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President's Notes
From Co-President Warwick
We all knew that One Tree Hill College had collected a good selection of NZ art over the years, initiated in 1969 by Murray Print, the then Principal and father of our new member Cris Print, but I for one certainly didn't realise the breadth and depth, not to mention the value, of the collection. This has to be one of the very best collections of NZ art in the world.
We were fortunate to have Cris Print introduce us to the man and father Murray Print, and it was great to see Cris' children William and Lucy there also. Cris was quite young when his father passed, but old enough to have the fondest memories of visiting artists' and ceramics makers' studios and homes and even clay pits, and have a huge regard for his father.
The curator of the collection, Paul Baragwanath, also introduced us to the process of the collection over the past many decades. And then Nick Coughlan, the current Principal gave his take on the importance of the collection to the school, and gave us a guided tour of the art and ceramics which are hung and placed in many rooms and corridors in the main block.
This was such an outstanding meeting for our club that we are now arranging a luncheon meeting at OTHC so that more members, our partners, friends and children can hear about and then view the collection.
We were also very fortunate to have 16 (out of 60!) of the school's choir treat us to a Tongan hymn about the passing of a brother, very appropriate after the recent loss of Stewart Matthews. This was a very beautiful and emotional song, superbly rendered by the choir. Thank you OTHC choir.
Next week we have Darius Mistry giving his Vocational at the luncheon meeting. Given Darius' and his wife's interesting career in IT in India, Europe and NZ, this will be a "not to be missed" meeting.
Then on Tuesday 30th, there's no meeting due to so many being involved in RYLA.
And finally CHANGEOVER arrives on Tuesday 7th July with a dinner event at Remuera Golf Club. With Matariki coinciding on the 10th, the theme is "Starry, Starry Night", an evening to celebrate the old year and welcome the new.
Warwick
Co-President
Club News and Notices
Chris Print - In the steps of my father
Tuesday morning was an exceptional meeting and a very special homecoming for Rotarian Cris Print, returning as guest speaker, after first visiting the school during his father’s principalship from 1969-77.
At the conclusion of his talk, Cris was photographed with his children lucy and William, in front of the Gretchen Albrecht works in the foyer – and he paid a heartfelt tribute to Art teacher Wally Crossman, who shared Rotarian Murray’s passion for Art in schools. Three works by Wally are now grouped in the foyer, where we hold breakfast meetings.
Cris spoke of the excitement of finding new works, that were then introduced to the school at assemblies – and his father’s particular interest in ceramics, which meant a childhood environment enhanced with works by Len Castle and woven baskets by his wife Ruth, while Barry Brickell’s Driving Creek railway to the Coromandel clay mine did not seem at all unusual.
Murray’s vision of A school with Art at its heart also extended to Music. Cris spoke of his father playing Heavy Metal – Deep Purple’s Smoke on Water at assembly and teachers working to produce original material for notable singers Tina Cross and Kim Hart.
Cris concluded his presentation by showing us the Chagall lithography that had been his father’s farewell gift from the school and Pat Hanly’s Do It! that was such a key message.
Curator Paul Baragwanath followed with the story of the later formation of an Art Trust and team to ensure conservation of this wonderful legacy, with the involvement of philanthropist Jan Farmer ensuring necessary conservation, then inspiring subsequent donations.
Before principal Nick took us on a tour of Art works at meeting conclusion, students from the OTHC choir performed a Tongan lament for a lost brother, then we all had the chance to sing Now is the Hour in memory of Rotarian Stewart Matthews.
Then it was an extraordinary experience to be taken through adjacent teaching spaces where students focused on their work, adjacent to so many exceptional items from the collection.
Cris had spoken about the powerful wairua he had experienced as a child of 6 or 7, when he first saw the McCahon Jet over Muriwai – so it was a very fitting finale for him to see it again in Nick’s office! Nick has also very kindly agreed to make the school available for a future lunchtime meeting, so that a larger number of Rotarians can have this special opportunity.
Rotary Newmarket needs you to help out with carparking at Mount Smart stadium.
Each game, this activity raises up to $2,000 for the club, or around $60,000 a year. This forms a major part of the funds for the club's youth programmes including RAP and RYPEN. Recently, Go Media Stadium has started blocking the road around the stadium when large crowds are expected meaning we need more volunteers, and the number of volunteers is beginning to fall below a sustainable level. Each game requires 8 volunteers, 3 at 23 Maurice Road and 5 at 5 Maurice Road. We don't expect you to show up every week, that would be silly. However, the more people who volunteer, the less of a commitment it is for each person and the more funds we can raise for the youth programs. You would be expected to arrive 2.5hours before the game starts and help with taking money via cash and EFTPOS and guiding drivers. Usually both parking lots are filled within two hours and after that almost everyone can go home. One or two volunteers would need to stay at 5 Maurice Road until an hour after the game to lock the gate. We'll provide safety vests and EFTPOS machines. We recommend bringing a water bottle. This crucial fundraiser can't continue to exist without your help, so please contact Shaun Peacock (email: shaun_peacock@windowslive.com Phone: 027 631 0065) to sign up.
