Development Foundation Newsletter Issue 9

We’ve got your interests at heart
The Sacred Heart College Development Foundation launched this email newsletter early in 2004, with the aim of encouraging everyone to take more interest in the College. It provides news and information about old boys, reunions, special College occasions and Development Foundation projects. This is our seventh issue of SHConnect.

What's Happening

Reunions

Old Boys Association Reunion Dinner

Is to be held on September 26th at the College.  It is essential to book tickets.  Phone Secretary Mike Dale (09) 575 8258 or Jim Mullane (09) 534 1027.

Reminder:

2009 is the Centenary of the Old Boys Association.  Keep watch on the college website and in Confortare for more information regarding pending celebrations.

Old Boys' Association Rugby Scholarship 2008

recipients are Mikaele Railoa, Loni Uhilu. To support this Old Boys initiative contact Brett Davis, brettanna@xtra.co.nz

European Get Together....

Hamish McCarroll (00) is currently in Amsterdam and is keen to organise a get together of old boys in Europe.  Contact hamish.mccarrol@gmail.com for a Sacred ‘do’!

Looking forward to 100 years of the SHCOBA

A brief history - by Tony Waters (46)

The SHOCB Union was inaugurated at the annual College Banquet on 26 November 1909, six years after the College was established. The name was changed to the Old Boys Association in 1928 (the year of the College 25th Jubilee).

Br Clement, who became principal in 1909, was the fifth Principal in six years, and was the first to serve his term of six years. Br Clement, an Australian, introduced the College Badge, the College Song (composed by Roderick Quinn, a renowned Australian poet, and a Marist Old Boy). He was also responsible for setting up the Old Boys Association, inaugurated at an annual banquet, where he was endorsed as president.

Reunions were held for the next few years in Auckland but lapsed with the outbreak of the first world war, with so many Old Boys in the forces.

Wiith the departure of Br Clement in 1916, a prominent Old Boy lawyer, Jack Scott, was on a committee of eight that drew up a constitution, endorsed at the annual general meeting in 1917.

The objects of the association are:

1. To foster comradeship among Old Boys.
2. To strengthen the bond of union between the College and its Old Boys.
3. To promote the interests of the union and of the Old Boys.

At the next meeting, the association resolved that it would hold an Annual Mass, and an annual smoke concert (an informal evening where Old Boys met and socialised. On other occasions they had an annual dinner.)

The first branch reunion was held in 1927 at Wellington, where Fr Clement Evans (an Old Boy) was local president. It was not until 1946 that branch reunions spread to Pukekohe, Hamilton and Taranaki.

Branch reunions are now held at 18 venues, but Taranaki (in addition to Auckland) is the only branch to have held a reunion every year since 1946.

The Old Boys Association was heavily involved in the 25th (1928), 50th (1953), 75th (1978) and Centenary (2003) celebrations of the College.

In the late 1930s the practice of having an Annual Ball became customary. But with the coming of the second world war, the Association’s activities declined, as did its finances.

In 1918, the past versus present rugby match was first played. This match became an annual event until the 1970s.

The 100th Jubilee of the SHCOBA will be celebrated next year with a special dinner.

Kerry Morley is the current President, and the Old Boys Liaison is Kerry Plamus kjp@orcon.net.nz

There is now a website network for Old Boys who are in business. Go to: www.sacredheart.school.nz/obnetwork/index.php

Reunion April 1953 to 1955

Back Row  left to right:  Brian Holloway, John Draffin, Peter Meaney, Kevin Barry, Sam Rielly, Louis Mihaljevich, Paul Nola, Tony Fenwick, Barry Smith, Michael McCarthy, Jim McGillivray, Rob Pepping Acting Principal, Gower Dallimore, Brian Murphy, Kevin FitzGerald, Jim Mullane Old Boys Association.  Front Row left to right:  Br Richard Dunleavy, Stephen Borich, Noel Fava, Mrs Betty Phillips Archivist, Br Marcel Hall

On a sunny autumn morning in April a group of local Old Boys from the 1953-1955 era gathered in the Old Boys Lounge at the College for a lively get together, reminiscing about glorious sporting feats of old, and all the special experiences that bind Sacred Old Boys everywhere. There were old magazines and photographs to look through, and a tour of the campus with senior students, which was well received. It is a great pleasure to host these small, informal reunions and others are planned.

