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The Dilworth Legacy by Murray Wilton is for sale NOW. Please see full details here.

Retiring Bishop of Auckland - Bishop John

At the AGM on Saturday March 13th we unanimously voted for Right Reverend John Paterson to be added to our Honorary Old Boys list.
Rt Rev’d John Paterson, the Bishop of Auckland, has served as Episcopal Visitor to Dilworth School from 1995-2010.
In that time in this very unique role he has become a lot more than that – he has become a friend to the School and a personal friend to many.

It was in James Dilworth’s will that it was required there be an Episcopal Visitor to the School each year to look over things and if all was not right then to take some action.
This role includes filling in the Episcopal Visitor’s Book and making comments on the visit.

Looking at the two words -
Episcopal means that the Visitor must be a Bishop.
Visitor (with a capital V) is the interesting word – it means a lot more than it would appear at face value, but following is my concise interpretation of the word.
The Visitor (sorry these are my words – I hope they are correct)  is charged with ensuring that the ‘powers that be’ are kept in check, and if they need checking then has the power to take some action to do so.
Thanks to Principle Donald MacLean for explaining all of this at the Thanksgiving Service last night (Sunday March 14th).

We were honoured ourselves to be able to bestow the honour of Honorary Old Boy on Rt Rev’d John Paterson and at the Founders Thanksgiving Service he assured us that although he was now retiring as Bishop of Auckland he will make certain to continue his yearly visits to the School.
As an Old Boys Association we will welcome him into our family gladly.

The first step will be to get Bishop John on to our Old Boys Mailing List!

Dr George Barker - Guest Speaker

Saturday March 13th 7pm – the Reunion Dinner.
What a great night it was.
It was incredible to see Old Boys from all era’s in attendance including a table of the youngest Old Boys – and as Dilworth Old Boys tend to do – we all got on incredibly well.

A full report on the night will be updated here soon – but here is a quick summary of some of the key aspects of the night.

After a rousing introduction by brother, Bill Barker, Guest Speaker Dr George Barker talked eloquently and with great passion about the clauses in James Dilworth’s will and how they modeled his and our lives as “good and useful citizens”.
George was clearly greatly honored to be our first Guest Speaker at what we hope to be an annual event moving forward and at times had trouble containing his emotion which left us all with lumps in our throats.
Dilworth means so much to George and to all of us!
We will be producing a full transcript of George’s talk – so when that comes to hand it will be posted on the Website.

DOBA Vice President Peter Tate, as master of ceremonies, was in great form and kept things well organized as well as keeping us laughing.
We did not know you had this talent Mr Tate!

The food and wine, supplied by Robert MacDonald was exemplary – plentiful and better than restaurant quality – just amazing.
Many thanks Robert!
The waiting staff also were really great – thanks Elena and others for looking after us so well!

Some of the names there on the night (in no particular order) are listed here. We will endeavor to provide a complete list of names soon.

Principle and Vice Patron Donald MacLean, Trustee John Wain, Past Chairman John Potter and wife Alison, Murray Wilton (former Principle, Old Boy and Patron) and wife Christine, Chairman of the Trust Board Derek Firth and wife Maxine, Vice Patron Bruce Owen, Past President Peter Thompson, Dr George Barker (Guest Speaker) and wife Jo,  Maurice Hood, Ian West, Kerry Pascoe, Roger Pym, David Bennett, Peter Hargraves, Frank Bull, Dave Winter, Trevor McCauley, Emerson Coe, Tana Faamausili, Ethan Hindman, Matt Saunderson, Damon Scmidt, Daniel Priest, Greg Tothill, Tapu Vea, Jonathan Whittingham, Ricky Mossman

Life Members; John Simpson, Stan West, Roger Pye and wife Annette, Bill Barker

Council Members; Adam Hiron (President), Grant Steel (Treasurer), Jacob De Berry, Theo Davy and daughter, Callum McGibbon, Mark Easton (Web Master), Peter Tate (Vice President and M.C for the night),  Julian Annear, Chris Hodder (Secretary)

Congratulations to all of you that attended – you made it a night to remember.

