moor PRINCIPAL

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her, or her assessment may take a different form, such as a video presentation rather than something written. It can be doing work from a year level other than your main one (multi-levelling) or doing part of your work from a source outside of school. It is about choosing what to have assessed and sometimes when you want to be assessed. It can be about developing your own portfolio of work in some subjects.

Personalisation means that some girls with involvement at a high (usually international) level in sport or other activities can have a differently weighted programme; it means some girls can get credits for co-curricula work, especially in dance, drama, PE and music. It means we create courses that suit particular needs and thus we have girls doing equine studies or a combination of university and school. And it means we also create courses to meet demand – philosophy and composition are two in point.

Technology as a tool has made a huge difference to teaching and learning and to personalising what we do. Girls can instantly access information, they can access tailor-made course notes and revision work through a class-specific online bank of student and staff generated videos We use software that enables teachers to interact online while a student is drafting or writing something and that can take what is happening via the internet and the whiteboard directly to girls’ electronic devices.

So it’s not about one size fits all, though we are still a normal school with classes, teachers and a timetable and somehow all of that has to work. Within that complex structure we endeavour to look at the individual and her needs, to some extent allow her to self-direct her learning and to own it, rather than to feel that she is a passenger in her own journey. It’s a balancing act, but I think what happens in classrooms today is rich, dynamic, challenging and engaging (most of the time!) and that our girls leave us with a range of broad and deep skills and understandings about their world and themselves.

There will be things we no longer do in schools. The curriculum has grown hugely and emphases are different. Is spelling worse? I don’t think so and even spell check still requires a good background knowledge. Is grammar worse? No, but if I’m honest, though, as an ex-English teacher, I might be a lone voice who still wants people to understand the difference between less and fewer and that it is I rang and not I rung. Actually I’m not a lone voice, as English departments everywhere understand that there is always a need to communicate clearly, accurately and articulately!

Rangi girls, whatever their age, continue to question and learn, they think, they are engaged, they step up and they care. Whenever they were educated, they received what was pertinent and highly regarded for the time, but alongside the curriculum was always a strong belief in values and citizenship. This and a belief in delivering the very best education possible are features of the school that will continue to underpin everything as it adapts to the changing needs of its current and future communities.

Personalisation takes many forms. It can be as simple as having input into what to study, as a range of contexts can be used for

the same topic.

Just hours after being gifted a seismometer, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School students were mea-suring their first earthquake.

On Tuesday the school was gifted a seis-mometer, by staff at University of Auckland.

The students barely felt the 3.2 magnitude earthquake that afternoon, but they saw it as a large spike on the screen.

Rangi Ruru principal Julie Moor said she hoped studying the science behind earth-quakes would help the students to under-stand their own experiences.

“Studying gives people greater under-standing, and if you have greater under-standing it helps you deal with something traumatic like an earthquake in a much bet-ter way.”

She said it would allow the students to ex-plore science in a hands-on way.

“It’s important that girls see science, in all its varieties, not only as a viable and exciting career option but also as an essential part of our global future.”

She said the school would like to expand its science programmes.

“With our new science facilities now completed we are very keen to look at dy-namic partnerships and programmes that will engage and excite our girls, and to also offer innovative pathways into tertiary sci-ences.”

The “Seismometers in Schools” pro-gramme is run by the University of Auck-land, supported by Boise State University of the United States.

The programme supplies a seismometer with computer, software and full support for schools which are interested in developing their programmes.

About 50 seismometers have been placed in New Zealand, America and Australia, and each “seismic station” is linked through an online network.

Rangi Ruru head of physics Keith Machin said the seismometer was an ideal vehicle for teaching physics, science and social sciences.

QUAKES ON SCREEN: Dr Kasper Van Wijk of the University of Auckland showed Rangi Ruru Girls’ School year 7 pupils how the school’s new seismometer recorded a recent earthquake in Taupo.

Quake device gives hands-on experience

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Nor’West News, 8 September 2014

Kristy Havill HEAD OF BOARDING

I realised this year just how much Rangi has changed me and I am wondering how many of you have thought about the significant benefits you have had or will receive by attending this school. Look around you. Look at your friends. Look at your teachers. Look at your subjects. Look at your cultural and sporting and academic successes. Do you appreciate it? Or do you take it for granted? Do you honestly believe that every school is like ours?

I’m asking you to appreciate Rangi and to appreciate this family that you are an integral part of. We all care about each other, so I am urging you to cherish it now. You will come to realise that you are a part of this family for life. I never expected the extent to which this school has sculpted my

inner workings and values. I couldn’t have imagined how attached I would become to the Rangi spirit, and to the School community. These five years will have defined me in ways I do not know yet, and they will define you too. Rangi doesn’t stop playing a role in your life when you leave in Year 13. It has prepared us to become the best young women that we can be. And that is the greatest opportunity a school can give.

Lucy Hutchinson and I had the privilege of meeting the amazing 97 year-old, Peg Moorhouse at the opening of the new Mana Wahine building. Lucy and I worked out that when we return to Rangi the same age as Peg did this year, the year will be 2094. Rangi will have surpassed 200 years. This led me to think about the legacy we are now part of. OUR legacy. All of you sitting in front of me are the girls who are leading us into the next 125 years. Be proud of yourself and be proud of your school.

And so tonight is farewell, particularly to my special Boarders. We fought, we laughed, we cried. Our five-year slumber party has drawn to an end. We came as strangers, and we leave as sisters. Wherever we are, that bond will remain.

Georgie Staples HEAD GIRL 2014

2014 has been a year full of celebrations and challenges. It will be especially remembered for the many wonderful 125th Anniversary celebrations. It will also be remembered for the tragic loss of two bright shining stars – our vibrant Courtenay and our effervescent Abi.

The Rangi Spirit is a quality which sets us apart from other schools. It is a positive energy which is a warm, motivating spirit. It lies beneath everything and within every student at Rangi. It nurtures each girl, allowing her to flourish and grow. I noticed this intangible quality during the 2009 Open Day, but I didn’t realise then how important it would be in defining me.

Becoming a Rangi girl in 2010 was a defining moment in my life. From day one, we were encouraged to get involved in the school life, make the most of the opportunities and experiences, to meet new friends, to enjoy new classes, new clans, the camps and all of the exciting spirited sports days and activities. I quickly realised that Rangi is not just a school; it is a unique family community. The friendliness, fun and motivation from the older girls, school leaders and teachers, washed away those early concerns and nervousness. Rangi gave me a love for life-long learning, embracing challenges, developing life skills and most importantly the confidence to tackle anything the future may bring. I know that life isn’t always going to be a smooth journey.

THANK YOU to all of my Rangi sisters sitting in front of me right now. I was honoured to be given the opportunity to be your Head Girl this year and I have tried my best to be a leader that you could rely on, lean on, laugh, cry, smile and have fun with. We’ve had a crazy year, learnt so much, and had endless fun along the way. Thank you for all of the memories.

NOTES OF WISDOM FROM OUR 2014 STUDENT LEADERS Abridged versions of Prize Giving speeches

Live your Legacy and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way

Our five-year slumber party has drawn to an end. We came as strangers, and we leave as sisters. Wherever we are, that bond will remain

14

A young ‘tradie’ drew me aside. He wanted to show me what he had found behind one of the mantelpieces when the chimneys were being dismantled.

This story began on 4 September 2010 at 4.35am. Does this not sound familiar? Is this not how many of our recent personal stories would begin? The opening lines would go something like this:

The house shook violently; the noise was horrifying; the two chimneys crashed through the slate-tiled roof; cracks in the lathe and plaster wall were enormous. Then the story would later change tack: visits from EQC assessors, red stickers, green stickers, red zone and insurance company assessors would all be mentioned.

But this story took a different turn. Fast forward (well, not exactly fast, but there doesn’t seem to be an expression to indicate “slow forward”) to early November 2014. My husband and I were called to a joint meeting with our insurance company case manager, the builder in charge of repairs to our home and the house leveller. The issue under discussion was access under the rimu floors and the replacement of any damaged floor boards with chip board. Again a familiar story line, but this was not where this story was heading.

A young ‘tradie’ drew me aside. He wanted to show me what he had found behind one of the mantelpieces when the chimneys were being dismantled. There were cards, a letter, receipts, photos and some coins. How thoughtful of the young man to put these items aside. I took the fragile, yellowing, dust-covered items back to our

temporary home. The items were from three time periods – one from the 1930s, the majority from the 1940s and 50s and a few from the 1970s.

My immediate thought was to try to reunite these objects with their owners or descendants. Where to start? I have only lived in Christchurch for eleven years but I very early on discovered that there is way less than 6 degrees of separation in this city! My Bridge Club would surely provide me with answers.

One letter, which was never posted, was to be my starting point; it was written by a young girl, who mentioned her sisters by name and another young girl whose name caught my eye. Gendy was not a name I had ever heard of, but one of my Bridge colleagues has that name. Could it be her? Of course some of these young women may have had a name change which would make my investigations a little more

challenging. Two days later over coffee at the Club I showed the letter to a group of women. Did anyone know the name Gendy Seay? Was this the same person who plays at the Club? One of my fellow coffee drinkers confirmed my thoughts. That night I phoned Gendy and explained my mission, ie to reunite the letter and other items with their owners. She informed me that they attended Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. It was she who suggested that I contact the Old Girls’ Association to see if the owners were on the data base. This I did, and within a day Rachel from the Association phoned me with a response to my email enquiry. Within another couple of days I was sitting chatting with two of the sisters as they enjoyed a journey down memory lane.

We have a future date together for them to visit our repaired home – the home which was theirs in the 1940s and 1950s.

TALE FROM THE EARTHQUAKES

Behind the Mantle PieceJanet Jenkins

NOTES OF WISDOM FROM OUR 2014 STUDENT LEADERS Abridged versions of Prize Giving speeches

We need your support during our Annual Appeal Week this July, so we can continue to provide support to women and children affected by domestic violence. Your donations will help us to continue to provide: Crisis Response Services Community Services Residential Safe House Education Advocacy

To support the work of West Christchurch Women’s Refuge, please phone 03 3790 575 or go to the following link:

http://www.givealittle.co.nz/org/kiakahawomen

Please give generously so your donation can make a difference

in the lives of women and children affected by domestic

violence. Make a Difference

West Christchurch Women’s Refuge Needs your Support

Please give generously so your donation can make a difference in the lives of women and children affected by domestic violence.

15

Speaking of “strong women”, Julie Moor raised the question of whether the School and its alumnae should consider a new name which honours our living elders, our matriarchs. Murmurs were received about the reasoning for this consideration – isn’t “Gibson Girls” good enough? Of course it is, but what happens when we farewell The Gibson Girls for the last time? The next group is currently being called The Transition Girls. Then it would be Mrs P’s Girls and so on. With every single group the School would be faced with the same dilemma of impending loss. It has the potential to be quite gloomy, don’t you think? So it should come as no surprise that an inclusive group be founded and it should also be

no surprise that Ma-oridom was looked to for inspiration for the name.

During many conversations with old girls and staff, options were discussed at length, Whaea Ora rose up as the preferred name. Pronounced fire-or-a, ‘Whaea’ is translated as a Mother figure, a mentor or even a guardian. ‘Ora’ is living or inspiration. In other words, Whaea Ora are our ‘living treasures’ – they are the guardians of the Rangi Spirit, of the things which make Rangi Ruru unique and exceptional. They are the ones whose job it is to enrich and guide our young women as they begin their journey as part of the Rangi Ruru family.

Whaea Ora does not replace The

Gibson Girls. It is complementary. The Gibson Girls will always be considered our founding students, will always be revered and will always have their annual luncheon. Whaea Ora will be the group which you “graduate” into on your 65th anniversary of your 3rd form year/Year 9. So, if you are Class of 1950 or earlier you will automatically be part of this group. You will be invited to an annual morning tea which will be called The Gibson Girls and Whaea Ora Morning Tea. It’s an inclusive celebration which reconnects alumnae with their School and with their chums who were not in their year group. It is a group which will mourn the losses but welcome the new graduates.

HERITAGE

Because strength isn’t about being perfect or about noise or muscle. It’s not loud. It’s about we not me. It is about

determination, integrity, generosity of spirit. It is about believing in yourself.

You cannot fight your heritage. It is who you are. It is what makes you you. It contributes to forming your values, your principles, and your world view. It’s what binds you to others. It’s the basis of family, of Whanau.

