Class Notes 2024

FROM THE COMBINED EDITIONS OF 2024 REGULUS

If you would like to be included in the Old Collegian's section under Class Notes for the next issue of Regulus please contact the Editor on editor@stac.school.nz with your details and share a part of your story with us.

MAY REGULUS

Eddie Oakley (1958) was recognised for his contribution to the rural Rakaia community at the 2023 Ashburton District Council’s Community Honours Awards.

Brian Palliser QSM (1962) received a Civic Award for his outstanding service by Christchurch City Council in December. These awards are presented annually to honour those who ‘go above and beyond’ for Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

Mike (Scrump) Johnston (1974, Staff) represented New Zealand in the International Masters Cricket World Cup in Chennai, India in February in the Over 60s division where they came third.

Feleti Teo (1982) was elected by the new parliament of Tuvalu as the country’s Prime Minister. Feleti, who was Dux in his final year at the College, has had an illustrious career in a number of Pacific-wide organisations since he graduated with an LLB degree from the University of Canterbury. Feleti follows in the footsteps of another Old Collegian, Sir Toalipi Lauti (1951), who was the first Prime Minister of independent Tuvalu in 1978.

Grant Walker (2002) completed the Moab 240 in Utah, an endurance race across the Utah Desert. Runners had 116 hours to make their way from Moab, back to Moab, with 240 miles (385km) and 31,564ft of elevation along the way. Grant completed the race successfully, leaving behind 84 others who could not complete it in time. It was an exceptional feat of endurance.

Marianne Gilchrist (née Dutkiewicz, 2008) swam the length of Lake Taupō, which is a staggering 40.2 kilometres, making it the largest lake in the Southern Hemisphere. She achieved this test of endurance and determination in 14 hours and 35 minutes. This swim has been achieved by less that 100 people, and was first done in 1955 by Margaret Sweeney.

Henry Nicholls (2009) and Leo Carter (2012) put on a great show in Canterbury’s Ford Trophy cricket match against the Central Stags in February, scoring 209 runs. This was the highest third-wicket partnership for Canterbury. Henry got his eighth List A century seventh for Canterbury, ending with an astonishing 138 off 123 balls. Leo smacked his second List A century goingfor 107 off 103 balls. Zak Foulkes (2020) took three wickets in their victory over the Stags – great work from our Old Collegians!

Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson (2013) starred as the witch in the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s production of Hansel and Gretel, which toured New Zealand late last year.

Sam Gilbert (2016) signed with the Highlanders for the 2024 season of Super Rugby Pacific.

Neil MacLeod (2016) released his new single, Fear, in March. Neil is a singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and artist, who has received a nomination for Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Mariu (Favourite EP/Mixtape) at the 2023 Student Radio Network Awards with his EP, We Have Known Lost Days.

Britney-Lee Nicholson (2017) is the top goal scorer of all time for the New Zealand Futsal Ferns after scoring two goals against the Philippines in November. Britney-Lee is the current St Andrew’s Girls’ futsal and football head coach.

Lizzie Stevenson (2017, Head Girl) graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) with Distinction. She was also awarded the Dean of the Otago Medical School Prize for outstanding service to the University of Otago Medical School by a graduating student. She was the only one of her cohort to receive the prize, which is awarded at the discretion of the Dean. She was also the dual winner of the Division of Health Sciences Premier Undergraduate Prize. In 2024, Lizzie has taken up a position at Nelson Hospital, working as a junior doctor alongside her sister, Annie Stevenson (2013, Head Girl) who graduated with the same degree with distinction in 2020, and recently achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Child Health.

Saxon Morgan (2018) achieved a careerbest at the World Triathlon Cup in Hong Kong, with his tenth place finish taking his world ranking from 110th to 102nd.

