We are now 8 weeks into the 2017 academic year and the school is bigger than ever with 1,933 students on the roll.
Staff News
As usual there are a number of new staff and in 2017 we welcome back two Old Boys. Nathan Fry (1998-2002), who began his teaching at TBC, returns from Rotorua BHS to take up the position of Head of the English Department. Yeh Lee (2004-2008) began his teaching at Buller HS but returns to his old school in the Mathematics Department.
Old Boy Paul Skinner has passed on the sad news of the passing of Gunter Warner who taught languages at the school in the 1960s. Gunter was a German Jew who, after seeing Jack Lovelock win gold in Berlin in 1936, could not persuade his parents to leave with him before war broke out. They perished along with millions of others.
He came to New Zealand and became a teacher and after teaching at TBC had a long career at Auckland GS. He was active in the PPTA and Paul describes him as a highly principled and demanding teacher. Son Mark attended TBC briefly and has had an exceptional career as Professor of Physics at Cambridge University.
Old Boys Events
Cricket Match
An enthusiastic group of Old Boys enjoyed the magnificent Matapihi surroundings in a 25 over match on Sunday, January 15th. It was good to see so me new faces turn out and as always Max Heimann did a great job on the BBQ.
Old Boys Dinner
Details will follow as the year progresses but so we can get as many a long to this annual event as possible the date for this event has been set early. It will be held on Friday 22nd of September. Details on the Old Boys' Sports Day will follow later.
School Production
TBC runs the combined schools' production every second year and in 201 7 it is again our turn. We usually have drinks and nibbles before the sh ow one night of the season and we have set aside Friday 30th of June for this event. Auditions for the show, Peter Pan, are currently being held and it would be great to see a good number of you getting along in support of our young talent.
Hockey Opening
The Hockey Turf has been resurfaced through the summer and we w ill hold an official opening on Saturday 6th of May. We would like a s many Old Boys along at 10.30 a.m. for a short official opening ceremony, a couple of short games to be followed by a BBQ and drink. Please email Rob Leslie (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you can be part of this occasion.< /div>
Rugby
First home game for the 1st XV in 2017 will be on Nicholson Fie ld at midday on Saturday 29th of April vs Auckland Grammar School. Coach Da n Goodwin is looking to organise something for the Old Boys afterwards so come along and support the boys.
Facebook
Another forum where you can catch up with what is going on with TBC Old Boys more immediately is through the TBC Old Boys Facebook page. I try to post a range of articles that I am aware of there on a regular basis so check it out: www.facebook.com/groups/tbcoba/.
Academic Results
Scholarship results are always keenly anticipated at the start of a new year. 2016 saw 21 achieved, including 2 Outstanding across 10 different subjects, with 16 different students achieving this level of attainment.
Year 12 student Jack Wade was awarded the Garth Sim Centurion Scholarship, which grants the best student at that level $1,500 for their tertiary study. Jack was endorsed with Excellence at Level 2 &a mp; 3, with individual Excellence Endorsements in Statistics, Chemistry, Economics & Physics. He gained scholarship in Chemistry and Statistics as well.
In addition to the results above there were 31 students who achieve d Excellence Endorsement at Level 2, while at Level 1 60 boys achieved that high level of attainment.
A former student Matt Strange has won a $1,500 scholarship from the Omokoroa & Districts Pakeke Lions Club for further tertiary study. Max has completed a BSc. in Geology and Oceanography at Otago University with an A average and will use the money to continue with his masters degree.
TBC Arts
The TBC Arts Programme goes from strength to strength with a record 3 students from 2016 gaining Scholarship in Drama. Well done Grahame Woods, Peter Burman and Lachlan Crane.
The TBC Big Band will contest the annual National Jazz festival held over Easter Weekend here in Tauranga – April 13th and 14th.
This year’s Super 8 Cultural Festival will be held in Rotorua the weekend of May 26th with our boys competing across a wide range of performing and visual arts.
TBC Sport
Athletics
No records were set at this year's athletic champs but under pleasant overcast skies there was a great turn out of students in all events. Johannes De Koster and Kyle Hamilton were joint Senior Champions, Ryan Schneebeli Intermediate Champion and Ryan Nicholson Junior Champ ion while Korban Eades (son of Old Boy Neville) won the prestigious 1500m title.
Swimming
Two Year 9 students have got some outstanding talent in the pool with Tarquin Magner breaking 3 age group records in 100m freestyle, 100m medley and 50m backstroke while Louis Fitzjohn beat the 100m butterfly record in recent weeks.
Surf Lifesaving
Liam Moffat had an outstanding BOP Surf Championships taking out 8 gold medals and 2 silver in recent competition.
