Northside 2014-15

BEN SANDERS

AUTHOR - AIMES Supreme Award Winner 2014

ELEVENTH ANNUAL ISSUE 2014/2015 The annual magazine of the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust, celebrating the achievements of the exceptional young people of our region and the support they receive from the Club – Members, Sponsors and Supporters.

AWARDS

Residential and Commercial

We are big in

on the Shore

We’re proud to be a New Zealand owned business. It began with family, over 38 years ago. With 65 offices throughout New Zealand the family has grown considerably, but our core values haven’t changed. A passion for this country, a passion for real estate and total commitment to doing things better. This attitude has helped us become New Zealand’s biggest full service real estate company.

To find out how we can achieve big results for you, call your local Bayleys North Shore office today or visit www.bayleys.co.nz Commercial 29 Northcroft Street Takapuna P 09 489 0999

Residential 28 Northcroft Street Takapuna P 09 489 1999

6/372 Rosedale Road Albany P 09 414 0950

396 Beach Road Mairangi Bay P 09 477 0200

83 Victoria Road Devonport P 09 489 1999

Beach Road Long Bay P 09 487 0630

WELCOME CELEBRATING SUCCESS Six months with the North Harbour Club and I am so excited to be working alongside Aidan, Chelsea and the Benefitz team that bring you this incredible publication each year – an excellent magazine celebrating what the North Harbour Club stands for; excellence in every aspect.

The AIMES (Arts, IT, Innovation & Science, Music, Education, Sport, Service to the Community) Category Awards and Emerging Talent Awards continue to produce exceptional winners every single year. I speak for all those associated with the Club, past and present in that we are so so proud to have now awarded $1.65M to over 200 brilliant, talented youth from right here on the North Shore since 1995.

Enjoy the 2014/15 edition of Northside and prepare to be blown away by not only the outstanding winners achieving excellence but also the members, sponsors and unwavering supporters that so generously donate money, time and energy to ensure our ongoing success.

Spread the word by sharing this publication – the North Harbour Club has some very special things in store for 2015 to celebrate two decades of achievements.

Courtney Jackson General Manager, North Harbour Club.

North Harbour Club Management: Courtney Jackson – General Manager (manager@northharbourclub.co.nz) Telephone 021 277 0699 PO Box 31-599, Milford, North Shore.

VISIT ONLINE: www.northharbourclub.co.nz

Northside is published annually for the club by Benefitz DMA Limited.

VISIT ONLINE: www.benefitz.co.nz PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Aidan Bennett (aidan@benefitz.co.nz) Telephone 09-477-4701 or 021-500-997 WRITERS: Aidan Bennett; Heather Vermeer.

ADVERTISING: Aidan Bennett.

DESIGN: Chelsea Johnston (chelsea@benefitz.co.nz).

PRINTING: Benefitz.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the North Harbour Club or the publishers.

All the 2014 AIMES Award Winners with the North Harbour Club trustees.

CONTENTS President’s Message................................................................................................5 Trustees 2014/2015................................................................................................7 Members 2014/2015, About the North Harbour Club .............................................8 Our Fantastic Sponsors ........................................................................................11 AIMES SUPREME AWARD & ARTS AWARD WINNER 2014: Ben Sanders.........................................................................................................13 AIMES IT, INNOVATION & SCIENCE AWARD WINNER 2014: Leighton Watson...................................................................................................16 AIMES Music AWARD WINNER 2014: Hye-Won Suh........................................................................................................18 AIMES EDUCATION AWARD WINNER 2014: Finn Lowery...........................................................................................................20 AIMES SPORT AWARD WINNER 2014: Teneale Hatton......................................................................................................22 AIMES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER 2014: Dannie Cullen........................................................................................................24 AIMES JUDGES SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS 2014: David Light............................................................................................................26 Tayla Alexander.....................................................................................................27 Judges Report.......................................................................................................28 BELLINGHAM WALLACE EMERGING TALENT AWARD WINNERS 2014 .............31 AIMES AWARDS DINNER 2014............................................................................36 EMERGING TALENT AWARDS PRESENTATION 2014..........................................41 AIMES SUPREME AWARD WINNERS 2012/2013: Lydia Ko/Ella Yelich-O'Connor...............................................................................44 PAST AIMES AWARD WINNER: Moses MacKay, Music 2011...............................46 INTERVIEW: AIMES Gala Dinner Musical Director Mark Dennison..........................48 AIMES AWARD WINNER UPDATES......................................................................50 North Harbour Club Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunches...................................74 After 5's 2014........................................................................................................77 AIMES Winners Network.......................................................................................78 THE LAST WORD: Hugh Stedman........................................................................80 Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

www.facebook.com/TheNorthHarbourClub @NthHarbourClub

Proud to produce Northside and to support the North Harbour Club. www.benefitz.co.nz NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 1

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE

LUXURY MOTORING WITH LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE

New Lexus NX SUV.

LEXUS NX300H F SPORT LUXURY MID-SIZED SUV PACKED WITH FEATURES! First day it was the Lexus NX300h F-Sport. This distinctive looking SUV (Sports utility vehicle) is aimed at the mediumsized market. It is not as big as the traditional SUV, but big enough to have a presence.

The NX features concept-car styling and is crammed full of luxury equipment. It comes in three options – all are Hybrid's – powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine combined with a battery pack and electric motor. There is the NX300h (2WD), we drove the NX300h F Sport, and there is the NX300h Limited – both are all-wheel drive. The range starts at just over the $80,000 mark. The Hybrid means fuel economy is between 5.6-5.7 litres per 100km.

I must admit I loved the Hybrid. Very quiet, very economical, and perfect for around town driving which is essentially 95% of what I do.

While the distinctive and futuristic looks of the NX will be a turn-on for buyers – and apparently there have been plenty with initial units mostly sold out – it is all the added extras that make driving easy that I loved about the car. The in-car information is incredible via a screen with a tracking pad-style control, entertainment system, satellite navigation, a reversing camera, head-up display and three mind-blowing features – blind spot warning, lane departure alert and an extension to the backing camera system, a satellite image that enables you to see the vehicle from above. In simple terms you have the normal backing view but a split screen also provides a vision from above the vehicle making backing super-easy. The blind spot warning lets you know by a small orange light on your side mirrors that you should be careful as there is a vehicle in

your blind spot. The lane departure alert will tell you if you are straying from your lane at any time.

