News Items & Books
Posted as and when I receive them from the Old Boy's Association and elsewhere.
Back Through The Gates
Memories of a New Plymouth Boys High School Boarder in the Sixties
Now you can get a copy of this book online at http://goo.gl/vfocO.
58 Pages of memories and photographs tell the story of life as a boarder at New Plymouth Boys High School in the 1960's.
Available in hardback or soft cover.
Author: Roger Smith
Contributors: Bob McCaw, Dr Alan Hayton
Publisher: Blurb
Now you can get a copy of this book online at http://goo.gl/vfocO.
58 Pages of memories and photographs tell the story of life as a boarder at New Plymouth Boys High School in the 1960's.
Available in hardback or soft cover.
Author: Roger Smith
Contributors: Bob McCaw, Dr Alan Hayton
Publisher: Blurb
"One Hundred Plus Years of 1st XV Rugby" Book.
A limited number of Max Carroll's "One Hundred Plus Years of 1st XV Rugby at NPBHS" is soon to be published.
If you wish to purchase a copy please let Glynda Malley know and she will email you when they arrive. You can either pay by cheque or by credit card on the NPBHS online shop, otherwise you can purchase a copy from the school's office next term.
The cost for the book is $15.00. If posting a postage cost will apply.
Contact: Glynda Malley
Old Boys' Liaison
+64 6 758 5399 ext 735
Email: [email protected]
A limited number of Max Carroll's "One Hundred Plus Years of 1st XV Rugby at NPBHS" is soon to be published.
If you wish to purchase a copy please let Glynda Malley know and she will email you when they arrive. You can either pay by cheque or by credit card on the NPBHS online shop, otherwise you can purchase a copy from the school's office next term.
The cost for the book is $15.00. If posting a postage cost will apply.
Contact: Glynda Malley
Old Boys' Liaison
+64 6 758 5399 ext 735
Email: [email protected]
Two of our distinguished old boys and Alumni Meriti doing amazing things. Sir Richard Faull and Sir David Levene.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12172975
|
High Achieving Kiwi Doctor & NPBHS Old Boy Dares Students To Dream
Alumni Dr Sam Hazeldine is presented with an award at a New Plymouth Boys High assembly. High Achieving Kiwi Doctor & NPBHS Old Boy Dares Students To Dream. Medical doctor, entrepreneur and author Sam Hazeldine dared pupils at his former school to step out of their comfort zone and dream. Full story here. |
Of Boarding and of Boarders
Want to give a 'plug' for a great book of NPBHS History - one that every boarding Old Boy will find of interest.
Max Carroll's "Of Boarding and of Boarders" is a sixty page book which documents the history of boarding at New Plymouth Boys' High School through the decades from the perspective of students and masters.
A very informative and entertaining read and I thoroughly recommend it. Better still, you can now purchase a copy online, for the modest sum of $25.
The book can be purchased in the online store here.
Want to give a 'plug' for a great book of NPBHS History - one that every boarding Old Boy will find of interest.
Max Carroll's "Of Boarding and of Boarders" is a sixty page book which documents the history of boarding at New Plymouth Boys' High School through the decades from the perspective of students and masters.
A very informative and entertaining read and I thoroughly recommend it. Better still, you can now purchase a copy online, for the modest sum of $25.
The book can be purchased in the online store here.
Back Through The Gate Autumn 2018 Newsletter
Read it online here.
Read it online here.
The Senior Latin Prize
Library Manager Stephanie Gibbons writes:
"We've had a few amazing treasures return to the school this term.
In 1898, Miss Vivien Muriel Roy was awarded the book 'General History of Rome' for the senior Latin prize. The book is leather-bound and embossed with the school badge 'New Plymouth High School' - before it became New Plymouth Boys' High School. How fantastic!"
Library Manager Stephanie Gibbons writes:
"We've had a few amazing treasures return to the school this term.
In 1898, Miss Vivien Muriel Roy was awarded the book 'General History of Rome' for the senior Latin prize. The book is leather-bound and embossed with the school badge 'New Plymouth High School' - before it became New Plymouth Boys' High School. How fantastic!"
