Assembly Notes - 08.05.26

Rector: Kia ora, Good afternoon boys, staff and our special guests.

E noho. Please be seated.

We will begin todays special Notables Assembly with a reading from the Bible, read by Isaac Dann.

Joshua 24:1 The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.

Rector: Thank you Isaac

Welcome to assembly – Week 3 of term 2. This reading is very relevant to today. It is about Israel at the end of their conquest of Canaan. Joshua builds an alter and give thanks to God for his faithfulness through their journey. He also honours the heroes for faith that have gone before him and brought Israel to this incredible celebration of God's goodness. He also uses this time to recommit to the work of the Lord going forward.

Today, we are welcomed by a number of special guests. Firstly, I would like to warmly welcome Roger Alexander who was a foundation student here at Lindisfarne College, known as number 1 back in the day I believe. I would like to acknowledge College Council members, and particularly our Council Chair Sharon Wards, members of Roger's family along with other special guests and Old Boys'.

Before we commence today, here is a bit of a rundown of what assembly will include. I wanted to give a brief overview of the last couple of weeks in brief and touch base on some basic standards. We will then proudly sing our school song. I will then move into acknowledging Roger Alexander who will be named a Notable today. Roger when then have the right of reply. We will then look to close in prayer.

I wanted to start off today to share that I am very grateful to be here today. I am grateful that my two feet are standing on this stage, in this Assembly Hall at Lindisfarne College. I am grateful for the way in which you, the young men of Lindisfarne have started this term as a whole. I am grateful for our staff who turn up to deliver passionate lesson's day in and day out.

I am grateful for our staff who prepare meals, who prepare our grounds, our maintenance requests and who ensure classrooms, dorms and offices are cleaned for you to have the best environment to learn in. It's important that we reflect daily on things that we are grateful for and I wanted to share with you, some of the things that I have been grateful for over the last fortnight. You can share that you are grateful, by a simple thank you to your parents, your caregivers or your wider whanau.

I would also like to share that I am so proud of this College after seeing how things have operated over the past three weeks in the extracurricular space. I am immensely proud of our production cast and staff who we will acknowledge next week. The passion and energy you brought to the stage was simply outstanding. I am proud of the sea of red that I saw on the weekend. The way you wore your uniform, the way you performed and conducted yourselves on the fields. On Ranui I saw young men who were keen to learn and keen to perform. Whilst I know our 1st XV will be disappointed with a close loss on Saturday, I felt that they played with grit and pride for the jersey. Our hockey boys have shown some excellent development with a great display of teamwork this week. Our football boys will be excited about showing pride as they play under lights tonight.

Can I please request, that we continue to show this same pride for our College, whether this be on the stage, in class, in our the community, in our boarding houses or on the sports field. Can we make sure that we are wearing our uniform with pride, including having our socks pulled up, shirts tucked in and ensuring that we remove sports jackets when we enter our classrooms. Can we make sure that we are going over and beyond to be helpful within our teams and groups. Can we also ensure that our language reflects the values of this College.

Lastly, a reminder that the home 1st XV games are filmed and streamed live. Please be aware that there are microphones which pick up all voices when standing close to where the game is being filmed. I really look forward to reflecting on what I am grateful for after this weekend and what I am proud of after this weekend as well.

Shortly I would like us all to stand and proudly sing our College song – Highways of the Heart. Thank you.

HYMN – Highways in the Heart

Thank you school, e noho, please be seated.

Rector's Notables Address

A few years ago, as part of our 70th anniversary celebrations in 2023, the College introduced a special initiative to recognise something worth celebrating—70 years of Lindisfarne Old Boys.

Seventy years of boys who have walked through these gates, sat where you are sitting now, and they have gone on to build lives of purpose, contribution, and character.

From that came the idea of The Notables.

A display featuring photos and stories of seven distinguished Old Boys was created to recognise men who, across the decades, have made significant contributions in a wide range of fields and pursuits. Together, they do not simply represent individual success — they represent the broader story of Lindisfarne and the impact our Old Boys have had over time.

It is important to say that there are many Old Boys who have achieved remarkable things. This group is not about identifying the "only" or the "best." Rather, they are representatives. They stand on behalf of generations of men who have taken what they learned here and applied it in meaningful and worthwhile ways.

What makes these men notable is not simply what they have achieved, but how they have gone about it. They reflect the values that sit at the heart of this College—respect, integrity, courage, kindness, service, and humility.

You can see and read more about these Notable Old Boys in the hallway outside my office. I encourage you to take a moment to stop, have a look, and read their stories — they are well worth your time.

Each of you sitting here today is part of that same story. The same opportunity sits in front of you—to take what you learn here and use it well.

These men show us what that can look like.

They are not distant figures. They once sat where you are sitting now.

And that is exactly why their stories matter.

That brings me to the reason we are gathered here today.

