MAGAZINE May 2018 Grammar Old Boys help shape the future Page 05 Contents 03 OLD BOYS’ NEWS The Headmaster’s Update 33 04 The AGSOBA President’s Report from the Board Report 05 34 Grammar Old Boys help ANZAC Day shape the future 35 09 Changes to the School's Opening up a whole new 05 War Memorial world 36 11 2017 Annual Dinner and Prime Minister's Augusta Awards Evening Science Prize 37 12 125 years of friendship, Academia tradition and philanthropy 14 38 Sport Reunions 18 11 40 Arts and Culture Calendar of Events 21 42 So much more to learn News of Old Boys 22 44 Staff News The Grammar Archives 24 46 Grandfather Grandson Grammar Families: Breakfast The Kernohan Family 25 34 48 The Art House Tour is back Obituaries 26 Academic Endowment Fund Editor: Amanda Harkness [email protected] 28 Ph 09 623 5400 (ext 576) Annual Appeal Donors Thanks to Amanda Booth, Michael Dawson, Matt Illing, Raymond Zhou, the 31 Grammar Media Group, and Dr George 150th – Registrations open Marshall ‘38 (for his proofreading). 32 Cover image: Grammar Old Boys Tom Notices Rapson ’09 (left) and Reuben McGregor- 38 Sumpter ’09. Designed and produced by gardyneHOLT. 02 AD AUGUSTA MAY 2018 The Headmaster’s Update AS WE LAUNCH AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL’S 150TH CELEBRATIONS AND ENCOURAGE THE WIDER GRAMMAR COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN MAY 2019, LOOKING BACK ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW FAR WE HAVE COME. Looking back also reminds us of the Ken Trembath said in closing the prologue unchanged. As the editor of the first responsibilities we have to continue the of the centenary book, Ad Augusta: magazine stated, “The Chronicle has no advancement of maintaining a high-quality “Retracing a century of continued great pretensions… it may give a straight education and accepting the challenge of achievement in scholarship and sport, it forward account of various aspects of continually bettering what we do and how seems difficult to imagine a time when School life.” we do it. examinations did not exist, and organised This edition of Ad Augusta is similar sport was something of an extra, or when Records show that on May 17, 1869, in many respects in that it reflects the a School which has played no mean Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh’s, last duty in first term of School life in 2018. More part in the history of Auckland and New Auckland was to officially open a Grammar importantly, as I am sure you will agree, Zealand was a narrow regimen housed in School in Howe Street. Governor Bowen it reflects just how Auckland Grammar an uninspiring barrack building. To find its spoke at the opening, saying that he saw School is challenging young men to acquit origins, it will be necessary to go back to a before him, “men of various religious themselves well academically, and to better point in time some twenty years before persuasions, political parties, and social themselves through sport, the performing the opening.” classes, met together on neutral ground arts and cultural pursuits. of learning and education…” He advised As the Headmaster of Auckland Grammar Publications such as this and the Chronicle pupils to, “cultivate twin habits of industry School in 2018, it is a privilege to lead a do also acknowledge past achievements and perseverance in pursuit of science school that has continued, through time, to and reflect on our current position, just and literature.” single-mindedly develop: academic rigour in as reaching a milestone of 150 years will an examination-based environment, quality Much has changed in 149 years, but do in 2019. I do encourage you to join teachers and teaching, and quality facilities Auckland Grammar School has remained us in May next year as we celebrate our to aid learning; and provide sporting, cultural a rigorous educational hub for young men sesquicentenary together and look forward and performing arts opportunities which from a gamut of backgrounds, cultures to how the current generation of Grammar challenge, thus allowing the School to and lifestyles. It continues to cultivate boys will influence Auckland and New remain true to its mission of, “developing habits of industry and perseverance and Zealand over the next 50 years. the whole person in order that the School has added a clear set of School community may produce young men ready, willing and Per Angusta Ad Augusta. values, including integrity, respect, courage, able to assume useful roles in society and excellence, commitment, humility and be responsible citizens.” pride. In a meritocratic environment these values have traversed time and have While it took until 1913 before the School Tim O’Connor remained relevant to a Grammar education. published its first magazine, the Chronicle, Headmaster the principles for publication remain MAY 2018 AD AUGUSTA 03 Report