Development Foundation Newsletter Issue 1

The Sacred Heart College Development Foundation is launching this special e-mail newsletter which is being sent to every section of the College community whose email address we have. Its aim is to provide current news and information (with photos) on a regular basis (3-monthly at first) about Old Boys (of all ages), reunions, special College occasions, details about College development projects and some good reasons for everyone to take more interest in Sacred Heart College. Read on and welcome to the first issue of SHConnect.

What’s news ?

• The Walter Kirby Music Competition will be held in the College Auditorium on Sunday 22nd August starting at 10am – everybody’s welcome.
  
  
• The College’s most successful annual fundraiser is the Fair and this year’s edition was the best yet – so good that the PTA has been able to allocate $25,000 towards the refurbishment of the Tuck Shop – a definite winner for all students!
  
  
• Did you know that 40% of the Year 7 student intake have brothers at the College?
  
  
• The next PTA function is an Irish Dance being held on Saturday 30th October.
  
  
• The annual Old Boy’s Reunion Dinner is being held in the College Dining Hall on Friday 17th September from 7.30pm. Tickets cost $50 (include drinks) and can be obtained from the Secretary, PO Box 25 393, St Heliers. Dress is jacket and tie and sorry there will be no door sales.
  
  
• SHC Old Boys Golf Day – Br Maurice Cup and Non Registered Golfers Hamper - Waiuku Golf Club Sunday October 3rd. The Old Boys Committee invites Old Boys and Friends of the College to enter this fun golf day. Entries close 10th September. Contact Brian McPhail Ph 272 4000 or bmcphail@harts.co.nz
  
  

In this Issue...

Old Boy snippets – brief news and updates of SHC Old Boys from around the country and the globe. more>>

Kevin Gimblett, former SHC parent (Michael ’95) and rugby stalwart, updates us on his involvement with NZ rugby and gives us the low down on some recent SHC old boys making waves in the national game.

James Somerset - U21 Rugby World Cup Winner (2002 Old Boy) Kurtis Haiu - U21 Rugby World Cup Winner (2002 Old Boy)

Kevin:“It has been my pleasure to be involved with Sacred Heart College over the last 12 years. My time includes some great experiences not only with Rugby but with Cricket as well (many of the rising rugby players were also very good cricketers).

When I first got involved with SHC I was on the executive of the Auckland Rugby Union and had a strong working link with the All Blacks which spread over a period of 9 years and so it has been tremendous to see players the likes of Xavier Rush & Isitola Maka make it during that time.

This ultimately lead me into working for the NZRU with the age grade sides a role which has now spanned over six years and included five world cup wins and one 3rd placing achieved with the Under 19 and 21 age group sides. With these sides I have travelled to places like Wales, France, Chile, Italy, England and Scotland to compete in the championships.

The truly great thing has been seeing so many SHC players coming to

regional and national trials and then to final camps around the country. It has also been my privilege of touring with SHC old boys like Murray Williams (Chile 2001) and Kurtis Haiu and James Somerset (Scotland 2004). All were fantastic team guys who gave everything on and off the field. Furthermore my NZRU selection roll over the last 10 years has bought me in close contact with many SHC players including Finau Maka, Nile Latu and of course Xavier Rush who captained the NZ U21 side back in 1998.

Both Kurtis and James were a delight this year in Scotland with James scoring 4 tries on his debut against Russia & Kurtis playing extremely well in the final against Ireland before breaking his ankle. The school should be very proud of their achievements and with James now in the Auckland NPC squad he has a great future ahead of him, in fact he still has 2 more years available to him at U 21 level and Kurtis has 1, so we wish Kurtis a speedy recovery.

Murray is also in the Auckland NPC Squad for 2004 so another fine achievement.

May SHC sport continue to prosper and with the support that teachers & parents give I'm sure this will happen."

<< Back

Dominic Bowden

TV presenter, host, entertainer and our own SHC Idol, Dominic Bowden (’94) has been all over our TV screens recently. Ten years on since his time at SHC we profile one of our most recognized Old Boys.

Dominic Bowden (’94) (‘Dom’ or ‘the Dominator’ to his friends), attended SHC between the years of 1990 and 1994 where he was well known for his theatrical talents, quick wit and easy going nature. His gift of the gab would see him go far. A member of the college choir, the school jazz band and world famous barbershop quartet he is also remembered as a bean pole lock and wing for the 3C’s and a sometime soccer goal keeper.

What’s he been up to?