Since 2023, we have continued to add a new Notable Old Boy each year, and today we recognise a very special recipient and our latest inductee into the Notable Old Boys—Roger Alexander.

Roger attended Lindisfarne from 1953 to 1955. He was a Foundation Scholar and was here on the very first day Lindisfarne opened its doors. When he arrived, there were just 31 boys, a homestead surrounded by paddocks, and a school still finding its feet.

He was part of the group that was told, within the first hour of being here, that they would set the standard for all who followed.

And in many ways, Roger has spent a lifetime doing exactly that.

Today, Roger also holds a very special place in our story—he is our oldest living Old Boy. That in itself is remarkable, but more importantly, it speaks to a lifetime of connection. He is a deeply cherished part of the Lindisfarne story.

After leaving school, Roger went on to study at Lincoln, where he achieved the highest honours in practical farming. He returned to Hawke's Bay and became a highly successful sheep and beef farmer, building not only a strong business but also a reputation for hard work, sound judgement, and commitment to his land and community. His contribution to the rural sector was further recognised through his appointment as an Honorary Life Member of the AMP Society.

But it is what Roger chose to do beyond his own farm that makes his story truly remarkable.

Over a period of 30 years, Roger and his wife Diane undertook an extraordinary environmental restoration project at Puketapu. What was once a degraded swamp became, through vision and persistence is now a thriving ecosystem.

They moved over 100,000 cubic metres of earth, planted extensively, and created a lake and wetland that now filters water flowing into the Tu-tae-kuri River while supporting native wildlife and birdlife.

Today, it is a place enjoyed by the community and visited by people from across the region and around the world. In fact, recent visitors from America who had toured famous gardens internationally—including Monet's Gardens in France—remarked that Roger's creation was among the most spectacular they had seen, and even more impressive than the renowned Monet Gardens themselves.

It would have been far easier to do nothing. To simply leave the land as a swamp.

But Roger chose to act—and more importantly, he stayed committed to that work for three decades.

In recognition of this extraordinary contribution, Roger was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community and conservation.

His service, however, extends well beyond environmental work.

Roger has given many years of dedicated service to Lindisfarne College itself. He served on the College Council for 20 years, including 10 years as Chairman of the Grounds Committee. The beautiful grounds you boys enjoy every day are not there by accident—they are, in part, the result of Roger's vision, planning, and sustained effort over many years.

Roger also played an important role in establishing the Lindisfarne College Old Boys' Association, ensuring that Old Boys could remain connected long after their time at the College. He was a key figure in setting up the Old Contemp-tibles, a group that has become an important and enduring part of that connection.

From those early days came traditions that still exist today—a yearly gathering at the Puketapu Pub and an annual Christmas dinner. What began as simple get-togethers has grown into much-loved events that continue to bring Old Boys together year after year. They are a reflection of what Roger values most— community, connection, friendship, and belonging.

In recognition of his service to the Old Boys' Association, Roger was made a Life Patron of the Association.

At the heart of it all, Roger is about people, and he genuinely loves this College.

That connection runs deeply through his family. His two sons, Jeffrey and Philip, attended Lindisfarne, and his grandsons Henry and Jack have followed in their footsteps.

Today, we are fortunate to have Jeffrey, Henry, and Jack—all Old Boys of the College—here with us to celebrate this special occasion. Thank you for being here.

We also warmly welcome Peter McNiel, a lifelong friend of Roger's, who walked through the Lindisfarne gates alongside him on that very first day the College opened. From that day began a friendship that has lasted a lifetime. It is very special to have you here as well, Peter.

Roger once said, "The only time success comes before work, is in the dictionary."

It's a simple line—but it captures something important.

A life of significance is not built overnight. It is built through effort, consistency, and a willingness to contribute to something beyond yourself.

Roger Alexander embodies this idea.

His life is not just a story of success—but one of service, humility, loyalty, and purpose. Roger you are a man of outstanding Character who has gone on to lead a life of success and significance.

And that is why he is being recognised today as our latest Notable Old Boy.

Boys, as you listen to stories like Roger's, don't just admire them— learn from them.

Because the same values, the same choices, and the same opportunities sit in front of you.

Roger, would you please come forward so we can welcome you as our latest inductee into this special group of Notable Old Boys.

Thank you.

Recognition Moment

Right of Reply

Roger Alexander responds (short address)

College Haka – To Acknowledge Roger.

Rector – Thank you Roger for your address. I feel that the response from the boys has clearly shown their respect for you as a person and what you have contributed to Lindisfarne College and the story your have written over time. It is my honour to welcome you to the Notables at Lindisfarne College.

Thank you boys for the way in which you have once again shown pride in your College. I am certainly grateful for everything Lindisfarne represents.

I'd now like to invite Jasper Jamieson to close this Assembly in Prayer.