RACHEL VAVASOUR

The heritage of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School is no different. Every student who graduates from Rangi Ruru is well aware of the School’s strong female focus. Everyone knows the story of the Gibson sisters, particularly of Miss Helen Gibson. After last year’s Rangi 125 celebrations, everyone knows that the School, which came to be known as Rangi Ruru, began in 1889. Perhaps what many people don’t know is the School’s rich Ma-ori heritage. The School’s history books talk of friendship between the Gibson family and local Iwi. Margaret Belcher talks of Captain Gibson being visited by “his friend” and local Rapaki chief, Paora Taki. It was this friend who suggested that, after seeing the newly built house/school in Webb Street, it be called Rangi-ruru, wide sky-shelter.

Throughout the School’s history there have been little reminders of this strong tie to Ma-oridom. The name of the iconic historic building at the heart of Rangi’s campus is Te Koraha, referring to the wilderness of native trees within which it became nestled.

The infamously naughty midnight feasts in the boarding house were called “rangi tangis”. And more recently the naming of our wonderful Social Sciences and Student Services building – Mana Wa-hine – whose name refers to not only the strong women gone before us but the emphasis on nurturing strong women.

Your School’s Heritage Stories

Whaea Ora

Detail: Te Korowai Julie Moor standing at the entrance to Mana Wa_hine.

Carved by master carver, Riki Manuel.

16

Miss Farquharson believed that working for your own house would encourage esprit de corps and encourage greater interest in work, games, tidiness and uniform.

Sitting comfortably alongside the Ma–ori heritage are the School’s Scottish ties. The School’s Scottish heritage can be seen most prominently through the Clan names and their traditions. So why does Rangi Ruru have Scottish clans instead of houses?

Many new girls often ask this question when they start at Rangi Ruru and find themselves put into one of the clans, all named after Scottish castles.

It was the initiative of Miss May Farquharson to begin a ‘house system’ in 1946, for the whole school. Her belief was that working for your own house would encourage esprit de corps and encourage greater interest in work, games, tidiness and uniform. This was another big change for the school in a time of great upheaval as the school had just been sold to The Christchurch Presbytery and Miss Farquharson appointed as the first Headmistress after the Gibson sisters. The prefects of the time were not in favour of any more changes and the house system idea was not received positively at first, but they did agree if the houses could be called clans. They felt the name was more fitting to the Scottish Heritage of the Presbyterian Church. At first, there were four clans called Blue, Gold, Green and Red and it wasn’t until the time of the next Headmistress, Miss Mason, that

these gained their Scottish Castle names – Balmoral, Stirling, Doune and Glamis.

In 1955, in an effort to encourage clan spirit and enthusiasm, the Principal, Mrs Patrick, increased the number of clans to six. The new ones were Braemar, light blue and Dunvegan, mauve. Thirteen years later, with the school roll ever-increasing, Inverness, white and Kinnaird, light green were added to make eight in total. It was Mrs Patrick who introduced clan leaders, believing in giving senior girls considerably more responsibility. At this time the clans competed against each other in all sports, drama, singing, photography, floral art, general knowledge, money raising and in the good and bad mark system.

While the leaders worked very hard to enthuse their clans, it was felt there was still apathy towards the clan competitions and the next principal Miss Anderson thought a larger number of members in each clan was more desirable. Therefore in 1972, a decision was made to go back to the original four clans.

One last change was made in 2000, where again, with the numbers in each clan well over 100, Braemar and Dunvegan were re-established. The Rangi Ruru website mentions the reason for the clan system:-

These allow vertical groupings of students from Years 7 to 13 to compete against one another in many school activities.

One of the most colourful clan competitions is the annual Athletic Sports where the clans put in a huge effort to dress and decorate in their clan colours.

Encourage clan spirit and enthusiasm

Balmoral Castle

Doune Castle

Stirling Castle

Braemer Castle

Dunvegan Castle

Glamis Castle

Scottish OriginsJO DODGSHUN

17

OUR ALUMNAE

The Extraordinary things you doOlivia Spencer Bower 2000 ADVENTURER AND PHOTOGRAPHER

De Nada means “you’re welcome/my pleasure” in Spanish and when Olivia spent four months living in Costa Rica she loved the way “Gracias” (thank you) was always responded to with “de nada”. To Olivia it means never stop exploring the visual goodness of the world, growing and having new experiences, while also reminding her to never stop being grateful for what she has.

Today she has her own photography business called ‘De Nada Creative’ and is a long standing member of the NZ Women’s Canoe Polo Team (New Zealand Paddle Ferns). While at Rangi both photography and sport were her passions and she is grateful to Rangi for the opportunities and experiences the school provided.

Olivia was involved in a lot of activities at Rangi including ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, hockey, tennis, touch, canoe polo and multisport. She has memories of sleeping in the sick bay on the nights they had to be up at 5am for canoe polo training at 6am the next morning at QE2 and being so excited about travelling to Auckland to compete at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Nationals (which they won) and travelling to Tauranga to compete at the Multisport School’s Nationals with the legendary Mrs Orr.

Being selected to go on exchange to Gordonstoun in Scotland in the 6th form (Year 12) was one of her most amazing life experiences. Even to this day it ranks as one of the best things she’s done in her life – she has life-long friends from that trip. Olivia believes “the opportunity to attend another school for a term on the other side of the world is incredible and everyone should do it! I then went on to do an exchange when I was at University to Costa Rica for four months. I can’t rate the experiences highly enough.”

In 7th form (Year 13) Olivia did Photography, Design, Media Studies, PE and English. She remembers spending countless hours in the darkroom at Rangi.

“Photography really sang to me and Rangi’s

Art Department was incredible. The

opportunities and support to explore the

creative fields were immense and for that I’m

so thankful. Ms Collins was my photography

teacher in 6th and 7th form. She had an

amazing ability to inspire us to want to learn,

research and experiment. I think my future

path in the creative industry was founded by

her inspirational teaching.”

Olivia went on to complete a Bachelor of

Design at Massey University with First

Class Honours. She is currently part way

through a BA in Media Studies while

being involved in a variety of photography

projects, including developing a stand-

alone, long term time-lapse system for

construction projects, but her passion is

fine art photography. She wants to explore

alternative print processes and combine

digital and analogue creative systems

together. She was one of three finalists for

‘Creative Photographer of the Year’ in 2013

at the New Zealand Institute of Professional

Photography (NZIPP) awards and three of

these images went on to win Gold and Silver

at the Australian Institute of Professional

Photography (AIPP) awards. Check out

www.denadacreative.co.nz.

Olivia competed in the Canoe Polo World

Championships and represented New

Zealand at the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014

World Championships, the 2009 World

Games and the 2005, 2007 2009 and 2013

Oceania Championships and says, “you

push yourself to and past barriers – it’s a

mental roller coaster being involved in elite

level sport! I had a full time coach for the

2014 Worlds and I was only able to work

very part time so that I could train 2-3 times

a day 6 days a week. I’ve ‘kinda’ let sport

dominate my 20’s instead of my career,

but I wouldn’t change it for the world. My

sport has taken me to Holland, Denmark,

Belgium, France, Italy, England, Taiwan,

Australia, Canada, Poland and Germany.”

The 28 year old has also competed in the

Coast to Coast seven times now, five times

in the women’s team event and twice in

the 2-day individual open women’s race

winning the teams event in 2011 and this

year winning the 2-day individual race. She

believes the Coast to Coast run, Goat Pass,

to be one of the most spectacular mountain

runs in NZ.

Olivia and her partner Andy live in Halswell

in Christchurch along with Frankie

(4-month old Jack Russell). Her dream is

to be a full-time fine artist working with

photography and alternative print processes

and, of course, she’s thinking about doing

the Coast to Coast longest day next year

and the 2016 World Champs and the 2017

World Games for Canoe Polo.

18

Laura McGoldrick 2002

BROADCASTER

Like most Kiwis, Laura McGoldrick enjoyed

the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, but for a

couple of reasons it was extra special. Laura

was the ‘face’ of the opening ceremony, a

ceremony she describes as an incredibly

special event. The second reason is her

husband is in the New Zealand cricket team.

“To be a part of something being watched

by 2.5 billion people, let alone hosting the

event in my hometown of Christchurch was

an amazingly proud feeling, one I will never

forget”, Laura says, “plus to be involved with

such an event at such a special time in NZ

Sport was a real highlight.”

Laura not only worked on the coverage

of all the NZ games, including the final

in Melbourne, but she finished off her

Cricket World Cup Journey by hosting the

NZ Cricket Awards, which celebrated the

Blackcaps amazing success.

She was the first girl to host the NZ Cricket

Awards; in fact NZ was the first to have a

girl host this type of event.

In reading about Laura you find out she was

a talented sportswoman, musician and actor

from her school days. Her best memories of

Rangi were based around the productions

she was a part of, ‘Les Miserable’ being a

real highlight. “I remember being in plenty

of productions at Rangi Ruru, I was Cruella

De Vil in ‘101 Dalmations’, I was Ash Girl in

‘Ash Girl’, I was Madame Thenadier in ‘Les

Mis’, I played Lucy in ‘Dracula’ and I was

also was in a lot of Shakespeare productions

for the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival”

She recalls, “Ms Bubb, Ms Clarkson and

Ms McPherson were the teachers I could

always count on for advice. Wanting to be

an actress and in the entertainment industry

when you leave school was never going to be

the easiest transition, but I was very lucky

that they gave me the confidence to go out

and give it a go.”

She considers herself also quite fortunate, as

there was nothing she didn’t enjoy at school.

Perhaps not surprisingly her favourite

subjects were drama and media studies,

while science wasn’t perhaps her strong point!

On leaving Rangi, Laura moved to Auckland and went to Drama School. While still studying she got asked to audition for a kid’s TV show, ‘Push Play’. She got the job so she left studying to host the show. While filming that she was approached by SkySport to audition for one of the shows for the cricket season and the rest, as they say, is history!

The skilled New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill appeared as one of her first guests on her show. Six years later they are married and she describes herself as ‘the luckiest girl in the world!’

This talented and bubbly Rangi girl still enjoys the different aspects of the entertainment industry. While theatre is her favourite, she loves being on stage and of course says television is ‘great as well’.

Laura has worked for Radio Hauraki as breakfast host for three years now and she loves it because “I work with a great bunch of people and I am learning a lot as I go.”

The most difficult aspect of the job is getting up every morning at 4.30am as that can quite drastically change your lifestyle, but she has a supportive family who know she’s doing what she loves – so that makes it easier.

I put to Laura that I had read, “Laura McGoldrick is the best thing to ever happen to NZ cricket” (as historically it has been a male sport, with male commentators). Laura replied “I don’t know if I’ve changed it, it was never going to be easy as someone who never played professional sport to make comment on the game – so I tend to make comment from a fan’s perspective, I don’t try to critique players or the game. The people I work with have been nothing but helpful and encouraging through the years.”

She may not play cricket but she and her husband play tennis and she is still learning how to play golf, which she loves, “I’m really getting in to it!”

Laura thanked me for asking her for the interview and commented that she feels very lucky and proud that she went to Rangi.

OUR ALUMNAE

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow

your heart and intuition.” STEVE JOBS, CEO OF APPLE INC

19

Jeneve Williams 1988 WINEMAKER

After leaving school, I studied a four year Bachelor of Viticulture & Oenology at Roseworthy College, a winemaking college based in the famous Barossa Valley wine region in South Australia. After graduating I headed to California and worked a harvest which led to several years working as a flying winemaker in jobs all over Europe.

After a four year stint working for Montana Wines in Auckland, where I was responsible for sparkling wine production, I had itchy feet to travel again.

I have now been based in London for 8 years, initially working for an agency that sent me travelling around Europe, South America and Asia making wine for UK supermarket clients. I have now been in my current role with Marks and Spencers (M&S) for three years, working in a team of three winemakers. I am responsible for the development and blending of over 200 M&S exclusive wines, from 17 countries, which includes Italy and NZ along with some unexpected places like Georgia, Macedonia, India and Brazil. I love my job, not only do I visit my wineries after each harvest to blend the wines just the way I want them, but I am also responsible for developing the label and packaging designs and for promoting my wines.

I met my Brazilian husband three years ago while working in Argentina and we are expecting our first child, a girl, in May!

Ali Harper 1985 SINGER, SONGWRITER, ACTRESS

One of Ali’s extraordinary successes in an event-packed 2014 was performing Bombshells at the prestigious United Solo Festival, the largest solo festival in the world. Her performance on 17th October was acknowledged by the organisers with the ‘Best Actress Award’. This was indeed a huge honour and Ali is to be very warmly congratulated on this award. Before setting out for the Festival, Ali performed to sell out audiences at the Rangi Ruru Theatre.

