South Otago High School
Encyclopedia
South Otago High School is situated in Balclutha
, Otago
, in the South Island
of New Zealand
. It is the largest school in the South Otago
region. The country's second longest river, the Clutha River
, marks the northeastern boundary of the School's grounds.
The school has a strong rivalry with the smaller but older Tokomairiro High School
in the neighbouring town of Milton
. Links with the past at the school include a stand of oak
trees, which dominate the school's grounds. These were already several decades old at the time of the school's founding. One of these oaks is commemorated on the school's arms, along with the Southern Cross
. These two symbols also represent strength and a striving for higher ideals, also reflected in the school's motto of Fide et Fortitudine.
In 2002 there was a small outbreak of group C meningococcal disease in Balclutha, and students at this school and at Rosebank Primary School were vaccinated against the disease.
In April 2006, South Otago High School became the first New Zealand school to run a Jeans for Genes
day in aid of the Haemophilia
Foundation of New Zealand. Jeans for Genes, a charitable event originating in the United Kingdom
, sees schools raising funds to help children with genetic disorders through sponsored events on a day on which school uniform is temporarily replaced by the wearing of denim jeans.
In September 2008 new principal Nick Simpson reopened plans to establish an area computing facility.
Balclutha, New Zealand
Balclutha is a town in Otago, it lies towards the end of the Clutha River on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about halfway between Dunedin and Invercargill on the Main South Line railway, State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route...
, Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
, in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is the largest school in the South Otago
South Otago
South Otago lies in the south east of the South Island of New Zealand. As the name suggests, it forms the southernmost part of the geographical region of Otago....
region. The country's second longest river, the Clutha River
Clutha River
The Clutha River / Mata-Au is the second longest river in New Zealand flowing south-southeast through Central and South Otago from Lake Wanaka in the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean, south west of Dunedin. It is the highest volume river in New Zealand, and the swiftest, with a catchment of ,...
, marks the northeastern boundary of the School's grounds.
The school has a strong rivalry with the smaller but older Tokomairiro High School
Tokomairiro High School
Tokomairiro High School is a secondary school in Milton, New Zealand, often simply known as "Toko".-History:Founded in 1856 as Tokomairiro School, it is one of New Zealand's oldest schools. It was originally established at Fairfax in the southeast of Milton, with Alexander Ayson as the first teacher...
in the neighbouring town of Milton
Milton, New Zealand
Milton is a town of 2,000 people, located on State Highway 1, 50 kilometres to the south of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand. It lies on the floodplain of the Tokomairiro River, one branch of which loops past the north and south ends of the town...
. Links with the past at the school include a stand of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees, which dominate the school's grounds. These were already several decades old at the time of the school's founding. One of these oaks is commemorated on the school's arms, along with the Southern Cross
Crux
Crux is the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, but is one of the most distinctive. Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism that is commonly known as the Southern Cross.-Visibility:...
. These two symbols also represent strength and a striving for higher ideals, also reflected in the school's motto of Fide et Fortitudine.
History
Founded in 1926, the school is one of the South Island's oldest non-urban full secondary schools. At its opening, the school roll was 135, and the school initially shared classrooms with other nearby schools until the completion of its own building - now the school's main block - on 5 hectares of land in 1927. The school's first rector was John Reid, who held the post until 1931. From the following year, J. Garfield Anderson became rector, a post he held until 1954, during which time the school grew greatly in both size and scope.The school today
South Otago High School is a co-educational high school with a roll of 580 students, of whom some 15% are Māori. Facilities include several computer rooms, two gymnasia - one with squash courts and fitness room, art, music, and technology suites, and science laboratories. The school also boasts 17 hectares of superb sporting fields and courts.In 2002 there was a small outbreak of group C meningococcal disease in Balclutha, and students at this school and at Rosebank Primary School were vaccinated against the disease.
In April 2006, South Otago High School became the first New Zealand school to run a Jeans for Genes
Jeans for Genes
Jeans for Genes is a national appeal in the UK and Australia. Although both appeals raise money to help children with genetic disorders they are not the same appeal....
day in aid of the Haemophilia
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...
Foundation of New Zealand. Jeans for Genes, a charitable event originating in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, sees schools raising funds to help children with genetic disorders through sponsored events on a day on which school uniform is temporarily replaced by the wearing of denim jeans.
In September 2008 new principal Nick Simpson reopened plans to establish an area computing facility.
Notable alumni
- Sir Ronald AlgieRonald AlgieSir Ronald Macmillan Algie was a New Zealand politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for six years in the 1960s. He described himself as "a Tory in the old tradition".-Early life:...
- politician - Tony BrownTony Brown (rugby player)Tony Eion Brown is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing mainly at first five-eighth .-Early life:...
- All BlacksAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby player - Kelvin DeakerKelvin DeakerKelvin Deaker is a former New Zealand rugby union international referee and member of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, who has now retired from all refereeing. Deaker took up refereeing in 1991, and refereed his first representative match in 1996, when he took charge of a National Provincial...
- international rugby referee - David Latta - rugby player
- Bill ManhireBill ManhireWilliam "Bill" Manhire, CNZM is an award-winning New Zealand poet, short story writer, and professor, New Zealand's inaugural Poet Laureate.-Biography:...
- writer - Rachel PullarRachel PullarRachel Jane Pullar is a former international cricketer for New Zealand. She played 51 women's one-day internationals for New Zealand women ebtween 1997 and 2005 and she has twice claimed five-wickets in an innings.-References:...
- cricketer - Sarah TsukigawaSarah TsukigawaSarah Jane Tsukigawa is a New Zealand cricketer who plays for the White Ferns and the Otago Sparks in the State League.She is a right-handed batter who bowls Right-arm medium pace. She has played 12 ODIs...
- cricketer - Chas Willocks http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=962 - All BlacksAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby player
External links
Further reading
- McLeod, G. and McKillop, A. (2001) Strong and True - Oak and Southern Cross: A History of South Otago High School, 1926-2001.