The Handley Brown Donation
Other treasures donated to the school are portraits of the 1919 1st XV, 1921 1st XV and the 1921 school prefects. The portraits had been owned by Handley Brown who was a prefect in 1921 and the captain of the 1st XV.
We are so grateful to receive these portraits as we didn't have copies of them. Many thanks to Mrs Brown, daughter-in-law of Handley Brown, for donating them.
Other treasures donated to the school are portraits of the 1919 1st XV, 1921 1st XV and the 1921 school prefects. The portraits had been owned by Handley Brown who was a prefect in 1921 and the captain of the 1st XV.
We are so grateful to receive these portraits as we didn't have copies of them. Many thanks to Mrs Brown, daughter-in-law of Handley Brown, for donating them.
Do you have old photos of your time at New Plymouth Boys High, or other ephemera?
The school's Library Manager, Stephanie Gibbons, would love to receive these (or scans of such documents/images) for the school archive.
She can be contacted at this email address: [email protected].
The school's Library Manager, Stephanie Gibbons, would love to receive these (or scans of such documents/images) for the school archive.
She can be contacted at this email address: [email protected].
Old Boy Ralph Ward is one of the few remaining veterans of Crete and has celebrated his 100th birthday.
When he was 21, after leaving New Plymouth Boys' High School and swapping his job as a paper boy for a job at an optometrist, World War II broke out.
Full story here.
When he was 21, after leaving New Plymouth Boys' High School and swapping his job as a paper boy for a job at an optometrist, World War II broke out.
Full story here.
'Appy Days!
Please excuse the pun!
The NPBHS App is available now! Free and easy to use. Old Boy's can keep up to date with:
- Upcoming Events
- Alerts
- Links
- Important contacts
- and more!
Available for both Apple & Android devices (see the graphic) #NPBHS #Apps
Please excuse the pun!
The NPBHS App is available now! Free and easy to use. Old Boy's can keep up to date with:
- Upcoming Events
- Alerts
- Links
- Important contacts
- and more!
Available for both Apple & Android devices (see the graphic) #NPBHS #Apps
Heroic Old boy Arthur Ambury Remembered
For his selfless actions Arthur Ambury, a New Plymouth menswear shop owner, was posthumously awarded the Albert Cross Medal, the highest medal for bravery at the time, by King George V.
The medal, as well as large framed certificate from the Humane Society, and a pencil etching were bequeathed by the family to New Plymouth Boys' High School, where he had been educated.
Headmaster Paul Veric has said ""He's an incredible human being. We were talking about it the other day and what you'd do in the same situation. You'd like to think that you'd do the same but until it happens you never know."
Read the full article here.
For his selfless actions Arthur Ambury, a New Plymouth menswear shop owner, was posthumously awarded the Albert Cross Medal, the highest medal for bravery at the time, by King George V.
The medal, as well as large framed certificate from the Humane Society, and a pencil etching were bequeathed by the family to New Plymouth Boys' High School, where he had been educated.
Headmaster Paul Veric has said ""He's an incredible human being. We were talking about it the other day and what you'd do in the same situation. You'd like to think that you'd do the same but until it happens you never know."
Read the full article here.
98 Year Old NPBHS Old Boy Makes Generous Donation.
A rare black and white panoramic photo featuring New Plymouth Boys' High School students and staff in 1935 has been presented to the school to hang inside the entrance foyer.
Jack Elliot was a fresh faced 16-year-old student when he lined up with classmates to have their photo taken in front of the main building.
Read more.
A rare black and white panoramic photo featuring New Plymouth Boys' High School students and staff in 1935 has been presented to the school to hang inside the entrance foyer.
Jack Elliot was a fresh faced 16-year-old student when he lined up with classmates to have their photo taken in front of the main building.
Read more.
NPBHS Old Boy, Professor Emeritus Dave Penny honoured
Professor Emeritus David Penny has received one of the highest honours in the science world, to be named a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) foreign associate. Professor Penny becomes just the third living New Zealander to join the ranks of foreign associates, of which there are only 484. The academy is an American based institution that recognises achievement in science by election to membership for outstanding contributions to research. Its membership has included the late Stephen Hawking and even Albert Einstein. He was amongst 21 other foreign associates named in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Foreign associates are non-voting members of the academy, with citizenship outside the United States. |
Nearly 500 members of the academy have won Nobel Prizes. Along with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine, the academy provides advice to the federal government and other organisations.