Ali also came back to Rangi Ruru at the start of 2014 as the artist-in-residence just in time for the school’s 125th anniversary year. Ali was very pleased to remain in one place even for a short time and to work with the girls, “I was really excited about my work at Rangi and loved working closely with the girls and with Robert Gilbert (the School’s Director of Theatre Arts), whom I greatly admire.” Ali shared her talents and expertise with the cast of Cats, the School’s joint production with Christ’s College. Ali felt it was significant to be returning to the School in the 125th year, “They say school days are the best days of your life and I can honestly say they were pretty fabulous for me.”

So what’s next for Ali? “I love new projects. My production company Ali-Cat Productions is always working on new shows. The latest is ‘Legendary Divas’ which honours all the wonderful singers we grew up with. Ali performed the show in Christchurch earlier this month to sell-out houses so was excited to be returning to The Court Theatre for Mothers’ Day.

Judith Lane-Ewing (Corrigan) 1952 INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTIST

Judith’s years at Rangi were enriching. She remembers many times when she and her class mates were quite mischievous. In spite of her chosen career path as an artist, she did not really enjoy art classes because the subjects never excited her so “I did my own thing which was not very popular”.

Judith recalls during a lunchtime she and a few of her friends rode their bikes to the paddock where Judith’s pony was kept. They all rode bare-back and had horse-hair on the back of their gym frocks. She lived near the Main North road and as they were cycling back to school they passed St Andrews College. “We were horrified to see the young students at the gate waiting to be picked up and we quickly realised that time had flashed by and that we would be in hot water. It was very late. I don’t think we had watches”. On returning to school they found an art class in session - it was in the old stables. They hid under coats in the cloak room as Mrs Patrick, the Head Mistress, came in and discussed their absence with the art teacher. “I don’t remember how all this resolved”. Judith still has her Rangi Ruru panama hat band in a box.

Judith is now a professional artist and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Please visit her website http://www.judithlaneewing.com if you wish to view her paintings.

Queenie with Collar

OUR ALUMNAE

“If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, then change the way you think about it”.

MARY ENGELBREIT FAMOUS ARTIST AND CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR

20

OUR ALUMNAE

Te Aroha WI WAIKATO EAST FEDERATION

Jos Nielsen has been a dedicated member of Women’s Institute since 1961, gaining her 50-year service award in August 2011. During her membership, she has held office on committees of Federation and Institute for 44 years, including several terms as President, Secretary or Treasurer of her Institute, and President and Treasurer at Federation level. In addition, she has been a delegate and hostess at National Conference and Annual General Meetings, and a Voluntary Organiser, with a sound knowledge of the organisation.

Jos is a people person, involved in community work for many years - for example, with a drop in centre, an information centre and the A & P show committee - and Women’s Institute has benefited by having her as a member.

At Institute level, she has taken part in drama and choral activities, entered monthly competitions regularly, been a competition judge, and baked for speakers and street stalls. Her car is always available to transport members and she makes a

point of visiting unwell members at home or in hospital. She is currently treasurer of the Garden Circle, where she has also held the positions of Convenor, Secretary and Judge.

In the earlier days of her membership, she sold rags to garages to boost funds, and catered at Mystery Creek on field days. She instigated Te Aroha’s knitting in schools programme, the planting of native trees in a local reserve, and supported and raised funds to have installed in the town a seat with a plaque attached. During her years as President of the WI, she always made everyone feel welcome, especially new members; and still makes herself available to help anyone with a problem.

With her knowledge, experience and dedication over many years, Jos Nielsen is very deserving of a Gold Honours Badge.

Jeanette Andrews NATIONAL PRESIDENT NZ Federation of Women’s Institutes Inc. June 2013

Jocelyn Alice Nielsen (Bonifant)1945 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

Editor’s note: Jos received this prestigious award two years ago. Although it was reported in last year’s magazine, I felt that it was appropriate to include the entire citation as it has been recorded by the NZ Federation of Women’s Institutes Inc.

Phone: 03 3797 223www.toltechprint.co.nz

21

Jeanette Andrews and Mayor Tim Shadbolt with Jocelyn Alice Nielsen

OUR ALUMNAE

Sophia Fenwick 2006 PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PERSON

“Future Goals” Making sacrifices for her netball has been something Sophia has done for many years. “I found myself always busy throughout my school years, sometimes training before school, after school and in the evening, some days I would fall asleep in class as I was so exhausted!” But she has always looked back on her years at Rangi with fond memories because of her coach Mrs Rowberry. She considers her to have been a ‘very straight up coach, not afraid to say what she meant and although at times feedback felt harsh, upon reflection it was her who shaped me to be the resilient netballer I am today, able to take critical feedback and carry on.’

Sophia’s memories of netball include plenty of tournament antics and playing in rain, sun or even hail/snow down at Hagley Park. Netball connected girls from different year groups in a team environment. Winning ‘Supernet’ competitions against National Champions Villa Maria are also good memories! Sophia remembers that it was Mrs Rowberry who gave her the first opportunity at Rangi, selecting her to go to Tournament Week with the ‘Senior A’ team when she was in Year 9. Sophia admits it was pretty nerve-wracking.

In Year 12 (6th Form), Sophia was fortunate enough to make the NZ Secondary School Netball side. Originally a non-travelling reserve, she got the call up as a girl got chicken pox! She then played again the following year also making the NZu21 squad and continuing with the

NZu21 squad until 2013 where they won gold at the World Youth Cup in Glasgow.

Sophia entered the ANZ Championships in 2011 playing for the Southern Steel, and then the 2012, 2013, 2014 seasons she played for the Mainland Tactix.

She enjoys meeting a few other Rangi alumnae on the netball courts. She was in the Tactix with Elisabeth Manu a few years ago, and saw Chloe Williamson (Tactix) at her recent game against the Tactix!! “It’s really cool still playing with some of the girls through club or representative netball – recently Olivia Coughlan, Chloe Williamson and I were all playing for CHCH NPC! Brought back some good memories”

Sophia is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Taxation (NZICA) through Canterbury University and currently Massey while ‘out of town’. 2015 also sees the 181 cm Sophia back playing for the Steel as she felt she needed a change for her netball career, a new environment, and new coaches to rekindle her passion for the sport. Although it is hard being away from family, friends and her partner she feels it has been a good choice and is enjoying the netball. Her goal for this year is to grow herself, her confidence and her netball.

Future goals? Of course she would love to be a Silver Fern one day and again represent her country on the world stage and to “get an ‘old girls’ team together and have Mrs Rowberry coach us yet again!”

Sophie Connell (Burtt) 1992 URBAN DESIGNER

As an urban designer, working on the rebuild of our home city is an extraordinary opportunity. When working as part of the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) team in CERA I was fortunate enough to work on the regeneration of the South Frame within the Central City Recovery Plan. The Frame encompasses a series of city blocks between St Asaph Street and Tuam Street, connecting the Innovation Precinct in the East to the Health Precinct in the West. If you take a closer look at this area, you will see some fabulous ‘surprises’ emerging and embedding themselves in the grit and urban character of the area. This element of surprise captures the essence of the future South Frame. Among the flourishing bars, restaurants, and new and existing businesses and buildings, a small herd of elephants has made this ‘urban savannah’ home!

The herd was painted by local artist, Owen Dippie (artist of the much-loved Isaac Theatre Royal ‘ballerina’), as part of the SPECTRUM street art festival. The elephants will ‘wander’ the South Frame along a new pedestrian connection through the block where you will find another SPECTRUM festival artwork by international artist, Sofles. The works are intended to surprise and delight passers-by. Sophie is one of a team of urban designers who are committed to ensuring that there are many more creative treasures incorporated into this area as it evolves and revitalises into a burgeoning, edgy and quirky place to live, work and experience.

22

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You will gain the coffee unit standards, attend cooking workshops and develop great customer service skills to help you get a job in hospitality or as a pathway to our Level 4 courses.

NZ Certificate in Cookery Advanced• Full time: Starts 3 August 16 weeks

Gain the specialist skills you need to have an exciting career in culinary arts and graduate with industry recognised, well respected qualifications.

Certificate in Professional Wine Knowledge (Sommelier) - 12 weeks• Full time: Starts 25 May or 31 August • Summer Intensive: Starts 30 November

In this intensive program you will gain in-ternational wine qualifications from WSET®.

Other part time courses2 Weeks Barista SkillsEssentials of Cooking & BakingCocktails & Mixology

The New Zealand School of Food & Wine is NZQA registered & Accredited. Student loans available on NZQA courses.

Anna Dawson 2004 ENTREPRENEUR AND BUSINESS WOMAN

Anna believes “rowing teaches you a lot of things – teamwork, resilience, perseverance and communication. Skills that are essential no matter where you find yourself in life”, and for that, she believes she owes Rangi a big thanks for throwing her into a sport that helped her in so many ways.

“Rangi rowing was where I learnt a lot more than just how to row. The amazing Rangi dynamic, coaching staff (kudos, Dale Maher and Gary Hay) and work ethic

has definitely carried through with me playing a role in where I find myself today”. Looking at photos of her graduating (BA in Psychology) at Stanford University and reading that she was 3 x All-American Athlete you know this Rangi alumna has focus, drive and perseverance.

On leaving Rangi, Anna decided to study in America because there, college is an all-encompassing environment where student-athletes experience world-class education with world class training facilities and coaches. Stanford is also located in sunny California, a gateway into Silicon Valley (home to the world’s largest high tech corporations)

After graduating in June 2014 Anna decided to take Silicon Valley ‘head on’ and immerse herself in the ‘start-up’ culture as a member of a start-up team developing a mobile application being launched in June 2015 and released worldwide. The entrepreneurial world has really opened her eyes as to what is possible, no matter your age and experience.

She loves to start her mornings with a run along the San Francisco waterfront, attend start-up accelerator events, meet new people, eat amazing Mexican food, go wine

tasting in Napa Valley and attend music festivals. She’s also coach at the Stanford Rowing Camps which scout out high school rowing talent for potential Stanford recruitment.

San Francisco it is a long way from Christchurch and Rangi but she has many great memories and acknowledges rowing gave her amazing opportunities and experiences. In Year 12, (with fellow Rangi Old Girl, Ali Burnside) she travelled to Beijing in the New Zealand Junior Team competing at the 2007 Junior World Rowing Champs. The next year (with fellow Rangi Old Girl, Sophie Spiers) she travelled to Austria where they won gold. As member of the 2011 New Zealand Under 23 National Team, she travelled to Amsterdam and gained a Silver Medal.

Anna was an athlete at Stanford for the four years from Freshman Year to Senior Year. During that time she was selected as 3 x All-American Athlete, 2014 Pac-12 Athlete of the Year and during her senior year, was selected Team Captain.

What does the future hold for Anna? She’s looking to get a Masters in Business Analysis and Strategic Management and eventually start her own business.

OUR ALUMNAE

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OUR ALUMNAE

Lucille Ness and Natalia Baird 2001 DESIGNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS

Blackeyepeach designers and founders, Lucille Ness and Natalia Baird began collaborating over a shared love for fashion in 2010. Three years of observing trends, online content, labels and designers ensued. In 2013 came the realisation that they had inadvertently established a framework and vision for their own brand.

Their idea was to create a capsule collection of real world, tailored womenswear that embodied elegance, attention to detail, simplicity of cut and provide staples that could yield a foundation for bolder, more personal statement pieces.

In order to create the flagship range, the duo sought to source tailors off shore to provide the high end quality they envisioned, while still being able to maintain a reasonable price.

With a trusted colleague and business mentor already based in Vietnam, their search for a team of the best tailors and dressmakers began. With a delicate balance of uncompromising quality, trust and relationships, the pair meticulously screened fabrics, samples, personalities and working conditions before settling with a handpicked team of outstanding manufacturers.

With truly inspired ranges, an ever increasing online presence and engaged followers, Blackeyepeach are fast forging a definitive space with high end, real-life, tailored womenswear that features no sign of an unobtainable price-tag.

Isobel Needham 1996 TOUR GUIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE

RRGS alumna, Isobel Needham, is riding high after being awarded ‘Guide of the Year’ in a recent competition to find the best tour guide in the world. European based travel website, TourRadar, awarded Isobel with the accolade after a year-long competition where her past passengers voted by leaving a review of their tour on the website. Isobel received prize money of C=5000, and another C=5000 to give to a charity. She decided to give the charity money to Live More Awesome, a kiwi based company which helps people suffering from depression.

Isobel has been a tour guide for six years, working in Europe for Busabout during the northern hemisphere summer and Contiki New Zealand in the southern hemisphere summer. She says she would have never been a tour guide were it not for her close friend and fellow RRGS alumna Rachael Thacker, who booked Isobel onto a tour of Croatia in 2009 with some other RR old girls. A few months later Isobel was back there guiding tours of her own. The French and German Isobel studied at Rangi has been invaluable, however, she wishes she could have had the opportunity to study more languages like current students do. “I think it’s great languages like Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin are taught at Rangi, we will only get more and more tourists coming to our beautiful country, and learning languages is a great way to set yourself apart from the rest.”