Before driving the vehicle we spoke to Wendy Stedman, wife of North Harbour Club founding member and current trustee Hugh, who has been driving a new NX300h Limited for two to three months about what to expect.

"I am feeling very spoilt," said Wendy. "After driving my old Alfa for 15 years we took delivery of the NX around November and I didn't know driving could be so much fun. It is a lovely vehicle and there are so many neat features for comfort and safety. I must admit I have only used half of them so far and am planning to go back and have another lesson after the holidays with Helen at Lexus of North Shore. It is truly lovely to drive with my favourite aspects being the quietness of the Hybrid and how easy it is to manoeuvre due to all the parking assist features."

What I discovered, also, is that the NX has plenty of power.

Mostly I drove on the economy mode but when you put it into the sport mode it really flew. Good job that one of its features is to also warn you about where all the fixed speed cameras are when you are approaching them!

The NX300h was certainly a very special vehicle to drive.

Around the time this article went to print Mark Jago and the team at Lexus of North Shore would have been taking delivery of another variant in the range. They'll have another three models to add to the range, powered by a high-tech 2-litre petrol-turbo engine – the NX200t – giving you more choice in this totally new Lexus model.

So folks, if you love luxury and want a mid-sized SUV, this is it. Definitely. The Lexus NX.

2 Link Drive, Wairau Park • PAGE 2 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

P

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE

For this issue of Northside we wanted to do something a bit different for Lexus of North Shore – the loyal sponsors of our annual Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunch series. We decided to treat ourselves to a test drive in two of their fantastic new vehicles and give readers a report on our experience. They just happened to have launched what might be two of their very best – the Lexus NX, their new luxury mid-sized SUV and the new sporty Lexus RC Coupe. To say putting together this feature was a special treat is an understatement.

Two days driving these luxury vehicles, with all the bells and whistles, was a real thrill.

turner The silver RC350 proved a real head during the one day test-drive.

RC-F is the five litre V8 petrol option in the new Lexus RC range.With 351kW of power and 530Nm of torque, it gets from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 270km/h.

LEXUS RC COUPE ATTRACTING LOADS OF ATTENTION Day two of my "tough" Lexus experience was swapping the SUV with the all-new Lexus RC Coupe. This is their brand new 'sports vehicle' that many believe now gives Lexus the fighting power to take on the top three European manufacturers in the performance segment. Judging by the heads it turned while I was driving it around the Shore for a day they are probably right.

Designed by Lexus' design chief Yasuo Kajino, the coupe takes similarities from the Lexus FL-LC concept car. And it's a stand-out design.

My RC for the day was the RC350 F Sport, silver in colour.

What is prominent with all the new Lexus vehicle is the spindle grille. It's a strong feature of the new Lexus NX and is well suited to the sporty RC Coupe.

When I first got in the car I had a quick run down from Fritz of Lexus of North Shore. He said "make sure you put it in sport mode". All these performance vehicles have an economy mode, but I'm picking the Lexus RC350 driver won't use it that much and I didn't during the day I had the vehicle. It just makes you feel like you want to drive.

The RC was conceived as an "Impassioned and Captivating Coupe". There is a five litre RC-F option. But I was personally more than happy with the exhilarating performance generated by the 3.5-litre V6 engine, operated by an 8-Speed SPDS

•

(Sport Direct Shift) transmission, and given emotional expression by an innovative sound generator. Priced at just over the $120k mark this has got to be good value in the high-spec luxury performance vehicle sector. The five litre version will add another $40k to the price tag. A recent motoring review summed the vehicle up pretty well in one sentence. "Style-wise the four-seater RC looks like a Jaguar F-Type coupe mixed with a BMW M3 and a hefty dose of testosterone chucked in."

The Lexus RC350 has just arrived at Lexus of North Shore. The vehicle that I tested was one of the very first. I'm picking they will be very popular and certainly moves the brand into another segment.

They have been well-known for their luxury and technology. The RC will strongly lift their standing in the performance space.

The Lexus RC350 F Sport and Lexus Limited are obviously intended to be 'every day' cars. The RC-F 5-litre V8 petrol version – with 351kW of power and 530Nm of torque is top-end performance with one motoring writer believing it is targeting the likes of the Porsche 911. Probably correct given that it gets from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds with a top speed which is limited to 270km/h.

Some may need that power. I was more than happy with the same looks in the RC350 F Sport version that turned heads all over the Shore.

Talk to Mark Jago about the new Lexus RC today at Lexus of North Shore. Take a drive – you won't be disappointed!

Phone: 442-3670 • www.lexusofnorthshore.co.nz NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 3

Construction Interiors Seismic Strengthening Leaky Building Remediation Health & Safety Leadership Innovation Career Development Best practice

“Adding value�

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

plenty to be proud of The steadfast commitment of our members has once again allowed the North Harbour Club to build upon the stunning successes of nearly two decades. Our Lexus of North Shore Lunches were outstanding and we were thrilled to have the Prime Minister return as a guest speaker this time to share his much anticipated pre-budget speech. The 'After 5' Functions were well attended and continue to be a fantastic networking opportunity and are a great way to get to know club members; their partners, friends and colleagues.

The club also launched a new corporate membership option which is already proving to be very popular and I have no doubt will gain further traction and support. Related to this was the introduction of ‘Casual Thyme’ which is aimed at welcoming new members to the club and helping them find their feet before attending a luncheon or After 5.

The highlight of this year saw our two most celebrated events, the AIMES Awards and Emerging Talent Awards, finally come together in a spectacular gala display of raw talent. Every year I am left blown away by the achievements and sheer commitment that these rising young stars have. You are all truly inspiring and in light of recent world events an important source of positivity and hope for the future. Set against the backdrop of the infamous Great Gatsby, we awarded $125,000 to 16 outstanding individuals bringing our total awards to in excess of $1.65 million since our club was founded in 1995.