On leaving SHC Dominic set about completing a Bachelor of Communications at AUT, majoring in TV and Film where he developed a love for not only working in front of the camera but also behind it. Having previously done some advertisement work (apparently due to a demand for the ‘Keanu Reeves’ look) he put the talents learnt on stage at the Little Dolphin Theatre to use with cameos on Shortland Street, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

His big break came when he landed a job fronting the TVNZ kids show ‘Squirt’ which gave him some more precious time in front of the camera to hone his craft. After two years of early Dunedin mornings Dominic changed demographics markedly when he moved back up to Auckland and was named the co-presenter of the new TVNZ music show ‘Space’, which gave Dominic the ability to indulge one of his great loves – music. It came with its own challenges – being live TV, but Dominic took to it like a duck to water and spent a good couple of years interviewing such musical luminaries as Ben Harper (his favourite), Robbie Williams, 5ive (his own childhood idols), Linkin Park and actor Chris O’Donnell (to name but a few).

After a couple of hectic years of live TV and promotional commitments (and as finalist in the Cleo Batchelor of the Year competition and on the ‘Celebrity Treasure Island’ TV show) Dominic took some time out working in Sydney and Japan, recharging his batteries. But only a short time into his sojourn he was made an offer that no one could refuse.

Dominic returned to our shores in early 2004 to host NZ Idol, the New Zealand version of the popular overseas show. You must have seen it. The show predictably rated its socks off and Bowden became a primetime household name, simultaneously the subject of adoration and adulation for 14 year old girls nationwide and featuring in women’s magazines talking about how much he loves his mum. He was subsequently invited to host the nationwide 24 hour music marathon ‘Play it Strange’ where he teamed up with another SHC Old Boy and organizer of the show, Mike Chunn.

But he still remembers where he’s from. Dominic was the special guest judge at the recent SHC Idol competition and was spotted cheering from the crowds at last years ‘So Sacred’ concerts.

Where to from here?

If world domination with his band ‘The Surprise Jandals’ doesn’t pan out Bowden still has aspirations to develop a career behind the camera and has used every opportunity to gain experience that will allow him to stay in the industry he now calls home for many years to come. And, as one of Sacred Heart’s most visible old boys, we’ll have no choice but to closely follow his career as it continues to blossom.

<< Back

And what’s your last name Pele?

Following a rather fortuitous set of circumstances, Andrew Rogers (’90) has found himself working in Switzerland as part of the legal team at FIFA, soccer's world governing body. Andrew moved to Switzerland from London at the end of 2000 to team up with another SHC old-boy, Kieren Barry (’78), as part of the legal team at FIFA's sports marketing firm ISL, a company which after years of success promptly went bust soon after his arrival.

Thankfully, FIFA picked up many of the ISL staff who were marooned without work in Switzerland. Andrew was for a while a news media specialist and more recently has been one of the commercial lawyers responsible for putting together the sponsorship and television arrangements for the FIFA World Cups in Korea/Japan and now Germany, as well as for FIFA's other events. This involves working with an international team of sports marketing experts, as well as those involved in the growth of the game around the world, in particular in the developing countries, which are granted a high proportion of FIFA's proceeds. Andrew’s role also involves preventing 'ambush' marketers from obtaining exposure during FIFA events and regularly pursuing the sellers of counterfeit merchandise around the stadia, many of whom employ ever more novel and inventive measures to avoid detection.

One of the benefits of the job is the ability to attend FIFA's events, and at times mix with and play against some of the famous players from today and yesteryear. However, being a born and bred kiwi rugby and cricket follower not overly familiar with the stars of the round ball game, this has lead to some amusing incidents of mistaken identity and failure to treat certain players and football administrators with quite the deference they might otherwise expect. Nevertheless, Andrew has become a keen follower of the sport, and as the sole New Zealander at FIFA, never fails to take the opportunity to remind anyone who will listen that the All Whites qualified for the World Cup in Spain in 1982, and appeared at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003. However, the fact that they were soundly beaten in each game at both tournaments isn't so readily proffered however!

<< Back

In this and subsequent issues, SHConnect will invite selected Old Boys to contribute to a special guest column. For this first edition we invited noted sports writer and retiring editor of NZ Golf Update John O’Sullivan (’55) to share his lifetime of golfing experiences and the role that SHC played in his passion.

A good walk spoilt: In the footsteps of the Bull …

My involvement with golf began when I was 13 or 14 following a throwaway remark to my mother. “What do you see in that silly game,” I asked. “Why don’t you come out and see,” was her reply.

As many others had found before or have found since, that one round was enough to have me hooked for life. Although it included topped, sliced, hooked and air shots there were enough pure strokes to have me itching to get out again. Over the years I have played just about every ball game there is (with the exception of lacrosse) and there is simply no sensation in sport that compares with the feeling of hitting a golf ball well. The challenge of making that stationary ball go where you want it to is much greater than one would expect. It is also the only sport in which the merest duffer is capable of executing a shot of which Tiger Woods would be proud and the only one in which the same player could have a match with the world’s best with a realistic chance of winning. It’s also a game for life.