Volleyball
Early season form of the volleyballers at the Super 8 was good as they won the competition without dropping a set. Pool play saw them defeat Rotorua, Napier and New Plymouth before Palmerston North were accounted for in the semis and Gisborne defeated in the final. Sports Captain Ryan Forlong was named Player of the Tournament.
Tennis
Another Super 8 shield was won by the tennis team last week in New Plymouth with our boys beating Hamilton BHS and Francis Douglas in pool play in the 6 team competition. The final was against Palmerston North BHS coached by former staff member Hamish Forbes who had confidently predicted his side would be winners. Old Boy Wayne Merrittrallied our troops and was very satisfied to bring home the trophy after a 5-1 victory .
Old Boys Sport
Halberg Awards
After their successes at the Rio Olympics it was great to see further honours bestowed on Mahe Drysdale (Sportsman of the Year) and Pet er Burling (Sports Team of the Year with Blair Tuke) – not bad for TBC to have both of these fields covered!
Rugby
Super rugby has just started again and we have 4 Old Boys who are involved. Tanerau Latimer is back with the Blues while at the Chiefs Nathan Harris and Sam Cane are both back while Aidan Ross has just been picked up as injury cover as a result of preseason in juries.
Cricket
Kane Williamson has led the Black Caps in all three formats of the game through the summer which has seen Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia and South Africa tour the country. With his century in the final test vs South Africa this week Kane equals Martin Crowe's record of 17 test centuries by a New Zealander.
At the 1st class level TBC has been represented in the Northern Districts team by Daniel Flynn, Joe Carter, Bharat Popli and Brett Hampton at differing times. The Bay of Plenty team has successfully defended the Hawke Cup to date this season, with some of those already named involved, but other Old Boys who have played at this level are Mat t Golding, Tim Clarke, Tom McRury, Gurwinder Singh, Ben Musgrave, Peter Drysdale and Sean Davey, who has been in sublime form with 3 centuries in recent weeks. Charles Williams has also been involved as Assistant Coach as well as current student leg spinner Iman Singh.
Kayaking
New Zealand selectors have picked a 20 strong team for the ICF World Series in Europe later in the year. Of the males picked across 3 age groups only 2 are not TBC Old Boys. Those selected are Mike Dawson, Callum Gilbert, Ben Gibb, Patrick Washer, Shaun Higgins, Alex Hawthorne, James Thwaite, Damien Torwick and Callum Aitken.
Athletics
Regan Bones showed he has not lost his running ability when he recently won the Mauao half marathon in 1 hour 42 minutes & 59 seconds. This tough race includes a run to the top and 3 laps of Mount Maunganui.
Yachting
Trent Rippey is following in the footsteps of Peter Burling in the 49er boat. He was placed 3rd in the World Series e vent in Melbourne and will contest the 2017 World Circuit in Europe later in the year.
Motor Racing
Sidecar Passenger Robbie Shorter is heading off to the acclaim ed Le Mans circuit in France next month. He has raced at the Isle of Man TT circuit a couple of times but is now to be passenger for Slovakian rider Janez Remse at the FIM Sidecar World Championships. Robbie is t he only guy from outside of Europe who is competing at this level.
Old Boys Arts
TV Drama
Erik Thomson has returned to our screens in a new series of “800 Words” – the story of an Australian single parent who has come to a small town in coastal NZ with 2 teenage children.
Showtime
Richard O’Brien (Old Boy & creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show) will celebrate his 75th birthday by putting on a show at BayCourt in Tauranga called 75 Years of Frock and Roll. It will also feature Mark Sainsbury as a shrink who looks to unravel his mind! All ticket proceeds will go to Starship Hospital.
Brass Band
Joe Thomas has been selected as a member of the National Brass Band, which will attend the World Band Championships later in the year. This is a considerable financial burden and Joe is looking to help fund the tr ip by selling a Recipe Book featuring a number of New Zealand personalities for $20. Get in touch with him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to help him out.
Other Old Boys
Hamish McKain has been selected for the finals of the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year. Hamish works in the avocado industry.
OneWave
1998 Prefect Grant Trebilco (older brother of Aaron & Scott) has been back at TBC this week talking to the students about his OneWave charity , which supports those suffering issues around depression. He has ha d mental health issues and believes surfing has saved his life. His charity involves regular sea water meetings and wearing of fluoro clothing, with t he movement now to almost 100 beaches in 20 countries worldwide.
That's all for now. If there are any other news stories that you think others would be keen on please drop me a line on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
All the best for now,
Rob Leslie.
