Kia ora everyone! Our names are Mereana Martin and Billie Allan, and we have the pleasure of being the Head and Deputy Head Girl for 2022 at Queen’s High School.

As Head Girl, I have the privilege of introducing a small snippet into Billie Allan, whom I’m excited to work alongside this year. Billie and I have grown up together since our very first day at Queen’s in 2018. Since then, Billie has had a huge involvement in extracurricular activities in and out of school, as well as helping out where she could. In her time at school, Billie has been a student librarian, a student council representative, enviro-group member, interact member, sports council representative, arts council representative, participated in ethics olympiad, relay for life and tournament of minds. This is just to name a few. 

Due to her early involvement with so many people and activities during her first years of high school, Billie quickly discovered her passion and talent for aerobics when she joined the Queen’s High School Aerobics Team in 2019. From competing in the pre-choreographed category in 2019, she now competes in the highest category; the senior open only four years into her aerobics journey. It’s safe to say that she has gained a pretty impressive array of awards including four national individual and pair titles, Six trophies at regional and national level, and most recently at the end of 2021 both she and Saige Evans came third in the online FISAF World Aerobics competition. Billie also loves sharing her talents within Queen’s as well as out in the community. Billie Allan is an exceptionally talented individual whom I can’t wait to see excel further into her role of the Queen’s High School 2022 Deputy Head Girl.

As the 2022 Deputy Head Girl, I feel beyond thrilled and excited to be able to work alongside Mereana and the rest of our team this year! Mereana has always contributed to the Queen’s life here at school. She has a love for geography, P.E and painting, and has been involved in many activities which have included the PEAK athlete development programme, sports council and student council. All of this has been with smiles and the love she shares to those who surround her. 

She has also been heavily involved in the sporting side here, competing in the 9A, 10A and Senior A Netball teams, as well as coaching the 10B team last year. However it is through the water sports that she thrives the most.  This is through competitive swimming, water polo and surf life saving. She is an athlete in the NZ water polo age group development squad, in the Otago water polo U18 team, and is a senior women's representative as well as coaching and reefing for other water polo teams. In regards to surf life saving, she is a surf life-guard at the St Clair Club and competes too, previously winning third in the mixed beach relay for nationals. It’s fair to say that she is a pretty incredible individual and I can’t wait to see what more she accomplishes and who she inspires throughout 2022.

I also think it is worth sharing with you all that Mereana is following in her mum's footsteps. Her mum, Jane Lesley, was Head Girl in 1984. How cool is that!

Despite past and present challenges we have faced through COVID, we are determined to help give our whole Queen’s family a high school experience to remember for this year, even if our smiles and laughs are behind masks or at home. We are beyond excited to be sharing this experience with you all, and with our Queen’s whānau surrounding us, we say bring on 2022!

Mereana and Billie x