Hero photograph
MCBB - The Crew
 
Photo by Brendan Biggs

MCBB - "The Crew"

Brendan Biggs —

MCBB – 2021

The “crew” this year have been “solid” – in one word. The lads have taken charge with a Tongan and Samoan leadership team consisting of Fine Waingalo, Apiata Fifita and Letone Loto. These three leave us this year after their year 13 adventures. Apiata joined in 2021 and is such a gentle giant – except when the ketamine wouldn’t knock him out so that his arm could be put back into place so he would fit in the ambulance! His rugby injuries saved many opposition players we could say! Now with his shoulder surgery completed Api heads to employment, then residency and then marriage – his order of play.

Fine has been with us for two years and is currently being head-hunted for rugby in an Italian resort town. I thought it was his skills in gaming, but it could be his favored No8 position too! We wish him luck learning a new language and bulking up on lots of pasta.

Letone Loto has been with MCBB for five years and has been the dance leader in 2021 taking the form-class to victory winning us pizzas for lunch. His skills have not yet been taken up by the music industry but we are sure that this will be a certainty. Letone is the “mover and shaker” of the class and someone I will miss for sure. I have included the photo of him with facial mask – he has always been the picture of “beauty products”.

Another leaver, mid-year, was Finn Hanrahan who left as a year 11 student. But not left from learning, just another institution – headed to the National Trade Academy and into farming as a career. The photo I have of him is his “mad hair cut” – definitely not into hairdressing – what was he thinking?

Star-moments of the year: Charlie Ashton being the top fund raiser for this year’s Shave for a Cure”, Caleb O’Keefe for being the tallest from MCBB, Xavier Anisy checked out medical supplies in Timaru and got up close with his medical fascinations under the knife, Josh Bautista danced his way into record books in Wellington, Mark Andre won best forward of the year and “most polite student of 2021”, Barnaby Phillips loved camp and camp food, Sam Hadfield has moved closer to town and by year 13 he will be in Middlepark Road, Manny Iosefo loved the free ice-creams, Quinn Wheelen has never gone under a 4 for bi-weeklies, Ben Little loved missing out on our free pizza we won as best dancers and finally Nico Heather… well he loved his mum so much that he brought her to class most days – a bit weird but we let him do this! We let Nico’s sister in as well – she might come to STC full-time next year.

Luke Sweeney, year 7, was a special star of the fair this year when he decided to throw himself into the pool in mid-winter. He did what we all said he wouldn’t … brilliant effort Luke. A great moment and a huge accolade received.

An addition to our crew was Richie Tupuailei – prop of the year and future All Black. He has sought refuge from Joyce and came over to this “groovy” bunch. 2022 will see MCBB led by Xavier, Richie and Norman who will no doubt take us on further adventures and scoff any ice creams that I manage to source from my suppliers. Thanks, boys, for the year, keep in touch and remember to keep the xmas messages coming into the future.

By Biggsie and Rylee – the class dog.