We will keep you informed about the next get together.
Contact lluxton@sacredheart.school.nz

Arts Honours Board 2008 – Nomination Process

In 2006, the Sacred Heart College PTA celebrated 50 years of support and service to our College. In conjunction with the SHC Old Boys Association and the Board of Trustees, the PTA presented to the College an Arts Honours Board with an inaugural list of inductees.

At that time it was intended that there would be an induction of approved Old Boys every 2-3 years, or to coincide with a major milestone in the history of our College. Accordingly, the Arts Honours Board Committee requests nominations of Old Boys to be considered for the September 2008 induction.

The criteria for nomination is: “… an Old Boy who has contributed significantly to the Arts in the fields of Dance, Drama, Literature, Music or the Visual Arts over an extended period of time, and has been recognised on a national or international basis.”

Nominations will be accepted from Old Boys, past or present members of staff, Marist Brothers, past or present parents, and Friends of the College.

All nominations require:

• The name of the person lodging the nomination.
• Their association with Sacred Heart College.
• The name of the Old Boy being nominated.
• The years he attended Sacred Heart College.
• The field as listed in the Criteria for which he is being nominated.
• A minimum of an informative paragraph to support the nomination.

Nominations close 1 August 2008

Please forward your nomination and supporting documentation by email to:
Kelvin Mephan, Kelvin.mephan@opus.co.nz
Kerry Plamus, kjp@orcon.net.nz
Lyn Luxton, lluxton@sacredheart.school.nz

Or in writing to:
The Secretary
Sacred Heart College Arts Honours Committee
250 West Tamaki Road
Glen Innes
Auckland
Attn: Kelvin Mephan

Marty Yates (86) writes that he has joined the Media Design School in Auckland as IT manager. The school has approximately 400 students and specialises in interactive gaming, graphic design and creative advertising. Check out http://www.mediadesign.school.nz.

Fergus Lee (86) is senior relationship manager – corporate banking at the ASB in Auckland.

Nick Guise (90) is taking up the position of Head of Rugby at St Benedicts Catholic School in Ealing, London. It has a roll of 900 and 14 rugby teams.

David Larsen (95) has been appointed sales and marketing manager for Rayglass Boats. He is a highly qualified marine mechanic and won the powerboat service apprenticeship award in 1999. He also ran a fleet of support and umpire boats for the America’s Cup in 2002/03.

Ian Jury (85) visited the College and was amazed at the development on the campus since his school days. He was in one of the first ‘Alternative Education’ classes at SHC. He and his brother, Rob, run Jury Transport Services.

Dylan Mordant (00) is leaving Starship Hospital to be a paediatric surgeon in Australia.

Cameron Clayton (Head Boy 93) works as Director of Development for the Weather Channel in Atlanta. He is married and has an 18 month-old son.

Michael Clayton (94) is an attorney for a large law firm in Manhattan. He is returning to New Zealand in August to be married.

Gregory O’Brien (78) multi-talented poet, writer, painter and curator, wrote ‘Welcome to the South Seas: Contemporary Art for Young People’, which in 2005 won the New Zealand Post Book Award for Children and Young Adults. Now in its third reprint, the book is reviewed in the Listener, (24 May 2008). Gregory also wrote ‘A Nest of Singing Birds – 100 Years of the School Journal’ and other works including poetry and essays.

For more, go to: http://www.writersfestival.co.nz/Home/WritersAZ/GregoryOBrien.aspx.

3 former students played for the North Harbour Maori Senior and Colts teams in the recent Northern region Maori rugby tournament. James Keinzley (04) was in the Senior squad. Jonathon Botica (05) and Jeffery Mckinney (05) played for colts. Jonathon Captain and under his leadership North Harbour won the Northern Region Maori rugby colt’s tournament for the first time ever. Jonathon was also selected to the Northern Region representative team and is playing this weekend in Christchurch against the Southern Maori rep team and next weekend in Rotorua against the Central region rep team.

Their names are also on the North Harbour rugby website http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/otherreps/maori.htm

Peter Setefano (94) Peter called into the College recently catching up with Chris Hayward and getting snapped!  Nice to see you Peter.

Bright Sparks!

Liam Fisk (07) Dux for 2007 is a recipient of the prestigious NZEST Scholarship for 2007. He was interviewed for this award at the University of Auckland by 10 people, including the Chancellor. It was a 15-20 minute interview that Liam describes as friendly. He was asked a wide range of questions covering academic and personal interests, and what he plans for the future. The award is for $5000.

