LEADERSHIP The Chair, Prize-giving Speech
This time last year we farewelled Rob Donaldson after 35 years and then, in July, we said goodbye to Garth Wynne, who, in his eight-and-a-half years as Executive Principal, changed College in a way that was truly transformational. His contribution to College was fittingly acknowledged in a series of celebratory farewell functions in the middle of the year as he headed off to his role with the Round Square organisation. Before Garth left, we had appointed Joe Eccleton, and it was great to welcome Joe and Shelley and their daughters, Sophie and Millie, to College at the beginning of the term. Joe’s poˉwhiri was an extremely moving event as he was farewelled by Cashmere High School and welcomed to College. He has had a fast start, and you will be looking forward to hearing from him very shortly. From the Board’s perspective, we were delighted to secure Joe, and we know that the day-to-day operations of College could not be in better hands. At this point, I want to acknowledge Gillian Simpson, who stepped down from the Board to look after the staff and students as the Acting Executive Principal for Term 3, and, in so doing, becoming the first female to have led our College. We were blessed to be able to call on such an experienced and caring educator to stand-in for that term. Thanks as well are due to Dave Simpson for his support of Gillian during that period. You are quite a team. Sadly, Joe’s first day at College, and just before this term started, was the same day that our much loved and respected Flower’s House Matron, Karen Adams, died suddenly. This was a terrible blow to her family, friends, and the Flower’s House and wider College community. She had been in her role for 15 years, a second mum to the boys who passed through the House during her time there. She was caring and committed to the health and wellbeing of the boys. Her passing was a shock for everyone. Her memory will live long in the hearts and minds of all those who knew her.
I also wanted to acknowledge the passing during the year of two former and long-serving members of staff. John Boardman, a member of the English Department, a former Housemaster of Julius House, hockey coach and violinist in the College orchestra and in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, where he played on this stage numerous times. We also lost the irrepressible Richard Bromley, a College Old Boy, former head of Biology, Housemaster of School House, 1st XI cricket coach, Senior Master, Deputy Headmaster, and, for a period, Acting Headmaster and a man who simply had Christ’s College running through his veins. They will be missed but not forgotten. The governance of College continued to evolve in 2024. Richard Rookes stepped down from the Board during the year and we were joined by Amanda Johnston. We thank Richard for his forthright contribution and commitment and it is great to have Amanda on board. The Board also has access to the skills of those who have volunteered their time as co-opted members of our sub- committees. We are grateful to Simon Botherway and Johnny Cochrane for their stewardship of our Foundation and to Amy Liu for her work on our Finance sub-committee. We are confident the Board is well positioned to set the next iteration of our strategy for 2025 to 2030 to ensure Christ’s College continues to deliver leading academic and co-curricular programmes to our students. The Board is deeply conscious of the impact of another large increase in our fees. Our cost structure reflects the diversity of the programmes that we offer and the reality of the need for continued maintenance, and reinvestment in our heritage campus. The Board has a determined focus on achieving the financial freedom to continue the investment we need to make in the years ahead. We sincerely appreciate the ongoing support of our parent community. It is very much appreciated. The College community is far reaching. It is not just the current
boys and their parents, but extends to all those who feel a connection with College irrespective of how and when those connections were formed. We have seen the engagement of that community and the affirmation of those connections in the myriad functions and events that are run by and through College. The 175th anniversary events in February next year are well set to be a great celebration of those connections. To Joe and all our staff, thank you for your efforts in 2024. The Board wishes you a long, well-deserved, and restful summer. To the Year 13s who have had to listen to me speaking at this event for each of the past five years but never again, thank you for your patience but, more importantly, for your contribution to College during your time with us. May your futures be blessed as you leave this place. Finally, to my colleagues on the Board, thank you for your contribution to the governance of College. Thank you also to Mel Murrell and Rob McFarlane for their help in supporting the Board. To my successor, Jeremy Johnson, who takes over next week, and our new Deputy Chair, Gillian Simpson, all the best. College is in good hands. To finish where I started. To all of you here today, the boys, your parents, our staff and governors, and our Old Boys ... This is your College … Louder Still! Thank you. Nga¯ mihi. Hugh Lindo Chair
of a tradition that was, at the time, controversially not maintained by reading (not singing) the first verse and chorus of the College song with a hope of a revival at the 175th events in February. “Come, all ye College boys, sing lustily, I pray, And recollect your battle cry, and ring it out today, Upraising, with a mighty sound of hip-hip-hooray, Your College! College! Louder Still. As in days that have gone before us, So, in seasons now before us, ‘College!’ Shout we all in chorus, With a hip-hip-hip hurrah.” While appreciating the language is reflective of a bygone age, some of the values and themes embedded in the verses of the song remain as relevant in 2024 as they did when the song was written in 1886 – collegiality, a coming together, pride, passion, teamwork, effort, friendship, commitment, and community. When the song was sung at a full school Chapel or Assembly, it was quite a thing… Anyway, please forgive a little bit of
shameless nostalgia. Nau mai, haere mai
E te manuhiri tuarangi, Haere mai moˉ te¯nei hui, moˉ te¯nei kaupapa oˉ te ra¯ Noˉ reira, te¯na¯ koutou, te¯na¯ koutou
As we were singing our national anthem, I was reflecting on what a great Carol Service we had last night. On behalf of all who attended, I wanted to thank Cameron Pickering, Robert Aburn, and the choir for putting together such a special service. Continuing on a musical theme, in years gone by these events would
have included a stirring rendition of the College song that was simply entitled College . As we approach our 175th celebrations in 2025 and consider our motto, ‘Bene Tradita, Bene Servanda’, ‘good traditions, well maintained’, I thought it was worth reminding the Old Boys among us and enlightening the current boys
Te¯na¯ koutou katoa Welcome, welcome, Visitors from afar Welcome to this meeting, To the important discussion of the day, Therefore, greeting, greetings.
Greetings to you all. It’s been quite a year.
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Christ’s College Canterbury
Register 2024 Leadership
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