Congratulations to all the winners, but of course a very special congratulations to Ben Sanders, our overall winner and deserved recipient of $25,000 and the custodianship of the Sir Peter Blake trophy for excellence. Interestingly enough, Ben was a recipient of an Emerging Talent Award back in 2012.

This enabled him to travel to the United States in June 2013, where he met with and subsequently secured a contract with MacMillan Publishers in New York City. With Warner Brothers having secured the film rights to Ben’s upcoming fourth novel, I’m sure it won’t be long before we see this gritty crime author walking the red carpets of Hollywood.

Judging these Awards is an incredibly time-consuming but very rewarding task, so it is important we recognise our superb judging panel who have deliberated wisely and delivered exceptional and well deserving winners of our awards. This year our thanks go to Chair Simon Lamb and his team consisting of Andrea Davies, Sue Stanaway, Mike Stanley and Jan Dawson. Also, a big thank you to Catherine Lamb who has once again handled the awards’ administration process with total professionalism.

Such successes would not be possible without our passionately committed group of trustees and our generous sponsors. We now have 12 ‘We’re Building North Harbour’ sponsors, 6 AIMES category sponsors, Bellingham Wallace as our Emerging Talent sponsor, Lexus of North Shore as our charity lunch sponsor, and our generous support sponsors, who are detailed throughout this magazine. 2014 also saw sponsorship for two initiatives with RSM Prince on board as the Members Network sponsor and Simpson Western for the AIMES Winners Network. You all play a massive part in our

Matthew Bellingham.

achievements, thank you for your support. I’d also like to like to take this opportunity to thank our club ambassadors and our club General Manager Courtney Jackson who in only a short time has managed to elevate the Club to another level of efficiency and excellence.

I have no doubt that many of you will have seen the club’s fantastic new website. Our sincerest thanks to Aidan Bennett and his team at Benefitz for delivering such a polished result.

Online and off you always manage to ensure the club looks its best and our professional image is always maintained, we cannot thank you enough for the work you do.

Everything the North Harbour Club has achieved since 1995 certainly would not have been possible without a few key people who deserve our special thanks and recognition: our patron Peter Menzies; our life members Peter and Michelle Wall along with Joan Finlayson and, of course our founding president the late Ross Finlayson. Finally I’d like to thank our members for their ongoing commitment and participation – you are the club’s life blood and a vital link to the communities we support.

As we approach our 20th anniversary the club has certainly gone from strength to strength, reinforcing our commitment and deepening our resolve to support the North Harbour Region. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve in the next twenty years.

Enjoy this issue of Northside and we look forward to seeing you at this year’s events.

Matthew Bellingham President North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 5

Senior School

PAGE 6 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

TRUSTEES

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB & CHARITABLE TRUST

TRUSTEES 2014 2015

The North Harbour Club Trustees 2014-2015 pictured at the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner in November 2014.

From left: Gary Simpson, Hugh Stedman, Courtney Jackson (General Manager), Mark Jago, Sue Stanaway, Gary Monk, Andrea Davies, Phil Brosnan, Ngaio Merrick, Aidan Bennett (Vice President) and Matthew Bellingham (President).

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB & CHARITABLE TRUST - TRUSTEES 2014-2015 President:

Matthew Bellingham – Director, Bellingham Wallace Accountancy.

Email: mattb@bellinghamwallace.co.nz

Vice President: Aidan Bennett – Managing Director, Benefitz.

Email: aidan@benefitz.co.nz Trustees:

Phil Brosnan – Managing Director, Brosnan Construction.

Email: phil@brosnanconstruction.co.nz

Andrea Davies – Deputy Registrar, Massey University Auckland.

Email: a.l.davies@massey.ac.nz

Mark Jago – CEO, Lexus of North Shore and North Shore Toyota.

Email: markjago@nst.co.nz

Ngaio Merrick – Business Manager, Lewis Holdings Limited.

Email: ngaio@quadrant.co.nz

Gary Monk (ONZM) – Managing Director, Intersea Limited.

Email: gary@intersea.co.nz

Gary Simpson – Partner, Simpson Western Lawyers.

Email: garys@simpsonwestern.co.nz

Sue Stanaway – General Manager, Bayleys Residential Property Management.

Email: sue.stanaway@bayleys.co.nz

Hugh Stedman – Managing Director, 300 Richmond Limited.

Email: stedmans@xtra.co.nz

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 7

NHC MEMBERS 2014/2015 PATRON Peter Menzies LIFE MEMBERS Joan Finlayson Peter & Michelle Wall HONORARY MEMBERS Bob Jago Professor Ian Watson BOARD OF TRUSTEES Matthew Bellingham (President) Aidan Bennett (Vice-President) Phil Brosnan Andrea Davies Mark Jago Ngaio Merrick Gary Monk Gary Simpson Sue Stanaway Hugh Stedman SECRETARY/TREASURER Mike Atkinson AMBASSADORS Cameron Calkoen Shane Cortese Ian Jones Peter Montgomery MEMBERS Max Abbott Colin Abercrombie Philip Adamson Paul Alexander John Algie Peter Baker Alan Barr Vickie Barrie Paul Bayer Francine Bennett Ted Benton John Bishop Trish Blackmore Paul Blackwell Nicolette Bodewes John Broderick David Brook Russell Brooke Scott Browne Jonno Buckley Ian Calderwood Graham Catley Barbara Cavanagh David Charlesworth Peter Clague Fleur Clough Graham Collie Steve Corbett Peter Cutts David Delamare Edward Delamare Nick Delamare Alan Davies Jan Dawson Bert Denee Daryl Devereux Stephen Dil Dave Donaldson Henry Duncan Terry Dunleavy Rick Ede Eric Faesen Kloet David Ferguson Dean Flyger Bruce Fowler Don Galbraith David Gaze Tom Gerrard Colin Gibbons Zane Gifford Bruno Goedeke John Gold John Grant Kirk Hardy