The full Massey University media release can be read here.
The full Massey University media release can be read here.
"I'm just a Taranaki boy who grew up on a farm in Tikorangi so I'm no different to anyone else in this room, I'm just a bit older"
In receiving the award, Sir Richard Faull joined the likes of Sir Graeme Douglas, Sir John Graham, Sir David Levene and Sir Roderick Deane.
Read more.
In receiving the award, Sir Richard Faull joined the likes of Sir Graeme Douglas, Sir John Graham, Sir David Levene and Sir Roderick Deane.
Read more.
Suicide, Caring And Love
NPBHS Headmaster's Moving Address To Students
I have been thinking about this topic for some time, boys, and, to be really honest with you, I haven’t been sure how to tackle it – I am still not. I am not at all funny like Mike King, I am certainly not famous, and I am probably not considered a very emotional person (to those who don’t know me), so it’s a tough topic for me.
But there is something concerning me. It concerns all teachers and all parents. There is something concerning all New Zealanders at present, a concern about a word that every day appears in the news, print, online, and video media:
Suicide.
Some say that we shouldn’t talk about it, that talking about it gives it attention – gives it focus. Well, I say it already has focus, it already has profile. It has profile for all the wrong reasons.
Every boy here will undoubtedly know someone who is struggling, or has struggled so much, they just don’t know what to do.
Not many things scare me, boys. I don’t lie awake at night worrying about that many things. I sleep very well, other than on this one topic. This one word deeply concerns me. It makes me feel sad, helpless, and guilty that we should have done more. What did we do wrong to not help that young person get back on track? That word. That terrible word. That word that shouldn’t even exist as a concept – shouldn’t be even required in our vocabulary.
Suicide.
This word upsets me because I see potential in every life. I see possibilities. I see opportunity and I see hope and aspiration. No situation, no circumstance can ever, in my opinion, ever be stronger than the ability for anyone to recover from adversity, pain, or despair. There is always hope and always something to live for.
The health and wellbeing of youth in this country is very concerning. I am not sure we are actually addressing it appropriately, as a country or as communities. I say this because every day I hear of a young person who is struggling in some way. Struggling so much they feel helpless. They feel alone.
It seems unbelievable to me that New Zealand is leading the world in negative statistics around the health and wellbeing of young people. We live in paradise. We enjoy some of the best living conditions in the world, the healthiest living conditions, and yet, for some of us, we are so troubled.
Struggling is normal. Having a bad day is normal. Being unhappy sometimes is normal. Not feeling like you can face it is something we all need to own and do something about.
I am so encouraged by the willingness of young men and women to talk more openly about their feelings and I want to remind each and every one of you that there are people you can talk to who are safe, confidential, and ready to support you. Please ask. Please talk about the things that are concerning you. Our guidance team is just one of the many safe places you can go to.
If your best friend is struggling, you don’t have to fix it on your own. We are all in this together. Everyone working together, focussing on small changes and improvements, means a happier, safer school.
Rather than talk about the negatives further, I am going to talk about the positives and another word we rarely mention. We are quick to mention suicide or depression in conversations, but there is a word less heard and more frightening in our vocabulary, especially in a traditional boys’ school context.
Love.
Yes, it’s thrown around, but it’s a word we joke or snigger about sometimes. Often used incorrectly, the word “love” is misunderstood and not used correctly nearly enough. It’s not used with sincerity and, more importantly, not backed up with action that demonstrates love.
I was struggling with a way to explain the concept of love, and although I am not personally religious, a religious saying sums up best what I am trying to say. “Love thy neighbour.” It’s a simple, yet effective statement. It sums up love in a way that we should use it, but don’t.
Love the people around you. Show love, give love. We don’t love enough. Nor is it talked about enough.