Liam also gained six subject scholarships in the 2007 scholarship exams. He is studying Engineering at Canterbury University.

Other top scholars for 2007: Liam Fisk, Byron Hui, Herman Cheung, Ben Corbett.

Holy Rollers Golf Tournament

Recently more than 120 golfers representing Auckland Catholic secondary schools took part in this tournament at the Akarana Golf Course. A team of SHC Old Boys entered and won the Confortare Esto Vir trophy. Well done Bill Tapper (65), Brian Osmand (42), Charlie Stone (58), Brian Donnelly (67), Grant Stembridge (66), Kevin Culpan (59) and Kevin Gillespie (64). Des MacDonald (46) writes further regarding Brian Osmand: Brian has been made a life member of the Eagles Golf Association – a very high honour for a golfing administrator.

Peter Urlich (74), hot from his stint on Dancing with the Stars, has released a new swing album ‘Between You and Me’. Dust off the tux and dig out the pearls, Peter will be performing at the Rangitoto Ballroom, The Langham Hotel, Auckland on 3 July 2008.
For more, go to http://www.stuff.co.nz/4554690a4500.html

Rod Burgess (68), has been commissioned to sculpture Kiwi flying ace Sir Keith Park, a statue that will be placed in Trafalgar Square in London. A decorated fighter pilot in World War One, Sir Keith became commander of the RAF during the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk (France) in the early part of World War Two, and in charge of defending London and southern England from German bombing raids during the Battle of Britain. He was dubbed the Saviour of Britain.

News of Old Boy Priests

Fr Robert O’Brien (89) was ordained by Bishop Pat Dunn (67) in St Patricks Cathedral on 22 September 2007. He is now working in the Takapuna parish. Raised in Glendowie, he qualified as an accountant before entering the seminary.

Fr Bernard Dennehy (57) is now in Pangaru. On 10 January he celebrated mass at Totara Point, where Bishop Pompallier celebrated the first known mass in New Zealand soil on 10 January 1838.

Watch this space

Outstanding current sportsmen at the College:

Swimmers: Nielsen Varoy, David Screen, Shaquile Vaotu’ua, Darcy Ferigo and Cameron Lovett. Collectively they won eight medals at the New Zealand Age Group Championships held in Christchurch in April. In one event Sacred Heart provided three of the 10 finalists, with David Screen first, and Shaquile Vaotu’ua second. Shaquile went on to win three golds, all in breaststroke, and breaking a record that has stood for 12 years in the 50m breaststroke. David added another two titles, winning the U14 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle. Nielsen won the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly titles in the U16 section, and all three gained several silver and bronze medals as well.

Archer: Sean Walker is on course to achieve his dream of competing in the Olympic Games. He won gold in the U14 recurve at the trans-Tasman Junior Archery tournament at Easter. A recurve is the bow used in the Olympics. Last year, he won the indoor national championship and broke two New Zealand age-group records. Next year he will be competing at the U16 level which means shooting from a top distance of 70m, the same length used at the Olympics. 

Sailor: Andrew McKenzie, a Year 8 student, competed on Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, in the New Zealand Optimist championships. Andrew was third New Zealander and fifth overall in a fleet of 177 sailors aged up to 15. This achievement qualifies him to attend the World Optimist Championships in Turkey in July 2008. In recent months, he has won the Auckland intermediate school regatta, the Auckland secondary school regatta and the Auckland championship in Optimist class.

Soccer player: Joshua Fsadni, 14, lives a dream when he steps out on Old Trafford, Manchester United’s home ground, to compete in the Manchester United U15 Premier Cup world finals. The event hosts more than 99,000 players from 40 countries. Joshua plays goalkeeper, and says he is nervous but excited. If you are interested in sponsoring Joshua on this expensive journey, contact Hector Fsadni, consult@ihug.co.nz

Features

Blair Keown (00) presented the 2007 Scholars Awards.

part of his speech to the assembled school....

Blair Keown with Fr Stephen Berecz

"Barring early onset of dementia, academic aptitude is something that remains with you long after your body betrays you and you are no longer able to play competitive sport. It stays with you when your hair starts thinning and you are no longer attractive to members of the opposite sex. It will still be there when your voice grows hoarse and you can no longer sing.