Currently guiding in New Zealand, however, Isobel will be back to her hemisphere hopping lifestyle shortly with tours lined up in Spain beginning in June.

Jo Steel 1977 Felicity Wallis 1983 BUSINESS WOMEN AND HEALTH PRACTITIONERS

Alumnae, Felicity Wallis and Jo Steel established HOME ASSISTANTS FOR SENIORS after seeing the need for the service when their Grandfather chose to remain living in his own home. As is so often the case, family members did not live close enough to provide the required level of assistance on a regular basis but to support his choice they recruited in-home assistants to support him with the tasks he was struggling with and provide him with companionship. He trusted and relied on these amazing people and as time went on the family observed his quality and enjoyment of life improve significantly. He died at the age of 92 in the comfort of his own home.

This story forms the foundation upon which HOME ASSISTANTS FOR SENIORS is based. Felicity and Jo have both worked within the health sector as physiotherapists and strongly believe that services like theirs allow Seniors to remain in their own home, to be independent and in good physical and mental health. They also firmly believe that with New Zealand’s aging population their service will contribute significantly to reducing demand on the health sector.

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Tony Laskey, Isobel Needham, Murray Scott (two of Isobel’s Contiki bosses)Felicity Wallis (Head Prefect 1987), Jo Steel (Head Prefect 1981)

OUR ALUMNAE

Mary Ann Halliday 1973 ENGINEER

I started at Rangi in 1971 in Form 1. About

that time Alan Whicker, of British TV show

‘Whicker’s World’, did a programme from

New Zealand. It included an interview

with a Rangi girl who wanted to become

the School’s first engineer. This embodied

where women’s rights were at the time with

the ‘girls can do anything’ idea. That girl

was four years ahead of me and she did not

become an engineer. I did, but not without

the culture shock of going from an all girls’

school to a class of 200 males with only one

other female during my Bachelor’s Degree

at Canterbury.

By the 1980s I was riding the building

boom as a structural engineer in Auckland.

I could not believe the huge responsibility I

had of designing and then supervising the

country’s third tallest building at the age

of 24. At 30 it was time to have a change

in pace so I took up a position lecturing in

civil engineering at CPIT. I was also able to

return to Canterbury University and do a

Masters in Engineering. Lecturing was the

perfect job while having my four children as

I was able to change the hours that I worked

according to the needs of my pregnancies

and children.

My youngest was 10 when the first of

the earthquakes hit. The obvious and

drastic need for structural engineers

compelled me to assist as a volunteer and

I continued juggling this with my CPIT

commitments. I helped to lead the team

of six engineers that completed safety

checks of 30,000 houses. I found myself

having to deal with traumatised people

and gained a real understanding for the

engineer’s role in society. The June 2011

earthquake seemed like a definitive sign that

I should be consulting again so I took up

a senior position with Opus International

Consultants. I have been able to choose

developments that have a high social impact

such as schools, churches and social housing.

One project that holds particular

significance for me personally has been

the assessment of St Andrew’s at Rangi

Ruru. Although it was still situated by the

hospital during my Rangi years, it is now

an important aspect of my family story. It

has seen two family weddings (my aunt’s

in 1957 and my own in 1991) and my three

daughters see it as a central feature of their

own Rangi stories. Furthermore, I specialise

in timber and heritage construction and

want to ensure that the work done on this

beautiful building is not only practical

but aesthetically pleasing and loyal to

its heritage.

St Andrew’s at Rangi Ruru is a prime

example of the uniquely New Zealand

carpenter-gothic style. It is also a testament

to the Kiwi fixation with renovations. The

building has been stretched and extended

in every possible direction, nine times in

total. The challenges it presents are not just

from the earthquake but also from general

issues concerning the preservation of timber

buildings. The post-earthquake process

has presented an excellent opportunity to

examine the structure and safeguard it for

the future. The church has been visited by

experts from Bath, Vienna and Florence

who continue to be updated on progress.

Opus will be carrying out full scale testing

on the structure, which will be conducted

by a team of six of my CPIT students.

They will use it as their project work for a

Bachelor of Engineering Technology. We

hope to submit a paper on our findings

at the World Timber Conference. In the

interim, I must get around to filling out my

contents insurance claim!

Top - 2 columnsCentre - 2 1/2 columnsBottom - 3 columns

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St Andrew’s at Rangi Ruru.

25

OUR ALUMNAE

Jane Montgomery 1983 LAWYER AND CHIEF SALESPERSON

Organised and focussed are two words

that describe Jane Montgomery. During

the week she is a Christchurch based

intellectual property lawyer and on the

weekend she is ‘chief salesperson’ on a

stall at the Lyttelton Farmer’s market

selling venison along with a range of

her own products from the family farm

‘Cheviot Hills’

Jane was a boarder at Rangi as she grew up

on the farm in North Canterbury. Built in

1868 the former manager’s residence has been owned by the Montgomery family for over 50 years and has been recently sympathetically updated to accommodate Jane’s brother Peter, his wife and family.

The farm is innovative and now, rather than simply selling deer to venison processors, it is a boutique supplier of venison to the local market. Jane has also developed a range of two sauces, six jams and two jellies all designed to go with venison but that also work with other meats and other things as part of the ‘Cheviot Hills Fine Foods’ range. Jane comments “I’m amazed at some uses our customers put them to”. Her range also includes sausages, salami and biltong and her ready-to-heat meals include venison lasagne and Bolognese sauce, venison curries, ragu and pies. Check out www.cheviothills.co.nz.

Inspiration came from her mother Mary Montgomery whose hospitality and culinary flair is still remembered in the area. “She made extraordinary things. So when we thought about making preserves, we also wanted to make something different that was going to be special”. Elderflower, elderberry, and rhubarb are all part of the range either grown on the

farm or supplied by nearby neighbours.

When she left Rangi in 1987 she didn’t

know what she wanted to do. “I really

enjoyed chemistry classes and thought

of doing a science degree. In the end I

decided against it for the simple reason

that, at the time, I didn’t know what sort

of job a science degree would give me.

Doing a law degree gave me a clear path to

a job and a career.” Intellectual property

law, Jane describes, is generally a very

positive area of law as you get to deal with

interesting, creative and talented people in

many different fields of art and industry

while also dealing with lawyers and clients

in many overseas countries.

Looking back at her time at Rangi Jane

didn’t enjoy compulsory participation in

the swimming sports. “Give me a pair of

running shoes instead.” Not surprisingly

then, when she does have any free time

Jane competes in *rogaines including

the 2010 world champs, and although

she qualified for the subsequent world

champs, didn’t manage to make things

work to compete.

*Rogaining is a bit like orienteering, but races can be up to 24 hours, and teams have to plot a course to pick up as many points from the marked controls as possible, and finish within the allocated time.

RISKY READINGAnonymousSome students would do anything for the love of a good book it seems! A past boarder, and avid reader, was frustrated by the “lights out” rule during her time at Rangi Ruru and after being caught and punished for reading with her torch under the bedclothes she decided that she needed to develop a more cunning approach to increase her bedtime reading hours. When Te Koraha was home to the boarders there was a senior bathroom, which contained a bath. Undaunted by her status as a junior, and driven only be her hunger to read, this past student and a friend crept out of bed and down to the senior bathroom with a duvet and their books and snuggled in to the bath to get their fill from their latest novel. After some time was spent reading to their hearts’ content there was a sharp knock at the door and a terse voice from outside said, “Come on, you have been in the bath long enough!’ The girls

replied as naturally as they could, “Just a minute, won’t be long” and retreated back to their dormitory undetected and with their mission completed! Their English teacher would have been very proud indeed to know that the boarding house rules were being stretched for such an important cause.

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Te Koraha 1960 (circa)

OUR ALUMNAE

Adrienne Hoyle 1975 FUNDRAISER AND ATHLETE

Adrienne’s nickname while at Rangi Ruru was Antelope. She has always loved running and being active, however, she has osteoporosis and in January 2014 had spontaneous fractures of pelvis, lumbar and sacral spine “I might never run again”. While she was physically a bit slower her brain was always racing. “Thankfully my body caught up and as a way of celebrating that I can run again, I decided that I would try to raise money for my second passion, dogs.”

100 half-marathons in a year – yes that’s right, she’s running an average of two half-marathons per week; some of which have been during the summer months in sweltering 32 degree heat! The money she raises will go towards supporting Blind Foundation Guide Dogs and guide dog puppy training.

At the moment she lives, eats, sleeps running, “… at my front door there is a row of running shoes lined up in varying states of wear and tear”.

If you would like to support Adrienne and her amazing commitment to a worthy cause, please visit www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/AdrienneHoyle/

Anika Bayly and Emily Tasker 2009 ENTREPRENEURS AND DRAGON’S DEN SUPREME WINNER 2012

Entrepreneurship: The capacity to manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a profit.

To Emily and Anika, entrepreneurship is more than that. Being enterprising is about risking what you’ve got when you believe that your idea is going to help someone.

Emily and Anika, along with three of their classmates, were introduced to entrepreneurship through Young Enterprise at Rangi in 2012. The five Year 12 students created the team Flatpack Farming. They sold several bags that year and were invited to talk to Rural Women and presented to a large number of NZ Farmers. At the end of that year they were even lucky enough to be flown to Wellington where they received two national awards. It was a rewarding year! Then the five went their separate ways.

One day Emily and Anika received an email inviting them to apply for a programme called Venture Up. 29 young entrepreneurs were chosen to fly to Wellington for six weeks and start a business. This is where Flatpak truly took off.

As of today, Flatpak is a fully functioning business. Emily and Anika run it between university, work and other commitments. They travel around the country sharing their story, going to Field days and talking to other companies.

“Running a business is unbelievably stressful, but also extremely rewarding. One thing Emily and I have both taken away from our work together is how important attitude is and how anything is possible with a good one. So we will leave you with a little bit of advice passed to us by Anna Gunther from Pledge Me “Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?”

Michelle Kelsen (North) 1992 MODERN MOTHER ON THE MOVE!

Michelle Kelsen is an example of a modern day mother who takes maternity leave to a whole new level! With her business, Elite Physiotherapy, fully staffed, Michelle decided that relaxing at home and attending coffee groups with her new-born, Maddison, was not the go for her. Instead, in an attempt to regain some fitness she set out to join an exercise programme, and fitting in with her already active and busy lifestyle she ended up purchasing a second business, Wheelie Fit Mums. The classes offered combine fitness and friendship where real mums can work out together in an environment that is affordable, safe, sociable and fun, all whilst their wee ones enjoy the ride in the buggy! Michelle sees Wheelie Fit Mums as something the community needs; she loves being able to share her physiotherapy knowledge with mothers and see them exercising in an appropriate manner, especially in those early months after childbirth. She is certainly testimony to the fact that one can carry on with work when you have a new born, in a balanced and fulfilling way. (Although… it makes me tired just writing about it!)

Anna Whalan 2004 SOLICITOR

Anna Whalan was recently awarded The Canterbury/Westland District Law Society Gold Medal for 2013. This award is made annually to the University of Canterbury Law Faculty’s top student. Anna completed her LLB with first class honours and a BA majoring in English. Having been admitted to the bar, Anna now works as a solicitor for Rhodes & Co in Christchurch.

27

OUR ALUMNAE

Julia Harvie (Milsom) 1995 TEACHER, DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, MOTHER

By the time Julia Harvie was fourteen she had accepted she was not going to become a ballerina and decided to focus on her academic studies. However, with thanks to a chance encounter with Sheryl Robinson, a professional choreographer who was commissioned by Rangi Ruru when Julia was sixteen, she realised that contemporary dance was what she had to pursue.

The pursuit continues fifteen years later. It has by no means been the journey she had anticipated, but it has been a rich and fulfilling life. She has worked in the Netherlands, Australia and Taiwan. She has toured her work and worked for some of New Zealand’s most recognised choreographers. She now has returned to Christchurch to settle with her husband and two children. Living in Christchurch is not necessarily the easiest place for a contemporary dancer to thrive, however, Julia along with her colleague, Erica Viedma, established Movement Art Practice (MAP).

MAP nurtures the study of contemporary dance in Christchurch. It provides classes ranging from a kids class, technique to

composition and yoga. The underlying ethos of the classes is that dance has cognitive, social, intellectual, physical and artistic value. The classes cater for beginners to professionals as well as managing an annual Choreographic Residency, Workshop Intensives, Performance Lectures and a Research Series in Auckland and Christchurch.