The Kiwi way, the Kiwi male way especially, is conditioned to not say “I love you”. Blokes need to “harden up”, to “toughen up’. You don’t want to show what is perceived as weakness or, to use highly offensive phrases, like being a “sissy” or “being a girl” about it. If you have a good mate you make fun of him, you have banter. It’s what we do; most of us are guilty of that – me included.
You may feel uncomfortable about this speech and the common reaction when you are uncomfortable is to joke about it, tease, elbow your mate – “The headmaster just said ‘love’. Weirdo.” Or you might run around in the playground saying “I love you” with no sincerity. You are simply doing this because society has trained you to be uncomfortable around the word “love”. Society has conditioned you to reject it. It’s not your fault. But don’t be scared of love. Be brave, and shake the stigma and immaturity we have as a country. Be more adult than the adults who also struggle with this more than you may realise.
Love is a word you need to understand. You need to get comfortable with it. If we have any chance of reversing the trend of young people feeling helpless, we have a greater chance of overcoming it by caring for each other.
Love your parents. Love your friends. Love thy neighbour. Equally importantly, accept the love from others. Don’t reject it or push it away. Soak it in like the warming rays of sun on your back on a summer’s day.
Now I am not expecting you to run around the playground saying “I love you” to your mates. I expect your teachers won’t say, “thanks for your homework and by the way, I love you”. But love is the only word I can find, the only word I can use, to get through to you how much we actually care for you.
Don’t mistake love for getting your own way, or for everything being fair and kind. Life is hard sometimes. People who love you may make decisions you don’t like.
Those decisions could be not allowing you to go somewhere, or not allowing you to act in a certain way. If you love someone, you want to keep them safe and you want to teach them to be a good person. If you love someone, you might need to give them some feedback they don’t want to hear, but need to hear.
We are tough at this school because we care about you. How do I know you are cared for? You only need to see the care and compassion for our students when something goes horribly wrong – a parent very sick, a traumatic injury.
Love is not soft. Love is not easy. It’s hard, as it requires both strength and vulnerability at the same time, and doing the right thing, not the easy thing, for those you love and those that love you.
Everyone here is cared for. Everyone has people who love them. Your teachers care for you. This school loves you, as I know many of you love this school and, if you don’t at the moment, it is likely that you will look back and realise that, actually, you did – you just didn’t realise it at the time.
If you are struggling, it’s OK. I want each and every one of you to know that you have friends, family, and a school community that deeply cares for you, even if we don’t show it – even if we don’t openly express it. We simply don’t do this enough, and as adults we need to step up. We need to do better if we are to expect you follow our lead. Also, remember time is a tremendous healer – how you feel today, I can assure you, will be different to how you feel next month and next year.
Accept love, and, if you are in the position to give love, to love thy neighbour, then do it. Too many of us only show love when it is too late – at a funeral, or after a life-changing event.
Life is precious.
Please know that each and every one of you is special. Please support each other and those around you.
How can you do this?
Give your family a hug when you get home – just because!
Say “thanks” to those you care about. Show your appreciation – just becausel
If you’re worried about a mate or a family member, open the door – ask are they doing OK – just because!
You are precious.
You are worth it.
You can work through any of life’s challenges.
You are cared for.
NPBHS Headmaster's Moving Address To Students
I have been thinking about this topic for some time, boys, and, to be really honest with you, I haven’t been sure how to tackle it – I am still not. I am not at all funny like Mike King, I am certainly not famous, and I am probably not considered a very emotional person (to those who don’t know me), so it’s a tough topic for me.
But there is something concerning me. It concerns all teachers and all parents. There is something concerning all New Zealanders at present, a concern about a word that every day appears in the news, print, online, and video media:
Suicide.
Some say that we shouldn’t talk about it, that talking about it gives it attention – gives it focus. Well, I say it already has focus, it already has profile. It has profile for all the wrong reasons.
Every boy here will undoubtedly know someone who is struggling, or has struggled so much, they just don’t know what to do.
Not many things scare me, boys. I don’t lie awake at night worrying about that many things. I sleep very well, other than on this one topic. This one word deeply concerns me. It makes me feel sad, helpless, and guilty that we should have done more. What did we do wrong to not help that young person get back on track? That word. That terrible word. That word that shouldn’t even exist as a concept – shouldn’t be even required in our vocabulary.