Mike Hare Colin Harvey Daniel Henderson Michelle Henderson Evan Henning Nick Hern Brian Hight Lisa Hill Steve Hilson Andrew Hiskens David Hodge Nick Howe-Smith Jim Huse Lyle Irwin Mark Jago Steve Jurkovich Annette Kann Nick Kearney Chris Kennings Lloyd Kirby Dave Knowles Simon Lamb Dave Lane Alan Le Noel Bob Leveloff Kate Luxton Liam Lyons David Macleod Andrew MacKenzie Graham Mackinnon Chris Maclean Steve Maharey Lynda Mann John Matthews Bob McGuigan Kevin McLean Tammy McLeod Forres McPheat Bob McRae Jim Matthewson Roz Mexted Judge Barry Morris Murray Nancekivell Ken Noble Dave Ormandy Brett O’Riley Jugdis Parbhu Sherida Penman-Walters Sean Poulton Michelle Pratt Bob Quaid Duncan Reid Greg Remmington Ralph Roberts Brendan Robinson Colin Saltmarsh Andrew Schnauer Patricia Schnauer Kate Shevland Alexis Siermans Mike Single Rod Slater Bill Smale Greg Smale Nicola Smee Bruce Spooner John Spooner Trevor Stanaway Mike Stanley David Stedman Ros Stewart Ian Taylor Mark Talbot James Thomas Andrew Thomson Bruce Tong Paul Tooley Richard Turner Gerard van Tilborg Jamie Wansey Greg Ward Lindsey White Peter White Alan Wiltshire Dean Young Ted Zorn

PAGE 8 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

ABOUT THE NORTH HARBOUR CLUB BACKGROUND The North Harbour Club (and Charitable Trust) was established on 18 May, 1995.

A group of North Shore business people met and established a constitution with the following objectives: 1. To promote the North Harbour region.

2. For business establishments of the region to meet and network for the good of the region.

3. To form a Charitable Trust to raise funds and present scholarships to the youth of the North Harbour region through the trusts annual AIMES Awards. To qualify for the AIMES Awards, recipients must have shown outstanding ability or potential in the areas of the Arts, IT, Innovation & Science, Music, Education, Sport and Service to the Community.

The North Harbour Club is an association of Auckland’s North Shore and North Harbour leaders in local affairs, business, education, sport and social development.

Members of the North Harbour Club, who are all residents or have their businesses in the North Harbour area, have, among other stated aims, the desire to promote excellence by encouraging and providing financial assistance to the young people of the North Harbour region who have significant ability in their chosen field and display personal characteristics which make them worthy of our support.

OBJECTIVES The annual AIMES Awards are the highest-profile face of the North Harbour Club, but the objectives of the club are five-fold: 1. To establish and maintain a club of non-political character for Members to meet through regular lunches and social activities.

2. To establish a charitable trust, known as The North Harbour Club Charitable Trust, to promote and develop local talent in the fields covered by the AIMES Awards.

3. To support cultural, sporting and recreational activities in the North Harbour Region.

4. To foster a spirit of pride in the North Harbour Region.

5. To foster a ‘good neighbour’ and ‘good citizen’ ethos in the North Harbour Region.

Membership of the North Harbour Club returns benefits to Members as well as the young people the Club chooses to reward.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS A series of events throughout the year, including dinners, charity lunches and other functions/events, allow members to mix and mingle while enjoying good food and fine wine. In this way Members receive an opportunity to meet each other, entertain clients and help our outstanding young achievers advance their careers at the same time.

The aim of these events is also to raise funds to enable the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust to continue to make grants to the young people who receive the annual AIMES Awards.

Financial contributions from members, through being involved in these events, are essential for ongoing funding of club.

SPONSORSHIP Funding is also gained by the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust through sponsorships. These include sponsorship of the AIMES Awards categories (called letter sponsors), and also through a group of sponsors called ‘We’re Building North Harbour’. There are also support sponsors who provide products and services to the club.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB? You can find our criteria for application and download an application pack from www.northharbourclub.co.nz/membership or contact Courtney Jackson – manager@northharbourclub.co.nz.

HOW TO APPLY:

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP:

> You must be nominated by a current member of the North Harbour Club

Membership of the North Harbour Club returns benefits to Members as well as the young people the Club chooses to reward. These include:

> Submit your CV and Application Form > Applications are submitted at each Trustee meeting for approval > Successful applications will be notified within 5 working days of each Trustee meeting.

CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP: To be a Member of the North Harbour Club you need to:• Be a North Harbour Resident, or have your primary Business located in the North Harbour area; and • Be a leader in local affairs, business, education, sport and/or social development; and • Be of good character with values and goals that align with those of the North Harbour Club; and • Contribute to the Club to support its goals, by way of regular attendance at Club fundraising events and/or sponsorship of the North Harbour Club • Understand that application for membership is at the discretion of the Trustees of the North Harbour Club Charitable Trust

• Make a difference to youth striving for excellence • Fabulous speakers • High energy, engaging lunches • Introductions and Connections to other North Harbour Club Members • Option to host or speak at an After 5 • Member profile in the newsletter • Priority ticket purchasing for lunches and AIMES Awards

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS: Corporate Membership - $2,000 + GST Two individual members from the same organisation as recognised members of the club.

Includes three tickets to each Luncheon event.

OR Standard Membership - $500 + GST One individual member joined.

Tickets for each event purchased additionally.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 9

The North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust acknowledges the ongoing support of our fantastic sponsors…

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES AWARDS SPONSORS

WE’RE BUILDING NORTH HARBOUR SPONSORS

civil & structural engineers

Prince PROUD SPONSOR OF THE AIMES WINNERS NETWORK

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB MEMBERSHIP SPONSOR

CHARITY LUNCHES

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENT & SUPPORT SPONSORS

www.northharbourclub.co.nz

HIGHLIGHTING OUR SPONSORS

OUR FANTASTIC SPONSORS Since it’s inception in 1995, the North Harbour Club has relied on donations from generous sponsors to ensure the continued success of the Club and Charitable Trust. These sponsors, many whose logos have been there since the very early days have been instrumental in contributing to the incredible sum of $1.65M that has been awarded to talented youth of the North Harbour region.

You will find these sponsors outlined throughout this magazine (logos are on the facing page) and we urge you to consider using them whenever possible in your own business.

AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS BELLINGHAM WALLACE

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB 'LETTER' SPONSORS

Our support sponsors provide the club with various support around events, marketing and even gym memberships for our AIMES Winners.

