From the Secretary

Dear Members,

As the new secretary of the Old Boys Association I had big shoes to fill taking over from Barrie Johnson who had held fort for 20 year across many changes and many challenges. I met with the headmaster in the early day’s of me being in the role and we discussed the future of the Association, where it was heading and how we can support the school and the boys after they leave, as well as what we as an Association bring to the table.

So, today a year later our objectives have never been so focussed as they have become over this last year with our stance about inclusivity, the newsletter, a more active role in school and our own events and the new Database that will become the backbone of the Association.

Never has the Association been part of such changing time as in these recent years.

And then Covid has challenged us and the school in just trying to maintain cultural direction and will be with us for some time so that in itself has created some challenges as we go
forward.

So this newsletter is to become a regular main stay of the Association communication as a note to our members keeping everyone up to date with what’s happening around the Association branches and what events are on the calendar at school.

As Covid drew the blinds down on several events this year we have watched as certain things have had to wait, with regards to the 'Over 60' reunion, an area that is headed by Terry Donaldson who had to make the call to postpone the event in October.

Terry has indicated that hopefully something can be resurrected in the new year as we climb out from under the covid restrictions.

This has also been an ongoing issue with the cancelling of the 'Secretaries Whisky Night' (I was looking forward to that one) as well as restrictions with access to School Awards and End of Year Dinners etc.

These challenges we can all raise above and see the future as being half full not half empty after all what does our school motto say Altiora Peto and we are as we go forward.

So I am happy to say the Association is in good health with a growing membership database globally.

On a personal note I would like to take this opportunity to thank the executive for all the support as I made my progression into the role as secretary.

To Barrie Johnson (Past Secretary) I would like to express my huge thanks for not only the support but the wise words and all the work you continue to do behind the scenes with maintaining that huge task of the list that changes every day.

Our President Simon Carter for whom I feel an affinity to the cause and the want to make things better, bigger and stronger than how we found it, my job would be impossible without your support and the huge energy you put into the task. I cannot thank you enough for your work and the leadership you bring to the association in these changing times.

To the Branch Secretaries who keep the lights on in distant places thank you, and to all Old Boy’s near and far I look forward to meeting as many as possible in the years ahead sharing some stories and linking our network into a stronger entity than before.

The Association is about many things but the one that is dominant is that we all went to Christchurch Boys High School, we all have memories, some good, some not so good and the friends made for life.

After all we all walk in such varied life styles in many parts of the globe and are all Old Boys of the school that like it or not left an impression that we carry.

Having not walked onto the ground for over 30 years it was like walking home when I walked through the gate, I felt that comfortable familiar feeling that goes with such things and being part of a very large family.

The thing that brings strength to the Association is that we can help each other. I think we are a living history that makes its presence felt as we look to the future for the next challenge. If that is in Business, Sport or the Arts that is the heart of the association, we help each other and that is our strength our future and what we will leave for others to manage when we are done.

The last note from me is have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and successful new year and I look forward to meeting those I have not yet met and may you and your family be safe over this Christmas Holiday.

Altiora Peto
Christopher Carthy.