A couple of years after that first round I became one of the few boarders who were the first golfers at Sacred Heart. By that I mean we actually played on the college grounds. In 1955 the site at Glen Innes was still in its formative stage and, although the top and bottom fields and the field on Crossfield Rd were in use, a large portion of the site was still scrub covered scoria mounds with patches of grass in between. Due to an error by the site developers a load of scoria rather than topsoil was dumped on the Crossfield Rd field and I can remember 3 busloads of boarders being taken from Richmond Rd in 1954 to pick up the larger stones. Naturally we didn’t get all of them and for the next two years they caused many scratches which later festered, leaving scars which lasted for many years.

In the 3rd term of 1955 some of us brought our clubs back to school (mine were a set of mixed hickory and steel shafters) and on the odd Sunday played point to point around the site, with the winner of each “hole” determining the next target. I can’t remember the exact composition of the group but it did include Brian Morpeth (the only one with a flash set of clubs) and, I think, Lance Butler (father of Kelsen) and the Berrill twins, John and Owen. I would be interested to hear from any of the others (email Johnosupd@xtra.co.nz).

For the next 18 years golf was a secondary pastime as first Kaitaia rugby and then Marist softball administration took up much of my time, although I maintained a membership at Pupuke on the North Shore from 1963 to 1972. It wasn’t until I was transferred to Christchurch in ’72 that golf became my No 1 sport. The South Island sojourn was short-lived and when I returned to Auckland John Berrill was instrumental in getting me into the Pukekohe Golf Club. A few years later I joined him on the committee and that began a 20 year period in golf administration at both club and provincial level. I also became very involved in developing knowledge of the Rules and am both a foundation and Life Member of the Auckland & North Harbour (Golf) Referees Association. Before I joined Pukekohe I had managed to get down to a 10 handicap on a diet of about 30 rounds a year but two rounds a week all year round quickly brought me on to single figures, the best being a 4 and the average 7 or 8. For 15 years I was involved in selecting, managing and playing in pennants teams.

In 1979 I went on a 3 month OE which included 2 weeks at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, probably the largest golf resort in the world. At that time they had 30 courses (now 120 plus) and I played 15 of them in 14 days. In England I met up with another old boy, Pat Garner, who has had a stellar English amateur career and is now a member of the R & A. Through Pat I was able to play Wentworth (he is now a member at Sunningdale), Woking and Royal Lytham St Annes while also having the obligatory round at St Andrews (where I birdied the 18th under the noses of the crowd waiting to tee off on the 1st) and Carnoustie. In ’87 a trip to Australia took in New South Wales, Royal Canberra, Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath. Later visits covered the rest of the Melbourne sand belt, Concord and Royal Sydney.

Following redundancy from Wattie Industries in 1988 I was Secretary/manager of Akarana for two years and for another two did the books and worked in sales for the first off-course golf retail operation in Auckland. When the business was closing down I grabbed all the second hand clubs and took them out to the college where I discovered that Bro Maurice was the golf teacher, a role he had fallen into in South Africa.

Back in 1955 Bro Maurice (or “Bull” as he was known – a sobriquet he readily acknowledged and even explained to us (“I’m short and stubborn”)) and I had a rather strange relationship. My subjects were languages (scholarship maths and science were Greek – which I would rather have studied – to me) and Maurice was our 6A & 6B English teacher. He liked my writing in particular and was supportive of my desire to become a journalist. I wasn’t the star however because that class included Vincent O’Sullivan and Ken Arvidson, now professors of English at Victoria and Waikato Universities respectively. Outside the classroom things were very different. As a smoker (unproven), one of the writers of irreverent doggerel and a little too outspoken in the oratorical contest I was not flavour of the year, let alone the month. When he learned that for family reasons I was going into banking in Kaitaia, rather than journalism he snorted “vocational suicide”.

In 1995 through a strange combination of circumstances I found myself going from writing a bi-monthly Rules article and typing up the input for Golf Update magazine to the editorship and the requirement to produce 20000 words a month on a variety of golfing people and places. I took the greatest pleasure in reminding Bro Maurice at the next old boys’ golf day of his “vocational suicide” comment.