With Bill Barker’s help we will be posting soon all of the photos of the night.

Old Boys at the AGM

The AGM started at 5:30pm after Old Boys shared a few drinks and caught up.
DOBA President, Adam Hiron, called the meeting to order and we listed apologies.

We discussed the minutes of the previous meeting.
There was some discussion to clarify the minutes and to determine that the motions passed for action had been carried out.
They were accepted as true and correct.

Grant Steel presented the Financial Reports.
The unaudited 2006, 2007 and 2008 accounts were accepted as a best effort and so that closed that matter.
The audited 2009 accounts were clarified and there was some discussion around some missing Fixed Assets (some Totara purchases prior to 2006 along with badges and ribbons).
Grant assured the AGM that he would look  into the Totara but did make note that they had not been listed on any previous accounts as Fixed Assets.
The badges and ribbons probably are not Fixed Assets.
Grant was congratulated by those at the AGM for his efforts and the audited 2009 accounts were accepted by all at the AGM.

Adam Hiron and Grant Steel

We then received reports from Murray Wilton regarding the Benevolent Trust and from John Simpson regarding the Centennial Foundation Trust.
Both trusts are travelling well and you will be able to see full details of these on this website in the near future.

The Patron, Murray Wilton, and Vice Patrons, Bruce Owen and Donald MacLean were unanimously retained.
The same occurred for the current Council and President Adam Hiron – who were retained as a group for a second term.
Those at the AGM spoke up in support of the current council and the promising progress that had been made over the last year.

The President, Adam Hiron, then presented his report, making special note of the DOBA Website and the importance of that in Council efforts to reach out to the Old Boy community with current news and events.
His Presidents report was accepted as read.

Old Boys at the AGM

The Principal, Donald MacLean, presented his report.
Donald started out by expressing his thanks to the Council making mention of the interest the Council has shown in the School, the good mix of Old Boys in the Council (including three School Head Prefects) and the exceptional activities of the Council.
Many thanks Donald for your continued support!
Donald also talked about the Academic success of the School which has far outstripped anything in Dilworth’s past history.
The new initiatives were discussed with special mention of the latest – 39 Market Rd – which was settled on Founders Day (12 March).
Donald also reminded the AGM of the generous donations of the Centennial trust for the magnificent organ, the Maori Gateway and the subsidy for the Spirit of New Zealand training voyages.
Finally Donald talked on the ethnic breakdown of the School with 42% being NZ European and 48% being of other ethnicities.
This invoked some discussion in the Council - that we would like to see these other ethnicities represented on the Council.

Honorary Old Boys were listed and the Right Reverend John Paterson and Sue Garner was added to that list this year.  Rt Rev’d John Paterson, the Bishop of Auckland, has served as Episcopal Visitor to Dilworth School from 1995-2010. In that time in this unique role he has become a lot more than that – he has become a friend to the School and a personal friend to many. We were honoured ourselves to be able to bestow this honour on Rt Rev’d John Paterson and at the Founders Thanksgiving Service he assured us that although he was now retiring as Bishop of Auckland he will make certain to continue his yearly visits to the School. As an Old Boys Association we will welcome him into our family gladly. The first step will be to get him on to our Old Boys Mailing List! Sue Garner thank-you for the all of the work you have been doing for the Old Boys Association in the office – for your support of our community we welcome you as an Old Boy.

Derek Firth was re-appointed as Legal Council and Donald Findlay of Goldsbury and Associates was appointed as Auditor.

After some General Business was discussed the meeting was called to a close and we all headed over to the School Hall for the Reunion Dinner.

Adam Hiron & Rt Hon John Key

At 9:15am on March 12th The Dilworth Boys welcomed Rt Hon John Key in grand style with a rousing Haka to the Founders Assembly.

