Hi all,
The 2020 school year has begun with a roll of 2040 students which certainly puts some strain on our building resources. A new build is due to begin near the staff carpark later in the year but with our ever-increasing roll it seems unlikely that the prefabs on the front ’lawn’ of the school will be gone any time soon.
Can You Help Our Senior Old Boys?
With NZ and many other countries in lockdown there may now be a limited number of ways to support our vulnerable Old Boys, but if you're feeling isolated and need help, or just want someone to talk to our worldwide network of Old Boys stands ready to help. Get in touch by email or go on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tbcoba/
Staff News
There are always a number of appointments at the start of any new year and more often than not they include some Old Boys and this year is no exception. Chris Brunskill has been appointed in the Art Department, teaching design while Maia Wharekura joins Aronui, where he will specialise in the Performing Arts.
Old Boys Events
2020 Dinner
The Old Boys Dinner date for 2020 has been set for Friday, September 11th, so get that date into your diaries and start rounding up your mates for what is always a good night out. More details to follow ......
I decided to try to track down all of those from my first form class (3F1 in 1979) to get a number of them along to our dinner. At this stage there are only 6 students who I know nothing about – Robin Brightwell, Andrew Gasson, Andrew Mitchell, Stephen Neil, Gavin Nicol and James Thomas – so if anyone can help me find any of these guys 40 years on it would be great to hear from you.
Coincidentally, 1969 Head Prefect Bill Holland is trying to locate the 1968/69 Prefect groups, so he can fill some tables at the dinner as well. If you remember any of these guys and can tell me where they are & better still have contacts please get in touch also.
1978-80 Basketball & Volleyball Teams
Old Boy Keith Marsh is trying to contact all of those who played in any of these teams of his day with a view to meeting up at Labour Weekend. At this stage he has been able to contact about a dozen guys out of about thirty who played in these teams and he is looking for help in tracking down any of the following: Barry Williams, James Kururangi, Rob Burgess, Derek White-Parsons, Nick Penfold, Mark Woolley, Ross Scholes, Mathew Keyte, Bossy Mana and Kevin Ward. Please contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can help with contacts for any of these.
TBC Academic
Scholarship Results for 2019 had TBC as top secondary school in the BOP again with 24 awards and 15 different students attaining the ultimate academic prize. These were across 11 different scholarships.
The awarding of academic ties at our Academic Assembly saw Year 12 scholar Ben Adams handed the Garth Sim scholarship. This $1,500 prize recognises the top student at Year 12 and the contribution that former Principal Garth Sim made in his time running the school. Ben gained 4 scholarships in English, Chemistry, Physics and Calculus and to date has gained 385 Excellence credits after gaining Excellence Endorsement at Level 1, 2 & 3.
Sir Douglas Myers Scholarship ... It has just been announced that this prestigious award has gone to Quaid Forbes who was in Year 13 last year. He receives 3 years full tuition and living costs at Cambridge University in England with the total value of the award being over $220,000.
Old Boys Committee member Ben Rickard congratulates Ben Adams on his Garth Sim Scholarship award.
School Leaders for 2020
Head Prefect: LOGAN GREEN
Deputies: JOSH BARTLETT, SAM JONES
Academic: THOMAS FRISKNEY
Arts: THOMAS DENZEL
Sports: DANTE GARDINER
The following is the speech from Head Prefect Logan Green to the school in the first major school assembly of the year which I thought may be of interest.
"For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Logan Green and I want to start by saying what an honour it is to be named as Tauranga Boys’ College Head Prefect for 2020. I’d also like to express my thanks to all of the teachers who have taught, coached and directed me throughout my four years at the college because if there’s anything this school has taught me it’s that it takes a village to raise a child. Each of you have contributed significantly to my growth; both inside and outside the classroom.
My journey at TBC has been one I look back on with fond memories. I came to Tauranga Boys’ from Omokoroa No.1 School, one of the college’s smallest contributing schools. Coming to a school with around 8 times the students was a bit of a shock for me, but it didn’t take long for me to realise the ways I could benefit from attending TBC. The school has given me the time and space to develop my skills in the arts, sports and my academic pursuits. I am grateful to be a part of the 1XI Hockey Team and Big Band #1, as well as the accelerate programme. I have been lucky enough to travel with Tauranga Boys’ College both within New Zealand and over to Australia. Some personal highlights have been travelling to Christchurch for Rankin Cup and Sydney for the Australian International Music Festival. In April, I look forward to visiting Vietnam and Cambodia as part of the Humanities tour.
Academics has always been my primary focus at the college, as I think it can be for every one of you. It’s important to recognise that academic success is nothing but a personal journey, and that what it means to you may be vastly different to the boy that sits next to you. In the wise words of Theodore Roosevelt “comparison is the thief of all joy.” I hope that this year, you achieve your own personal academic goals without making a comparison to others.
