Issue 27 - Sept 2011 - Scots College

THE WEBB ELLIS CUP AT SCOTS COLLEGE
The Webb Ellis Cup visited Scots College in June as part of its nationwide tour. Prep, secondary
and staff alike all eagerly lined up to have their photo taken with the Cup. Now we just need
our All Blacks (including Scots Old Boy Victor Vito) to help us keep it here in New Zealand!
We saw the Webb Ellis Cup. It was cool and so
shiny. It was beautiful! We had some photos.
Big Brown got to touch it. I had a photo by
myself. I liked the golden Webb Ellis Cup.
Stanley Solomon, 2JP
The McMahons – A Cricketing Family
Ben McMahon is the current Captain of
the Scots College First XI cricket team,
but what you may not know, is that he is
carrying on a strong family tradition.
His father Phil McMahon, and uncles
Campbell and Scott, were also captains of
their respective teams while at Scots, while
his other uncle Craig also played cricket
at the school. All four also represented
Wellington at various age group levels.
Ben McMahon.
We saw the Webb Ellis Cup. It was fun! We
couldn’t touch the cup. The cup is very
delicate. I think NZ will win the Rugby
World Cup 2011.
Joshua Timmer, 2JP
The McMahon brothers continued the tradition
of groups of brothers going through the
college. L to R: Campbell, Craig, Scott and
Philip.
Ben’s grandfather, Trevor, was a New
Zealand wicketkeeper and played test
cricket for New Zealand during the late
1950s. He also coached the Scots College
teams.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, the
school didn’t have the facilities, equipment
or coaching it has available now. Practice
pitches were old and poorly prepared, and
We saw the Webb Ellis Cup. It was cool
but it was a shame that we couldn’t touch
it but it was cool looking at it. It was fun
having pictures with it. It was awesome!
Big Brown got to hug it. I got to have a
picture with my brother Calvin.
Marco Muollo, 2JP
the game pitches weren’t much better,
while the gear was old and well-used by
everyone.
This was reflected in the game scores,
although Scots did manage to beat (or
draw with) traditional rivals such as St
Andrew’s, Lindisfarne and Rathkeale
during the McMahon boys’ time.
The McMahon family are all very
impressed and excited about the
opportunities the development of the
new Covered Sports Centre presents to
current and future students at Scots. As
Phil says, it should have “not only cricketers,
but all sporting students jumping out of
their skins with enthusiasm” – an attitude
shared by his brothers.
Scott further commented that it looks
to be “a truly impressive indoor facility …
which will be very welcome on those wet
Wellington days. Students are extremely
fortunate to have such a fantastic facility
situated within the college grounds.”
PRINCIPAL’S PEN
LEADERSHIP – A MUCH
NEEDED EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE
Despite popular belief, students are not born leaders. They are nurtured in an environment
that provides opportunities to take on responsibilities that, with the required guidance and
assistance, will see them serve others for the greater good of the team, group or community.
We are fortunate at Scots to provide such
an environment that requires our boys
to stand up and be counted and to step
outside their comfort zone by providing
such opportunities. Having the full range of
ages in our school environment where there
is such a difference in needs and obviously
maturity, we can develop leadership
opportunities at a number of levels. From
College prefects to Prep School leaders, to
various sports and cultural leaders, even
down to the Year 3 student helping the
younger members of his Syndicate, we are
able to provide meaningful roles that will
allow students to assume responsibility.
Successful leaders earn the respect of
their peers and those younger by their
actions and genuine interest and not due
to their seniority or prowess.
Over the years I have been at Scots I
have been amazed at what our boys can
achieve when given the opportunity. From
addressing an audience of 500 plus at an
end of year prizegiving, to leading a sports
team on the field or a performing arts group,
our boys have risen to the challenge. This
doesn’t just happen however, as a lot of
work goes on behind the scenes by parents,
coaches and staff to ensure boys are aware
of expectations and suitably prepared
regarding possible content or focus. I have
also found that age and title is not a barrier
for leadership as all boys thrive when given
the opportunity, providing it also meets their
particular expertise or confidence level.
As we prepare to move to the three school
model, further opportunities will become
available for our students to take on board
leadership roles which will only enhance the
educational experience that Scots College
offers. A willingness to be a great role model,
honesty, being prepared to serve others,
using initiative, discerning right from wrong,
empathy and being willing to put in the hard
yards are the only prerequisites needed for
successful leadership.
Having just returned from taking a senior
and junior rugby team to South America I
can only applaud the Senior boys for their
genuine care, friendship and leadership
afforded to the Junior team. They have left
a legacy that will be upheld by these juniors
as they assume seniority in the years ahead.
What more could we wish for?
Farewell to Heather Rogers
We said goodbye in June to Heather Rogers
who had been working at Scots College for
nearly a quarter of a century. Following are
excerpts from her farewell speech.
“There are not many of us “dinosaurs”
left at Scots – only Giles Moiser and Adrian
Slack now remain who were here when
I first joined. I have seen a huge number
of staff come and go … including 4
Headmasters and 4 Head Teachers.
I started working at Scots with the
Headmaster’s Secretary in what is now
the Headmaster’s reception area. Also in
that small space was Jean Purchase and
her photocopier. Across the foyer were the
Bursar and Accountant. We were, in fact,
the Admin team for the whole College.
The Primary (Prep) School had no
Admin staff then, so I also worked for
Conal Atkins, the Head Teacher.
Some years later my role was split in two
and I did half a day each in the Secondary
and Primary Schools. My Primary School
“office” was half of the corridor outside two
offices attached to the current Secondary
Art Block. Eventually, I worked full time for
3 years in the Primary School, still in the
corridor, accompanied by a mouse which
used to scuttle in and out of a hole in the
wall, and our then “School” cat, called Puss.
After spending 18 months as the
Headmaster’s Secretary I decided to get
a job in the city. However, before that
happened the Primary School Secretary
left and I was asked to fill in on a temporary
basis – and the rest, as they say, is history.
My sincere thanks to Peter for the 10 years
we have worked together. The workload
seems to have increased 10 fold; the roll
has ballooned; Peter has gone noticeably
greyer and I have put weight on!!
To the staff and students, all my very
best wishes for next year and beyond. I will
miss you all.”
Heather Rogers
12 THE QUAD | SEPTEMBER 2011 – ISSUE 27 THE QUAD | SEPTEMBER 2011 – ISSUE 27 13