Each ‘Letter’ Sponsor provides money that is awarded directly to their category winner who then goes on to use this to continue achieving excellence in their field.

Our current AIMES Awards Letter Sponsors are:

ARTS

AUCKLAND LIVE/BRUCE MASON CENTRE

IT, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE MASSEY UNIVERSITY

MUSIC

Recognising those 'emerging' in each AIMES catagory.

BUILDING NORTH HARBOUR SPONSORS A concept created in 2006, our Building North Harbour sponsors are just that – local businesses committed to building and developing our region.

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENT AND SUPPORT SPONSORS

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB SPECIALIST SPONSORS We also have four sponsorships around specific events the club is involved in or supports:-

North Harbour Club Charity lunches LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE Lexus of North Shore have been long time sponsors of the four Charity Lunches we host every year.

ALBANY TOYOTA

North Harbour Club Members Network RSM PRINCE

EDUCATION

Our members network fosters membership of the club. This is sponsored by local accountancy firm RSM Prince.

KRISTIN SCHOOL

SPORT

North Harbour Club AIMES Winners Network SIMPSON WESTERN LAWYERS

AUT MILLENNIUM INSTITUTE

This is our 'alumni' of AIMES Award recipients over 20 years. It is generously supported by law firm Simpson Western.

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Business Excellence Network (BEN Breakfasts)

ASB BANK

This popular business breakfast programme is organised

by BEN with support from sponsors Schnauer & Co, BDO, Westpac and ATEED. For many years funds raised as a result of this breakfast programme have been generously gifted to the club to support the AIMES Awards.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 11

WINNERS 2014

BEN SANDERS AUTHOR (24)

AIMES Supreme Award and Arts Award Winner 2014

Ben Sanders with his proud parents, Gael and Dave.

PAGE 12 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WE HAVE A WINNER! HOLLYWOOD AGREES SANDERS HAS THE WRITE STUFF! Heather Vermeer caught up with overall AIMES Supreme Award Champion, writer Ben Sanders.

Following on from international megastar and North Shore darling, Lorde - aka Ella Yelich-O'Connor - to take out the top honours in the latest AIMES Awards is Ben Sanders. Nice footsteps to walk in, and it seems this self-effacing young Shore talent is also set to be a hit in the US, albeit less centre stage.

The former Long Bay Primary and College pupil is making his dreams real, and the AIMES Awards have played a big part.

After scooping an Emerging Talent Award in 2012, Ben decided to use the prize fund to pay for a trip to New York to get himself in front of the power players in the publishing world. Within eight months of a '15-minute breathless pitch' to an editor in Manhattan, this Torbay boy had not only secured a book deal, but a book series with one of the world's most illustrious publishing houses, and a Warner Brothers movie deal with Hollywood A-Lister Bradley Cooper.

It's the stuff of dreams.

It was in June 2013 that Ben took that leap to see if he could make it in the international publishing sphere. Having already published three books with Harper Collins here in New Zealand, he bunked down with a friend in The Big Apple, using his AIMES earnings to get there and give him a shot at trying his luck with the big players in publishing. He said: "I managed to get myself an appointment with an editor at Macmillan in Manhattan. He literally had 15 minutes to see me, so I delivered this breathless pitch. I left my latest book with him (Only The Dead) and that was that."

Ben was working in Takapuna as a structural engineer at the time, following the completion of an engineering degree, when he got a call on the way in to the office one day that would alter the course of his life. He explained: "In October or November, I was driving to work one morning and got a phone call at 7.30am from my agent. He said that Brendan at MacMillan wanted to do a series of novels set in the USA!" From there, email and phone conversations began, with the result being a two book deal which Ben signed in December last year with Fifth Avenue New York-based MacMillan, one of the world's leading publishing houses.

"The very lucky, and very exciting, part of it was that he (Brendan) runs the film division at MacMillan and his special interest is selling books to Hollywood!" Ben explained, without trying to hide his excitement in relaying this fortunate offshoot to what was already a huge success story. Then he got mail; huge, significant, life-changing mail. "I got this amazing email

one Saturday morning in February saying that we'd had an offer from Warner Brothers, with Bradley Cooper attached to it, but that they were still negotiating. I didn't get a lot of sleep that weekend - I was literally pacing the house!

"By Tuesday, I'd sent an email to find out how things were going, and got a reply saying that he'd forgotten to tell me but, yes, it had all been agreed!

"It's very much a dream come true."

The first of the books, American Blood is in the very final editing stages as we enter 2015, and is due for release in the US in September. The movie deal that's secured for the book will be able to be used to promote the novel, a huge bonus when it comes to publishing and growing sales of the title. A scriptwriter has been working on adapting the novel for screen, with a script likely to be completed by this month. Ben said: "Things are ticking along quite nicely. We're definitely moving ahead well. It's all new and exciting for me!"

As for the movie, when can we expect to see his American Blood novel transformed onto the big screen? "I guess it will be at least another 18 months or so down the track," says Ben. "I'm not overly concerned, as the main thing is that Hollywood is producing this and are working on the script."

Are they consulting with him during this script-writing process?

"They are courteous in the sense that they give me updates. But when they buy the film rights, it's their prerogative to do with it what they will! They are entitled to do it their way. They paid for that right!

"Fingers crossed they will keep me informed and ask my opinion from time to time, but at the end of the day, I am just so grateful that they bought up the rights to my books! It's such a

Ben Sanders addresses the crowd after receiving his award.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 13

WINNERS 2014

Ben Sanders with AIMES Supreme Award which was presented to him

by Hon. Jonathan Coleman and Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

huge privilege and a huge opportunity."

Ben was back in the USA in December to research the second book in the series, before returning home on Christmas Eve to enjoy the seasonal festivities with family and friends.

He said: "The new book I'm working on is set in winter in New York, so I wanted to go and experience what it's like over there at that time of year."

Ben is the eldest of three brothers all brought up in Torbay.

The family are very much 'Shore people' - his mother works in Takapuna as a consultant for Colmar Brunton and his father works for Auckland Council. "Yes we're very loyal to the Shore!"

Ben proudly admits.