"Yet despite the immense value of an academic grounding, we don’t seem to champion and celebrate our academic achievers to the same extent as their sporting or musical counterparts. Indeed, were I to ask you whether you recognise the names Sean Fitzpatrick (81), Paul MacDonald (77) and Dave Dobbyn (72), I have no doubt that every hand would be raised in a resounding chorus. However, were the names Ian Barker, Campbell Walker and John Faire mentioned, I very much doubt that a single hand would be raised in recognition. That is so, notwithstanding the considerable achievements of each of these three individuals"

Ian Barker (51) is perhaps better known as the Hon Sir Ian Barker QC; Judge of the High Court of New Zealand for 21 years; a former acting Chief Justice of New Zealand; and Chancellor of the University of Auckland.

Campbell Walker (86) is better known as Dr Campbell Walker: one of the approximately 30 students in the world annually accepted into the LLM programme at Yale University; and a graduate of the PhD programme at Cambridge University where he was recognised as having published the best doctoral thesis in law.

John Faire (43) is better known as Associate Judge Faire: the most senior and experienced Associate Judge currently serving on the High Court of New Zealand.

These legal achievers represent but a slice of the Old Boys who have enjoyed success in academic fields. Countless others have excelled in medicine, science, the humanities and business. They provide role models upon whom to base the development of your own careers and confirm the proposition that an education at Sacred Heart College provides an invaluable platform from which to achieve at university and beyond.

About me I graduated LLB (Hons)/BCom (finance) from the University of Auckland in 2005. I spent the next two years as a Judges’ Clerk at the High Court of New Zealand at Auckland, clerking for the Chief Judge of the High Court of New Zealand in 2007. I am currently working as a Crown Prosecutor at Meredith Connell & Co, the office of the Crown Solicitor for Auckland.

In September 2008, I will begin reading for a Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford University, focusing on criminal justice and sentencing policy, having been awarded a New Zealand Law Society Centennial Scholarship and a Spencer Mason Travelling Scholarship in Law.

Fr Vincent Kenneth Smith (49) 

For a number of years Vincent Smith helped to spread the daily news through his employment at The Southland Times in Invercargill. Now, as newly ordained Fr Vincent Smith, he will help to spread the Good News.
Fr Smith’s path to the priesthood reveals interesting stages in the unfolding of God’s plan for him.

Born in Thames more than 70 years ago, finished his schooling at Sacred Heart and joined the Post Office. When down in Tokoroa he met a Southland girl who was teaching in the town and fell in love with her.

At that stage he also had inclinations towards the priesthood, so there were times of mental tussles with God about whether it was the prospect of matrimony or the priesthood that was his intended path. Marriage won.

Fr Vincent celebrating mass at SHC

When his wife’s father became ill in Invercargill, a move to Southland followed. With the arrival of their first child, as his wife could earn more as a teacher than he could at the Post Office, he became a house father. But that also led him to undertaking study in accountancy. In 1965 he began as an accountant at The Southland Daily News. With its demise a few years later, he was absorbed into the commercial print division of The Southland Times. By 1983 he was appointed general manager of the newspaper, a position he held until he retired in 1996.

Retirement led to other roles. Soon he was caring for his terminally ill wife for a couple of years. The couple had been active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and after her death he took on voluntary work, including helping to build houses for Habitat for Humanity and assisting at Calvary Hospital in Invercargill.

One of his tasks at Calvary was to help wheelchair residents down to the Chapel for Mass. Once, when the resident priest was ill, Mr Smith was asked to take a Communion service. Other requests followed and when the priest died, he was asked to do it regularly over a three-year period. During that time, people began to comment that he had the makings of a good priest. These comments he largely dismissed, thinking he was too old.

However, as the comments continued, including some from priests, he approached Bishop Colin Campbell. Bishop Campbell’s reported response was: “You are older than most of my retired priests, but that’s not too old if God is calling you.”

A month later Mr Smith was accepted and eventually sent to Sydney for a one-year course run by the Parramatta seminary that had recently trained an older priest. The shorter course recognised the value of the candidate’s life experience.

Last October, Mr Smith was ordained a deacon. Then on 1 February, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Campbell in St Josephs Cathedral, Dunedin. Family members from the North Island, Australia and Canada attended the ordination.

