Old Boys' Society
Presidents Report
Hats off to our life governor, Brigadier Brian McMahon, for his ongoing work with the Neurological Foundation Southern Chair and in collecting the supreme TrustPower Dunedin Community award for his efforts. Brian very humbly accepted the award this week ‘on behalf of all people in Otago and Southland’. He is a fabulous ambassador for OBHS and an all round good bloke. He has accepted our invitation to be guest speaker at the celebrity breakfast on Saturday 3rd of August as part of our 150th celebrations.
Special thanks to Noel Graham for, once again, arranging the annual OBHS vs Kings Old Boys bowls tournament. It was a beautiful day out of the office on the green at the Mornington Bowling Club - unfortunately our lads did not bring home the trophy this year but some great camaraderie was had followed by a quiet after match beer in the clubhouse.
Your 150th organising committee has continued to work on arrangements for the reunion being held from Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th August. Less than 3 months away now we are becoming increasingly excited. It promises to be a great weekend of reminiscing and rekindling of long-term friendships and we welcome all of our old boys to share in the festivities. A number of folks have told me they are coming including a bunch of my own friends from around my time at school (1977-81) and I am very much looking forward to catching up with them. And you will have your own circle of friends with whom I’m sure you will enjoy going back to school and stirring up some wonderful old memories. I have read a few passages from the forthcoming book documenting the history of the school. I can attest that it has been thoroughly researched, very well written with loads of great photos and will be a first class publication. The book is included in the ticket price for the 150th weekend.
In mid-April we sent our 16 year old son, Nick, off to the UK and Europe with 56 other senior boys accompanied by 4 teachers and a handful of parents. It was a combined cultural and sporting school trip and an amazing experience for all who went. We at home were kept well informed by their daily blog and website with photos and videos of a haka staged outside Buckingham Palace, the choir performing at Windsor Castle, a rugby match played in Paris, their visit to the war graves in Milan and a very moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gates in Ypres, Belgium. They arrived home safely last Saturday exhausted but eager to get back to school to start the new term on Monday. Considering many readers of this article will not have even ventured too far from Dunedin during their time at school this really was a trip of a lifetime. How things have changed.
I urge you to register now for the sesquicentennial celebrations by clicking here. I’ll see you there. Brent Alexander President OBHS Old Boys’ Society
Brent Alexander
President OBHS Old Boys' Society