Sheri Laizer (Wilson) 1969 MIDDLE EAST SPECIALIST AND JOURNALIST

When I was at Rangi, 1969-1972, I had to commute from Sumner – changing buses in Cathedral Square with a serious climb up Clifton Hill at the end. It was a different era: I turned down the brim on my panama hat and hitched my uniform as high as was the Mode. Although a teen rebel I attended my classes. Dr. Tobin structured my French and Miss Adam, then a teacher of English, encouraged my writing.

I work as a Middle East specialist and journalist, active also in documentary films, while dodging bombs and gunfire in war zones like Iraq. My non-fiction books are published in four languages. My photographs are used in books, magazines and newspapers. From my historic country house in SW France that belonged to a famous 19th century art historian I work on my new book while looking across to the awesome Pyrenees and carrying out its restoration. I will always acknowledge the confidence instilled in me at Rangi.

1924 PREFECTS

Amanda Dick, RROGA Committee member, rediscovered this photo in a cupboard in her bedroom, a cupboard which she has only recently been able to open since the earthquakes! Her grandmother is third from the left.

“I have a few tears in my eyes as I reflect on my high school adventure. Although we are about to depart into the big wide world, we will forever be Rangi Girls and I know that this will stay in our hearts no matter how far away from Merivale Lane

we venture. GEORGIE STAPLES

GET INVOLVED IN THE 2016 TOURNAMENTS AND COMPETITIONS

If you or someone you know has a Rangi Ruru connection (past pupil,

parent of past or present pupils and friends of the School) and enjoys

playing golf, bridge, tennis or bowls please sign up for next year’s

tournaments. See the calendar of events on page 42.

To express an interest in being involved in any of the annual

tournaments and competitions, please contact Rachel Vavasour,

RROGA Administrator: email r.vavasour@rangiruru.school.nz or

telephone +64 3 983 3782

28

Back row from left: Marjorie Hunter, Natalie Wood, Constance Menzies, Muriel Orford, Betty Coop. Front row from left: Norah Helmore, Dorothy Lewis (Head), Jean Newton, May Andrew

2014/2015 EVENTSYear 13 Breakfast2014 saw the launch of this new event on the alumnae calendar.

This event focused on the current Year 13 students. With only half a year of school to go some Year 13 students are clear about the direction they want to head. They have already applied and some had been accepted into tertiary study, while others remain uncertain. The accidental theme from the all five speakers was to focus on the journey not the destination. They all spoke of the importance of living by a set of values rather than by the choices you make. Be the best you can be, no matter what you do and you’ll succeed. The event was considered such a success that it will continue to be offered for each Year 13 group.

Gibson Girls | Transition Morning TeaRangi Ruru Girls’ School was tremendously proud to have hosted, for the first time, a joint morning tea for the Gibson and Transition Girls.

The Boarding House dining room was the backdrop and Rangi Fudge was on the menu. Our guests were asked to stand and to sing heartily the School Song with the Year 7 and 8 girls – it became apparent that our guests needed neither the words nor the encouragement. Julie Moor updated the guests on the Rangi 125 celebrations and the School’s achievements. Neil Templeton, Business Manager, spoke enthusiastically about Rangi Ruru’s Capital Campaign which focusses on providing inspirational and cutting-edge spaces which will provide our current and future students with exceptional learning experiences and opportunities. With formalities over the guests continued catching up with conversation and laughter.

Gibson Girls’ LuncheonThe Gibson Girls’ Luncheon seems to roll around so quickly.

The room filled with the usual chit-chat – friendships were rekindled and family updates were shared. We were fortunate to hear from Janet Kingsbury, Director of Music, as she talked about the year of celebrations and achievements in 2014 and the exciting move into the wonderful new Performing Arts building in June. The Helen Kitson Function Centre was an enormous success with the tables looking beautiful. Once again, thank you to Jason and his team for a superb meal and to the fabulous group of younger Gibson Girls who made organising it seem so effortless.

Leavers’ BallWhanau was at the forefront for this amazingly intimate event, held at The Airforce Museum.

The dresses were stunning and the girls were radiant. The parents were proud and the extended family cried. Boyfriends were patient and chivalrous. While many of the School’s staff turned up early to get their front row seats, there were a couple of fathers who had to run to make the presentation. A fun and memorable night was had by all. A massive thank you to the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Committee who, every year, exceed expectations and throw a wonderful party to celebrate the School’s Leavers. Check out the Leavers’ photo on the back cover.

Janet Storry TennisSadly, due to earthquake repairs, we were unable to hold the Janet Storry Tennis Tournament this year.

A second date of the 25 February unfortunately was no luckier as some schools were unable to field teams, so a decision was made to cancel the event for 2015 and hope for better success in 2016. So it is with a heavy heart that Rangi Ruru had to retain the Janet Storry Tennis Championship Shield for a second year! Thank you to Jo Steel, Sue Mansbridge, Felicity Studholme, Robyn Willis, Sally Williamson, Penny Nippard and new recruiters Ali McQueen and Glenys Gillanders for making themselves available.

Quadrangular Bowling TournamentThis event was recently held on 11th February at the Elmwood Bowling Club.

Although strong winds were blowing in all directions making playing difficult there was good camaraderie amongst the players. We didn’t win the game, but we lost by only one point to St Andrew’s College, the winner of the salver. When finished the players joined for a drink and nibbles where much banter was exchanged. St Margaret’s supplied the delicious nibbles. As we couldn’t find enough players from Rangi Ruru, our thanks to Helen Ward and Margaret Ward from Mt Pleasant/Redcliffs Bowling Club who came at the last minute to make up our team.

Bridge TournamentNot many people understand Bridge; the rules are baffling!

But if you had walked into the Christchurch Bridge Club, Tuesday 27 May 2014, you would have noticed a warm buzz in the room – friends catching-up with hugs and much chatter. Don’t be mistaken, though, when the competition started the gloves were off: pair against pair, school against school. With the morning session complete and the tables covered a delicious lunch was served by the amazing committee members of the St Margaret’s Old Girls’ Committee with the assistance of Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association Committee members. The afternoon session went much like the morning’s; serious, competitive and precise. Thank you to all the sponsors, particularly the Fitzroy of Merivale.

The Annual Golf TournamentThe 2015 event was held at Coringa Golf Club, 24 April.

We had a field of 62 players which included past pupils, parents of pupils and friends of the five combined schools – Rangi Ruru, St Margaret’s, Columba, Craighead and St Hilda’s. Whether your golf was good or bad it was a wonderful day providing an opportunity to catch up with old friends. There were two competitions – 18 holes and 9 holes. The winners of the Rangi Ruru 18 hole competition were: The Armstrong Cup for Best Nett: Judith Hayton, The Betty Murray Cup for Best Gross: Denise Kenny, The Ellece Royds Salver for Best Stableford: Alison Dominikovich, and The Helen Kitson Putting Spoon: Alison Dominikovich. A special thank you to Jane Sullivan, Ann Hudson, Jocelyn McWhannell, Alison Dominikovich and Steph Withell. Also thank you to Juliet van Kuijk, President – St Margaret’s Old Girls’ Association, and her team. Special thanks to the ANZ Bank for providing prizes for our cup winners.

2014/2015 TOURNAMENTS

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REUNIONS

70 Years on – Class of 1944

Memoirs of the mid-40sPam Hutchinson 1943

My home was at Ikoraki, an isolated but beautiful bay on the south side of Banks Peninsula. I had not been away from home much having done my early schooling through Correspondence School. I found it very hard when I went to board at Rangi Ruru in 1943, however, I discovered a whalers’ try pot in the School grounds which had come from Ikoraki Bay so I felt happier knowing that part of home was there with me.

The Misses Gibson made us feel welcome and we soon settled into school life. I enjoyed having school in the old stables with the odd loose box behind the blackboards. My early time at School was during the war, I remember having air raid practises where we left the boarding house when the siren went and made our way to a trench which had been dug in the playing field. Luckily, the real thing never eventuated! There was butter rationing – we were given a slab of butter for each table and had to divide it between 10 of us. We used a lot of jam on the earlier slices of bread leaving more butter

for the final slice. There was also a shortage of elastic so our pants were held up by buttons. The School had been a long supporter to the Navy League so we knitted scarves, gloves and balaclavas for them and I can remember Lady Newall, wife of the Governor General, coming to present a Union Jack to the school and all the pupils lined the paths for her to walk along.

There was a big vegetable garden where a lot of our vegetables were grown and Miss Winifred Gibson had hens to supply our eggs. Our milk was delivered by horse and cart with two girls sorting out the milk bottles.

On Sunday we had to attend church services at St Marys Church twice walking in croc (two-by-two line formation). There was a holly tree in the footpath so the croc had to split to walk either side of it.

Our school dances were held in the assembly hall (now the Boardroom) with boys from Christ’s College invited. Attendees were able to sit-out between dances along the hall and on the stairs but never past the first landing! Having prep (homework) in the common room one night, College boys

were seen peeping in the windows behind the teacher. When she became suspicious they took off in a hurry. The next morning several rose bushes had been flattened in the garden. The College boys often drove their old cars in the front drive past the Boarding House and out the back drive trying not to get caught.

We used to have midnight feasts down in the cellar. On one occasion, Miss Gray came into tea and said she had heard that there could be a midnight feast that night and she would be on the prowl. We ended up eating all the food before breakfast next morning. Some of us were at Miss Gray’s table and I’m sure she must have known why we didn’t eat much breakfast.

In 1945, Mrs Stokes was our Form Mistress. She used to travel from Lyttelton each day and the last day of term she would

bring three tins of home-baked biscuits for us. This was also the year when we had a big snow. There had been a very strong north-west wind all day and I can remember being woken up early the next morning with a huge bang on the fire escape outside our dormitory. It was snow sliding off the roof. Tracks had to be cut through the snow for us to get to our classroom.

Easter and Show weekends were the only time we were able to go home during term time and on Sundays we were able to go out after Church but had to be back at School to sing hymns round the piano in the evening.

My last year boarding was quite hard with the change of ownership. It was sad to farewell Miss Ethel, Miss Ruth and Miss Winifred whom we had come to respect and whose company we enjoyed. We welcomed a new headmistress, Miss Farquharson.

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Joan Haines (nee Wood), Pam Hutchinson, Helen Kitson (nee Robilliard) and Barbara Gray (nee Newton).

Pam Hutchinson speaking with Year 12 students Libby Vincent and Jess Wood

In Croc as we walked to St Marys Church

REUNIONS

60 Years on – Class of 1954Back Row: Jillian Fergusson (Bradley), Judith Stevenson (Jordan), Ann Masters (Stevenson), Jean Shallard (Van Asch), Mary Morrison (Moore), Adair Marshall (Anderson), Patricia Wallace. Second Row: Robyn Lee (Mathewson), Glenise Dodge (Walsh), Penny Wells (Parsons), Jean Rowe (Stalker), Beverley Hastie (Sail), Elizabeth Clarke (Day). Front Row: Stephanie Johns (Polson), Karen Michael (Miller), Kath Adams (McKerrow), Kate Banks (McCurdy).

This painting was presented to the Boarding House by Dot Kelland, Rosie Nattrass and Denise Kenny, on behalf of the South Canterbury Old Girls in February 2012. Many students have and still do come from South Canterbury and it is a reminder of home for the boarders, especially when they are settling in to their new life.

VIEW OF FOUR PEAKS GERALDINERichard Bolton

Amazing Reunion WeekendOld friendships were rekindled while new ones flourished. Much hilarity and squawking echoed through the School.

Just like Facebook and LinkedIn, Rangi Ruru Reunions are all about relationships and networks. While many alumnae love returning to their school, some find the idea daunting. Hats off to the 2014 convenors who made everyone in their year group feel welcomed and included. Many

attendees came away surprised at how sore their cheeks were from smiling and laughing and their voices a little bit raspier from excessive talking.

The Reunion weekend kicked off on Friday with the Alumnae-focussed School Assembly followed by the very large and very loud combined morning tea. After spending the afternoon shopping, drinking coffee or mountain-biking, the alumnae returned to the School’s campus for their year-group’s social gathering. Bets were placed as to which year group would be the

rowdiest – youth did not win on the day!

The following day the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association committee put on a casual morning tea which the alumnae used as a focal point to gather and meet for official photos and campus tours. The Annual Luncheon was served in the School’s Boarding House dining room. The afternoon and evening was filled with reminiscing and catching up over activities, drinks and dinner. Sunday was a day of farewells with sentiments like “let’s not leave it for another ten years”.

