24 August 2026
Donation comes from Old Boy who understands early-morning grind
Earlier this year the Otago Boys' Rowing Club erected a brand new regatta tent at their Twizel base and has been able store it securely in a new gear trailer, all thanks to a generous donation from Dunedin's Mega Mitre10 owned by OBHS Old Boy Martin Dippie.
For Martin, helping the Rowing Club this year was an easy decision.
“It’s nice to help my old school out,” says Martin, who attended OBHS from 1979 to 1983.
“Both I and my two boys rowed for OBs, anyone who gets up in the early hours to get wet and cold and breathe in fertiliser dust deserves a hand.”
For a club that spends long days travelling to regattas and setting up camp in all sorts of conditions, the new equipment has make a genuine difference – providing better shelter for the boys and their parents at regattas and a more practical way to store and transport the considerable amount of gear required for a rowing season.
Martin’s connection with the school extends well beyond his own school years. A prominent Dunedin businessman and community leader, he and his family have been generous supporters of the Otago community and have previously helped OBHS with other projects including improvements to the school’s tennis courts.
Otago Boys' and the Rowing Club is hugely grateful to Martin and his immense generosity.
