THE LION – ALUMNI MAGAZINE - St Mark's Church School

St Mark’s Church School Alumni and Friends
S ome
of you will be members of this group already.
If not, you are welcome to join it on Facebook.
Jack Yan is the chairman of this group and invites you
to join through Facebook, under St Mark’s Alumni and
Friends.
Jack is from the class of 1985, starting at St Mark’s in
September 1977. He and his family had immigrated
from Hong Kong the previous year, and Jack started
school armed with only one line, ‘Please may I go to
the toilet?’
He started in Mrs Reilly’s class, J1, in the Kirby Block.
The Coffey Block had not been built at the time and
was just a playground.
While he had learned to read in Hong Kong—which
was a British colony at the time—he perfected his
spelling after his mother got him to spell out every
word in his reader each night.
The Headmaster was the Rev Ron Kirby, who had a
huge influence on the growth and redevelopment
of St Mark’s, as well as the discipline of the students.
However, if you were in trouble and placed outside in
the cold corridors, God help you if Mr Kirby walked by.
The worst offenders were strapped in those days, and
a number of Jack’s classmates were.
Sent out was Karl Urban, the most famous alumnus
of his year, although Jack doesnt recall if he was
strapped. Karl has since played Bones McCoy in Star
Trek. Jack says he remembers the years fondly, especially
his friendship with Chris Mardon, who has continued
to keep his links with Karl.
His St Mark’s alumni network is international, with his
very close friend, Philip Colebrook, in London, and Imran
Sandhu, a doctor in Philadelphia. He even found
support from St Mark’s alumni last year when running
for Mayor of Wellington, with many coming out
and writing endorsements without prompting, even
though he had not seen them in a quarter-century.
The ties he forged in his days at St Mark’s have continued
into the 21st century, and most of his fellow
classmates have gone on to lead fulfilling and successful
lives.
‘If you are to receive privileges in life, you must earn
them through good conduct and hard work. In best
practice, you don’t get anywhere without industry,’
Jack said at the leavers’ dinner last year.
One of Jack’s messages
in his speech to Year 8
was on friendships and
‘How you can serve.’ His
point was that everyone
has the opportunity to
serve, and that you will
know it when you see it.
The school motto might
even be interpreted that
way: while the literal
translation is ‘No day
without a line,’ it could
mean, ‘Every day you
can find an opportunity
to serve your fellow human
beings.’
Jack Yan runs Jack Yan &
Associates, which works
in brand consulting,
typeface design, and
publishing. He ran for
Mayor of Wellington last
year.
Through Facebook, many alumni have come together,
and it is here that Jack and others are finding a way
to bring them together. In 2007 and 2008, his class
had a number of reunions. Jessica Stephens, whose
children are current St Mark’s students, brought along
old school magazines to reminisce at one dinner, and
while everyone looked different from their photographs,
they all recognized one another very easily.
Many could still remember the school song, and that
they were taught to stretch further and accomplish
their goals. They believed St Mark’s prepared them
well for life and maintained their pride for their school.
Jack finished his speech last year with, ‘And let victory
crown all your days,’ taken from the school song.
I think our alumni of 2010 felt very privileged and
honoured to be St Mark’s Church School pupils, and,
now, alumni.
Left: Jack receiving his Dux award in 1985
Right: F2M class, 1985 Ms Gillian McPeake
90th Celebrations
14 The Lion - Alumni Magazine Winter Edition 2011 The Lion - Alumni Magazine Winter Edition 2011 15
W e
started our four days of celebration
with a whole school assembly held in the
church. The Reverend Michael Holland and the Principal,
Mrs. Tina Leach, gave us insights into the history
of the school. Quite a number of past pupils were
able to attend including Mrs. Violet White who cut the
celebration cake as she was the eldest of the alumni
present on the day. Josie Whittock, who also took
part, was the newest student to enter the Reception
class. The delectable cake was donated by Mrs. Karyn
Sheehan.
After the assembly, our visitors were invited to register
and have morning tea in the church hall. Our Year 9
students hosted the morning tea and talked informally
with the alumni. It was a very pleasant start to our four
days of celebration.
This was the first of many opportunities to get together
for a chat. Past students and friends were taken for
tours round the school by the Senior Students. Our
alumni enjoyed the many displays of photographs
and murals which brought back memories of old
classmates and past times.
At lunchtime, the
SMILE team got their
aprons on and held
a sausage sizzle for
everyone. The alumni
gathered in the library
to enjoy their sausages
and, of course, chat
some more.
Later, in the evening,
past and present staff,
gathered in the church hall for a casual get together.
On Friday, some of the alumni met again in the library
at lunchtime to enjoy their ’Nostalgia in a box’-a delicious
lunchtime treat. Later that night, alumni and
friends met for a cocktail evening. There were various
displays of photographs from each decade and a special
display of staff photographs.
Saturday brought another round of events at the
school, a bus tour and a 90th Dinner at Parliament.
Four of the alumni were inducted into the St Mark’s
Hall of Fame for making their ‘mark’ in life. These were
The British High Commissioner, Mr. George Fergusson,
Ms. Margaret Almao, Dr. Bill Glass and the Reverend.
Michael Holland.
Only 6 years to go for the 100th!!