Around the Branches
From John Clark Branch Liaison Officer (at CBHS from 1957-1961)
[John Clark a member from the CBHS Old Boys Association Executive has kindly offered to liaise between the various branches. Some of our branches are very strong. Others seek to revitalise their membership and fellowship. Whilst other regions would just like to get started. Contact John with all your views, news of events, and how the Association can help Old Boys in your region meet up for fun and fellowship.]
In line with general trends of older Old Boys losing interest or being unable to attend events and the younger generation not being willing to take up the slack, let alone the effects of the dreaded Covid, many of our branches have gone into recess.
However, we are working on creating a database of HSOB by geographic area and occupation and this will be circulated to all districts with a view of reinstating the dormant branches. More of this next year.
Alive and well are Auckland, Christchurch, Melbourne, Sydney, Taupo and Wellington. The reports from these branches follow.
We will focus our efforts on Ashburton, Bay of Plenty, Blenheim, London, Manawatu, Nelson, Perth, Queensland, Taranaki, Timaru, and Waikato. We would appreciate any input from those areas with a view to reinstating those branches.
John Clark 1957-61 HSOB Branch Liaison contact clark3210@hotmail.comBranch Contacts:
Auckland: Bryan Bates 09 378 8145 bryanbates@xtra.co.nz
Taupo: Ian Allott 07 378 1128 ijallott@xtra.co.nz
Wellington: Michael Leggat 0272 926 071 michael@leggat.co.nz
Sydney: Bruce Rankin 61 02 9923 2007 bruce.rankin@exemail.com.au
Victoria: Graeme McLean 61 03 9584 6720 graeme@mcleanassoc.com.au
Perth: Jared Brotherston 61 08 6143 2815 jared.brotherston@gmail.com
Auckland Branch Activities – December 2021
The second half of this year has been a very difficult time for socialising in Auckland. With a combination of lockdowns and closed borders, our Auckland Branch activities have been severely limited. However, for the first half of 2021 the Straven Club luncheons held on the last Thursday of each month have been well attended. A variety of quality speakers have entertained our branch members at each luncheon, followed by questions and discussion.
The topics and speakers have been:
January. Pat Alley, “The Illustrious Alley Family”
February. John Campbell, “Funny stories of a life in the Navy”
March. Bryan Bates, “Chatham Island Journey 2021”
April. Ben Lavender, “Investing Today”
May. Annual Reunion and College Match.
June. Anna Buchly, “A Lawyers Journey”
July. Professor David Grinlinton “NZ’s involvement in offshore conflicts and Peacekeeping Operations in recent times”
We are hoping that once we get these traffic lights under control, our luncheons will resume soon. In the meantime, the Old Boys network has continued to operate through electronic communication as well as takeaway coffee “picnics”.
Tentative bookings have been made for an end of year function. Covid permitting this will be a luncheon on 16th December. More information will be sent to Auckland Old Boys once the event is confirmed.
With the 75th Anniversary of the Auckland Branch looming for February 2022 the following history might be of interest.
“The Years Between” p426 records H P Richmond (1890/95) as the founder of the Auckland Branch of HSOB but no other records have been found of this organisation. In September 1946 the Dominion Secretary, Vernon Hill, wrote to a business acquaintance, Douglas Young, in Auckland proposing that he, Doug, form an Auckland Branch of the association. An extract from the Minutes of the subsequent meeting were as follows.
“A meeting of Old Boys resident in Auckland convened by Messrs. D A Young and A C Rains at the request of the Parent Association was held in the lounge of the Royal Hotel, Victoria Street, at 5.45pm on Monday.10th February 1947. 29 members whose names are appended were present. There were 19 apologies received.
Mr V G Hill addressed the meeting and outlined the activities of the Association and its affiliated clubs and Branch Associations. He also detailed the proposals of the War Memorial Committee.
Greetings were received from Mr A E Caddick, Headmaster of the School, and Mr E B E Taylor, President of the Association.
Formation of the Branch. On the motion of Mr D. A. Young seconded by Mr J B Claydon it was resolved ‘that a Branch of the Christchurch High School Old Boys’ Association be formed in Auckland.’ “
Doug Young was elected Founder President, Cyril Allen Vice President and Bert Rains Secretary/Treasurer. Committee members were Reg Rider, Owen Blakley, George Low and H W Ogier. Christchurch had agreed to bear the costs of the meeting, dinner, and a picture show. (Just under £20 plus cash bar). After coffee and drinks all adjourned to the picture theatre where the feature film was “The Rakes Progress” starring Rex Harrison and Lili Palmer!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Auckland Branch.
Bryan Bates, Branch President.
Report from Melbourne High School Old Boys
The Melbourne Group in Victoria, Australia is an informal group that has been dormant for some considerable time due principally to the severe COVID-19 restrictions and extended lockdowns that we have endured in this State.
With double vaccination rates now approaching 90% retail, restaurants, cafés, and businesses generally are slowly getting back to normal if there is such a thing as ‘normal’ in the future as we live with this virus.
Whilst things are opening-up this applies to those who are double vaccinated only who must each provide evidence of their vaccination status when entering any venue or retail environment.
With Christmas fast approaching and many people in the older age group still being cautious about gathering in groups, it is not proposed to meet as a group this side of Christmas but look to the New Year for a dinner late in February or early March.
