service will become just a normal thing to do. The Head Shave donations were all online – so there is none of this door-knocking activity.” Charles says the year started with some of the Houses, like Harper and Flower’s, working with their own charities, the Child Cancer Foundation and Ronald McDonald House, further cementing community relationships that were already well established. “When I was in Year 9, all the Houses had pretty big involvement with a charity of some sort, and this year I have seen the same spirit at work, which is fantastic.”
The activity which he recalls with greatest pride so far in 2021 is the Blood Bank collection. “The Blood Bank day was a favourite for all this year, I think. More than 70 staff and boys donated blood. It was something everyone could understand and support – that was a terrific effort,” he says. “And collecting for great causes is also something everyone can understand and support. You couldn’t have missed the boys at the front gates of the school collecting for the Northland schools and the City Mission.”
The Northland schools benefited from a “boots for boots” drive to collect rugby and football boots. Each donation earnt the chance to go into a draw to win a pair of boots signed by former All Black Dan Carter (won by Rolleston House student Riley Diver). Charles says his committee of 12 has already achieved a lot this year, but there’s more to come. “I have a long way to go to smash my goals for the year, and there is still a lot on the calendar.” Charles says his own introduction to voluntary service at secondary school has come through the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and a lot of his early memories of service are outdoor ones – working with local councils and organisations needing a bit of “hands-on labour”. “They were my introduction, but Mr Porter has taught me the value that your time and your talent have to the community. “As Head of Service and as a school Prefect, I am acutely aware of what a privilege it is to be a role model, as I can recall how impressionable I was when I was younger, and the respect I had for the school Prefects. I’m hoping that the junior boys can see what a difference the Community and Service activities make to the school life, and to themselves.”
College Issue 41 2021
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