To this year's prefects, first of all congratulations on receiving such a well respected position. I look forward to being a part of the leadership team that we will build throughout this year and I hope you utilise your skills and qualities for the benefit of the college. I would also like to acknowledge Josh, Sam, Tom, Dante and Thomas who make up the rest of the student leadership team for this year. Thank you in advance for your support and contribution to the prefect group in your various roles.
Y9s and new students; welcome to Tauranga Boys’ College. You’re at the very beginning of what I hope will be a highly successful and enjoyable time here. I can assure you, it won’t take long for you to find your place in this college that seems so huge right now. I want to remind you that the year 13s and prefects are highly visible in white shirts and blazers for a reason. For you. Please use them until you find your way around here, and I have no doubt that each and every one of them will be more than happy to help you.
To the year 13s, welcome back to the college for what will be a very exciting and enjoyable last year together. The last four years have been filled with plenty of good times and I expect and look forward to nothing different this year.
2020 once again marks the largest our school community has been and as we continue to grow in size, so do the chances for success and growth for each of you as students, the chance for you to become better than before. This year is set to be another impressive year in all facets of the school; arts, culture, sports, academics and service. I look forward to watching the successes from all these areas come across the stage throughout the year, and as we grow bigger as a school community, I’m sure the number of these will only increase.
To finish, I want to leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Dr Stephen Covey, but not without an explanation. Covey said we should all endeavour to “seek first to understand, then to be understood.” As our college grows rapidly in size, qualities that we must encourage more and more of are acceptance, inclusion, tolerance and a greater sense of understanding of those around us. In order to strengthen the brotherhood we have at this college, we must seek to understand others around us; their opinions, their history and where they’ve come from before we force our own opinions, history and background on them. Unfortunately, most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. My challenge to you this year is to do exactly that, to listen with the intent to understand and to “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
Thanks boys and good luck for the year ahead."
Community Service
Head Prefect Logan Green and Sam Niles have led a fantastic TBC effort in raising almost $18,000 for the Shave for a Cure campaign, which raises money for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer research. Nationally some $270,000 was raised, so the contribution from the TBC community was around 7% of the total. Amongst the staff and students who lost their locks were Mrs Ormsby (who raised $3,000) and Principal Mr Mangan ($2,000).
Wednesday, March 18th Shave for a Cure Participants including Principal Robert Mangan, Mrs Michelle Ormsby + Old Boys Steve Kelly, Josh Probert, Shaun McRoberts, Brad Smith & Hamish Boyce
Cricket
The TBC 1st XI has been performing well over the summer and at the weekend their defeat of Te Puke meant they have qualified for the semifinals of this years Williams Cup. Mentor and Old Boy Tim Clarke scored a magnificent 143 a couple of weeks back to help the cause while Ben Vyver has also scored 2 centuries in the Premier competition this year – a great performance for a schoolboy.
Ben, Liam Collett and 1st XI captain Niven Dovey have all been part of the Northern Districts Under 17 team through the summer.
At Super 8 in New Plymouth the side were runners-up to Hamilton BHS for the 3rd successive year. The boys started with a win against Hastings BHS by virtue of a 12 run last wicket partnership off 40 balls and then defeated New Plymouth BHS by 5 wickets. In the final TBC posted a competitive 201 batting first, but they dropped a crucial catch early and that batsman completed a century to give Hamilton BHS a 7 wicket win.
Our Junior cricketers have played in the qualification tournament for the NZCT finals and were beaten by Hamilton BHS in pool play, which meant they needed to win all of their remaining games and have other results fall their way. TBC beat St Peters, which HBHS failed to do. This meant TBC went through to the national finals of 6 teams on a count back. A fantastic result.
Athletics
TBC held its annual sports at the Tauranga Domain last month in glorious conditions. On the day only one record was broken, by Aidan Spratley in the Junior 300 metres. Aidan ended up Junior champion with Dylan Henderson (son of Old Boy Bevan) in second place. In the Intermediate division Micah Pugh was champion, while in the Senior competition Corban Laban-Palmer prevailed over Tom Friskney.
Rowing
Our small rowing squad competed in the North Island championships at the weekend and completed perhaps the most successful regatta for TBC in a decade. Silver medals were won in U17 Coxed quad & Double, U16 Coxed quad & Double with bronze in the U17 Coxed 4.
Motocross
Two TBC students have been at the forefront of competition in the 125cc championship, with Brodie Connolly taking out the honours from Madoc Dixon in the last of a series of 10 races in Taupo earlier this month.
Old Boys Arts
Music
Recent Old Boy Akash Dutta has just released an EP of ethno-jazz called Tales of a Traveller, which is available on Spotify and with Apple Music.