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REUNIONS

50 Years on – Class of 1964 Back Row: Vicki Moore (Jones), Lynne Frost (Early), Susan Kaschula (Hart), Carol Honeybone (Townley), Vicki Glynn, Mandy Grenier (Moore), Charlotte Brough (Fraemohs). Third Row: Jane Coles (Bary), Adrienne Weston (Nicholls), Pam McGirr (McNaughton), Jenny Gillies (Hilson), Lynda Hart (Crawford), Sandy Hart (Hyndman), Hilary Swinard (Clements). Second Row: Marylin Avery, Ann Hastilow (McLachlan), Alison Fleetwood (Letham), Anne Culpin (Masefield), Sandra Wilson (Hadfield), Mary Kingsgote (Middleton), Patty Green (Burt). Front Row: Pip Evans (Keir), Elizabeth Macfarlane-McKenzie (Macfarlane), Sally Foote (Davis), Liz Macleod (Nicol).

40 Years on – Class of 1974 Back Row: Victoria Wynne, Gendie Heyward, Anne Chamberlain, Penny Mulligan, Tracey Ower, Kathy Creevey, Catherine Lods, Helen Scarlett (Stewart), Deb Foster, Bronwyn Ashley (Edge). Second Row: Mariann Fairbairn, Brenda Skurr, Prue Fincham-Davis (Fincham), Leigh Steele (Hardy), Nicky Clay (Lay), Kirsty Yates, Genevieve McMillan, Jacqui Donald McKenzie. Front Row: Cindy Baxter, Liz Robins, Hilary Ward (Greenfield), Mary Stalker (Murdoch), Diane Broekmeyer (Davidson), Diana McGlinn (Norton), Suzanne Macfarlane (Cottier), Rosie Ford.

32

REUNIONS

20 Years on – Class of 1994 Back Row: Emma Barnes (Henderson), Rebecca Upston (Waghorn), Nicola Dudley, Kendall Earl, Victoria Lewis (Kingscote), Jane Gilchrist (King), Janna Grant (Townsend). Second Row: Sarah Dewsbury, Lucy Doherty (Russell), Julia Hurren (Robertson), Charlotte Dugdale (Burtt), Elizabeth Hutchings (Eagle). Front Row: Robyn Frost (Bain), Kate Brown (Little), Joanne Copland (Morris), Caroline Rose.

30 Years on – Class of 1984 Back Row: Vickee Meads, Joanna Kempkers, Nicola Rowe, Jonne Bruce (Campbell), Kris Gallagher (Winters), Rebecca McKay (Ensor), Jo Johnstone (Birdling), Jacqui Jorneaux, Catherine Sexton (Horn), Catherine Brennan (McNee). Third Row: Heather Harding (McCaw), Jo Wilkshire (Thompson), Rachel Hillier, Kate Jones (McIntosh), Francesca Botherway (Savill), Anna Harris (Edmonds), Claire Allan (Withell), Amanda Dorset, Tania Barks (Kiesanowski), Lucinda Macfarlane, Mandy Macfarlen (Graham), Megan Brown (Thomas). Second Row: Vanessa Wells (Andrews), Maxine Cunningham, Catherine Bluck, Charlene Richardson (Moore), Vanessa Johns, Nichola Badger, Charlotte Sullivan, Jo Unwin, Juliana Trolove (Watson), Sally Vossler (Davis), Miranda Barnes. Front Row: Kirsten Chater (Sayer), Rebecca Wilson, Emily Whitelaw, Sarah Hickey (Kitson), Heather Lindsay (Smither), Catherine Samson, Megan Hayes (Samson), Lucinda Miln, Mary Butler.

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Siyu Sun 2010 Siyu is an exceptionally talented music scholar who won many accolades and awards, including an Elite Colours award in Music during 2014, her final year at school.

Her first instrument is the piano, where her extraordinarily disciplined approach to her practising, along with her astounding talent, paid dividends. During 2014 she was awarded an A+ for her University of Canterbury 100 level performance papers, was a finalist in the Wallace National Junior Piano Competition, and was placed third in the PACANZ National Piano Competition.

Siyu is also a talented french horn player. She was selected for one of the highly sought after french horn positions in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, in addition to playing french horn in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra. At Rangi she played the horn in the Rangi Sinfonia and also in the orchestra for the 2014 major production of Cats.

Chamber music was a passion of Siyu’s during her time at Rangi. In her final year she was richly rewarded with her group Trio Emporté winning an award at regional level and gaining selection as a one of only six National Finalists in the NZCT Schools’ Chamber Music Contest.

Siyu was a member of Resolutions, as a singer, section leader and accompanist, and also accompanied the Junior Chorale. In her role of Head of Music she excelled, with one of the main jobs being to organise music for Wednesday Chapel services. She frequently accompanied students, assisted with music administration, and mentored and coached junior students. She is also a very talented composer.

Siyu won a Scholarship in Music at the end of 2014, and is currently studying towards a music degree in piano performance at the University of Auckland.

Grace Leehan CURRENT YEAR 13 STUDENT Grace is a young woman of exceptional integrity with a prodigious talent and musical maturity that extends well beyond her years. In 2014 she was accepted for the second time as a member of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra as Assistant Principal Viola. To have a leadership role in this orchestra whilst still a school student is very rare and recognizes not only her musical talent but also her potential as a leader. This is further exemplified through her selection as Concertmaster (on the violin) of the 2015 New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, along with a professional contract with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as a viola player. She is a fulltime member of the National Pettman Junior Academy of Music where she studies both the violin and viola, and has given many public concerts, including her debut violin concerto performance in 2014 with the Canterbury Philharmonia Orchestra.

As a chamber musician Grace excels. In 2014, she took on the huge demand and challenge of being in two elite level chamber music groups – Trio Emporté and Eklamoré – where she, along with fellow Rangi students, won many awards including both groups being selected for two of only six national finalist places, and Eklamoré winning a national award.

Grace is an inspiration to others musically and also through her positive attitude and wonderful sense of humour. This year she is Head of Music, leader of the Rangi Sinfonia and works extensively with junior students. Her high degree of musicianship is much appreciated in Resolutions where she is a section leader. At the end of 2014 Grace’s outstanding contribution to music was recognized with her receiving, for the second time, an Elite Music Colours award.

Geeny Moon CURRENT YEAR 13 STUDENT At the end of 2014, Geeny received an Elite Colours Music award in recognition of her outstanding talent and contribution to music at Rangi. She is one of the best french horn players in New Zealand at secondary school level. In 2014, she was selected for the third time as a french horn player in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, an outstanding accomplishment in this competitive and demanding role. In addition, Geeny was again Principal Horn in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, is Principal Horn with the Resonance Chamber Orchestra and Christchurch Youth Orchestra, and plays professionally with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra as well as this year in the orchestra for the Showbiz production of Phantom of the Opera. The Rangi Sinfonia and the 2014 Cats production orchestra were very fortunate to have a player of such high calibre where Geeny took the opportunity to share and pass on her experience as an orchestral musician to other students.

Chamber music features strongly in Genny’s programme every year, and in 2014 her group Eklamoré won numerous awards, culminating in selection as National Finalist and winning one of only two national titles available. This involved many long hours of demanding intensive rehearsals over several months. As a soloist she has performed in many concerts including the Christchurch Music Centre’s Outstanding Young Musicians’ series.

Geeny is a valued member of Resolutions, managing to balance the significant demands of rehearsals and performances with her orchestral and solo work. She is a role model for all students with her professional approach and diligent work habits, and we will watch with interest where her talent takes her in the future.

SCHOOL SUCCESSES – MUSIC SCHOOL SUCCESSES – ACADEMIC

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Hanseul Nam 2010

Hanseul is an outstanding young woman who epitomises the Rangi Ruru values in every sense. She has great integrity, as well as showing industry and imagination in all that she does. In the 2014 Examination round, Hanseul received a total of 6 Scholarships: Chemistry, English and Statistics at Outstanding Performance level, and Biology, Calculus and Physics. This is Rangi Ruru’s highest ever total and gives Hanseul a New Zealand Scholarship Premier Award – one of only 10 in the country and Hanseul is the only female recipient.

It is testimony to Hanseul’s quiet, but fierce determination that she was invited to attend two very prestigious events last year. Following an intensive selection process she was chosen as part of the New Zealand team of only four students to attend the International Biology Olympiad, held in Indonesia. As well as continuing with her Year 13 studies she put in many hours of work in preparation for this competition and was awarded with a bronze medal. Hanseul was invited to attend the International Youth Science Forum in London.

At Rangi Ruru, Hanseul was involved in chamber music during her first two years, and Sinfonia and Resolutions for her entire time. In addition, she completed a generous amount of community service and was a senior leader as head of Balmoral Clan.

Hanseul was named Dux as well as being co-winner of the Dorothy Bates Trophy, the ‘Reach for the Stars’ award, at 2014 Prize-giving. She has received a scholarship to The University of Auckland where she is studying biomedical engineering and is particularly interested in researching dementia.

Amy Ga Hee Lee 2010

In the 2014 Examination round, Amy received an English Scholarship and an ‘Outstanding Performance Scholarship’ in Music as well as ‘Top Subject Scholar Award’ for topping New Zealand in Music (after gaining an outstanding music scholarship award from Year 12 in 2013!).

Amy was a student at Rangi for 7 years, with her family making considerable sacrifices for her to attend the school. She was an Academic and Music Scholar and also received the McRea Peacock and Janice Perry Scholarships, both of which are funded by Rangi Ruru alumnae. At Rangi Ruru, she excelled academically and musically. She was a senior leader as Head of Culture for 2014, and was co-winner of the Dorothy Bates trophy, the ‘Reach for the Stars’ award, at 2014 Prize-giving. Amy’s outstanding musical achievements include winning the PACANZ (National Piano) competition, winning the KBB award in the National Chamber Music Finals (one of only two awards), and receiving A+ for her 100 level piano performances at UC, in addition to her music scholarship award. She was also a singer and accompanist in Resolutions (senior chorale), leader and conductor of the Rangi Sinfonia, and mentored younger music students. She willingly shares her passions and talent and gained the respect of all who had contact with her, staff and fellow students alike.

These achievements are due to Amy’s extraordinary musical gifts, however, we cannot overlook her outstanding work ethic. The Rangi environment allowed her to pursue and excel in a wide range of endeavours, where she always felt supported and ‘inspired, challenged and empowered’. Amy has decided to study biomedical engineering at Auckland University and intends to continue with her piano lessons privately.

SCHOOL SUCCESSES – ACADEMIC

Memorabilia

Purchase something for yourself to remember your time with us or a Leavers’ gift for a family member or friend

To make an order: P: +64 3 983 3700 E: office@rangiruru.school.nz or visit www.rangiruru.school.nz/rangi-ruru-old-girls-association-rroga and click on link to order.

125 Years print by Anton Mogridge

– Unframed

$60

$10

Rangi Ruru pin

Te Koraha occasional cards – 5 pack

$10

$85

Te Koraha charm, silverA perfect addition to your

jewellery box

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Sport Kristy Havill 2010 In 2014, Kristy Havill won the New Zealand Girls’ overall champion title at the NZ Fish and Game South Island and NZ Secondary Schools Clay Target Championships. Kristy also won Gold in the NZ Girls’ Points Score and Silver in the NZ Girls’ Single Barrel competition. The young shooter was the only girl to qualify

for the North or South Island Open team (one team of five from each island)

As a member of the winning South Island team that beat the North Island, Kristy had the last shot to win it for the South Island. She was the equal top scorer from both teams, won silver in the NZ Girl’s Skeet competition, silver in the South Island Girls’ Skeet and is a member of the North Canterbury regional team that won silver in the Triples, a first for North Canterbury.

Kristy was one of two girls in the five person team and was equal top scorer being awarded High Overall (winner) of the Girls’ Triples. Kristy has recently been named in the NZ Women’s team.

Jacqui Ruth 2010 Jacqui has had phenomenal success during her time at Rangi and has gone from strength to strength as a competitive swimmer. Jacqui has Achondroplasia and has swum as a swimmer with a disability. Over the past couple of years she has broken numerous records for both Canterbury and New Zealand in her Age-group and as an Open swimmer.

In 2014 alone, Jacqui broke a minimum of nine Age-group records and Two Open records. She was successful in achieving an international qualification that has set her up for World rankings. She now has six World rankings. She was also named as a finalist in the Marriott Hadlee Canterbury Sports Awards for a Sportsperson with a Disability.

SCHOOL SUCCESSES

Theatre Arts

Alice Norton 2010

Alice excelled in an extraordinary array of co-curricular activities. Winning with distinction in speech and drama competitions, and making the National Sheilah Winn Shakespeare finals is only the tip of the iceberg of her impressive curriculum vitae. She made a massive impact on stage with her roles in Shake Ripple and Role, Jesus Christ Superstar, Romeo and Juliet, and Cats. Alice was an integral in the success of the multiple award-winning productions at The Norfolk Island Theatre Festival and The Brisbane Arts Theatre Festival. She was a member of the award-winning senior choir, Resolutions and Co-head of Drama.