His Mum and Dad are avid readers, which has been an influence on Ben's career direction. "My parents have always been big readers and have always been very interested in English and language. I guess my interest is an extension of their constant encouragement and their interest in reading."

He was 'about 13 or 14' when his interest in writing began to gain momentum. "After a couple of years of reading obsessively, mainly crime thrillers, I tried to emulate what I was reading," he says. Two teachers from Long Bay College also played an important part in Ben's progression as a writer. "My 5th Form English teacher, Miss McCormick really helped spark my interest in writing," he recalls. "And Mr Jones, who taught Media Studies. Between them, they covered the writing and film side of things. They made a really strong impression on me.

Whatever passion I have for these subjects its really due in part to their enthusiasm for teaching these subjects."

Ben admits to being 'someone of simple pleasures' who enjoys playing tennis, catching up with his mates and enjoying the natural beauty and laid back vibe of the Shore. His dog Wanda is an important part of his life and it's during his morning walks with his

Ben Sanders addresses the crowd after receiving his award.

beloved pet that he reflects upon and plans his writing.

"I'm a real creature of habit," he explains. "I get up and take my dog for a walk for an hour every day. That's my scheming phase for the day! I think about what I've written and what I'm going to write next. Wanda is my partner in crime!"

As a writer, he has to be very disciplined, I assume?

"I write 1500 words a day," he says. "I will stay at my desk until that's done. Sometimes it's a 2am finish!" He tells me he writes chronologically but admits: "I don't take a very logical approach. I plan the first part and I get a really solid foundation and once I have written everything for that opening segment, I find I have enough ideas that I can keep things rolling along and each subsequent chapter just follows on."

It was a huge honour for Ben to be presented with the Sir Peter Blake Trophy and $15,000 as winner of the AIMES Supreme Award late last year, as well as the $10,000 he won for the Excellence in Arts category. He said: "I was so excited and flattered to get that sort of recognition. It was such a nice event to be a part of and to be presented with the overall award too came as such a surprise and was truly the icing on the cake, especially given that the competition was so stiff."

After a much-needed break in January, Ben is back into the writing this month. It will be a big year for him. He's keen to grab all the opportunities that come his way with both hands, and is keen to encourage other Shore youngsters to do the same.

He added: "AIMES is such a wonderful, worthwhile award to apply for. For me, it's been so nice being involved in a charity organisation that's so supportive. If young people out there are passionate about a pursuit they're involved in, they should seriously think about applying. It comes down to the golden rule, that actually applies to most things in life, 'there's never any harm in trying'!" n

AIMES is such a wonderful, worthwhile award to apply for. For me, it's been so nice being involved in a charity organisation that's so supportive. If young people out there are passionate about a pursuit they're involved in, they should seriously think about applying. It comes down to the golden rule, that actually applies to most things in life, 'there's never any harm in trying'!

PAGE 14 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

Helping our top athletes to be champions and our community to live longer, healthier lives.

www.autmillennium.org.nz

WINNERS 2014

LEIGHTON WATSON GEO-SCIENTIST (23)

AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award Winner 2014

GEO SCIENTIST

STUDYING SOUND WAVES GENERATED BY VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS Geo-Scientist and former Rangitoto College student Leighton Watson received the AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award for 2014, including a grant of $10,000.

He is using the funds to help with his studies at Stanford University in the United States (San Francisco).

"It was an honour to be selected for the AIMES award," said Leighton in December 2014. "Academia is quite a narrow field, so it is always nice to know that there are people outside of your specialised area of focus that are interested in what you are doing. I am very grateful for the ability to have come back to New Zealand for the award's dinner."

"The grant money will (and has been useful) in covering some mundane costs associated with moving to America. Stanford pay a living allowance. However, it has been more financially taxing to move from New Zealand to San Francisco than some other students in the department, such as one who moved up from Los Angeles. This is only a small portion of the award."

Leighton expanded on his intentions for using the rest of the funds. "To travel back to New Zealand for the 25th celebrations of the Tuakana Program at Auckland University.

This is an affirmation action initiative aimed at helping Maori and Pacific Island students achieve at university. Maori and Pacific Islanders are over-represented in negative education statistics. The Tuakana Program is an important program

PAGE 16 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

for improving these statistics. I was a tutor with the Tuakana Program for several years while a student at Auckland. A lot of the students, and other tutors were impressed when I got accepted into Stanford. It would be nice to go back and talk to the current students and support the program. This is something that I had talked about with the coordinator of the program before leaving New Zealand.

The funds will also be used for attendance at conferences and/or collaborations. Stanford and my advisor are able to fund attendance at the main conferences and for conferences directly related to my volcano research. However, there are several other smaller conferences related to tangential interests (that I would not be able to justify getting my advisor to fund attendance) that I would like to attend. Alternatively, there is the potential for some collaboration with researchers in the US to continue with some of the rock physics work that I did in my undergrad (this idea resulted from my involvement at the American Geophysical Union Conference in December)."

Leighton Watson explains his work in the Volcanic field. "We are looking at numerical models of the sound waves generated by volcanic eruptions. As a volcano erupts, large volumes of ash, rock, and gas are ejected into the atmosphere, disturbing it and generating sound waves. The sound waves can be used to investigate and monitor volcano properties. As the sound

waves travel long distances through the atmosphere, they can be used to monitor remote volcano, characterising eruptions, and providing valuable information on eruption dynamics and ash fallout to air traffic controllers. There is currently significant interest in infrasound (low frequency sound waves) because of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, in which infrasound is used to monitor for atmospheric nuclear tests, as well as meteors and other explosions in the atmosphere."

About Leighton Watson...

Leighton attended Rangitoto College where he completed his Gold Sir Edmund Hillary Duke of Edinburgh Award in 2009.

He also won the National Finals in 2009 for Future Problem Solving and as a result attended the International Finals in Wisconsin, USA where he came ninth out of over thirty competitors. Leighton is also a keen outdoorsmen and was involved in varying pursuits throughout his time at Rangitoto including water polo, soccer and also organised several college tramping expeditions.

