Today’s reading comes from the book of 1st Peter, Chapter 5, Verses 5-6 

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. 

This is the word of the Lord (thanks be to God) 

Rectors speaks   

Thank you, Tom, for that reading about humility. This week I’ve been getting around the country supporting our teams involved in winter tournament week. For those of you younger students who don’t know what winter tournament week is, it’s a week that’s set aside each year in Term 3 for high school teams to take part in national tournaments in the major codes – a bit like Aims Games. We had our 1st XI football team down in Christchurch at the Lotto Premier Tournament and our Hockey 1st XI team in Wellington at Rankin Cup. 

I’m sure we’ll get to hear about the results from Tournament week in a future assembly once the boys return but I was lucky enough to see some outstanding games first hand this week and so I thought I’d share a few highlights today: 

• On Monday our footballers played Scots College who we’d lost to 6:3 in our traditional exchange at the end of last term. After going behind 1-0 in the first half, Harry Huxford scored an incredible goal direct from a corner. He then scored a winner from just inside the Scot’s half to claim a famous 3:2 win. We then played out a 2:2 draw against Mt Albert Grammar, a big school from  Auckland. That result, followed by a 2:2 draw against St Bede’s of Christchurch saw us through to the top 16 in the country. That’s a huge achievement in itself, and whilst results didn’t go our way Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday, we bounced back yesterday. 

• I understand that we were losing 2:0 to Hutt International Boys School yesterday and managed to get it back to 2:2 and take it to a penalty. I heard that goalkeeper Ben Grainey saved two penalties and Year 10 student Carter Lachmund scored the winning penalty to claim another great win. 

• From Christchurch I travelled up to Wellington to see the Rankin Cup Hockey nationals. Yesterday morning we were up against our rivals from Wairarapa, Rathkeale College. I don’t know if you remember, but we were losing to them 5:1 at half time in the exchange earlier this term and got it back to 5:5 at the end of the game. We didn’t want a repeat of that, and I know the guys were hoping to start really well. Unfortunately, even though we totally dominated the game with possession and territory, we just couldn’t score, but every time Rathkeale got a break away they scored, so we were all shaking our heads at the fact that halfway into the third quarter, it was 3:0 to Rathkeale and we were staring down the barrel of a heavy loss.  

• What I then witnessed was something quite incredible. Captain of the team Callum O’Keeffe created an individual field out of nothing and got us back to 3:1. This was followed by a field goal from Liam Monteith and then Callum scored from a Penalty Corner to make it 3:3 at ¾ time. Rathkeale were stunned and in the 4th quarter we piled on the pressure and in the final minute of the game Callum O'Keeffe scored another PC to get his hattrick and win the game for Lindisfarne.  

• I’ve had so many great memories watching you all in your sports and cultural activities and this was another brilliant day. 

To cap off a great couple of days, I was able to make it to the annual Yr 9 Father Fisher Rugby match yesterday between Lindisfarne College and St John’s Hastings and see the boys claim a record 97:0 win. There was of course some outstanding team and individual play, but for me yesterday was a day to show humility in victory and Tom talked about humility in his bible reading earlier from the book of first Peter. “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” It wouldn’t have been any fun at all for the St John’s boys who were clearly outplayed, but our boys maintained their humility and were respectful of the opposition throughout. That’s so important – the very best teams are classy not only in terms of their skill, but also classy in terms of who they are as people, so please continue to remember that whenever you’re representing the college. Winning counts for nothing if you’ve been arrogant, disrespectful, and unkind. It just undoes all the great work.  

• We’ve also got our U15 rugby team competing in the invitational tournament that we run here at Lindisfarne this week. You may have made it to some of the games. Our boys play again tomorrow at Ranui at 9.30, so please get along and support them if you can. 

• Yesterday Mr Makris and Mr Ahern were co-coaching the Year 9 father fisher team. It was Mr Ahern’s last game as a Lindisfarne rugby coach and today is his last day as a Lindisfarne teacher and as our Director of Boarding and Director of Careers. Another highlight of yesterday was when the Yr 9 Father Fisher team decided to perform a haka for Mr Ahern at the end of the game, which was humbling to Mr Ahern I’m sure, but fully deserved. This was backed up by a haka from all boarders this morning. The staff held a special farewell morning tea for Mr Ahern today and presented him with a gift in recognition of his great work as a Director of Boarding, Director of Careers, Teacher and coach. He’s added tremendous value in his time with us and we’ll miss him. As this is Mr Ahern’s last official day before he heads off to become Deputy Principal at Iona college on Monday, and this is his final assembly, I think it’s important that we show our appreciation for all he has done for you and for us all, with a huge round of applause. 

