NEWS & EVENTS Colin Sweetman retiring after 21 years as Bursar
When Colin Sweetman took on the role of College Bursar 21 years ago, his predecessor told him he was not taking on a job, rather he was taking on a way of life.
“I had no idea how big it would end up being,’’ says Colin. “I asked about the hours of work and realise now what a ridiculous question that was. The reply was that the hours are the hours and this has certainly been the case. College has indeed been a way of life, especially post-earthquakes, and, as we have lived within the College precinct, it has been hard to separate the personal and College life. “But it is a great place to work and, while one gets consumed by it, it’s like being part of a community with so many people, both boys and staff, living onsite. The place just works.’’ The Bursar is responsible for everything and everyone at College, except for academic staff. He works closely with the Executive Principal making decisions about what goes on around the school, being responsible for finances, investments, commercial properties, buildings and the day-to-day running of the school. “What many people don’t realise is that College is the second most philanthropic school in the country,’’ says Colin. “We have investments and our amalgamated fund provides for scholarships and assistance for 25% of the boys who come to College. The Bursar looks after all these financial matters, as well as all the buildings on the campus.’’ Naturally then, the earthquake provided a major challenge for Colin.
The last six years have seen constant building and repair work around College and he has waited until the final work has been completed before retiring. “I can leave now giving my successor a chance to look forward and focus on the future. I think the place is in pretty good shape and I can go with the thought that I leave things a little bit better than when I arrived.’’ Colin has experienced many challenges in his 21 years at College, but says there were two watershed moments where the decisions he made had a huge impact. The first was the purchase of the Cranmer Square site, which he says was a case of being in the right place at the right time. “We took over the lease from St Andrew’s College. The Board Chair and I then went to the CEO of the Arts Centre, which owned the building, and asked if they would sell the site. He said ‘We own it, we can sell it if we want to’, and I said ‘Would you?’. The rest, as they say, is history. We bought it and when it was damaged in the earthquake,
we still owned the land, so got a $17 million pay-out which we were able to use to build the magnificent Miles Warren Building.’’
The second big moment had a profound impact when the earthquakes struck.
Colin says, “I’d had a rush of blood to the head and two years before the earthquake, bought a $50,000 generator. I have to say people sniggered and said it was a waste of money, but when the earthquake struck and we had no power for a month, we were able to use the generator to run first Flower’s House, then other residential properties. I moved my office and was able to co-ordinate the recovery from there.’’ Colin and his wife Cathy, who was formerly a bank manager, are retiring to their home outside Ashburton, where Colin keeps his large collection of classic cars from the ’60s and ’70s. “I’m looking forward to being free of the 80 or 90 emails I receive every day and the rounds of engagement with the hundreds of contractors
“I can leave now giving my successor a chance to look forward and focus on
the future.” ColinSweetman
Christ’s College Canterbury
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