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Pride in Belonging
Autumn 2025
Welcome to this Gravel, our first newsletter for the year. A short southerly at the start of March reminds us that summer is starting to recede, and it is time to get on with the good things that come next. Here at the Old Boys', 2025 is shaping up to be a great year with good events and important steps as we strengthen our Association. I hope you will find some opportunity during the year to be involved with ROBA and enjoy the benefits of having been at Rathkeale.
Scholarships
As we seek to expand our scholarship program, we congratulate our recent recipients. The ROBA Entrance Scholarship for the son of an Old Boy enrolling in 2025 has been awarded to young Dean Winlove, the son of Mark Winlove (1995-99) who now works at Smedley Station in Hawke's Bay.
The James Meikle Scholarship is new to our program and is a continuation of the James Meikle Shrewsbury Scholarship Trust fund that assisted leaving students take gap years after Year 13. Our first award of this new scholarship was to Archie Lambert in November 2024. Archie is currently enjoying his gap year at Caldicott School in England. We are very grateful to the former trust and the Meikle family for gifting this fund to ROBA.
Sons of Old Boys
Last year we marked the first third-generation students at Rathkeale, their grandfathers and fathers both being Old Boys. This year, in a similar first, we congratulate Jeongmin Son of Seoul, Korea, for sending his son Jonathan back to Rathkeale as the first son of an international student. This is a great milestone for our growing body of members who came to Rathkeale as international students.
Rathkeale Old Boys' Cricket Club
Our club had its annual hit out against the College 1st XI on a beautiful January day on the Oval. Our team, managed by Duncan Didsbury (1990-94) and led by Sam Orsborn (1989-93), turned up a little lethargically and the College's 161 seemed defendable. But youth was no match for age and experience or, to put it more bluntly, Andy Dodd's 71 off 42 balls. It was a confident, efficient and even nonchalant knock with 13 boundaries. Not too many trots down the track were needed. When Andy (2004-07) retired, the result was in the bag and the barbecue could be started early.
This is a great day out in a beautiful setting with ROBA hosting a barbecue which is enjoyed by both teams and supporters. Keep an eye out for next years' match date in January. Dave Pereira (2007-11) distinguished himself in the individual barbecue section with a special commendation for his level of catering.
Old Boys' Honours Tie
On Thursday 27 March 2025, ROBA will be awarding an Old Boys' Honours Tie to Old Boy Paul Morgan CNZM (Ngati Rarua, Te Atiawa, Nga Puhi) (1967-71) for his outstanding achievements in business and Maori leadership, including through his role as the Chair of the Wakatu Incorporation. Paul featured in the 2022 Rockrunner.
This award is for Old Boys who have achieved exceptionally in their field of endeavour after Rathkeale. In 2022 we awarded it to Don French, the first mountaineer to climb New Zealand's top 100 peaks and in 2023 to Sir Maarten Wevers for his career as a leading diplomat and public servant. Like theirs, Paul's portrait will be unveiled for its display in the Auditorium where students can literally, look up to his example. Old Boys are invited to attend the presentation of the award at 1:30 PM on Thursday 27 March in the Auditorium. Afternoon tea will be served in School House following the assembly. An indication from those likely to attend would be appreciated to oldboys@rathkealeoldboys.org.nz.
2025 Decade Reunions
Our King's Birthday Weekend Decade Reunions are now well established as our main event of the year. If your last year at Rathkeale was, would have been, 1965, '75, '85, '95, 2005 or 2015, then this is your year. Decade Reunions bring whole year groups back to Rathkeale for a weekend of celebrating our connection as Old Boys and our connection to the College. From the Friday night drinks function, to regional activities and hospitality, this is a weekend of renewing old friendships, reminiscing, visiting old haunts and enjoying what is to be an Old Boy.
More information about the 2025 Decade Reunions is on our website at https://www.rathkealeoldboys.org.nz/reunions. If you are not already in touch with your year group leader, they are:
Class Cohort
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Coordinator
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Email
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Phone
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1975
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Lochie MacGillivray
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027 448 6501
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1985
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Rob des Tombe
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027 261 5477
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1995
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Josh Byers
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021 904 383
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2005
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Eli Vollebregt
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027 304 2914
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2015
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John McKeefry
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027 232 2097
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Scott Day
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027 821 4379
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School House Centenary
School House, the grand old heart of the school, turns 100 this year. Originally, the Maunsell Homestead from 1925, it was the first school building and boarding house, home to headmasters, staff and matrons, and, up until 1987 for many of us, our first place of abode at Rathkeale as third formers. Since then, it has served as a Senior College, music rooms and holds the Archive Room. Its pool remains unheated! School House holds a commanding position on arrival through the gates, and, for many of us, still holds special memories. I keenly remember doing prep in the Common Room on a winter's night with the fire blazing.
To celebrate the role of the house in the school, the College will be holding a celebration on 22 August 2025 including the unveiling of a significant bronze sculpture by Paul Dibble MNZM in the upgraded rear garden (facing the school). That evening, ROBA will be hosting a celebratory dinner in School House to celebrate a century of people and events within its walls. We expect tickets for this formal event to sell quickly on a first in, first served basis, with details to be advertised in June.
New Rules for ROBA
Like all incorporated societies, the Old Boys' Association needs to update our rules to comply with the Incorporated Societies Act 2023. Virtually every club and society around the country is going through the same exercise and many of you will be involved with those. If you have any particular thoughts about what our new constitution should provide for, please let us know at oldboys@rathkealeoldboys.org.nz. We will be publishing a new draft constitution for consultation by the middle of the year with adoption to occur at the AGM in November.
A Generous Gift
ROBA is extremely grateful to a particular Old Boy who recently gifted a parcel of forestry shares to ROBA. While not particularly significant to him, they have already provided important income to ROBA this year and we thank him for it. If you have an asset that you are considering disposing of, please consider whether ROBA would be a worthy recipient of it, or its proceeds.
Charitable Donations
Following interest generated at recent Decade Reunions, ROBA is investigating the best means by which Old Boys can support our activities through a charitable donation. While ROBA is not a charitable organisation, other organisations associated with the College are, and we are investigating how we can work with them to ensure members can support our joint aims.
In Memoriam
Sadly, as our older members age, we hear of those who have passed. Even more tragically, we also learn of those younger members who have died through illness, accident, or other misadventure. ROBA intends to create an in-memoriam page on our website on which we will list those who have died in each year. If you learn of the loss of a member, please let us know at oldboys@rathkealeoldboys.org.nz.
Regional Functions
Wellington members enjoyed a function at the St John's Bar in October last spring and we hope to have functions in Hawke's Bay and Auckland this year. Look out for details.
Of course, groups of Old Boys organise their own events and gatherings all the time, and we would love to hear about those (please send photos). Next week I will be driving the Nevis and Thompson Tracks from Queenstown to Kurow with great mates, Campbell Head and James Treadwell from our year. Ours has become an annual Old Boys' designated 4WD trip. I hope your autumn has some similar adventures, be it travel, duck shooting or the annual boys' trip away.
Winter Sports Fixtures
The traditional intercollegiate winter sporting fixtures are often fertile ground for meeting up with Old Boys. This year they are on 20 May (HIBS - away), 18 June (Whanganui - home) and 22 July (Lindisfarne - away).
Conclusion
Best wishes for 2025. Along with our committee, I look forward to seeing you during the year.
Edward Cox
President
Rathkeale Old Boys' Association
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