• Next week it’s the intermediate students turn for competitive inter school sport with exchanges against HIBS and Scots, so all the very best to you boys and all the best to any of you who are finishing off your winter sports seasons this week or next. 

• I’m really excited about the haka competition on Wednesday. As I’ve mentioned before, it is my first haka competition at Lindisfarne due to all the covid cancellations. I just want to say how impressed I’ve been with the leadership shown by students in all the houses and the way you’ve all practiced and improved and shown respect to the College haka, because that’s a really important part of the haka competition. After Wednesday, you should all be able to perform the College haka with confidence when called upon, and you will be called upon just two weeks from today for our old boys’ assembly that starts our 70th Year Celebration. If you’re still not sure about the haka actions or words, you can go to the school web site and look them up and watch the video. 

• Following the haka competition next Wednesday, we have our senior NCEA benchmark exams starting on Thursday. If you are involved in these, remember to prepare well and give your very best so that you know where you’re at for the end of the year, and of course these exams have a big bearing on the senior end of year academic prizes, including top in subjects, top in year and Dux of the College, our premier academic award. 

We have all our musicians away today in Taupo at the College Bands Concert, so it’s not just the sportsmen away representing the school. We are doing things a little different today with an audio-/visual recording helping us with our assembly song and thank you to the tech team for helping to make this happen. We’re going to sing amazing grace and the recording is a little slower than how we usually sing it, but I’m sure you’ll adjust and sing it with your usual spirit and heart. 

Please join me in singing the school song, Amazing Grace.  

Rector speaks 

Thank you, please be seated. I’ll now ask Cultural Prefect Paora Watene to come forward to present his Cultural report. 
 

Cultural Report from Paora.  

HOUSE MUSIC RESULTS  

It was great to see the House Music Competition successfully completed for 2023. There were lots of stand-out performances from the boys. Well done to all of the House Leaders and leaders within the area of music who made the three separate days of performances so entertaining. We would now like to present the House Music cups for the different House Music sections.  Could I please ask the following boys who were involved in the various groups to come forward: Ned Gilligan, Charlie Mirams and Jonty Roil 

Solo Performance – 1st place was Leo Guo from Oswald. Leo is away today and so we’ll present this trophy later. 

Instrumental Ensemble – 1st Durham. (Mr Hakeney will present to Paora) 

Ensemble Choirs – 1st Oswald. Ned Gilligan will accept the trophy. 

Rock Bands – 1st Oswald. Could Charlie Mirams please come forward. 

Full House Choir – 1st Oswald. Could Jonty Roil please accept the award as Oswald House Prefect. 

The final points overall are as follows: 

In 4th place – Cuthbert, 28 points 

3rd place – Aidan, 30 points 

2nd place – Durham, 37 points 

1st place – Oswald, 47 points 

Congratulations Oswald and I’ll ask Jonty to receive the cup on behalf of his House. 

CHURCHILL ORATORY 

This year’s Churchill Oratory Speech Competition took place last Wednesday in front of the whole school. A total of nine students presented well researched and prepared speeches on a variety of interesting topics. In the junior section, first place went to Taurere Whiunui, who spoke on why young people are required to go to school. George Pogson was placed second while Dominic Goodenough received third place.  In the senior section, William Duncan reflected on his time at Lindisfarne College gaining him first place. Second place went to Chris Proctor, and third equal was awarded to Fraser Ross and Fergus Morunga. A number of boys are away today at the College Bands Concert in Taupo or national tournament week, but could Taurere and George please come forward to accept their certificates for the Junior section: 

In Second place: George Pogson 

Junior winner for Churchill Oratory:
Taurere Whiunui 
Dominic Goodenough 
William Duncan 
Chris Proctor 
Fergus Morunga 
Fraser Ross 

Congratulations to all speakers that competed at this year’s competition.  

PIPE BAND CONCERT 

On Thursday evening of week 6, our pipe band performed a public concert in the auditorium with the Hawke’s Bay Caledonian Pipe Band. This was a fine evening of music that featured different types of pipe band music, including the Lindisfarne College band, the drum line, joint band pieces, as well as Scottish dance by three Hawke’s Bay dancers.  Congratulations to Fergus Morunga and his team of pipers and drummers who made the event so successful. Thank you also to Dr Kristensen and Mr Law for organising the concert.  

