Mrs. Pauline Duthie's 2018 prizegiving speech.

The past is behind: learn from it,

The future is ahead: prepare for it,

The present is here: live it.

E ngā mana,

E ngā reo,

E ngā iwi o te motu

Rau rangaia ma

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

From its beginning in 1877, CGHS has only ever been a purpose built school for girls. And if there is one thing that we can learn from our rich past it is that the CGHS community values education. That for 141 years the education of young women has been held at a premium. It is perhaps mindful to reflect that such a statement is not true for all communities or societies. The world we live in did not and in many cases still does not value the education of girls. This fundamental principle of equity of access to the same type education for both sexes is one of the reasons our school has opposed the Ministry of Education’s proposed zoning scheme that, as it stands currently, allows for 400 more places for boys than girls at state single sex schools. Something that in 2018 we should hopefully acknowledge as just wrong! Because if education, as GK Chesterton suggested, is the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another, then we should challenge inequities if we see them.

CGHS has served its community and society well. By offering a holistic approach to education which covers academic, sporting, cultural, service and pastoral dimensions then in the course of its 141 years over 25 000 young women including 180 leaving this year have benefited from having this institution help prepare them for the future and shape the young women they will become. I wonder if the three doctors, Ada McLaren, Jessie Scott and Jessie Maddison, educated at CGHS, who served in WWW1, at military hospitals in Serbia and England, ever realised what an amazing accomplishment that was for women of their time? And if they would be proud, as I am, that their old school still enables students to develop their capabilities by providing them with many and varied opportunities to do so in a safe and supportive environment.

A good education is the lightest thing we can carry with us through life and it helps prepare us for the future ahead. It has been said that the best way to predict your future is to create it yourself. John Schaar, an American scholar and political theorist put it more eloquently when he said:

“The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present,but a place that is created—created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination."

So Year 13 my challenge to you as you leave here is to dream your dreams and then chase them. Be the creators and adventurers who try to make them a reality. And even if the end result may not be what you originally imagined, through the process you will have learned and grown both from mistakes and successes. Most importantly, however, you will have shaped your own future and not had it predetermined by others.

So if we learn from our past and create our own future, the opening saying challenges us to live our present. Life is not a dress rehearsal. This year many exciting things have happened: building wise the fourth floor was finally opened for business and is a wonderful blend of learning spaces, both cellular and collaborative.

On the sporting front we have had many notable successes, not the least has been third in national Federation Cup for hockey, making the top four nationally once again at the Condor 7s, achieving outstanding national athletics results and placing second in the national cricket competition.

On the cultural and arts front our Pasikifa students performed with pride at Polyfest and our Maori students with distinction at Manu Korero. Cantrices won Outstanding work by a choir with a first-time conductor and Outstanding Performance of a Contemporary/ Commercial Composition at the Big Sing. Song and Dance came back to school with the gala performance to celebrate our new PAC.

Students gave back to their community with our traditional Easter support of Cholmondeley and Brackenridge. Pink Day again raised funds for Breast Cancer research and the Health classes organised the school’s annual blood drive. The handbag appeal for women’s refuge also showed that our students are aware of the needs of our wider community.

Our students continue to accumulate hundreds of thousands of dollars in tertiary scholarships and our young economists continue to perform outstandingly well in national competitions such as the treasury schools challenge. We strive to make the curriculum authentic for our students and English classes for example had the opportunity to hear Holocaust survivor Vivienne Spiegel speak at school. Science classes regularly go to Rutherford’s Den and students showcase their productions at their own film festival. Overseas trips provide another opportunity to students to grow. In 2019 we have had a trip to France and one that is currently with World Challenge in Myanmar.

On the Health and Safety front who can forget our first lock down practice or the protocols and last minute change of location when the Governor General visited to open our new building. This year we also consulted on uniform additions. So in 2019, among other things, shorts will make an appearance as will ties for every year levels.

On a personal note, I have always held a philosophy that principals have a shelf life of somewhere between 5-10 years. Five years ago the Board placed their faith in me by appointing me as principal. I hope I have repaid that trust in some small measure. And while our building programme started earlier than anticipated, it is not completed - a regret that I will leave with. I note also that I started with a brunette bob and now seemed to have greyed somewhat.

However, five years are up for me and I have a mother not living in this city to whom I wish to be nearer. As an only child, I believe I would regret that I had an opportunity to be closer to her and didn’t take it. I’m unlikely to get that opportunity again. So this is my final prize-giving as principal at CGHS.

As with the Oscars, there are a number of people to thank. The board brings extensive expertise to the table and provide strong governance and guidance for the school’s operations. Under their careful watch, the buildings will be completed. I need to acknowledge Mike Lay, Cymon Allfrey, Julian Bowden – three board chairmen I have been fortunate to work with during my time. Louise Green has also been on this journey through my entire 5 years and is a stalwart champion for the school as are Jennifer Goldsmith, Brian Northern and Heather Harding.

Staff are also committed on-going learners. A sincere thank you to all staff for the care, effort and professionalism they bring to education. They are a dedicated group who possess the genuine desire to see our students succeed. I especially wish to thank the senior leadership team of Peter Sawyer, Sonja Bailey, LJ Peawini and Rob Frier for their support and constructive thinking over this year and the last five years. Dee Guillemot and her boarding team have so ably created a safe, structured and caring space for those who live away from home. That Dee has done this while coping with her own person challenges this year and that our hostel is remains the envy of other schools around New Zealand is remarkable. Chris Miller and all the support staff have kept the books balanced, my spending in check and ensured the administrative side of school has run smoothly. They are an efficient, well organised team.

Organisations such as the PTA and Matai Foundation work tirelessly raising funds to keep CGHS ahead of the game.

It is also appropriate to thank teaching staff who are leaving us this year: Chloe Williamson, Jo Clarke, Megan Queree, Jiao Jiao Qiao, Ruby Marshall, Jenny Whelan, Noel Isaac, Annie Ffowcs Williams, Tegan Patrick, Clyde Smith, Marg Flyberg, JieTong Xing, Laura McLeod, Fiona Logie and Liz McDowell. Carolyn Heyward Judd has year’s leave. I wish them all well on the next stages of their journey.

So to all the people I have interacted with over the last 5 years, a huge thank you.

All staff and trustees - academic, administration, boarding, support, grounds – work together to create an environment that enables our students to soar.

Finally I want to pay tribute and say a sincere thank you to all the fantastic girls and their families for their support. Parents and grand-parents link our past and present while our daughters and granddaughters connect our present to the future. The young women at CGHS inspire me with their enthusiasm and joy for learning and life.

So girls: stride forward purposefully but look back kindly. Live your life. Create your own future. Remember in an increasingly demanding and stressful world, the things that are constant. Hold firm to your values and know what is non-negotiable for you. I see before me a wonderful collection of young women: articulate, positive, resilient and full of potential and I thank you all.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.