Such a meeting will be a celebration of meeting with our colleagues once again.
Graeme McLean
Report from Wellington branch High School Old Boys
After COVID prevented our annual reunion in 2020, we were delighted to resume the event on the night of this year`s School-College match, with some 30 in attendance. Ewen Holstein (1961-5 and later for many years a member of staff) proposed the toast to School and talked of his years of association with Straven Road. A much-enjoyed evening was dampened only slightly by the result of the match!
A planned annual luncheon late in the year at which Chris Luxon [now National Leader of the Opposition] (at School in the mid-to-late 80s) was to speak had to be postponed due to COVID travel restrictions – but will be held early in 2022.
Members have expressed enjoyment at receiving the weekly Straven Road email. While long moved on from School and no longer living in Christchurch, members enjoy following the life of School as it is these days.
Graeme Sugden
Tauranga/Bay of Plenty
Hi John,
The potential to reopen a Branch in the Tauranga BOP area is high if we can get a handle on the number of Old Boys who currently live her. You should have details on file of the effort Bruce Bolton and I put in to do just that a few years ago….an abject failure! However, the demographic has changed markedly in the meantime.
Local growth in the Port of Tauranga has attracted many new distribution and manufacturing companies and the population has grown exponentially over the recent past. Our problems are Bruce, and I are well past our “Used by Date” and although six of us do meet on a casual basis we’re not aware of where to start to raise a database to even attempt a “Phoenix” Act!
You will note we’ve asked on a couple of occasions for a list of those current Old Boys with mail addresses in BOP…. bounded by say Matamata and Katikati in the West, Whakatane in the East, and maybe even Rotorua. At least that would give “us” a starting point.
So no, we have no news of any Old Boys’ activity in this area but we’re not averse to you using our names and phone numbers in a request to those reading “Around the Branches” to make direct contact.
Bruce: Mobile 0274 424 293 and Landline 07 579 2247 and mine is Mobile 021 272 8669 and Land line 07 576 8402
Regards
Don Sewell
From Taupo Branch – Ian Allott
Hi all,
Unfortunately, partially due to Covid constraints, coupled with some personal health issues, the hoped-for Xmas Function alluded to when we were unable to host a School College Function earlier this year, will not be held in Taupo this year, but all being well, we certainly are looking forward to our annual event next year.
Any Old Boys entering the area, please contact Ian for inclusion on the mailing list, but note that the landline listed has been deleted and the mobile number should be used.
Merry Xmas to all,
Altiora Peto,
Ian Allott.
United Kingdom Branch HSOB
Greetings from London, now that we seem to have less issues with COVID-19 it seems a good time to reach out to all the Old Boys who are currently in the United Kingdom. If you are reading this branch update, then if you could confirm location and details to me when you are able to this would be greatly appreciated.
I will look to arrange a get together centrally based on all the locations provided. We are still subject to some restrictions so numbers will determine what this will look like.
In the meantime, Stay Safe and have a very Merry Christmas.
Kind Regards
Chris Holmes
Some ideas from Perth CBHS Old Boys
Hi John
Good prompt and yes, it would be good to reinstate a branch (or start one, in earnest). How best to do that is a great question in the current environment.
I know the historic approach has usually been on the back of a couple of Old Boys catching up regularly and then each inviting someone else to the next catch-up and eventually you get a snowball effect. Maybe that could still work, though I suspect the use of technology (virtual meetings and the like) could be a necessary starting point these days.
I also found the attached - a bit American, however a reasonable guide for establishing full formal or informal. I guess the piece that resonated with me most is:
"The two initial requirements to start or re-activate an alumni association are:
The enthusiasm and willingness of several individuals who are willing to take on the organisational initiative and sustain it.
The interest of a reasonable nucleus of alumni and friends of the organisation to participate in the association’s activities."
Which basically says to me that....'the worst decision to make is to make no decision at all', i.e. just need to get off my arse and do something proactive.
Thanks
Jared Brotherston
Not a great deal has happened in Sydney Branch mainly due to Covid this year.
Our Sydney/NSW Branch has about 114 members.
Our last successful function was in November 2020 when Brad Mooar (Assistant Coach), Anton Lienert-Brown and Will Jordan were on tour with the All Blacks in Australia. 34 attended a most successful function.
We have had two Committee Meetings in May and October to decide what to do in the circumstances of Covid.
We came to a decision (after four months of lockdown) in October that it was not practical to attempt to hold any events in 2021.
The Committee consists of: Bruce Rankin (1956-60) President, Ron Lucock (1955-59) Treasurer, Frank Pickering (1957-59) Secretary, Anson Austin (1953-57) Vice President, Mark Bluett (1966-70) Vice President, Murray Olds (1968-72), Paul Connelly (1970-73) and Peter Kirk (1969-72).
The events we have determined will best meet the needs of Sydney Branch in 2022 are:
- Golf Tournament - Organisers: Michael Barnett, Murray Olds and Ron Lucock. Timing is around March
- Annual Reunion Dinner – Organisers: Committee. Timing: dependant on Guest Speaker(s) and venue.
- CBD luncheons – three are proposed, with possibility of a local speaker for 15-20 minutes. Aim is to attract younger members to attend.
- Wine tasting event – one proposed, also to attract younger members
A further objective in 2021 is to get some “young blood” onto the Committee – something that has proved hard to do.
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