That’s the end of today’s cultural report. Have a great weekend. 

Rector speaks 

Thank you, Paora, I’ll now invite Sports Prefect Lachlan Wright forward to present his sports report. 

Sports Report 
 

HOCKEY

The intermediate first-eleven hockey team completed their season with a 5 – 2 win versus Iona this week to finish third in their grade. The boys made plenty of progress during the season and their final performance was very pleasing against a strong Iona team. Well done boys. 

SURFING

Three of our students went to Raglan at the beginning of August to compete in the NZ secondary school surfing champs. They all surfed really well with a highlight just being able to surf iconic Manu Bay. 

Tom O’Shaunessy and Ben Allen did round 1 and Beck Allen made it through to the quarter finals. They all did really well given all the top NZ surfers were there. 

CYCLING

Congratulations to Joshua Bye for being the CX20 cyclo-cross series male champion in the 13 and under age group, and to Noah Layton who placed 2nd. There are 5 races within the series in different venues around Hawkes Bay. 

SAILING Finn Balchin’s recently sailed at the World Champs in Spain.  In the qualifying series he qualified into the silver division and in the final series raced in the silver fleet to  place 15th in Silver and 75th overall out of 140 competitors.  

BADMINTON

Daniel Pascoe was selected for the HB U16 rep team that played in the IPC competition in June.  Well done, Daniel. 

FENCING

Jacob Double competed at the National Secondary School Fencing Championships in Wellington last weekend, taking out a well-deserved and well-fought Silver medal in the Individual Men's Epee event alongside a Gold in the team event (as a member of the Central A team). Jacob also helped the Central Men's Sabre squad take a silver in that event! A great platform for his upcoming NZ Fencing team trip to the 2023 Under 17 Oceania competition in Tahiti next month. 

ADVENTURE RACING

A team of 17 runners from the College faced the ultimate challenge at the annual Rotorua Secondary Schools Tough Guy and Gal competition. The 6km course over hills, through mud, and over obstacles, is held at Lakes Ranch, and pushed the competitors to their limits.  

Year 10 student Hamish Butler sprinted ahead of the pack, claiming victory overall with a remarkable time of 27:58. Zack Caton and Titus Dunnett showcased their mettle, claiming 2nd, and 3rd places respectively in the Year 9-11 category.  

The trio's efforts not only secured individual medals but also won Lindisfarne College the Toughest School trophy.  

(Hamish Butler is away at Hockey Nationals, but Zack and Titus can you please come up to receive your medals and trophies) 

3rd Place: Titus Dunnett 

2nd Place: Zack Caton 

EAST COAST NORTH ISLAND ROAD RACE

On the 17th of August, a team of 6 Lindisfarne runners competed in the East Coast North Island Road Race at Frimley Park. Year 9 runners Campbell and Cooper Ellingham took out 2nd and 3rd placings respectively, while August Popadich and Ardie J Smith also ran well. Campbell, Cooper, and August also managed to secure second overall in the Year 9 3-man team competition.  

Hamish Butler ran a strong race to finish third in the Junior boys division, securing 3rd place in a tough battle. Callum O’Keeffe ran a competitive race to come home in 5th in the hotly contested Senior boys’ section. 

Well done to all the runners. 

(Campbell and Cooper please come forward to receive your medals) 

3rd Place: Cooper Ellingham 

2nd Place: Campbell Ellingham 

Thank you and enjoy your weekend. 

Rector speaks 

Thank you, Lachie. Just a reminder that on Monday we’ve decided to hold a mufti day to do a final push on the Relay project, where you donate old sporting items in good condition and we pass them on to the charity organisation Relay who will distribute them throughout the community. We need any small items including footballs, rugby balls, tennis rackets, hockey sticks and if you got rugby or football boots in good condition that don’t fit you any more, please donate  them, but they must be clean. If you have already donated then thank you and you are welcome to wear mufti. If you don’t have an item to donate, bring a gold coin and we’ll donate that to this worth cause.  

Congratulations to everyone who has been acknowledged today. 

I’ll now invite Reverend Dunnett forward to close our assembly in prayer. 

Article added: Monday 04 September 2023