PIA Prize giving 2024

Another year under our belts and despite all expectations we seem to have peaked again. Every year I state we are celebrating the best year ever and here we are again. 2024 saw pia officially become The ODT Rural Champions - spending our prize money on a tow behind BBQ for the school, we are also The Rural News Heros, were awarded the FCANZ recognition of service to the industry, qualified for 3 national fencing finals coming 1st & 2nd, NZ Secondary schools, runner up U21’s and 5th U31’s. We were 2nd in the Regional Junior Young Farmer and placed at the National Final. We add Tom Batty, Lachie O’Connell and Ella Hole into our GOAT (Greatest of all Time) - taking the total in this group to 13 across the 13 years PIA has been running.

A special mention goes to Ella Hole who has received the Lincoln University Vice Chancellors Scholarship - A hugely prestigious award which covers the duration of her study at Lincoln. Well Done.

 

Competing on the National stage, and for the fencers competing in the adult world, it can be easy to forget just how talented our students are. That in a national sense we are truly unique Primary Sector Trail Blazers. The envy of all we meet. How fortunate we are that their families entrusted GHS to add to their child’s education and be part of all the awesomeness and talent that make up teenagers.

 

Fun Facts

Team PIA are

❖    the youngest ever competitors in the Silver Staples,

❖    the youngest ever competitors in the Adult Goldpine Fencing Competition,

❖    the only school to have qualified for both events,

❖    the first team ever to qualify for both the above events,

❖    the youngest winners of the Aorangi Region fencing,

❖    they are 16,

❖    they are super awesome,

❖    and Team Leader has been to 9 Young Farmer National Finals.

 

As always, the PIA awesomeness could not happen without our fabulous parents and community plus our incredible team of sponsors: With special mention to Struan Moore from Strainrite, Stihl, Geraldine Lions and Stoney Creek. And lastly NZ Fencing, in particular Kim & Owen Peterson, Nick Leifting and Paul Van Beers. Thank you. It is no mean feat entering all these competitions from the A&P Shows to fencing; there are many many unseen voluntary hours in organisation and practice.

 

People could be forgiven for feeling PIA success fatigue. We seem to be very good at getting things done and making things happen.

What is it about PIA that makes us so successful?

 

We are a unique, practically-minded group who have a talent for problem-solving, working under pressure and are able to suck it up when the going gets tough. We have a strong sense of fairness - learnt the hard way and seem to always be up for a challenge - although this last attribute is probably down to having a healthy sense of fear of Team Leader, who has worked long and hard in this area. There is nothing we can’t do…Bat our eyelashes, smile nicely, anything is possible.

 

Looking ahead we are the driving force behind Secondary Schools’ fencing and are currently in negotiations with NZ Young Farmers and NZ Fencing to expand this.

 

The PIA prize giving is about recognising the achievements of all our students, not just the prize winners. They have all grown so much since that first application interview back in the day. Looking back who would have thought we could have achieved so much? 

 

To our students - your CV is the envy of your peers. Continue to be totally incredible. Strive to be like your favourite teachers - Sarah & Sally. Aim to be superior drivers and never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

Leader Board - Go Us!!

●      1st, 2nd, 4th, NZ Secondary Schools Fencing

●      1st, 2nd, 3rd Goldpine Aorangi Young Farmer U31 Fencing

●      5th Goldpine National Final

●      2nd, 3rd NZ U21 Silver Staples Final

●      1st, 2nd, 3rd Point Lumber Secondary Schools fencing MacKenzie Show

●      2nd FMG Junior Young Farmer Aorangi Final

●      Special Recognition awards FCANZ Service to Fencing Industry

●      ODT Rural Champion, Rural Life Rural Heros