Kia ora koutou

We are delighted to send you our Alumni newsletter, celebrating many notable ex-students. We are also excited to share the new Alumni page on the revamped school website www.otagogirls.school.nz. Mrs Cheree Henderson, an ex-girl herself, has led the website redevelopment and is very interested in sharing our alumni stories. 

The school is in good heart and one of our strategic goals for 2024-26 is living the values and culture of our school. Part of this important goal is celebrating the long line of women who went before us at the school. We welcome visitors at any time and are keen to connect with the ex-girl associations whenever we can. Please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

We are into the last 12 months of our Alumni Appeal, aimed at raising much needed funds for our Nautilus Chorale choir, the rowers and Wairua Pūhou, our kapa haka performance group. These activities are targeted because they have large ongoing costs associated with them. Please consider if you are able to donate some money to this most worthy appeal, which will be split equally between all three groups. The process for donation is outlined at the back of the Appeal brochure (attached below this article) and on our website under the Alumni tab. All donors will be acknowledged - privately or publicly by choice. We rely entirely on fundraising for many activities and this is a great way of giving back to your school.

We continue to receive memorabilia and historic items associated with the school and love to hear stories associated with these gifts. Many thanks to the people who have returned treasures or prizes, books or badges to the school as these form a link with the past and contribute to the ongoing narrative of our school. 

Our school year is continuing apace and we have had two truly fabulous terms this far. Recently our Year 12 band ‘Landline’ was placed third in the regional Rockquest finals with last year’s winner ‘The Burberry Scarves’ also going on into the national final. We held our sell-out season of the OGHS/OBHS Combined Production ‘Legally Blonde’ directed by our own drama teacher, Ms Danielle Veenvliet and produced by Ms Charlotte Hayward. Our Nautilus Chorale girls’ choir is  delighted to have been selected for the South Island Big Sing Cadenza event in August.  Jade Wilson in Year 12 gained second place in the senior Korimako English section regional Manu Korero Māori Public Speaking competition. Tanya Moeono won the regional Race-Unity speech competition and traveled to Auckland where she placed in the top seven nationally taking away several awards. Aisha Rizwan went through to the  Rotary Four-Way Test final where she took away third place. Public speaking continues to be buoyant. We also enjoyed Swimming Sports, Year 11 Geography Camp to Mount Cook, Year 10 Marae trip to Puketeraki Marae, hosting a ‘Prefects Unite’ event for 200 prefects from across Otago and also hosting 700 Otago history students to a talk by Little Rock Nine member Minnijean Brown-Trickey and her daughter Spirit in conversation about the Black Civil Rights movement in America. Our talented teacher, Mrs Kirsten Parkinson, a Kai Tahu artist, masterminded the Matariki Science Festival drone display and our own Wairua Pūhou kapa haka group preformed at several Matariki events.  We finished the term with the Year 12 Formal at Glenfalloch and the House Haka Competition. 

In sport, Teuila Tasi-Cordtz and Giselle Hagan were selected for the 2024 Netball New Zealand Development Camp for 2024. Immy Morey placed 6th in the International FISAF Women's Youth Section at FISAF Pacific Open Aerobics Competition and has been selected for the New Zealand Team to compete in the FISAF World Championships in Brazil later this year. Emelia Adamson set an impressive Otago School high jump record at 166 cms at the Otago Athletics Championships, Jade Wilson won the Senior Girls 100m and 100m hurdles and Lisa Lokman was the Senior Girls High Jump and Triple Jump champion. The U14 4x100m relay came second and the Senior Girls first. Jessie McGrouther won the Senior Girls Hammer title. In Cricket we were awarded the Gillette Venus Bates Cup. Emily Aubin, Rowan Wilson, and Jorja Hobbs participated in the R66T Dubai Cup and a T20 and T10 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) women's team in Abu Dhabi. They represented the South Island U15 Girls' Cricket team at the prestigious R66T Dubai Cup. 

In Cross country the OGHS Senior Cross Country team runners are the Otago-Southland Cross Country Champions! Year 10 student, Sophie Beaumont, qualified for the World Darts Masters in Europe in October and Laney Whitson was selected for the U20 NZ Maori Football team to travel to Hawaii in July for the Hawaiian International Football Festival. Sophie Sam represented New Zealand in Bulgaria in the Under 18 Ice Hockey tournament winning a gold medal. Jennifer Sutherland was selected for the New Zealand Women's team for Petanque. Year 9 student, Julia Hodgson was second in Otago and third in the South Island for Triathlon and continues to impress in cycling and water events.

We are excited to finally have delivery of our two brand new school vans. We are grateful for a bequest in 2023 from the estate of Judith Anne Hislop of $100,000 which has funded both vans, with assistance from the school. Judith was born in 1938 and attended OGHS during the years 1951-1953 before transferring to an Auckland school. This bequest is a treasured and meaningful contribution to our school going forward for the girls.

With deep sadness, we acknowledge the passing of Dr. Judith Medlicott CNZM, a distinguished alumna of Otago Girls' High School and a prominent lawyer. Judith's journey began at Otago Girls' High School from 1954 to 1958, where she exhibited early signs of leadership and compassion.

After her time at Otago Girls' High School, Judith embarked on a successful career in law, known for her unwavering commitment to justice and integrity. She was not only a trailblazer and role model for women but also one of Otago’s most esteemed academics.

Judith's legacy as a dedicated leader in law and community service will continue to inspire. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends, honouring her profound impact and enduring legacy of service and leadership.

We also note the sad passing of 2014 graduate, Madeleine Schwass, who fought a brave battle with cancer. She will be remembered for her outgoing and generous personality and her embodiment of the school value of positivity. Madeleine was another true ‘Otago Girl’ in all that she did during her time at school. We send sympathy to her family and friends, including her fiance, Henry.

Stay warm and enjoy the gifts of Winter. We look forward to our Spring get-together with you all on 18th October in the school hall at 5pm. 

Ngā mihi nui