Penwill Moore celebrates 100 years!
Saturday 29 August - Congratulations to Penwill Moore, who celebrates his 100th birthday today!
Pen attended Rongotai 1932-37 and was a Prefect. Undoubtedly, one of Rongotai's finest, Pen proudly served on the school's Board of Governors 1958-1975, was Secretary of the RCOBA 1950-56 and President in 1957. That's all in addition to the amazing record of service noted in the Stuff article. Pen is an Honorary Life Member of the Association and on behalf of all our alumni, we wish him a very very happy birthday! His colourful career was summarised in the Dominion Post.
Penwill Moore with the 1937 Prefects.
Roy Cowley special investiture.
Roy Cowley (1951-56) received the insignia of an MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) from Dame Patsy Reddy for his services to charity governance and the arts. Roy volunteered in governance roles for charity and the arts community in Wellington for more than 30 years and has been closely associated with The Cancer Society, the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts and the New Zealand School of Dance. Roy contributed thousands of hours to advising the Cancer Society of New Zealand at a governance level for more than 20 years. He was elected Chairperson of the Wellington Division from 2006 to 2016 and represented the Division on the Society’s national board from 2011 until 2016. He guided the organisation during the expansion of its Supportive Care and Health Promotion Services and overall growth. He was granted Life Membership in 2016 and awarded the Meritorious Service Award in 2017, the Cancer Society’s highest award for volunteer service. He has also supported the growth of the arts in New Zealand as a trustee of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts from 1996 to 2010 and the New Zealand School of Dance from 1998 to 2004. He oversaw the evolution of the New Zealand International Festival into a permanent institution and assisted with transforming the Festival into a major contributor to the arts in New Zealand. Mr Cowley was also an independent advisor for more than 25 years to the Little Company of Mary in New Zealand, overseeing the financial management of the organisation’s healthcare facilities including the Mary Potter Hospice in Wellington. Due to ill health, Roy was unable to attend a ceremony at Government House. (excerpts from the official citation at Government House).
Roy was a faithful Old Boy and attended the 90th Reunion celebrations in June, 2018. Sadly, Roy passed away on 11 May, 2020.
Coach Alan Dentice (far right) with his jolly band of First XV warriors from 1979.
1979 First XV Tour reunion
In late July, 2019, members of the 1979 First XV gathered together to reminisce about school and their tour to Australia forty years earlier. The weekend party was also attended by their coach and former teacher, Alan Dentice.
Tofiga hits the big screen
Renowned comic, Tofiga Fepulea’i (1989-94) has amused audiences across the Pacific in his debut movie, Take Home Pay. This critic’s review in Stuff said, "... the tour de Force that is Fepulea'i. A kind of Inspector Clouseau-esque character, if played by a combination of John Candy and Harold Sakata (from 007 Goldfinger's Odd Job), his Bob Titilo offers up seemingly endless delights."
News flash!
The safest cruise ship in town is now under command of Old By Mark Alty.
SWEET GEORGIA
Sweet Georgia is Wellington's much loved charter boat that has been operating in Wellington Harbour and Marlborough Sounds since 1993. RCOB Mark Alty (1976-80) has purchased the vessel from iconic owner Paul Gubb and is in full swing with Christmas functions. Early in 2020 we will be holding the first of many RCOB functions aboard Sweet Georgia. Anyone wanting to host a function on board for your team, class or year-group can contact Mark at info@sweetgeorgiacruising.com.
Class 2A form 1958 and the third form cohort of 1969 are two alumni groups who meet regularly. Read the reports of their latest gatherings held in July and November 2019.
Jeetan Patel still spinning.
Jeetan Patel (1994-98) continues to perform well in English county cricket. Jeetan, captain of Warwickshire, is in his tenth season, nine in succession from 2011. At the time of writing he had 35 wickets at 16.34 and Warwickshire sits seventh out of eight teams in the county championship’s first division. Jeetan is contracted to Warwickshire until next year and has recently announced he is ending his contract with the Wellington Firebirds and will will take up a contract as a spin bowling consultant with England who will be touring South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Welcome to our new Old Boys!
At the school Prizegiving on Thursday, December 5th, Kiran Richards (Arts Captain, 2015) and Adam Rybinski (Head Prefect, 2018), welcomed the Year 13 Leavers’ class into the Old Boys’ Association.
Ma’a earns higher honours.
In September, Ma’a Nonu (1995-2000) was
invested at Government House as a Member of
the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services
to rugby. Ever humble, Ma’a readily
acknowledged that "People tend to forget you
play in a team as well, it wasn't just my
accomplishment. I played alongside a lot of great
players over the years so I am grateful to the
players and the coaches and I made the most of
it while given the chance." (Stuff, 19 Sept). After
building his rugby knowledge and skills with the
Oriental Rongotai Club and at Rongotai College,
Ma’a went on to play professionally with the
Hurricanes, Blues and Highlanders in Super
Rugby, with stints in Japan and Toulon and 13
outstanding years as an All Black. In October,
Ma’a announced he had signed with the San Diego Legion to play in the USA’s Major League Rugby competition in 2020. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images (Stuff, 19 September 2019).
Savea: “Mr Untouchable”
Ardie Savea (2007-11) at the time of writing has been at the centre of rugby headlines:
‘Savea rated world’s best’’; ‘In a crowded field, a drum roll and then a standing ovation for Ardie Savea ...’ (Dom Post 29 April); ‘Ardie Savea sets high standards’ (Dom Post 1 May); ‘Freak’ Savea redefining the role of openside’; ‘Mr Untouchable: the ‘freak’ All Black who could be the best in the world’, (Herald 30 April); ‘Savea proving an outstanding No 8 and blind-side” (Herald 1 5 May). Ardie justified the praise with outstanding performances throughout the World Cup in Japan. Knee surgery will delay his participation with the Hurricanes in 2020 Super Rugby.