Where are they now? 1986 Waimate High School alumni share their stories with current WHS students at Rotary Club of Waimate evening.

Last night I had the privilege of attending an inspiring evening with five alumni from the Waimate High School “Class of 1986”. Eleven of my peers and Mrs Shearer also attended the Rotary Club “Where Are They Now” evening at the Town and Country Club. Thank you to Ewan McKenzie and the Rotary Club of Waimate for inviting us as it was an interesting and informative night.

First, we heard from Gautam Rajendra (Raj), President Elect, from the Rotary Club of Kathmandu about the work his club is doing in Nepal and his appreciation for the financial support provided by the Rotary Club of Waimate.

We also heard about the work of the Rotary Foundation and upcoming fundraising plans. The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

Then came the main event of the evening which was hearing from five 1986 Waimate High School alumni who had a wealth of valuable experience to share:

• Nathan Richardson: former Officer in the New Zealand Army and now works in the IT industry.

• Louise Becker: a company operations manager, an author, presenter, and speaker.

• John Penno: instigator and developer of the Synlait dairy company and past CEO and Board Chairman.  Now involved in developing other companies mainly linked to the food industry. 

• Mark McKenzie: part of the team that built the 50000-hectare Central Plains Irrigation Company in Canterbury, now the Operations and Software Manager.

• Darryl Bond: worked in the accounting and commerce industry plus worked internationally out of New York for a worldwide software company. He is now a publisher and editor for The Lindsider magazine.

I asked for feedback from my fellow students, and all were grateful to be invited. Sam stated it was a very interesting night and he enjoyed hearing about life perspectives. Repo said his take aways were the importance of having a positive, can-do and ‘number 8 wire’ attitude, and surrounding yourself with optimistic and supportive people. Nicole enjoyed her interesting conversations with members, finding it insightful and interesting life advice. Jayden enjoyed hearing the different perspectives and the alumni life journeys. Ava said it was good hearing general life and career advice.

As I listened to the remarkable stories of our 1986 alumni, it demonstrated the lasting impact of our school on their personal and professional journeys.  John Penno, Mark McKenzie, Nathan Richardson, Louise Becker, and Darryl Bond shared valuable insights into their career journeys, highlighting the importance of resilience, hard work, and adaptability. Their passion and dedication to their fields left a lasting impression on me and my fellow students. It reminded us that our dreams are within reach, and that our own pathways to success are waiting to be forged. It was an unforgettable experience, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from these inspirational role models.

Rotary International is one of the largest service organisations in the world with Rotary Clubs bringing together people across generations who wish to create lasting change in the world, in their communities, and in themselves. Waimate High School Head Prefects are honorary members of the Rotary Club of Waimate and provide a link between the Rotary Club and Waimate High School.