Fr Smith celebrated his first Mass in St Patricks Basilica, South Dunedin, at on 2 February, and has taken up duties as assistant priest at Waikiwi parish in Invercargill.
Courtesy: Jeff Dillon

Overseas connections

Jim Parker (63) and Pat McFadden (67)
Jim was the son of the American Consul to New Zealand in the 1960s. He attended

SHC Principal Jim Dale, Pat McFadden and Mrs McFadden, Mrs Parker and Jim Parker

SHC and was best mates with Pat McFadden.
When Jim left school he returned to America with his family. 45 years later he looked up his best mate and discovered him through the SHC Old Boys Association. Jim travelled from Maryland to meet his friend, and together they came back to the College where they met up with Br Michael.

The pair have much in common: they were both born in February of the same year, married in the same year and have three children around the same ages. Although Pat’s children live in Australia and London, by coincidence they were all in New Zealand at the same time Jim and his wife arrived, so they were able to be part of a McFadden family reunion. After 45 years, these two were obviously still enjoying each other’s company, and proud to be Sacred Heart College Old Boys.

Phillip Haddad (86)

Phillip is choreographer for one of the top 20 finalists in Australia’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ programme. Working for The Edge Performers School in Melbourne, he visited New Zealand in May to hold auditions in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland for students to take a place of full-time study at the school. His visit took in Sacred Heart and he spent time with the students performing in this year’s production of Grease, providing some valuable tips. He is a ball of high energy and as flexible as a cat!

Raoul Correa (03) is graduating from University of California, Berkeley with a BSc in Chemistry, and will begin graduate studies for a PhD in Physical Chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in September 2008.

Navnit Banerjea (84) writes: “After  leaving SHC, I returned to India and thereafter graduated in Commerce from the University of Calcutta. I also undertook some courses in software. At present, I am working as a faculty in software, teaching stuff like Java and HTML."

Hon Brian Donnelly (67), formerly a Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, has been appointed New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, where he was a teacher in the 1970s. Brian was Head of Whangarei Intermediate before be became MP for Whangarei. He called on Governor-General Hon Anand Satyanand (62) at Government House in Wellington in February this year, prior to his departure for Raratonga. They were snapped on that occasion, both proudly wearing their Sacred Heart College ties!

Cedric Watt (41)

Reflection from Memorial Mass – Sunday 25 May 2008

A granddaughter, no slug - she won a $3000 academic scholarship - asked me, which war was Hitler in? I was gobsmacked! What are our children being taught? What do they know of the dire fate our nations faced! What do they understand of the dreadful sacrifices of millions for our freedom from slavery?

In July 1941, I was called up at 18 years of age. Leave was given to complete my last year at Sacred Heart College. On 8 December, Japanese carriers brought down 340 bombers to destroy the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour. Two days later, I sat my last exams. The very next day, I helped man a machine gun at Avondale Racecourse in case the Japanese landed paratroops or gliders.

So, a schoolboy one day, a Lewis gunner the next, awaiting possible invasion – like all the other available troops.

They chose New Guinea first, but two divisions were earmarked for us – they even had the Occupation Money printed. They wanted our harbour, our naval base, our dry dock, before invading Australia.

We had submarines around our coasts, spotter planes overhead, and we lost ships to mines and armed raiders.

What do our children know of these events?

Suppose Japan had skipped Pearl Harbour and taken us instead? Would the US, which had watched Britain fend off Germany alone, have climbed off the fence for a couple of islands on the other side of the Pacific, without the spur of Pearl Harbour? Could they have invaded Europe if Britain had fallen? Conquest by a cruel and relentless enemy is too horrible to contemplate – but it would have happened had not millions hurled themselves into battle to defend our freedom.

Many were scallywags and worse, but Christ said (John Ch 15: v13) “Greater love than this no one has, that he lay down his life for his friends”. All who left these shores knew they might not return – 11,000 in World War Two did not, 14,000 in World War One.

We Catholics who know that the soul is immortal, should be not just remembering those who died for our freedom, but earnestly and regularly praying for their salvation.

And now, a few verses:

No Greater Love
See, soft, sweet sunset o’er the bay,
The self-same sun whence sprang that day.
Fleet foeman flier flinging fire,
To dash him down to deadly pyre.

A-ah, fragrant forest grove so green,
Alike to that where lurked, unseen,
Cruel grim grey guns that loudly spoke,
To clad them in earth’s cold clay cloak.

Behold that rolling ocean main,
Where there did dwell in dread disdain,
Sleek slimy subs beneath the waves,
To send them soon to Neptune’s caves.

O blessed men who’d then stood tall,
Who’d faltered not to give your all,
Know ye now that we are free,
Enjoy God’s gifts because of thee.

