Hero photograph
Allan Goldsmith, Ross Kirkwood, Sue Goldsmith 
 
Photo by T C

64 YEARS COMBINED TEACHING SERVICE!!

T C —

Sue and Allan, here's to a well-deserved and happy retirement!

Four Principals and 32 years later the Goldsmiths are leaving Tauhara for a new life of exploring NZ and the world – Covid-19 permitting. Sue and Allan Goldsmith arrived at Tauhara College from Rarotanga in the Cook Islands in 1988. After living in the tropics for four years, skiing was one of the attractions of Taupo.

Allan was appointed HOD Science as well as Sports Coordinator and a member of the management team.

Allan enjoyed the challenges of restructuring the Mid-Island sports competition, establishing a computer network which included crawling under all of the buildings to run the Cat 5 cable, running the Science Department on $3000 a year and working with students on lighting the plays, musicals (sometimes written by Ross Kirkwood HOD English) and other performances.

As a Biologist Allan also enjoyed taking his senior students to Pureora Forest as well as staying on Mt Ruapehu in Massey Hut.

More recently Allan decided to pass on his knowledge from working in the electronics industry as he could see how electronics and automation were becoming an integral part of the lives of New Zealanders

Sue re-started the Drama Department. Over the years her students competed successfully in the Shakespeare festival and other drama competitions. In 2000 the Drama team won the National Youth Award at the Theatre NZ Short Play Festival and in 2018 the Shakespeare team were selected to perform at the National Festival in Wellington. Both Sue and Allan were involved in numerous school productions and bi-annual Stage Challenges with performances in the gym, in the Drama Room, in the Great Lake Centre and finally in our school hall. Each venue had its own peculiar challenges but every show was a credit to the students and the many staff involved. Sue also took responsibility for Careers for 8 years.

Sue and Allan who met while working at Downstage in Wellington became involved with the Centre Stage Theatre when they arrived in Taupo, Sue as an actor and a director, Allan on the technical side including Technical Director of Hello Dolly the first production in the as then new Great Lake Centre

And yes, they did get to ski, including Allan successfully running the Tauhara College Ski and Snowboard teams for a number of years.

Thank you for your total commitment and loyalty to Tauhara College over the years Sue and Allan.  We wish you well in your retirement and travels.