Sylvia Barnett 2010

Sylvia achieved the top grade in New Zealand for her Speech and Drama examination, and the top grade for NCEA Drama in her final year. She also successfully achieved The New Zealand Drama Scholarship. She performed in Romeo and Juliet, and Cats with flair and grace, and, like her peer, Alice Norton, was an integral to the success of the multiple award-winning productions at The Norfolk Island Theatre Festival and The Brisbane Arts Theatre Festival. She sang in the barbershop group and was a member of the award-winning senior choir, Resolutions. Sylvia was awarded with the Gold Braid Award Prize for Outstanding Performing Arts Student in 2014.

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PASSENGERS

Rangi Ruru drama students to perform at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London, in July

Rangi Ruru’s mission is to inspire, challenge and empower girls to realise their full potential through a diverse range of wonderful opportunities and experiences.

With this in mind, Director of Theatre Arts, Robert Gilbert is taking thirteen drama students to London to watch, experience and learn at some of the most prestigious theatre companies in the world. The students will see performances and take drama workshops and classes at The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe Theatre, The National Theatre, and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Whilst at RADA, they will present Passengers, a play by award-winning New Zealand playwright, Fiona Farrell. The one-hour play, directed by Hannah Clarkson and Robert Gilbert, tells the story of the journey to New Zealand of a number of young women, formerly in domestic service in England in the nineteenth century.

“What could be better than taking a local play about young women who travelled from England to New Zealand back to England,” says Robert. “And where better to present the production than at the most famous drama training facility in the world? I’m inspired by the project, and the girls are thrilled at the prospect.”

About Fiona FarrellFiona Farrell is one of New Zealand’s leading writers, publishing work in a variety of genres. She is a frequent guest at festivals in New Zealand, and has also appeared at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Vancouver International Writers’ Festival. Fiona has held residencies in France and Ireland, and was the 2011 Robert Burns Fellow at the University of Otago. In 2007, Fiona received the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Award for Fiction, and in 2012 was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for ‘services to literature’ in the Queen’s Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours List.

About PassengersIn the 1860’s, nineteen working-class women aged between twelve and twenty-one, board an immigrant ship in England, bound for New Zealand. Most of them are leaving domestic service in the hope of a new life. Some are running away, others believe they have a calling. Passengers is the story of their journey. During the 130 days on the ship, we get to know these young women, learn about their pasts and their dreams for the future. Created from actual records of the time, the play gives an insight into the extreme conditions on board the ship, and the relationships formed, as these assisted immigrants head for a brighter future.

PA S S E N G E R Sby Fiona Farrell

You’re invited ...... to an exclusive pre-show

function at rada, followed by a premiere

performanceWho: Especially for old girls and friends

of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School

Date: Friday 10 July, from 6pm to 8.30pm

Venue: RADA, London, England

Host: Julie Moor (Principal) plus

members of the cast and crew

Cost: Free to attend*

Details: www.passengersnz.com

Email: s.wilkinson@rangiruru.school.nz*Spaces are limited so please contact Sarah Wilkinson for more information and to reserve a seat.

NB: Please forward this information to any UK-based old girls whom you think might be interested.Passengers is proudly sponsored by Singapore Airlines

37

THE COMMITTEE

News from the AssociationJo Dodgshun PRESIDENT (ACTING) 1968

As part of the Rangi family, the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association committee supported and celebrated Rangi’s

125 year of festivities. With the School, we welcomed back record numbers of alumnae reconnecting with the school and their school friends. Of special interest to us after our own Cocktail Party, were the Gala Concert and the House Party, both of which had large numbers of old girls playing an important part. It was a marvellous year of celebrations.

The committee has seen a few changes over the last year. We were sad to farewell Liz Lovell as President and Deb Errington as immediate past-President. Deb had served on the committee for a large number of years, many of them as President and it was a thrill to have her open the Rangi Ruru Museum and Gallery as one of her last duties. Theirs were very large shoes to fill but it was with great pleasure that we welcomed two new young committee members, Amanda Dick and Jenelle Hooson. We also welcome back Felicity Williams after a period of study.

Like many organisations, our committee gives much time and effort into ensuring the aims of the Old Girls’ Association are maintained and that the activities and events are inclusive and welcoming. Many of the activities celebrated in this magazine would not happen without the commitment of each and every committee member. I would like to thank them all for everything they have done for the association and for the School. While all members help tirelessly and unselfishly, special mention should be made of two of our committee. Susie Foyle as Accountant has guided us so well through the ups and downs of the financial world and because of her wise counsel and sensible investments, we are delighted that the Old Girls’ Association has been able to make such a large donation to the Capital Campaign. We are very grateful for Susie’s professionalism and astute business

Jenelle Hooson 1992 I haven’t really left Rangi Ruru – there is something very special about the School which has kept me being

involved. Maybe it’s the memories of fun and frivolity like jelly eating competitions and the antics of Mr Rex. Or it might have been the community spirit which was nurtured through the simple things like Easter egg and canned-food collections. Or it could have quite possibly been the passionate teachers who inspired and encouraged me to achieve my goals and dreams. Or perhaps it was the life-long friends I made while at Rangi. If truth be told it was all of these things.

I am now Head of History and Head of Classical Studies at Rangi Ruru. I hope I am one of those teachers who inspire and create positive and fun memories for my students. I hope I encourage, in my students, community involvement and an understanding of a whole world view and the individuals’ place in it. I hope I nurture an environment where life-long friendships are formed. It seems timely to put on my Old Girls Hat and be of some assistance in making the Association relevant and meaningful to some of our younger “old girls”.

Amanda Dick 1988 I joined Rangi Ruru in 1986 and spent seven enjoyable years as part of the Rangi

community. Rangi gave me more than an education; the School’s environment gave me the confidence to try anything, to celebrate success and not to be embarrassed of making mistakes as long as I’ve tried my best.

Having been away on a lengthy OE and while working in Wellington I became increasingly keen to play my part in rebuilding Christchurch. I moved home in 2013 and I enjoy my role which contributes, in a small way, to the rebuild.

The friends I made at Rangi have continued to be a huge part of my life, I love being part of their lives and reuniting with Rangi girls from all years. We all seem to have something special in common.

sense. The second person who deserves special accolades is our administrator, Rachel Vavasour. Despite only being in the position just over a year, Rachel has fulfilled her role with such initiative and common sense, the committee has come to rely on her more and more, both as an administrator and as a friend.

Now is a great time to be part of the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association committee. Your support is needed to ensure that the Association continues to be relevant and vibrant by nurturing alumnae networks and relationships. The School has entered an extraordinary phase of its life and it is very exciting for the committee to be part of this. Please come to our AGM in June or if you would like to be more involved phone Jo on 021 119 3158 or email dodgshun@es.co.nz.

Committee 2014/15Patron Helen Kitson (Robilliard) 1943 President (Acting) Jo Dodgshun (Kitson) 1968 Secretary Jo Dodgshun Treasurer Susie Foyle (Good) 1977 Committee Robyn Burke (Moore) 1962, Robyn Cartwright (Good) 1969, Amanda Dick 1988, Helen Dunn (Bonifant) 1945, Justine Edwards-Lill 1982, Jenelle Hooson (Eder) 1992, Janet McGiven 1978, Jane Sherriff 1981, Helen Tait 1960, Felicity Williams (Walker) 1968 Hon. Solicitor Richard Gray Hon. Auditor Marriotts Audit Partnership

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Auckland | NorthlandAfter a rather busy year fundraising for trees for the Baird Lawn we gathered for our Christmas Lunch Sunday 16th November 2014 at our now usual venue McHughs Restaurant on Cheltenham Beach in Devonport. It was a lovely sunny day at the beautiful location looking out on to Cheltenham beach and Rangitoto where everyone enjoyed a buffet lunch and a catch up with friends sharing memories. Two raffles were drawn and a photo of the Baird Lawn plaque was shown. It was a special pleasure to have Julie Moor, the School’s Principal, and our RROGA Administrator, Rachel Vavasour fly up from Christchurch for the day to join us. We were delighted to have Julie give us first hand updates of the amazing rebuild. Julie and Rachel thanked all our members for the support we have given. Many expressed how much they enjoyed the lunch and looked forward to meeting again next year at the same venue. Contact: Angela Ward 021 2888 512 a-ward@clear.net.nz

Waikato | Bay of PlentyContact: Judith Baker (Croy) 07 823 2283 judale@vodafone.co.nz

Hawkes Bay | Poverty BayBindy and MaryAnn would love to hear from any Rangi Ruru alumnae – young and old. There is an annual gathering in May of each year. Contact: Bindy Headifen (Douglas) 06 877 8530 p.headifen@clear.net.nz or MaryAnn Harding (Harty) 06 211 8810 teamannz@gmail.com

Wairarapa | ManawatuA luncheon will be organised for mid-year. If you would like an excuse to get out of lambing or other such-like chores and would like to catch up with a few local alumnae for luncheon, please contact Joanna. Contact: Joanna Wilson (Lamb) 06 306 9895

Greater WellingtonWellington alumnae welcome Lisa Dillon-Stevenson back to New Zealand after a few years of travel and hijinks (and work). She has been sweet-talked into taking on the role of Wellington Contact for the Rangi Ruru alumnae. If you would like to touch base with other like-minded women please contact Lisa. Contact: Lisa Dillon-Stevenson 021 399 360

Nelson | Tasman | West CoastWe had a fun pre-Christmas gathering on December 5th and although our numbers were smaller than they have been in recent years, we nevertheless had a lovely evening. Jill Brathwaite shared some lovely words and memories with us of dear Betty Overton, who had very recently passed away. Betty had been an active member of the Nelson RROG, as well as a dedicated community volunteer in a number of areas in the Nelson community during her lifetime. We will all miss her. Contact: Barb Hay (Shacklock) 03 545 1900 or 021 110 9690 haybarbara@xtra.co.nz

MarlboroughWe would love to get together with Marlborough alumnae over the winter. Contact: Bev Black (Urquhart) 03 575 7355 bevjb@xtra.co.nz

South CanterburyOur annual luncheon and AGM was held at Verde Cafe in Geraldine. We were joined by Liz Lovell and Rachel Vavasour, from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. They gave us an update on the School’s rebuilding programme and the 125th celebration events. Many of our members had the memorable opportunity to be part of the choir for the commissioned work, ‘Wide Sky Shelter’ by Dr Phillip Norman. We are pleased to be welcoming two new members and would love to have more join us. Our next gathering will be in 31 July for lunch and the AGM at The Oxford, Timaru. Contact: Wendy Cookson (Cannon) 03 686 0842 colinandwendycookson@gmail.com or Dot Kelland (Taylor) 03 693 9753 dotk@xtra.co.nz

Mid-CanterburyWe met for lunch at the Macaroon Café at Hinds then we went out to Jane Ellis’ for late spring garden tour and tea and Christmas cake. Let’s try and get together in 2015. I would love to hear from any Rangi Ruru alumnae in the Ashburton area. Contact: Jenny Williams (Streeter) 03 308 2081 tricroft@clear.net.nz

Otago | SouthlandPlease join us for the annual midwinter dinner, 6.30pm, Saturday 18 July: Mosgiel Station Function Centre, 22 Gladstone Rd South, Mosgiel. $35 / person, excludes drinks. Partners welcome. Enjoy the spring colours at the spring lunch: Botanic Gardens is 12.00 noon, Tuesday, 15 September. Contact: Sheila Clarke (Fraser) 03 476 1143 sheila.clarke@actrix.co.nz

MESSAGES FROM THE BRANCHES

What’s been happening?

Auckland Branch, RROGA

Front: Judy Price (1954), Julia Northcote (1949), Maree Pannell (1966), Barb Hay (1974), Helen Shacklock (1948), Jill Dickinson (1959). Back: Susie Cowper (1973), Kay Grant (1962), Rosie Page (1949), Jill Brathwaite (1948).

