Message from the Old Boys' Society

By Brent Alexander | Posted: Monday December 4, 2017

The Old Boys’ Society held a successful luncheon on Friday 24th November at the Savoy attended by around 30 Old Boys. We invited local businessman and friend John Faulks to speak to us about his affinity with the school and also his various business interests. John attended Waitaki Boys’ High School but he and his wife Andrea have chosen to send their young lads to OBHS. It was interesting to hear an outsider’s perspective on the good things that go on at our school - the culture, the friendships, the learning, the opportunities available to our boys, and the leadership. 

We take these things for granted but they don’t happen by accident and they don’t exist at all schools. John will be familiar to many of our members as owner of Southern Wide Real Estate. He is also a director for Rural Livestock and Oritain Global; a scientific start-up company with offices in Dunedin, London and Sydney specialising in food, serum and fibre providence. John spoke from the heart and reminded us of the virtues of hard work, vision, risk taking and doing the right thing by people. It was an excellent presentation and an enjoyable function.

The highlight in our calendar for me, as Old Boys’ President, is the year 13 (7th form) leavers’ dinner which I have hosted for the last few years. However this year I stood aside and let Gwyn Pratley do the honours so I could sit back and enjoy the night as a parent - our youngest son George has just completed his schooling. This marks the end of 19 years of school for our 3 children and is a true milestone for any family. No more school lunches, no more (late) school drop offs, no more parent/teacher interviews and no more NCEA assignments and exams. As parents of 2 boys our OBHS experience has been nothing short of excellent. OBHS is one of the best schools in the country and therefore one of the best in the world. We know our boys have received a quality education and have been well prepared for life and whatever career path they may choose. But perhaps most of all they have made some lifelong friends, as we all did, and it is this where the value lies in remaining engaged with your old school.

We urge you to keep in touch and reach out to other Old Boys you know who may not be connected to us. Of the 17,000 living alumni we have contact details for around half that number.

Finally, although my kids have left OBHS I remain committed to the school. There are exciting times ahead with plans afoot for the redevelopment of the hostel, the Shand and the Mt Aspiring Lodge. As Old Boys' there will be opportunities to remain engaged and to help out. We look forward to the annual golf day early in 2018 and we will be in touch about other social events.

 Have a safe and enjoyable summer break. 

Brent Alexander

President

Old Boys' Society