Leighton commenced study at the University of Auckland in 2010 initially majoring in Mathematics and was selected for a summer research scholarship as a second year student on a course usually only offered to third year students. This scholarship gave him a first taste of serious research and following this, based on exceptional performance he was employed as a research assistant throughout 2012, the results of which are currently on track to be published.

In August 2012, Leighton was one of five students selected by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Indigenous Centre of Research Excellence, to attend the Asian Science Camp in Jerusalem, Israel. This camp offered an incredible insight into the field of science and cemented his desire to become a scientist.

Leighton Watson.

In the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes, Leighton took serveral Geophysics paper which led to his focus shifting from Applied Mathematics to Geophysics. The field provided an opportunity to combine his passion for the outdoors and science with his quantitative skills.

At the end of 2012 he was offered another summer research position working on resonant ultrasound spectroscopy of anisotropic shale samples and continued with the project through 2013 and 2014 for his Bachelor of Science (Honours) dissertation. He is currently writing an academic paper on the results for Geophysical Journal International and aims to present the findings at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco in December.

Leighton’s academic record includes 13 First in Course Awards and the award for Senior Scholar for the highest marks in an undergraduate degree programme. In addition he worked at the university as a tutor with the Tuakana programme, an affirmative action initiative designed to help Maori and Pacific Island students achieve at university.

Following this Leighton applied for graduate schools in North America and based on exceptional marks in the Graduate Readiness Examination (97th percentile for verbal reasoning, 94th for quantitative reasoning and 93rd for analytical writing) he was invited and funded to visit six top campuses. He was subsequently accepted into all of these universities.

Leighton has recently relocated to San Francisco, California starting a PhD at Stanford University on numerical modeling of volcanoes. After completing his studies he plans to return to New Zealand and work either at a research institution such as GNS or within academia. n

Leighton Watson received his 2014 AIMES IT, Innovation and Science Award from Professor Serge Demidenko (of award sponsor Massey University) and Matthew Bellingham.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 17

WINNERS 2014

HYE WON SUH FLUTE PERFORMANCE (22) AIMES Music Award Winner 2014

Hye-Won Suh thrilled the crowd with her performance at the 2014 AIMES Awards Gala Dinner.

PAGE 18 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

MUSIC AWARD ASSISTS WITH AUDITION OPPORTUNITIES IN BOSTON AND NEW YORK

Hye-Won Suh received her AIMES Music Award from Andrew Mackenzie of award sponsor Albany Toyota and North Harbour Club President Matthew Bellingham.

Former Westlake Girls High School student, and flutist, Hye-Won Suh received the AIMES Music Award (including a $10,000 grant) in 2014. Since leaving Westlake, the 22 year old has completed a Bachelor of Music with honours at Auckland University and undertaken a Masters degree. She has also gained considerable experience in professional orchestras.

"Winning the AIMES Award in the Music category was a huge honour for me," said Hye-Won after receiving the award in late 2014. "It is a privilege to be recognised as one of the young artists to represent the North Shore."

"Since the award ceremony, I have been invited for live auditions to five schools so far in America. The schools include Boston University, Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard School of Music."

Hye-Won planned to travel to America in early 2015, from 28th January, to begin six weeks of her audition journey until 15th March.

"It is frightening and also extremely exciting for me to take a first step toward a new chapter of my life. The audition trip would not have been possible without the generous help from the North Harbour Club and my award sponsors, Albany Toyota."

About Hye-Won Suh...

Starting at Westlake Girls High School Hye-Won gained university entrance with a NZQA scholarship in music. She then went on to complete a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Flute Performance and is currently completing her Masters at Auckland University

Hye-Won Suh.

under the tutelage of Prof. Uwe Grodd.

Hye-Won is a talented musician currently applying to a number of prestigious schools in North America offering an Artistic Diploma programme. The Diploma programme will involve the study of solo performance flute, ensemble skills in chamber music and orchestra, and international study will give the ability to expand further than the Australasian competitions.

She has a breadth of experience already in professional orchestras including both second and principal flute of NZSO Youth Orchestra, the NZSO Fellowship programme, Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and APO open days.

Hye-Won aspires to one day gain a full-time position in a professional classical orchestra such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Musical achievements to date include: Winner of Harmony Club Scholarship Competition, 2008; Winner of New Zealand Woodwind Competition, 2009; Winner of Tauranga Performing Arts Competition, 2010; Founder and member of “Libelle” flute quartet; Finalist in Auckland; Philharmonia Orchestra Young Soloist 2013; 2nd place in the University of Auckland Concerto Gala Competition playing Ibert Flute Concerto with the University of Auckland Orchestra, 2014; Vice Chancellor’s Arts Support Fund grant, University of Auckland, 2013; New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Fellowship, Wellington, 2014; Anne Bellam Scholarship, University of Auckland, 2014; Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Young Achiever, 2014; Alex Lindsay Award, awarded by NZSO. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 19

WINNERS 2014

FINN LOWERY SCHOLAR (23)

AIMES Education Award Winner 2014

Finn Lowery received his AIMES Education Award from Philippa Fee (Board Chair) of award sponsor Kristin School and North Harbour Club President Matthew Bellingham.

BIG YEAR AS RHODES SCHOLARSHIP FOLLOWS AIMES AWARD As well as receiving the AIMES Education Award (and a grant of $10,000) in late 2014, Scholar Finn Lowery also received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford in the UK. The high achiever finished his final semester at the University of Auckland in late 2014. His most recent exam results were A+ grade in 21 of 41 papers.

"Given my receipt of the Rhodes Scholarship, I am unfortunately no longer able to work at the Court of Appeal as the Court requires clerks for a full two-year term," explained Finn Lowery in late 2014. "Instead, when I take up my scholarship at Oxford, I will spend my first year reading for the Bachelor of Civil Law (the Oxford equivalent of an LLM). In this, I will focus on issues of constitutionality, human rights, the criminal justice system and national security. In addition to the fascinating

PAGE 20 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

subject matter, I am also very excited to develop my skills, knowledge and beliefs in an exceptionally diverse environment."

"In the second year, I will most likely read for the Masters of Public Policy. This is a globally focused, practical degree which is intended to educate the world leaders of tomorrow. Again, I am most excited for the intense interaction with my peers that this course is sure to bring."