That your love’s sons and daughters too,
Can live their lives because of you.
Christ died for us upon that Tree.
You perished too, to keep us free.

Pray then for them, who died for all,
That man might not be held in thrall,
By satanic fiends of foul intent,
Who vanquished were, with their lives spent.

So generations yet unborn,
Will ever, rightly, for them mourn,
In a thousand years, folk still will cry,
‘Twas for our freedom did they die!
Cedric Watt

Brothers at the College

Br. Giles Waters was born in Hamilton, on the 26 April 1928.  It was the Feast of “Our Lady, of Good Counsel”.  He was the 9th child of eleven surviving children of Thomas Edward Waters and Grace Hannah, nee Mainwaring, and was christened Kevin Waters.

Br Giles at Sports Foundation Dinner at Eden Park

During the Depression years life was hard for the family, and his eldest sister Irene became a second mother to Kevin and his siblings. His older brother Edward represented New Zealand in rowing at the British Commonwealth Games held in Canada winning two gold medals and one silver, and also played rugby for Waikato.

The young Kevin went to St. Mary’s Primary and later the Marist Brothers School in Hamilton.  That was where he developed his enduring love of rugby.

By Form II he was attending Mass every morning except Saturday, where he was inspired by the Brothers he saw praying at Mass too.  He decided to follow in their footsteps, and never changed his mind.  He purchased his first pair of Rosary Beads in 1939, and, remarkably, at 80 years of age in 2008, he still has these beads. 

While still in Form II, Kevin was selected to represent his school and region at the Roller Mills annual game between Waikato and Auckland, where he played flanker.

It was at this time that he revealed his dream of becoming a Marist Brother to Br Luke who spoke to the Director of the Brothers at that time, Brother Gerald.  His parents were asked for permission and at the age of thirteen, he prepared to begin his days at the Marist Brothers’ Juniorate at Tuakau, which had been established on the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Kevin’s birthday Feast day, and this was very significant for him.

Kevin entered the Juniorate on January 14, 1943.  He thoroughly enjoyed all his time there.  Life kept him busy with study, long walks, drama, rugby and cricket.   About 56 boys were there at the time. 

Kevin passed School Certificate in 1945.  He remembers Br Vincent Scannell announcing from the sideline during a rugby game, “The War is over”.  This was greeted with a great cheer, on and off the field.

Kevin was 18 years old when he went to the Novitiate at Claremont.  Postulancy lasted 9 months and then on September 12 (The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary), Kevin received his religious habit and the name of Giles.

The Novitiate lasted another twelve months, and then on September 12th, the following year, he took his first vows.

Then it was off to Auckland for the newly ordained Brothers, to Mt. Albert Road, where they trained to be teachers.  The sisters at Monte Cecelia asked for assistance in coaching rugby with their boys, and Brother Placid and Brother Giles came to the rescue.

When Des Dillon went to hospital, Brother Giles was called to Wanganui to relieve, then returned to Auckland to sit the Teachers’ College Exams with Brothers Reginald, Placid and Canute.  They all made their Golden Jubilees together, 50 years later.

Brother Giles went back to Wanganui for the year of 1949, then in 1950 he went to Tasman St., Marist Newtown, Wellington where he taught all subjects of the Primary School Curriculum and began coaching rugby and cricket seriously.  For the next five years he was posted in Thorndon, Wellington, close to Parliament Buildings where coaching rugby was a highlight. 

1957 and 1958 found him teaching in Greymouth.  Here the challenge was musical, as he led the school for singing!  1959 and 1960 Brother Giles was at Xavier College in Christchurch, where he was given the task of setting up the Library, a relocation job, and to have it ready for the start of the school year…  Coaching was still a joy, and Br Giles’ team was undefeated that year and won the competition.

Next came the move to Marcellin College, Auckland.  The year was 1961, and the college was only 3 years old. (It is now ready for Golden Jubilee Celebrations.)  Here Brother Giles was put in charge of the Tuck Shop which did not run at a loss!
Besides his teaching, much work went on outside school hours for the College, such as concreting of paths.

After five enjoyable years at Marcellin, in 1966 he was sent to Invercargill to take up his first position as Principal.  It was enjoyable and demanding too, there were many long hours.  1969 was the year Brother Giles was chosen for the Second Novitiate at Freiburg, Switzerland, for 5 months.  Brother David Pfahlert went with him and it was a time of renewal, thoroughly enjoyed and remembered for long trips in a hired car, visiting the Shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes, joining in Masses and a life-size Stations of the Cross up the hillside where they were blessed to join an English speaking group of pilgrims led by a Bishop.  He remembers the joy and peace he felt at this time.