Suicide.
This word upsets me because I see potential in every life. I see possibilities. I see opportunity and I see hope and aspiration. No situation, no circumstance can ever, in my opinion, ever be stronger than the ability for anyone to recover from adversity, pain, or despair. There is always hope and always something to live for.
The health and wellbeing of youth in this country is very concerning. I am not sure we are actually addressing it appropriately, as a country or as communities. I say this because every day I hear of a young person who is struggling in some way. Struggling so much they feel helpless. They feel alone.
It seems unbelievable to me that New Zealand is leading the world in negative statistics around the health and wellbeing of young people. We live in paradise. We enjoy some of the best living conditions in the world, the healthiest living conditions, and yet, for some of us, we are so troubled.
Struggling is normal. Having a bad day is normal. Being unhappy sometimes is normal. Not feeling like you can face it is something we all need to own and do something about.
I am so encouraged by the willingness of young men and women to talk more openly about their feelings and I want to remind each and every one of you that there are people you can talk to who are safe, confidential, and ready to support you. Please ask. Please talk about the things that are concerning you. Our guidance team is just one of the many safe places you can go to.
If your best friend is struggling, you don’t have to fix it on your own. We are all in this together. Everyone working together, focussing on small changes and improvements, means a happier, safer school.
Rather than talk about the negatives further, I am going to talk about the positives and another word we rarely mention. We are quick to mention suicide or depression in conversations, but there is a word less heard and more frightening in our vocabulary, especially in a traditional boys’ school context.
Love.
Yes, it’s thrown around, but it’s a word we joke or snigger about sometimes. Often used incorrectly, the word “love” is misunderstood and not used correctly nearly enough. It’s not used with sincerity and, more importantly, not backed up with action that demonstrates love.
I was struggling with a way to explain the concept of love, and although I am not personally religious, a religious saying sums up best what I am trying to say. “Love thy neighbour.” It’s a simple, yet effective statement. It sums up love in a way that we should use it, but don’t.
Love the people around you. Show love, give love. We don’t love enough. Nor is it talked about enough.
The Kiwi way, the Kiwi male way especially, is conditioned to not say “I love you”. Blokes need to “harden up”, to “toughen up’. You don’t want to show what is perceived as weakness or, to use highly offensive phrases, like being a “sissy” or “being a girl” about it. If you have a good mate you make fun of him, you have banter. It’s what we do; most of us are guilty of that – me included.
You may feel uncomfortable about this speech and the common reaction when you are uncomfortable is to joke about it, tease, elbow your mate – “The headmaster just said ‘love’. Weirdo.” Or you might run around in the playground saying “I love you” with no sincerity. You are simply doing this because society has trained you to be uncomfortable around the word “love”. Society has conditioned you to reject it. It’s not your fault. But don’t be scared of love. Be brave, and shake the stigma and immaturity we have as a country. Be more adult than the adults who also struggle with this more than you may realise.
Love is a word you need to understand. You need to get comfortable with it. If we have any chance of reversing the trend of young people feeling helpless, we have a greater chance of overcoming it by caring for each other.
Love your parents. Love your friends. Love thy neighbour. Equally importantly, accept the love from others. Don’t reject it or push it away. Soak it in like the warming rays of sun on your back on a summer’s day.
Now I am not expecting you to run around the playground saying “I love you” to your mates. I expect your teachers won’t say, “thanks for your homework and by the way, I love you”. But love is the only word I can find, the only word I can use, to get through to you how much we actually care for you.
Don’t mistake love for getting your own way, or for everything being fair and kind. Life is hard sometimes. People who love you may make decisions you don’t like.
Those decisions could be not allowing you to go somewhere, or not allowing you to act in a certain way. If you love someone, you want to keep them safe and you want to teach them to be a good person. If you love someone, you might need to give them some feedback they don’t want to hear, but need to hear.
We are tough at this school because we care about you. How do I know you are cared for? You only need to see the care and compassion for our students when something goes horribly wrong – a parent very sick, a traumatic injury.
Love is not soft. Love is not easy. It’s hard, as it requires both strength and vulnerability at the same time, and doing the right thing, not the easy thing, for those you love and those that love you.
