EDUCATION: WESTLAKE GIRLS
Future business leader chosen for role in prestigious event At the end of March, Year 13 student Brooke Batty and heading back down to the main hall. All I can say is when was selected as a Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) the doors of the elevator opened and we saw how many Ambassador. Her role was to induct Sir Ken people had filled up the once empty room, any efforts Stevens (Founder, Managing Director and Chair to calm our nerves were pointless. Looking around of Glidepath) into the New Zealand Business there had to be about 150-200 people all wearing Hall of Fame. suits and beautiful dresses, and that’s only the Brooke was nominated for the role by her people surrounding the bars, we hadn’t even seen Business Studies teacher, following her success in it all yet. that subject, including being one of five students "As the event started, people began to filter into who established the successful YES business, the main room where all the tables were set up with Brooke Batty with LunchLab. food and name cards. I found my table and it was there Sir Ken Stevens. Here Brooke shares her experience of being selected for that I first met Sir Ken Stevens, his family and associates. this significant role at this very prestigious event: "After the main course there was a 30 minute break, which "In terms of being chosen, each year the New Zealand Business Hall is when I got to personally meet the Governor General, Dame Patsy of Fame holds an induction evening (organised by Young Enterprise) Reddy. She was lovely and we had a good conversation in which she and nine students from across New Zealand are selected by their asked about my business and I explained that my group’s business respective schools to be Ambassadors. This year Westlake Girls was ‘LunchLab’ is creating reusable lunch bags out of reused / repurposed one of the schools chosen and Business Studies teachers Mr Cowley fabrics. She was very impressed so if anyone is ever interested in buying and Mrs Singh selected me to represent our school. our lunch bags, I can proudly (and legally) say they are ‘Governor "When I arrived at the General of NZ approved!’ . Cordis Hotel on Thursday "After the break it was my turn to present and I was invited onto 25th March, I met the the stage by Samantha Hayes and during this time she was explaining other students who were to the audience what school I am from, the business I am a part of in in the same position as me school, and what we are creating. As nervous as I was to be standing – nervous but so excited! on stage presenting in front of so many influential New Zealand figures, There were students from all and just so many people in general, I knew that I was representing Sir over the country including Ken Stevens and his family and associates so that really pushed me to Wellington and Nelson. We do as well as I possibly could. I’m pretty stoked with how I presented did a few run-throughs and considering I had about 300+ pairs of eyes all looking at me and my Brooke Batty presenting. were told how to present face being projected onto the big screen behind me. the awards to the laureate while we were on stage and how the night "After my speech Sir Ken made his way onto the stage and was would run. We finished off the run-throughs with a pep talk from news awarded his citation and badge from the Governor General and we anchor Samantha Hayes – who I should add was so lovely to us all and took a photo, and then he had about a 10 minute interview with one of gave us some really helpful tips. Right before we were sent up to our the hosts of the event. hotel rooms to get ready, we were given a quick lesson on how to use "At the end of the night, I had met many successful people the correct cutlery and glasses for each course of the meal. including Peri Drysdale, Brendan Lindsay, and my personal favourites, "I and a few of the girls who I made friends with all went up to a hotel family members of James Henry Whittaker, the founder of Whittakers room together and had a quick nap before putting on some makeup chocolate. As I and a few of the girls were leaving, we were stopped and our cocktail dresses. We did a few more run-throughs of our about six times to be congratulated by people we hadn’t even met, for speeches in an effort to calm our nerves before getting in the elevator how well our speeches went - which was really cool."
Powerful performance at Polyfest Last month’s Polyfest Festival in Manukau saw the WGHS Kapa Haka group competing in Division Three. After months of practices with extremely talented and dedicated Kaiako (instructors) Nettie, Delysia Norman and James Singe, WGHS’s wāhine proudly took to the stage and gave an outstanding performance at Polyfest. This followed a full-dress rehearsal the previous Monday with the Boys school.
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Issue 119 - May 2021 www.channelmag.co.nz
For their efforts, the Westlake Girls walked away with the following placings: Overall: 4th placing Section placings: Aggregate section: Haka Taparahi – Female Haka: 1st Whakawātea (Exit): 2nd Waiata-ā-ringa-Action Song: 3rd Section placings: Non-Aggregate section Manukura Wāhine Leader: Dileesia Henare, 2nd Kākahu Wāhine – Best Dressed Female Group: 3rd