SHConnect’s request for this article actually comes as I retire from the editor’s position although I will continue to write for Golf Update. It has been a fascinating 9 years and the highlights have been many, both in terms of the people I have met and the places I have been able to go. Some of the most interesting interviews have involved keen golfers from other sports or the media, with the most impressive being Jeff Crowe. Probably the most enjoyable interview was the Rotorua Boys High School youngsters while American pro Jay Sigel and South African, David Frost were absolute delights to deal with.

The travel opportunities and the ability to play top courses both in New Zealand and overseas have, of course, been the highlights of the job. I have had the privilege of playing and doing the first reviews of Gulf Harbour, Formosa, Kauri Cliffs, Terrace Downs (full 18) and Cape Kidnappers as well as playing and reporting on such established layouts as Paraparaumu Beach, Bridge Pa, Ngamotu and Middlemore. Overseas trips have included Tahiti, Malaysia (and night golf), Thailand, Australia many times and the piece de resistance, Ireland. Courtesy of the Irish Tourist Board and Jamieson’s Whiskey I had a week in Dublin playing 3 courses in the Jamieson’s tournament and was able to take another week during which I played Ballybunion (my all-time favourite) and Lahinch and most importantly return to the old ancestral home outside Killarney, where family still reside and visit the 1650 grave of the O’Sullivan patriarch.

If there’s a message anywhere in this it is “Never give up on your dreams!”

<< Back

Old Boy Reunions

A special 1978/79 reunion is being planned during October. It’s a unique opportunity for those Old Boys who left SHC 25 years ago to get together. The reunion includes a dinner at Romfords on October 16. More details from Deb Hollier debhollier@yahoo.com or (09) 528 7554.

Would you like to help organise your own class reunion (it can be a lot of fun) ? The SHC Development Foundation Office can assist you setup the arrangements– just contact Lyn Luxton on shcdf@sacredheart.school.nz ; (09) 529 3743; PO Box 18377, Glen Innes, Auckland 1006.

There are plenty of regional Old Boy reunions planned for the remainder of 2004

<< Back

Old Boy Update

James Thomas (‘95) is the new Education Manager at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World in Auckland. His first task was to visit the Antarctic to see the penguins !

Greg Burke (‘73) is the Director of New Plymouth’s Govett-Brewster Art Gallery which commissioned the NZ entry for the forthcoming Venice Biennale (you’ll remember the backlash about ‘The Braying Toilet’).

William Ward (’02) who played Senior A Tennis for the College from 1997-2002 (yes 6 years - starting in the Intermediate school!) continues to be a force on the international tennis scene as he competes on the highly competitive International Tennis Federation’s Under 18 circuit. He began 2003 ranked 1100 in the world and finished ranked 53 ! In 2004 he is now ranked 23 in the world U18 and has been selected for the NZ Davis Cup squad – remember William is still 17.

William’s performance at Junior Wimbledon 2004was outstanding. On his way to reaching the Quarter Finals he defeated the world U18 No 5 (top Spaniard Pablo Andujar) and now has the distinction of being the best performed New Zealander at Junior Wimbledon since his coach Chris Lewis won the event in 1975 (and we all know Chris went on to reach the final of the Men’s Singles at Wimbledon in 1983).
William is playing in the US Open this month and the whole of the SHC community wishes him every success.

<< Back

Where are they now ?

And where are you now ?
Calling all Old Boys and former staff members. What have you been getting up to since leaving SHC ? Why not let us know what has been happening to you since you left the College.

Please get in touch by emailing your news to Lyn Luxton – shcdf@sacredheart.school.nz

Our first ‘Where are they now’ features Paul Baker and Br Anselm – read on …

Ten thousand miles from Sacred Heart, rugby is emerging as the hot new sport at John Carroll School. Paul Barker (‘75) and SHC staff member(1985-6) is the Principal and Rugby Coach at the co-educational, Catholic high school of 850 in Bel Air, Maryland, about 60 miles north of Washington, DC.

The John Carroll Patriots Rugby Club has just finished its third season by winning its second championship in the Potomac Rugby Union. Playing a ten-game schedule mostly against teams from other Catholic high schools, the Patriots have drawn enough boys to field two sides each spring, no mean achievement for a sport competing with other school programs in lacrosse, baseball, tennis, golf and track and field.

“I started the club as a change from the hectic pace of a Principal’s life and because I knew the values of rugby were such a good fit with a Catholic school. Rugby has proved to have great appeal here because it’s not nearly as scripted as American football. Some of the bigger boys are amazed that they can get to run with the ball and they still get to hit people.”

“Our boys are as big, strong and fast as you would find anywhere. However, without a deep rugby culture it’s very difficult for them to learn the finer points of the game.” In another year or two, the Patriots would like to remedy some of that inexperience with a trip down to New Zealand, and maybe a game at Sacred Heart.

