OLD COLLEGIANS’ UPDATES
A perfect fit
It will be a new leader taking the New Zealand Olympic team to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, followed by the Olympics in Rio two years later.
Former Olympic Gold medallist Rob
WADDELL( School, 1988-91) is the new Chef de Mission, taking over from Dave Currie who has held the position for the last decade. For 37-year-old Waddell this was his first formal job application and job interview; but his appointment was a popular choice.
Bringing a wealth of experience to the job, he sees it as a“ holistic role” with a wide range of responsibilities and demand for critical attention to detail. He was upfront in highlighting periods in his application where he would need time off since he is a key member of Team New Zealand in its fight this year to regain the America’ s Cup in San Francisco.
Along with an impressive number of rowing accolades, Rob is a former rugby lock, a black belt in judo, involved in the Home of Cycling Charitable Trust, co-owner and manager of a Cambridge farm( a 70-acre premier horse agistment property) along with being a grinder with Team New Zealand since 2001. He also holds an honours degree in management studies and has three children with former Olympian Sonia Waddell.
Recognition
The five University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni for 2013 included two Old Collegians:
Honourable Jim McLAY( School, 1958-61) CNZM QSO has a long and distinguished background in political service and leadership and is New Zealand’ s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. He has held, at various times, the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Andrew PATTERSON( School, 1974- 78) is one of New Zealand’ s most recognised architects, both locally and internationally. He has been awarded New Zealand’ s highest award in architecture on five separate occasions and his firm, Patterson Associates Ltd, is responsible for some of the most exciting buildings produced in New Zealand in the last two decades.
Back into the fold
Old Collegian Leith MENZIES( Peart, 1963-67) has combined his two passions for teaching and rowing very successfully, albeit largely at Saint Kentigern College, one of King’ s traditional rivals. But now he’ s back where he started, at King’ s.
A 31-year career at St Kent’ s, which began in 1974, was punctuated by a seven-year break when he operated a charter launch on the Hauraki Gulf. During those years, he held numerous roles from form teacher and remedial teacher to operations manager. But from the start he was also involved in the coaching and administration of rowing.
For many years Leith held the positions of Chairman of ASSRA and member of the NZSSRA Executive Committee. In recognition of his commitment he received the ARA’ s Administrator of the Year award and a Service Award from New Zealand Rowing.
Leith says,“ A highlight of my career was being part of the coaching team at Saint George’ s School, Vancouver in 2010 when the Eight won the Canadian title.”
Award in Oman
Travelex Oman, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, successfully hosted the inaugural Travelex Oman Tourism Ambassador Awards ceremony at end of 2012. The awards received 110 nominations in ten categories The Best Customer Service Award was won by Rebecca
MAYSTON( Middlemore, 1997-98) of The Guide Oman.
Peter Jackson, CEO Travelex, said:“ It is our hope that by recognising and rewarding people who have made significant contributions to the success of Oman’ s tourism industry, it will help to encourage further growth and achievement in the sector.”
King’ s at the Blues
The College is well represented at the new Sir John Kirwan-coached Blues Super Rugby team. Three Old Collegians were on the field in the first game against the Hurricanes for the new look team- Ali
WILLIAMS( Greenbank, 1995-99) as captain; Chris NOAKES( Marsden, 1999- 03) at number 10 and James PARSONS( Selwyn, 2000-04) as hooker.
In 2009 he began coaching rowing at King’ s; to be followed soon after with relief teacher duties for the academic staff and from the beginning of 2013 he became a part-time teacher.
“ Wonderful to be back at King’ s,” says Leith,“ especially because this year is the 50th year since I first walked in through the gates!”
Internship in Ukraine
Fresh from completing his BA( with majors in French & Spanish), Leo SHIN( Greenbank 2003-07) accepted a twomonth internship with Rotterdam-based AIESEC,( International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences- an international organisation linked to the United Nations) to work in Ukraine.
As part of the project“ Explore Ukraine”, his job was to write a travel guide on Ukraine, promoting Ukraine to the rest of the world. He spent time equally in the capital Kiev, Lviv( centre of Ukrainian culture & tourism) and a major industrial city, Zaporizhzhya. During his visit he combined guided tours with extensive discussions with local journalists.
42 AUTUMN 2013 • KING’ S COURIER