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FAMILY MATTERS

Generations Day WELCOME TO THE FAMILIES WHO ARE PART OF THIS GROWING LEGACYCurrent students Mothers/Mums/Mummies Grandmas/Grannies/Nanas Great GrandmothersFrancesca Allen Jane Allen (Twiss) Jessie McKenzie (Forbes)

Samantha Beardsley Melissa Beardsley (Landrebe)

Laura Bell Nance Bell (Buckley)

Skye Calder Susanne Ensor (Johns) Edith Johns (Smith)

Lucy Chambers Bronwyn Chambers (Mills)

Sarah Davey Helen Bush Audrey Bush (Cairns)

Arabella Deans Sarah Morkane

Sophie Haley Susan Haley (Wood)

Lily Hamilton Brigit O’Brien (Hamilton) Amanda (Hamilton) Wilks

Hannah Macfarlane Amanda MacFarlane (Graham)

Stella Prescott Arabella Prescott (Robinson)

Libby Rodda Amy Vinnell M. Dora Martin

Lucy Shamy Brigid Shamy (Lee) Barbara Lee (Mulcock)

Samantha Summerfield Alison Summerfield (Judd)

Hazel White Anna Eliott Elisabeth Elliot (Ramsay)

Amelia Wilson Susan Hurd

Leah Zydenbos Susan Zydenbos (Francis)

Congratulations: recent weddingsLucy Govan to Ben Cording

Hannah Norton, Jessica Horne, Lucy Cording (Govan) and Philippa Kennard

Diana Cook to Dan Dale

The tradition continued for these eight Rangi girls at Diana and Dan’s wedding. All eight have been able to attend the weddings of their classmates and have had an official photo taken. From left to right: Charlotte Tangney (Kimber), Rebecca Barclay (Laing), Lucy White (Wright), Diana Wheeler, Diana Dale (Cook), Lisa Chapman, Allanah Irvine, Sarah Van Beek

Kirsty Morris to Mark CowanRaylene Cowan to Stu McQueenJoan Downwood to Sam GaneSarah Alchin to Greg LuxonGabriel Alchin to Scott CloughPaige Simmons to Nic LuxonNatasha Burns to David MilesNicola Viney to Simon HartLaura McGoldrick to Martin GuptillCandice Leighs to Scott Waller

Sarah Robson to Boyd ThomsonNicky Robson to Oliver TillJenni Smith to Michael CallaghanLibby Smith to James LeydonMargot McLean to Lukas FreiIrene Byrnes to Henry WhyteJessica Close to Richard MulveyNikki Hooper to Mark WrightAlly Watkins to Alec BeresfordAli Dwan to Chris Damsteegt

Welcome 2014/2015 babies

Andrew son Victoria (Hadlee) and Greg Hay

Felix son of Anna Cartwright and Steve ApesRosie daughter of Gemma (Nixon) and John PhilipszLouis son of Charlotte (Burtt) and Oli DugdaleThomas son of Jane (King) and Andrew GilchristZara and Arabella twin daughters of Vicky (Kingscote) and Ben LewisHazel daughter of Sarah (Alchin) and Greg LuxonAyrton son of Paige (Simmons) and Nic LuxonLucy daughter of Rebecca (Smith) and Jason AllportAlexandra daughter of Frankie (Mortimer) and Ti’i PauloBilly-Rose daughter of Breidi (Ross) and Hamish McLeishOliver son of Libby (Kingscote) and George BaxterGeorge son of Annabel (Macartney) and Hamish CrawEmily daughter of Charlotte (Spencer) and Toby EllisImogen daughter of Kate (Paterson) and Mark IveyGuy son of Emily (Ross) and Stu MarfellPhoebe daughter of Amanda Judd and Michael SkinnerEvelyn daughter Anna (Walker) and Brian CarneySam son of Rosie (Walton) and Scottie McMorlandOscar son of Sara (Spiers) and Luke ThompsonJulia daughter of Emma (Fitzsimmons) and Craig WallaceWalter son of Kate (Fitzsimmons) and Hamish StallworthyRose daughter of Karly (Mauger) and Ben AstorIsabelle daughter of Emma Paterson and Nathan PageSienna daughter of Charmaine (Seaton) and Glen RutherfordJack son of Stacey (Carr) and Charlie McKercharAnnabel daughter of Amanda (Armitage) and Ryan BairdTrinni daughter of Margot (McLean) and Lukas FreiBarnaby son of Sophie (Burtt) and Richie ConnellOlympia daughter of Jessica (Truesdale) and Christian SimonBeckett son of Hannah Brand and Carl SumnerFlynn son of Kirsten (Wyatt) and Mick O’Connor

Lis Eliott (Ramsay) 1957, Hazel White Year 9, 2015 and Anna Eliott 1983

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Recently deceasedRuth Mary Cecilia Morris 1928Molly Kirby (Crawshaw) 1929Monica Williams (Strack) 1929Margaret Barker (Atkinson) 1931Chisne Gunn (Robinson) 1934Barbara Peryman (Gudgeon) 1935S.I. Margaret Kelland (Morton) 1936Lynette Meares (Gardiner) 1936Betty Anderson (Stringer) 1937Margaret Morrow (Hickman) 1937Fay Wellwood (Matson) 1938Lois Mulholland (Lyttle) 1938Mavis (Betty) Overton (Withell) 1938Betty Turland (Loughhead) 1939Rata Smith (Tiller) 1939Jessamine Todd (Baker) 1940Jocelyn Dowle (Pirrit) 1940Geraldine Parkinson (Gebbie) 1940Anne Ryan (Peter) 1940Gillian Sinclair Thompson (Reid) 1944Barbara Mitchell (Beadel) 1944Adrienne French (Smith) 1945Margaret Redwood (Garrett) 1946Kathleen Meredith (Cresswell) 1946Elaine Richards (Ferguson) 1947Lindsay Dunshea (Rollason) 1950Diana McPherson (Gurr) 1954Barbara Allred (Casbolt) 1955Margaret Becker (Nimmo) 1956Ann Monk (Bowker) 1957Diana Major (Ramsay) 1960Margaret Marion Glaysher 1960Lorraine Fox (Hall) 1960Helen Johnson (Matthews) 1961Claire S Wilson 1970Ann Thomson (Capstick) 1974Courtenay Rushton, Year 12 2014Abi Hone, Year 8 2014

Fay Wellwood (Matson) 1926 – 2014Fay’s 80 year active association with her old school began as a seven year old boarder in 1934 and ended with her last “Rangi Old Girls’ Lunch” a few weeks before she died. She was an outstanding pupil, and experienced a successful career as a lawyer, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Three qualities shone out in her life; enormous natural ability, a total lack of personal ambition, but a proud loyalty and dedication to the people

and institutions that mattered to her. And the institutions that mattered to her included her family, Rangi Ruru, and Canterbury University. She was the daughter of Winifred Elizabeth Matson (Piper), also an Old Girl. Her father Allan was one of the legendary Matsons of Matson and Company stock and station agents based in Canterbury.

Fay attended Rangi from 1934 until 1943. She won prizes for history and languages, she broke a record for hurdles, and she had three years in the Hockey XI and was Captain of Netball. She was a prefect in her last two years. On leaving school she enrolled part time at Canterbury University where she completed a Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1951. Despite the part time nature of her study Fay fully involved herself in the affairs of the University and served on the Student Executive for three years, becoming Vice President.

When she was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1952 she was the first woman to be admitted in Canterbury since 1939 and the next one was not until 1964. She was therefore ‘alone’ for 25 years (today over 70% of law graduates are women). Being the only woman was something that Fay neither worried about nor tried to capitalise upon. The law graduates at Canterbury of Fay’s era – all male of course – became lifelong friends. Many were much older than her because their studies had been interrupted with war service.

Fay’s admission to the bar was moved by her cousin Charles Thomas, an eminent Christchurch barrister. Mr Thomas asked Fay to appear as his junior in a pending murder trial. The defendant was ultimately acquitted in the trial and that would have given Fay an enormous kick start to her legal career but that was not Fay’s way. She declined the offer and instead became the secretary to Ngaio (later Dame Ngaio) Marsh the famous crime writer. Typing up stories of murders appealed to Fay more than the real thing. Years later, after a long and distinguished career in Family Law in Auckland she was asked to become one of the first Family Court Judges but declined and decided to retire instead.

In 1952, Fay married Martyn Wellwood and they moved to Hastings in 1959. Fay practiced law in Hastings, declined a partnership offered to her by her employers and in her 5 years of practice she was the only female lawyer in Hawkes Bay. Now there are dozens.

In 1970, Fay and Martyn moved to Auckland with their four children. Fay spent 30 happy years in Auckland first in Kohimarama, working in Queen Street and then in retirement in Clevedon. After her death her children found two small documents from 1985, which indicated that that was a good year for her. First was a scorecard for the Whitford Country Club Golf Course that showed a hole in one and secondly was a winning raffle ticket for a patchwork quilt courtesy of the Auckland Branch of the St Margaret’s College Old Girls’ Association. Fay would have enjoyed being presented with that.

In 2004, several years after Martyn died, Fay sold up in Clevedon and purchased a four-bedroom house in Oxford, North Canterbury, that meant she could be close to her daughter, Jo, and it also meant she was closer to the school that meant so much to her. She loved the old girls lunches and she was very proud to be one of the last “Gibson Girls”.

She died in her own house on 22 August 2014. She leaves a son Guy, a lawyer, daughter Jo Seagar MMNZ, a chef and the Patron of Hospice, son James, a doctor, and daughter Bridget Ferguson, a museum curator. Jo’s daughter Kate Seager also attended Rangi – which was a great thrill for Fay.

Marianne (Laidlaw) Browne 1930 – 2014Marianne Laidlaw, who died early 2014 at the age of 83, was a boarding pupil at Rangi for 10 years between 1938 – 47, aged seven to seventeen. In 1947, she was Doune Clan Captain, Head of House and Head of School. She was also the great niece of the Gibson sisters, the founders of Rangi Ruru whom she always referred to as ‘The Aunts’. Her grandfather, Dr F.D. (Fred) Gibson, was the brother of ‘The Aunts’

Rangi Ruru Museum and Gallery recently received kind donations from Marianne: a collection of paintings which were done by Miss Helen, memorabilia from Marianne’s days at school (including autograph books with entries by ‘The Aunts’) and a sterling silver kettle and tea service which were a wedding gift to Marianne from ‘The Aunts’.

Marianne was a great supporter of the School and of RROGA. She regularly attended Gibson Girls’ functions and had many happy memories of her days at Rangi. Her daughters are both alumnae and her granddaughter has just completed her education at Rangi.

FAMILY MATTERS

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KEEP THESE DATESRROGA AGM Monday, 29 June 2015

AN EVENING WITH HELEN TAIT: GET THE BEST OUT OF TRAVEL 24 August 2015

REUNION WEEKEND Friday/Saturday, 6/7 November 2015

GIBSON GIRLS AND WHAEA ORA MORNING TEA TBC November 2015

LEAVERS’ BALL Friday, 4 December 2015

GIBSON GIRLS LUNCHEON Tuesday, 1 March 2016

TENNIS TOURNAMENT TBC, February 2016

BOWLS TOURNAMENT TBC, February 2016

ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Friday, 18 March 2016

BRIDGE TOURNAMENT Tuesday, 24 May 2016

2015 Reunions Save the Date

2015 REUNION6/7 November 2015

It is your School Reunion this year if you were in Form 3 in 1945, 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995.

The Reunion co-ordinators are:

1995 Rebecca Smith rebeccasmith0881@gmail.com 021 827 990

1985 Kelli Scott scott_kelli@hotmail.com 027 338 5599

1975 Hayley Stewart hayleypstewart@yahoo.com 021 411 113

1965 We Need You! If you’re from the class of 1965, and you’d like to

be involved in organising your Reunion Weekend’s events/

activities, please contact Rachel Vavasour on 03 983 3782

or email r.vavasour@ rangiruru.school.nz

1955 Ann Willis john.annwillis@xtra.co.nz 0274 536 707

ANNOUNCEMENTANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

RANGI RURU OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

7:30pm Monday, 29 June 2015

Te Koraha, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, Hewitts Road, Merivale, Christchurch

After the AGM drinks and nibbles will be offered followed by a tour of the newly opened Performing Arts building.

BUSINESS1. To receive the Annual Report for the year ending 31 March

2015

2. To receive and approve the audited Financial Statements together with the balance sheet for year ending 31 March 2015

3. To elect from among the members, Officers including: a. a President b. two vice presidents c. a treasurer/Honorary Accountant d. a secretary

4. To endorse the Association’s Nominee to the Board of Governors of the School

5. To elect from among the membership to eleven (11) Committee Members, inclusive of the Board Nominee and two (2) Young Old Girls

6. To appoint an Honorary Accountant if required

7. To determine Annual Subscription and Life Membership fees

8. To Consider alterations to the Constitution as required

9. To appoint and Honorary Legal Advisor as appropriate

10. To consider any other business received by the Secretary at least fourteen (14) days before the RROGA AGM

11. To receive a report on the school for the calendar year ending 31 December 2014

NOMINATIONSMembers are invited to submit nominations for the Officer positions and members of the Committee. The Positions are shown above.

Please forward your nominations, accompanied by the consent in writing of the member proposed and seconded, to Secretary, Mrs Joanna Dodgshun, 12 Natalie Place, Harewood, Christchurch 8051

Proxy Forms and/or Request for Statements are available on request from Joanna Dodgshun.

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