It has been some time since Jeremy Redmore fronted Midnight Youth but he has not stopped making music and has just released his latest album – The Brightest Flame.
Graeme Hardaker is from an earlier time at TBC and has had significant involvement in the latest CD from the Shirleybyrds (2018) called I wonder what happened to Leia?
Regan Lethbridge and David Morgan made their musical name with their Melbourne-based group Bonjah. They have moved into management in recent times and their Lemon Tree Music company has just organised the Down 2 Earth Fire and Climate Relief Concert, which aimed to raise $1 million for those 2 great causes.
Literature
Former Deputy Principal Joe Schmidt has completed his coaching of the Irish Rugby team last year and found the time to write his autobiography. “Ordinary Joe” is not widely available from what I have seen but well worth the effort and interesting from both an educational and sporting context.
Television
Former 1st XI Hockey player Aaron McNabb has featured prominently in the TV show The Bachelorette, which is currently screening on TV2.
Rawiri Jobe has been more prominent on our screens recently featuring in Shortland Street as well as The Brokenwood Mysteries.
Old Boys Sport
Cricket
Kane Williamson’s contribution to NZ Sport was recognised when he was included in the men’s category of the Halberg Sports awards. His efforts in the Cricket World Cup where he was named Player of the tournament were largely responsible for this.
Northern Districts captain Joe Carter brought up 2,000 first class runs in a recent match against Auckland. This Plunkett Shield match was a memorable one, with Auckland winning by one wicket with just one ball to spare. A number of records were set with Joe (169 & 120) scoring 2 centuries in the one match, as did Aucklander Mark Chapman. This was the first time this had happened in New Zealand cricket.
Joe Carter with Mark Chapman
The Bay of Plenty Cricket team challenged unsuccessfully for the Hawke Cup last month and there were large numbers of Old Boys involved. Charles Williams coached the XI with Wayne Brill as Manager, while players included Peter Drysdale, Daniel Flynn, Bharat Popli, Dominic Crombie, Ben Musgrave, Craig Baldry, Taylor Bettelheim and Tim Pringle.
Other former 1st XI players who are plying their trade at the top level domestically are Tommy Clout (Otago) and Sean Davey (Canterbury).
Sailing
Peter Burling, along with sailing partner Blair Tuke, have taken a break from their America’s Cup sailing campaign to contest another 49er World Championship in Geelong. They started relatively slowly but worked their way through the field to take out their 6th World Title.
Touch Rugby
Carlos Savage has been named in the New Zealand Men’s Touch Rugby team.
Rugby
A number of Old Boys have been playing Super rugby in the just suspended 2020 season. They are Sam Cane, Aidan Ross & Nathan Harris (Chiefs), Jeff Thwaites (Highlanders) & Aaron Carroll (Blues).
Former 1st XV captain Mungo Mason has packed a great deal into the 6 years since he left TBC. He completed his LLB degree from Waikato while in Chicago studying at Chicago-Kent College of Law & signed a contract with the San Diego Legion during the 2018 Major League Rugby season. He joined Edinburgh Rugby in 2018/19, a member of the Guinness PRO 14 from where he was selected to represent the Scotland Sevens team in the HSBC World Sevens Series. He is now back in the USA captaining the Old Glory DC team in this years Major League Rugby competition.
Canoe Slalom
With double Olympian Mike Dawson now retired from competitive racing another TBC Old Boy in Callum Gilbert has been selected to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Football
Ryan Thomas missed a large amount of sport last year through injury but has come back well in recent weeks, scoring twice in 2 weeks for his PSV Eindhoven club in the Netherlands.
Mount Monster
Scott Riordan completed this daunting 12 kilometre ski paddle, 5 kilometre run, 1,500 metre swim and 6 kilometre paddle board in 3 hours and 37 minutes. In doing so he raised $3,500 for Mike King’s Key 2 Life Charitable Trust, which works in suicide prevention.
Rowing
Final selections are yet to be made for the Tokyo Olympics but at this stage Old Boys Mahe Drysdale (4th Olympics) and Jordan Parry are probable choices providing the Games go ahead.
Hockey
Former 1st XI Hockey member Craig Bigham has lived in Queensland for a good number of years. A former New Zealand Under 16 player Craig has been selected in the Australian Over 35s to compete in the United Kingdom later in the year.
An earlier 1st XI player in Murray Jones has been picked in the New Zealand Over 50s team that will play in Cape Town later in the year.
Duathlon
Old Boys Lachie Haycock (M16-19) and Toby Cunliffe-Steel (M25-29) have both won their respective divisions in the recently completed Sprint Duathlon Championships.
Best wishes to you all during what is going to be a difficult time over the coming weeks.
Regards,
Rob Leslie