Br Giles went back to Marcellin College in 1970 for two years then from 1972 until 1976 he was the Principal of the Marist Brothers’ Primary School in Greymouth, where he became President  of the State Schools Headteachers’ Association for two years.

In 1976 and for the next 9 years, he was appointed Principal of Xavier College Intermediate in Christchurch. During this time, he was elected to the Canterbury Rugby Union and was in charge of a Grade as both selector and coach, for the Representative side. The best rugby team that Br Giles ever had was in 1978, with the South Island Tournament under 18 rep team.   John Irving from St. Andrews College and Br Giles were the coaches of this team.  Not a single try was scored against this team in the whole week of competition.  Four of the team went on to
become All Blacks.  They were Bruce Deans, (the brother of Rob) Richard Lowe, the Captain and prop, Albert Anderson, Lock, and Craig Green (centre).  Several others from this team became Reps for Canterbury.

In 1984 he was sent to the 3rd Age Course in Rome with Brother John Blewman.  They had 3 months altogether, the last two weeks in Champagnat Country staying at the Hermitage which St. Marcellin had built, a three storey building which is currently being renovated.  From there they went out almost everyday, visiting some part of the region where St. Marcellin had lived. 

By I986, Br Giles was back in Auckland, at Sacred Heart College.  He was here for eighteen years.  He began in the Intermediate Department and then he assisted Br Dunstan with the Alternative Education Class. 
1990 saw Br Giles appointed to the Sports Foundation to assist with fundraising, and he was also very involved in the Library.

Br Giles with library staff 2001

Eventually, because of ill health, he shifted to Onslow Ave, to the Brothers’ Community there, where he enjoyed daily Mass.  Finally, even the walker was not enough, knees were giving out, as was his neck.  It was suggested that he came to a Retirement Village, for better care, and he accepted that as the will of Almighty God. 

This year of 2008, Brother Giles celebrated his 80th Birthday.  He gives a great deal of thanks to God, Jesus, Mary and Joseph and to all those who have been an inspiration, both Brothers and Lay. 

The advent of the Beatification and then the Canonization of St. Marcellin
Champagnat was very confirming to Brother Giles in all his life’s work for the Lord, through this charism.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, is no doubt delighted with this most faithful son, Brother Giles Waters.         

Original script by Mrs Mary Pepping

Keep in touch with Old Friends

ORGANISE A REUNION – IT’S EASY!

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

Update your details

Update your details – the next issue of Confortare will be published in September – make sure you get your copy by letting us know your current address.  If you think your mates are not receiving SHConnect or Confortare send us their details or ask them to contact us.  If you are travelling and have no permanent snail mail address, Click to View

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Development Foundation News

Mt Wellington Charitable Trust scholarships 2008
The Mt Wellington Charitable Trust has granted Sacred Heart College two Year 7 scholarships for 2008. Based on financial need, these scholarships must be awarded to students from the Trust’s area of interest - Panmure and Glen Innes. Many students from St Patricks (Panmure) and St Pius (Glen Innes) do not start at Sacred Heart College in Year 7 as their families are financially constrained. By the time they do enter the College in Year 9 they struggle to catch up with students who have already had the benefit of two years SHC schooling, and who have formed friendships, and are part of sports teams and classroom groups.

The two recipients for the 2008 Year 7 scholarships are both bright students already displaying sporting and musical prowess, and who have strong and supportive Catholic families.

The Mt Wellington Charitable Trust supports six other students at the College. Three of these young men will be leavers this year. They are fine examples of the importance and rewards of supporting young people to reach their potential through education.

Sacred Heart College and the families of scholarship students are very grateful to the Mt Wellington Charitable Trust for its support.

If you would like to provide a scholarship to Sacred Heart College, please contact Lyn Luxton, (09) 529-3743 or lluxton@sacredheart.school.nz

Reminder:  Annual Giving 2008 is underway.  Download Brochure

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL PHILANTHROPISTS
New Zealand now has one of the most generous charitable tax rebates in the world.  Individuals can claim a 33 1/3 tax rebate for donations, up to a maximum claim equal to their annual taxable income, when donations are made to a registered charitable organisation.  Sacred Heart College Development Foundation is a registered charity.

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