Tom Rance (2018) competed in the New Zealand National Flag Football Team at the Asia/Oceania Continental Championships in Malaysia. The team lost the tournament to Thailand in the dying seconds of the final. Tom's highlight was beating internationally ranked Japan in the semi-final. He scored an intercept touchdown on full time to seal the game and also led the competition in intercepts.

Monique Rees (2018) made her debut for the Wellington Blaze in November as part of the New Zealand Cricket Women’s One Day Competition.

Luca Vinnell (Head Boy 2019) was awarded the Helen Goodwin Doctoral Scholarship and is starting his research career, looking at the immune system’s connection to Parkinson’s disease.

Anika Boet (2019) secured a contract as a company dancer with Sydney Dance Company and departed on an international tour. She was a member of the Ballet Academy from its inception in 2011 and enjoyed many wonderful roles during her time with the Academy.

Mika MacDonald (2021) and the Christchurch Golf Club’s men’s team retained the Woodward Cup in the finals at Pegasus in November.

Harry Waddington (2021) won the 2023 Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie Essay Competition. His essay was published in the Māori Law Review Journal in February 2024. Harry was proud to be the first recipient of the prize from the University of Canterbury.

Molly Spark (2021), and her team, FEAR Youth, placed ninth at the 2023 Adventure Racing World Championship on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. They completed the 840km course in 150 hours and 32 minutes and were the youngest team competing against over 100 fourperson teams from around the world.

Milly Christie, Brianna Sloper, and Isla Miers (all 2022) received their Diplomas for Highland and National Dancing at the New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing Conference. They are all now fully qualified to teach and adjudicate Highland Dancing.

Sophia Clark (2021) and Zee Hammond (2017) were presented with their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award, by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, at a reception in Government House hosted by the Governor-General.

Moses Armstrong-Ravula (2022) has been named in the Moana Pasifika Under-20 squad. His brother Isaiah (2021) has become a fan favourite in his rookie year with the Fijian Drua Super Rugby team and was named 'Fan Player of the Match' in their victory over the Canterbury Crusaders in Lautoka.

At the New Zealand Young Piper of the Year 2023, Campbell Wilson (2020) won the Overall U21 prize for the fifth consecutive time with a first in Piobaireachd, first in March, Strathspey and Reel, and first in the Hornpipe and Jig events. Lauren Whittaker (2023) made the Tall Ferns travelling team for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in China in February.

Lose Faingaanuku, Holly Munro (both 2021) and Sienna Stowers-Smith (2023) were selected for the 2024 Mainland Synergy Hair Netball League team.

The following Old Collegians were named in the Canterbury U20 basketball team: Kavanah Lene, Lauren Whittaker, Mitch Corkery, Torin Ward (all 2023). Sam Jenkins (2020) was named as coach of theCanterbury U18 team.

The 2024 New Zealand Elite rowing squad includes four St Andrew’s Old Collegians – Robbie Manson, Ben Taylor, Thomas Russel, and Zack Rumble. The College is currently the most represented school in the Rowing New Zealand squad.

Old Collegian rowers participated in the New Zealand National Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro. The Men’s Double Scull was won by Robbie Manson (OC 2007) and his doubles partner, Jordan Parry, qualifying them for the Paris Olympics in July. The School of Origin Men’s 4 was won by Ben Taylor, Thomas Russel, Flynn Dijkstra, and Zack Rumble (all OC 2017), who also rowed together in the winning Maadi Cup 8 in 2017. The Boss Rooster (Men’s Premiere 4) was won by Ben Taylor, Thomas Russel, Zack Rumble and Oli Welch.

Ben Taylor has qualified for the Men’s Reserve Pair to race at the three World Cups leading up to the Paris Olympics in July. Zack Rumble has been selected into the Elite Men’s quadruple sculls to compete at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland and if placed in the top two, he will qualify forthe Olympics.

Freddy Todhunter (2023) was selected for the U21 New Zealand rowing team to compete at the 2024 U21 Pacific Regatta in Sydney, Australia in May/June.