A notice from the School advised me that I was to be the recipient of an Honours Tie, an award that recognises significant contributions to the School and the Community.
I was deeply honoured and the day was to be cherished commencing with morning tea with the Headmaster, Chris Moller and his wife Isabel in the Head Masters home. Then we all retired to the Prince Edward Auditorium where 600 guests, including all the students were assembled to receive a small party including the Head Master, Dr Nicholas Grigsby (my sponsor) and the Head Boy (Todd Innes) and Girl (Alice Cook). The Head Master welcomed the gathering, the Head Boy and Girl read the Citation and Dr Grigsby spoke eloquently (and generously) of the things I do (or have done) in my life. I responded.
Following these formalities the entire auditorium emptied while the Head Master and I waited back. We were then ushered out of the auditorium and onto the drive where all the students had assembled and performed a wonderful School Haka. It was both beautiful and spine tingling. Such energy and passion with a fine Maori student moving between the rows of students a giving the ‘calls’. Amazing! How could I possibly have deserved such a wonderful occasion. Bravo Collegiate School.
In the afternoon I adjudicated the House Music, another great experience.
Having members of my immediate family as guests was greatly appreciated; Roderick (Old Boy, Head Prefect, Captain of Rowing and Rugby), Alison, (Solway Old Girl) Matthew, (Old Boy, Hadfield, Quad Rower won secondary Schools tournament, First Fifteen last team to win the Quadrangular Tournament, president of the School Screen Printing Club), and Matthew’s daughter Fredrika).
Donald
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