Old Boys and parents associated with the College in the early 1960’s will remember Brother Anselm (now Br Brian Wanden) who was ‘master of discipline’ at that time – great title!

Since then Br Brian has been very active all around the world. His various roles and postings have included:

1965-71 Principal St Paul’s College 1971-78 Master of Novices at the Marist Brothers Novitiate at Claremont in Timaru. 1978 Spirituality Course in Sydney 1979-85 Member of Marist Congregation Team at Marcellin Hall – Adult Education in Faith. 1985 Theological Studies – Loyola University, Chicago. 1986-87 Fribourg – Switzerland and Marcellin Hall 1988-92 Team Leader of the Mid Life Renewal for English Speaking Brothers – Nemi, Rome 1992 Member of Marcellin Community 1993-96 Team member Mercy Spiritual Life Centre, Epsom. 1994-96 Vicar for the Religious – Diocese of Auckland. 1996-2003 Coordinator of healthcare for the Marist Brothers in NZ.

Where is Br Brian now? He recently returned quietly to SHC as a member of the Brother’s community – 43 years after leaving. He’d love to hear from any of his former pupils and friends (09) 529 3665.

<< Back

Matches

Here is an opportunity for Old Boys to share their wedding news with the whole SHC community.

Just email us a photo with a caption and we will do the rest shcdf@sacredheart.school.nz

Our first ‘Match’ features the recent wedding of Sam Wright (Dux ’95) who recently married Maria Hawks in Adare, Ireland. Sam and Maria celebrated their nuptial mass at Holy Trinity Abbey Church in Adare, known as the wedding capital of Ireland, on the 9th of July. Sacred Heart Old Boys were well represented with Stephen Ellis (‘95) as Best Man and Michael Wright (‘97 ), Nigel Gleeson (‘95) and Brendon Gleeson (‘94 ) as groomsmen. Another old boy who made the trip to Ireland was Liam Loughman (‘95 ). Best wishes to Sam and Maria for future happiness together !

<< Back

Sacred Heart College Development Foundation
Today’s Investment for Tomorrow

In 1903 parents of the fledging Sacred Heart College rallied together to show their support and confidence in the new school by making large and smaller, but just as meaningful, donations which laid the foundation for the College whose centenary we celebrated so proudly last year.

100 years later private support continues to be an integral part of the College’s extraordinary growth. The SHC Development Foundation was established in 1992 as a vehicle for the purposes of fundraising and debt servicing. The trustees include a cross section of the College community. Since its establishment the Foundation has initiated a number of high profile capital projects including:

• The refurbishment of the College Chapel and the development of the Old Boys Lounge.
• The refurbishment of the old gym as a 2-level arts, music and transition centre
• The building of the fully equipped Marist Brothers Sports Centre.
• The completion of the Aquatic Centre
• The recent multi million building programme that included the Centenary Square.
• The establishment of the Marist Brothers Scholarship Trust Fund

As a result of the above projects the College has a debt of over $7M and consequently needs continuing support from all sources – parents, Old Boys, past parents and friends.

How can I make a gift?

Below are some of the ways you can invest in the future of Sacred Heart College.

Scholarships in your own, your son’s or other family members name is easy. An Annual or Endowment scholarship could make it possible for a student who might not have been able to attend the College to have the benefit of a Sacred Heart College education. You can name the scholarship and if you would like, meet the recipient.

Landmark Gifts – memorials that include, but are not limited to, Centenary Square, park bench in College grounds, books for the Library, works of art, or trees.

You may be able to give Interest free loans, Assignment of Income or Goods and Services or Sponsorships.

Leave a Legacy – make provision in your Will for an investment in education and the future of Sacred Heart College. Leaving a bequest is a simple procedure that allows Old Boys, Parents and Friends of the College to include Sacred Heart College as a beneficiary of their Will.

E-mail us at shcdf@sacredheart.school.nz and a trustee will contact you or click here to download a donation form

<< Back

We will keep you in touch ….

Your next edition of SHConnect will be sent in 3 months and will feature exciting news and views about the Sacred Heart College community.

And we can keep others up to date too …

• If you’d like us to mail you material about supporting the College click here>>
  
• If you’d like us to forward this edition of SHConnect to other Old Boys or friends click here>>
  
• To add members of your family or other Old Boys to our email database click here>>
  
• If you have news about yourself or others associated with the College that you’d like to be included in future newsletters, click here to send us news>>
  
• However, if you do not wish to receive further editions of SHConnect, click here to unsubscribe>>
  

It is believed that the contents of this newsletter are a full and fair representation.
Interested parties, should however, make their own enquiries to satisfy themselves on all aspects.