from the Board THE YEAR HAS COMMENCED WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE OUTSTANDING RESULTS ATTAINED BY OUR SENIOR STUDENTS IN THE 2017 EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS. The achievements in NCEA, Cambridge This term sees the retirement of two We wish both these men enjoyable and Scholarship reflect the hard work of long-serving Grammar Masters, Mr Colin retirements, and thank them for their our young men and the outstanding ability Boyd and Mr Min Lee. Mr Boyd joined the significant service to the School. and encouragement of our teachers. staff in 1990 and has been recognised by The next 12 months will see a build-up This academic focus and rigour sets the the School as a 25-year Master. He has of activity towards the celebration of the benchmark for everything else we do taught mathematics at all levels, including School’s 150th anniversary in May, 2019. at Grammar. Cambridge A2 and NZQA Scholarship. His The Board recognises the importance of extracurricular involvement has involved A special mention must be made of our this milestone in the School’s history, and coaching and managing kapa haka, football, Cambridge cohort, which ensured that is providing the necessary financial and tennis, softball, basketball, equestrian, and once again we were the most successful management resources to ensure the ballroom dancing. Cambridge School in New Zealand. A appropriate acknowledgement of this most record number of 186 Scholarships also Mr Lee has given 33 years’ service to important event. placed the School at the top of this ranking. Grammar, in which time he has taught The Board values the feedback and These results are not achieved as a matter mathematics at all levels. He is highly contributions received from the School of course, or as of right, but are earned by respected by his colleagues for his role community, and Trustees are always the extraordinary commitment of both the as Master in Charge of CIE AS and A2 available to engage on an individual basis. students and their teachers. Mathematics, duties he has performed Your continuing support of Auckland continuously since 2002. His extracurricular In addition to our academic success, Grammar School is much appreciated. contributions have included the coaching students continue to perform strongly in a and managing of tennis and squash Per Angusta Ad Augusta. vast array of sporting and cultural activities. teams, the Animal Rights Group and the Although a lot of attention is paid to the Programming Group. results of our elite teams and groups, the real strength of the School lies in the In addition to being awarded a Woolf Fisher hundreds of boys who participate below Trust fellowship for master teaching in these levels but still give their maximum mathematics, he was fittingly awarded Jeff Blackburn ‘67 commitment to Grammar. the Michael Farrell Memorial Award for a Chairman, Board of Trustees master teacher at the end of 2017. 04 AD AUGUSTA MAY 2018 Grammar Old Boys help shape the future AS THE WORLD BECOMES My friends are in the slums MORE GLOBAL AND THE INTERESTS AND PURSUITS I've seen the slums in photos, I knew of poverty and disease and death, OF OUR STUDENTS EXPAND, I knew there were those less advantaged than I, MORE AND MORE OLD So why am I fighting back tears. BOYS ARE SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT TO I knew of piles of rubbish in streets, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, I knew of streams running brown with dirt, BOTH LOCALLY AND ABROAD, I knew of the disabled and young living on the streets, So why am I fighting back tears. TO COACH, MENTOR AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT We are greeted with smiles and warmth, ON OUR YOUNG MEN. We play games which I knew as a child, We are waved farewells by families in balconies, I know why I am fighting back tears. The children cling to us in wonder, The adults look on approvingly, The teenagers gossip behind our backs, I know why I am fighting back tears. My friends are going hungry for days, My friends are knee deep in faeces, My friends are in the slums, I am no longer fighting the tears. George Skinner MAY 2018 AD AUGUSTA 05 Above left: Reuben McGregor-Sumpter (far left) with the group and above right: Tom Rapson (far left) at the New Zealand High Commission in India. Opposite page: The chaos, colour, culture and contrast of India, as seen through the eyes of our young men on the 2017/2018 tour. More than 100 students have taken I think translated into a confidence that I “The trip isn’t built for one person, and part in the School’s biennial India would work it out.” you’ll see that in the people selected – Immersion Programme over the past everyone is there for different reasons.” Tom was two years younger when he 10 years, describing their experiences journeyed to India in Form 5.