Donnell Dudley's thoughts on 2017

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha tena koutou katoa.

Ki nga tama, nga kaiako, nga matua hoki kua tae mai nei i tenei wa, he mihi nui, he mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa.Ka haere mai ki te awhi me tautoko i nga momoho hakinakina o nga tama o tenei kura.No reira tena koutou tena koutou huri noa i te whare, tena ra tatou katou. 

Firstly I would like to introduce my self, I am Donnell Dudley the Senior sports captain at St Thomas for 2017. This year has been one for the ages in our schools short history, we have punched well above our weight and have gained attention, more importantly respect from bigger schools not just in Christchurch but nationwide.

I would like to give huge thanks for the determination and commitment from parents and coaches who took time out of their busy lives with their own families to train us into hard working athletes and respectful STC men. This dedication from you has taught us that in order to reach the goals we set we have to dig in and put the effort in, and for many boys at St Thomas their efforts are being recognised tonight so I would like to congratulate all who a receiving awards tonight, you have done your whanau and yourself proud.

St Thomas sport has jumped in leaps and bounds over the past 10 months with a total of 21 boys getting an international trial for their respective sports. This has shown the amount of talent we have and with the momentum we have now who knows what the future will have for our school.

Thanks also goes to our two sports coordinators Nev Brooker and Daniel Kahura the amount of work these lads have to do behind the scenes is unreal and doesn’t go unnoticed. They have helped Isaac Beaver and myself throughout the year and we have had the privilege of expanding our leadership skills through various trips we have attended.

I have loved every second of my sporting life at St Thomas from my first tournament with our rugby team down to Queenstown to my last tournament with our 4th placed Rugby League team. All tournaments and trips away shaped who I am today I feel the banter we share, laughs, roasts made you get out of your comfort zone and made for a mean time away with the brothers and I will cherish that forever.

Donnell Dudley