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Regulus
Leadership and Governance
1
From
Rector
the
There was a real buzz around
St Andrew’s at the start of 2015.
Academic results were some of the
best ever. We began with the largest
roll on record, and the campus was
looking fabulous with the repairs from
earthquake damage largely completed,
the new Gymnasium and Chapel ground
remediation underway. A number of
celebratory assemblies recognised
the academic success and leadership
of our students and very quickly the
students settled into their studies and
busy co-curricular sports and activities.
Amongst all this activity is our continued
connection with our Old Collegians
and once again I am reminded of the
strength of St Andrew’s relationships.
John Strowger (Dux 1980), a partner at
Chapman Tripp law firm in Auckland,
returned to be guest speaker at our
Academic Assembly and it was
wonderful to see him and Wil Undy
(Dux 2014) quickly establish a
relationship and swap contact details.
Wil gained six Scholarships making
him one of the top scholars in
New Zealand and John Strowger was
quick to recognise his potential.
There are connections made and
doors opened for St Andrew’s College
alumni by Old Collegians all over the
world. Kate Baker in our Alumni office
keeps us informed of the wonderful
successes of our ex-students and at
times links our young people with
those who can be helpful to them.
At our recent Founders’ Day, a number
of Old Collegians (Year 9, 1955) returned
to the College for their 60 Years On
reunion and it was special to have them
as our guests at the special laying of
the foundation stone ceremony for
our new Chapel. It was 63 years ago,
in 1952 that the foundation stone
for the Memorial Chapel was laid by
Rev. A.T. Thompson, the Founder of
the College. So this year, as the entire
College witnessed the ceremony on
20 March 2015, there was a real sense
of connection with what has gone
before. Both the original foundation
stone of the Memorial Chapel and the
new foundation stone were blessed and
will lie side by side in the new Chapel.
In my Founders’ Day speech this year
I referred to a quote by American
historian Stephen Ambrose, “The past
All students gathered on the banks of the Strowan Steam to witness the laying of the foundation stone ceremony. (Top right) Val Wells and Alan Beanland
(OC 1942) arrive for the ceremony; (Middle) Rector Christine Leighton talks with Chapel architect Patrick Clifford.