It was most evident that John Key enjoyed his time at Dilworth and we heard his minders getting quite concerned at how late he was running. Eventually he was dragged away but not after many had said hello and posed with Mr Key for a photo – like our DOBA President, Mr Adam Hiron.

Congratulations to Donald MacLean and the School for pulling off the event with the usual high level of efficiency and making it so enjoyable for all.

Congratulations to all the Boys who talked and performed at the Assembly – we were very impressed with their talent and confidence.

See all of the photos here.

Adam, Grant, Peter, Callum

Present: Adam, Callum, Julian, Theo, Grant, Mark, Peter, Ian, Jacob, Donald, Stuart, Peter
Apologies: Chris

Meeting started at 7pm after a nice dinner was provided by the School. (stewing chops, sweetcorn, peas, potatoes along with cheese cake for desert)

Note, in the photo to the left Grant has in his hands the Audited accounts. Adam requested we take this photo!

Previous Meetings Minutes

Correction: Payment of $2000 has been made to the Centennial Trust. Otherwise the minutes were moved as complete and correct.

Principal’s Report

6 boys received 8 scholarships last year – in Statistics, Geography, English and Classics.
One boy (Edward McNight) was only in year12 (6th form) well done!
He is repeating the dose this year with a different set of subjects.

Read the rest of this entry »

NOW ON FRIDAY MARCH 12TH

Due to a late scheduled pre-match game for the 1st XV, we need to move Summer Sports forward from Saturday 13th March to Friday 12th March.

20/20 Cricket will start at 3.45pm
Tennis and Touch will start at 5.30pm
Volley Ball will start at 6.15pm

After Match Function 7pm
Sorry , no Lawn Bowls this year !

As always, if you are keen to participate , please contact either Jake 021 1111652 or Callum 021 187 0666.

The AGM and Reunion Dinner on Saturday March 13th remain as scheduled.

As a reminder …
The AGM will be at 5:30pm and this will be followed by the Reunion Dinner (a 3 course smorgasbord) at 6:30pm for a 7pm start.

Here is the official Founders Weekend Invitation from the School to Dilworth Old Boys, starting on Friday 12th March at 9:00am with the Founders Day Service with Guest Speaker Rt Hon John Key.
The invitation includes a request to RSVP to Principal’s PA Mrs Jenny Reeves.
Please download the invitation to get full details.

Please also note that the Founders Day Chapel service is on Sunday 14th March at 8pm.
There has been some conflicting info sent out on this, but it does start at 8pm!

The Dilworth Athletic Finals start at 3:30pm on Friday 26th February. The School would love to see some Old Boys in attendance. So, please do come along and make yourself known to Principal Donald MacLean or any one else.

Peter Purcell Tapper, an Old Boy and former Dilworth Trustee passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 11th February 2010 at Huntleigh Home, Kakori, Wellington at the age of 77 years. Greatly loved husband of the late Anne Christina Tapper (born Weatherly) and devoted father of Sarah Jane Tapper. Peter was the loved, youngest and last surviving member of the Family of the late Percy and Evilyn Tapper. Brother of the late Ken, Griff, Frank, Val (Stirling), George, Bill, Vic, Harry, Brian, Cora (Hayes), Garth and Gayle (Nuttall) and their spouses as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. Peter was an old boy of Dilworth School and of Admore Engineers College. His working life was spent as an engineer first with Shell International and then the Woodside Offshore Petroleum. He was brother to Garth Tapper the painter, also an Old Boy. Peter was a very supportive Trustee, taking a genuine interest in all that went on. He was very keen to see the school at the cutting edge of technology.

A Funeral Service will be held at Dilworth School Chapel, Erin Street Epsom, Auckland, on Thursday February 18, 2010 at 1.30pm, to be followed by interment at Manukau Memorial Gardens, 357 Puhinui Road, Papatoetoe. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Enquiries may be directed to Wendy Alexander (09) 623-3446 or Sibuns Funeral Directors 520-3119.