alongside St Margaret’s College Old Girls, at a small cost to the CCOBA.
now support. Covid-19 has put a dent in the fund, but given its conservative nature and solid policy boundaries it should recover. 175th Anniversary We have created a special fund for the 175th anniversary celebrations in 2025 where we set aside $25,000 each year for seven years to accumulate $175,000 towards a (yet to be determined) CCOBA project as part of the celebrations. And at those celebrations we will aim to have 1750 Old Boys return! CCOBA appointed Board Fellows Peter Davie (8882) has served two four-year terms on the Board as our appointed Fellow, alongside Catherine McMillan, our other Fellow. As a recent parent, Old Boy and CEO of the Lyttelton Port Company overseeing post- quake reconstruction of the port and managing its stakeholders, we have been fortunate to have his parallel insights on a board faced with similar decisions involving reconstruction of our school and managing risk. While he was formally thanked by the Board in December, I recorded the committee’s sincere thanks at the AGM for all the additional CCOBA meetings he attended over the last eight years to keep us informed. Recruitment for his replacement is underway, beginning with a scope of the skills required at this time. Justine Nicholl After eight years as CCOBA Secretary – during which time she managed the CCOBA’s move from outside the gates to the heart of the school – Justine Nicholl resigned. Her infectious energy and dynamic style delivered an intense calendar of events and publications year after year, and she has worked with four presidents in her time. The office has been run very efficiently from three locations using all manner of communication techniques to reach
all alumni, from 18-year-old YOBs to the oldest of Old Boys and everyone in between. Justine left with our best wishes at the end of the school year. Peter Penlington spoke very fondly of Justine’s achievements over her time with us, many of which I have written about previously, and 23 past presidents contributed to a farewell gift organised by Colin Averill, which was presented at a current and past committee members function in December. CCOBA Committee The CCOBA committee – Andrew Springford, Angus Dysart-Paul, Edward Glubb, Mac Bolderston (treasurer), Nick Harvey, Richard Polson (vice president), Sam Cowdy (LLVP – Long Lunch vice president) – has worked well together. A mix of young and older Old Boys, many were at school in the 2000s. I thank them for their support and enthusiasm. Honorary Life Members At the AGM in February Ian Town and Justine Nicholl were made Honorary Life Members for their services to the school and the CCOBA. I have enjoyed the varied activities of the president’s role, made straightforward with Justine’s essential support, and wish incoming president Richard Polson and our new Alumni Manager Lizzie Dyer all the very best. Finally, I wish to thank departing Board Chair Ian Town and Executive Principal Garth Wynne for their inclusive approach and for supporting the drive to bring the CCOBA within the school. With a record role of 677 in 2020, College began the year on a solid track and our membership base will grow rapidly. We look forward to our past president Hugh Lindo (9722), now Board Chair, leading the school as it adapts to the ongoing and emerging challenges.
Reunion Weekend in February and the 40 Years On reunion in August went smoothly, as did the functions around school sports and arts events. The Christchurch Branch hosted its 3rd annual Long Lunch, and the Gentlemen’s Lunch – where our 65 and 75 Years On assemble – was well attended as usual. A special thanks to Executive Principal Garth Wynne, who manages to attend as many events as possible all over the country and around the world, including Nelson, Perth, London and, most recently, the Marlborough CCOBA Yacht Race. Old Boys Posters and Art Collection Posters featuring the achievements of another five of our illustrious Old Boys were unveiled after the AGM, as was the fifth artwork donated to the school. Old Boy and artist Toby Raine (12100) presented his piece for the Art Collection, and delivered an outstanding rendition of Richard Bromley (RCB). In Toby’s words, which I paraphrase: “I didn’t get on with old RCB on a number of fronts … but over time I have worked out he was doing the best for me.” Unfortunately, RCB was unable to attend, but when I invited him to the presentation he said, and I paraphrase: “I didn’t get on with young Toby on a number of fronts … but over time I knew he would work out I and the school were trying to get the best out of him.” Like many of the Old Boys, they were on two sides of the same page. Finance Thanks to the oversight of CCOBA treasurer Mac Bolderston (13962) we are running the finances well and the investment fund is approaching $3 million with returns above 8% to help fund our costs within the Advancement office, event administration and the five 5-year scholarships we
Geoffrey Sullivan (9514)
College Issue 38 2020
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