Westlake Girls’ High School

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, LunchLab. Brooke Batty with Sir Ken Stevens. the main room where all the tables were set up with food and name cards. I found my table and it was there

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 Brooke Batty presenting. did a few run-throughs and considering I had about 300+ pairs of eyes all looking at me and my 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. 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

Outstanding performance leads to U19 NZ trial

As a result of her individual performance at the recent Maadi Cup, Olivia Anderson (Year 13) has been awarded a New Zealand U19 trial. Here’s how this prestigious achievement came about, in her own words.

Waking up after coming home from the New Zealand Secondary Schools Champs (Maadi Cup), after a night out celebrating the season and actually Olivia Anderson. being able to complete a Maadi this year, there was a text on my phone from my coach, Kim Dowden, congratulating me on being selected to trial. I ran into my sister’s room and started screaming! After rowing for four years, battling through various lockdowns, and devoting a lot of time and commitment to the sport – not to mention the commitment from my coaches, parents, friends and other family – I finally secured a trial for the U19 New Zealand rowing squad! This was something I never thought would ever happen as I’ve always been more of a quiet achiever and just put my head down to get the work done.

I was overjoyed when I got selected and am very excited to experience the trial at the end of April!

The trials will take place from Saturday 24th April to Friday 30th April, where I will undergo a 2k erg test on the first day, followed by multiple seat races throughout the duration of the week. An erg test is the primary tool coaches use to determine an athlete’s fitness and strength. I started rowing as a novice U15 rower, and continued through as an U18 for the past four years at high school, representing both Westlake Girls High School and North Shore Rowing Club. In 2019, in the U17 Squad, I rowed up with 3 U18s (Sylvia Leadly, Devon Thorpe, and Nyla Bunya and coxed by Jamie Whittaker) and won at the North Island Championship and Maadi!

The following year we won silver at the North Island champs in the U18 quad, however Maadi was cancelled due to Level 4 Lockdown, so we didn’t get to produce a final result one last time together.

As those girls left I started to sweep more (one oar rowed with both hands) as I stroked (rowed) the U18 pair this season, as well as U18 four and U18 eight. This season at Maadi (North Islands cancelled due to lockdown), we came fourth in the A final for the U18 four and medaled silver in the North Island placings. We placed first in the B final for our U18 eight, having devastatingly just missed getting a place in the A final.

Talented Surf Life Saver receives Tania Dalton Foundation Scholarship

16-year-old Zoe Crawford has received a 2021 Tania Dalton Foundation Scholarship, along with 12 other talented young NZ sportswomen.

A member of the Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club, Zoe’s scholarship was awarded for her achievements in Surf Life Saving. Included in those achievements are one bronze and five gold medals in individual events at the 2020 National Surf Life Saving Pool Championships. She was also named Westlake Girls High School 2020 Junior Sportswoman of the Year, and is a member of our 1st XI Hockey Team and Swimming Team.

Zoe is beyond excited about the opportunity and looking forward to growing as an athlete in her chosen sport. Her goal is to make the Junior New Zealand Surf Life Saving team – the Junior Black Fins and represent New Zealand at the World Champs next year, both in the ocean and in the pool. The Tania Dalton Foundation exists to inspire young people to be the best they can through sport. The scholarship programme provides young sportswomen with opportunities to connect with like-minded athletes and experienced mentors. This is the fourth annual intake since the programme was founded by Tania’s husband Duane, and the 13 students will receive mentoring, personal development and fiscal support.

Zoe's scholarship partner for the next three years is Vero Liability Insurance and her mentor is former Silver Fern Adine Wilson.

Congratulations to Nettie, Delysia, James, Matua Eddie Hudson and all of the incredibly talented students.

One attendee at the full-dress rehearsal had this to say about the performance.

“The Westlake Girls performance was breath-taking. This is clearly due to the commitment of an amazing group of young taitamariki who performed with passion, dignity and mana that shone through in every movement and in every voice from the moment they walked on stage.

“To their Kaiako - wow! You brought out the treasures in each of them and knitted them together to become one voice, one force! You guys had me on the edge of my seat.”

Dileesia Henare.