Everyone here is cared for. Everyone has people who love them. Your teachers care for you. This school loves you, as I know many of you love this school and, if you don’t at the moment, it is likely that you will look back and realise that, actually, you did – you just didn’t realise it at the time.
If you are struggling, it’s OK. I want each and every one of you to know that you have friends, family, and a school community that deeply cares for you, even if we don’t show it – even if we don’t openly express it. We simply don’t do this enough, and as adults we need to step up. We need to do better if we are to expect you follow our lead. Also, remember time is a tremendous healer – how you feel today, I can assure you, will be different to how you feel next month and next year.
Accept love, and, if you are in the position to give love, to love thy neighbour, then do it. Too many of us only show love when it is too late – at a funeral, or after a life-changing event.
Life is precious.
Please know that each and every one of you is special. Please support each other and those around you.
How can you do this?
Give your family a hug when you get home – just because!
Say “thanks” to those you care about. Show your appreciation – just becausel
If you’re worried about a mate or a family member, open the door – ask are they doing OK – just because!
You are precious.
You are worth it.
You can work through any of life’s challenges.
You are cared for.
A Most Generous Bequest - The Sir Graeme Douglas Dining Room.
The Board of Trustees, staff and young men of the hostel are proud to announce the generous donation from the Sir Graeme Douglas Family Charitable Trust of more than $500,000 to strengthen and refurbish the hostel dining room.
The Board of Trustees, staff and young men of the hostel are proud to announce the generous donation from the Sir Graeme Douglas Family Charitable Trust of more than $500,000 to strengthen and refurbish the hostel dining room.
** Old Boy Receives The International Recognition He Deserves **
The late Darcy Lange will be remembered by many of us for his superb guitar playing (at school he was lead guitarist for the Mark Fives & in later life was a flamenco virtuoso) but he was one of the few who can lay claim to being an international visual artist of stature.
Old Boys Darcy & his brother Newton were from a farming family in Urenui / Ureti.
Darcy's ground-breaking art has been rediscovered and is being featured in Britain's Tate Modern... a wonderful achievement.
See the TVOne video here.
The late Darcy Lange will be remembered by many of us for his superb guitar playing (at school he was lead guitarist for the Mark Fives & in later life was a flamenco virtuoso) but he was one of the few who can lay claim to being an international visual artist of stature.
Old Boys Darcy & his brother Newton were from a farming family in Urenui / Ureti.
Darcy's ground-breaking art has been rediscovered and is being featured in Britain's Tate Modern... a wonderful achievement.
See the TVOne video here.
The Taranakian Archive Now Online
Huge congratulations to the team at the school who spent hours & hours scanning all the old back issues of The Taranakian.
It's been a delight to read the issues from my time at school in the Sixties. There were several references to the school dance band I was involved with at the time (see screen shot below)
The archive begins way back in 1907, so there's plenty to discover and while away the hours.
You can access the Taranakian archive at this address: http://www.npbhs.school.nz/about/taranakians/
Huge congratulations to the team at the school who spent hours & hours scanning all the old back issues of The Taranakian.
It's been a delight to read the issues from my time at school in the Sixties. There were several references to the school dance band I was involved with at the time (see screen shot below)
The archive begins way back in 1907, so there's plenty to discover and while away the hours.
You can access the Taranakian archive at this address: http://www.npbhs.school.nz/about/taranakians/
Book - Carrington
Were you a boarder in Carrington House? Get hold a copy of Max's fascinating history. Available through the school office for just #NZ14.50 plus postage #NPBHS #books
Were you a boarder in Carrington House? Get hold a copy of Max's fascinating history. Available through the school office for just #NZ14.50 plus postage #NPBHS #books
Max Carroll, former housemaster of NPBHS Carrington House, talks about a letter found when the house was demolished.
As the article in the Southland Times says "A scathing letter to a student at New Plymouth Boys' High School in 1930 was among the hidden treasures found during the demolition of Carrington boarding hostel."
As the article in the Southland Times says "A scathing letter to a student at New Plymouth Boys' High School in 1930 was among the hidden treasures found during the demolition of Carrington boarding hostel."