Finn Lowery says he has already filled his schedule with a number of interesting things over the next 12 months.

"I am currently studying for my professional legal qualifications in order to be admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

In addition, I am preparing for the Willem C Vis International Arbitration Moot, which will take place in Vienna in April. This

is the biggest university legal competition in the world, which requires students to master the procedural and substantive legal principles relating to a commercial transaction, before presenting and defending the case in front of some of the world's foremost legal practitioners."

From Vienna, Finn hopes to spend four months travelling in India and Central America. As a result of his studies in political science, he is particularly interested in the north Indian provinces of Punjab and Kashmir, and also hopes to spend some time trekking in Nepal. In Central America, he wants to polish up his Spanish language skills, as he expects they will be highly relevant to his career.

"Most importantly, I want to emphasise that none of my plans between now and Oxford would be possible if it were not for my very generous AIMES Award. With the help of the North Harbour Club, I have been able to design an absolute dream year of incredibly diverse learning: from rigorous legal experience in international commercial arbitration practice, to a first-hand view of regions which have long fascinated me for their ethnic diversity, to the opportunity to polish my Spanish.

For me, it does not get any better than this, so I want to extend my warmest thanks to all members of the club for making it possible."

About Finn Lowery...

Finn attended Rangitoto College where he was Head Boy in 2008.

Whilst studying, including the completion of an honours dissertation, Finn manages to balance an international sporting career, spending the first four months of 2014 overseas training with professional water polo teams in preparation for the Commonwealth Championships in Scotland. Finn works to make a social contribution by coaching junior North Harbour water polo teams and mentoring a number of young men in the North Harbour region.

Finn is continually striving to extend his learning including rising an hour earlier each morning to polish his French and Spanish with plans to add Te Reo Maori in the future.

Recently in November 2014 Finn was also awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. n

Most importantly, I want to emphasise that none of my plans between now and Oxford would be possible if it were not for my the very generous AIMES Award.

Finn Lowery.

Finn Lowery.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 21

WINNERS 2014

TENEALE HATTON SPRINT CANOEING (24)

AIMES Sport Award Winner 2014

PAGE 22 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

Teneale Hatton.

FOCUSSED ON MEDALLING AT RIO

Due to her absence overseas Teneale's mother received her AIMES Sport Award from Max Abbott of award sponsor AUT Millennium and North Harbour Club President Matthew Bellingham.

24 year old sprint canoeist Teneale Hatton was the winner of the AIMES Sport Award (and a $10,000 grant) for 2014.

The former Carmel College student did not attend the awards as she was at a high performance training camp in Florida in the US. Her focus is on the Olympics in Rio 2016.

"To be announced as a winner of an AIMES award this year blew me away," said Teneale, after returning to Auckland in December 2014. "It had been a challenging season trying out a different way of training but it paid off and to reciveve this award was an amazing reward for my results this season and also a massive motivation to keep going forward, to keep trying to excel and challenge myself both on and off the water."

"To be named along side such high calibre individuals was such a great feeling. This grant money will allow me the opportunity to have access to the best training environments in the world alongside the best athletes in the world. This includes an international training camp in Florida which AIMES emerging talent award allowed me to do in 2013, kick starting my Rio campaign, it will also allow me the opportunity to greater competition exposure and necessary equipment and support staff needed to reach the podium in Rio".

About Teneale Hatton...

A former student of Carmel College Teneale received an Emerging Talent Award in 2012 providing her the opportunity to travel to Florida for a training camp in 2013. There she trained with a group of top international kayakers and developed her skills, which in turn led to an incredible competition year placing

Teneale Hatton (right) with fellow elite Kiwi canoeists Jaimee Lovett and Lisa Carrington.

1st in the K1 5,000m World Champs and then in the Surf Ski World Champs placing 1st in the u23 Single Ski. Teneale is currently working towards Olympic qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics with a firm goal to return home with a Gold medal. She plans to compete in all available events in preparation including a rigorous training camp in Florida, USA with the world top kayaks and a pre-trial camp in Australia where she can train in optimum facilities and weather conditions.

As well as competing as an international athlete, Teneale has a full academic schedule working towards a Bachelor of Law and Commerce at the University of Auckland, and in addition to that also studying a Bachelor of Paramedicine at AUT. Her various awards include a Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship, an AUT Blues Award and the sought after AMP 'Do Your Thing’ National Scholarship for ‘Women of the Year’ in 2013.

On top of her heavy academic and competition schedule, Teneale is also involved with surf lifesaving working with the Northern Region as a Duty Officer, surfcom operator, support team member, instructor and volunteers her time to St John.

Teneale’s sporting achievements include; World Cup 1 (2013): 2nd K1 5000m; 4th K2 500m.

World Cup 2 (2013): 1st K1 5000m; 7th K2 500m; 7th K2 200m.

World Champs 2013: 1st K1 5000m Surf Ski world champs 2013: 1st u23 Single ski; 1st Open double ski.

Marathon world champs 2013: 1st u23 K1; 7th Open K1.

World Cup 1 (2014): 2nd K1 5000m.

World Cup 2 (2014): 1st K1 1000m; 1st K1 5000m. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 23

WINNERS 2014

DANNIE CULLEN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION (22)

AIMES Service to the Community Award Winner 2014

Dannie Cullen received her AIMES Service to the Community Award from David Brook of award sponsor ASB and North Harbour Club President Matthew Bellingham.

PAGE 24 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN AND THE PROTECTION OF IT

Dannie Cullen.

Dannie Cullen addressing the crowd after receiving the award.

Since winning the AIMES Service to the Community Award (and a grant of $10,000) Dannie Cullen has graduated from the South Seas Film and Television School with a Diploma in Film and Television Production with an ‘A’ grade pass.

She has also been selected as the AENZ (Applied Ecology New Zealand) best Environmental Science student of the year, continuing her high achieving standards that led to the AIMES judging panel recognising her with the Service to the Community Award.

"Currently I am in preparation for my expedition to the Catlins and Codfish Island in January as the first Sir Peter Blake Trust Conservation Ambassador," said Dannie in late 2014.

"It was truly an honor to be announced a winner of one of this year’s AIMES awards. I feel privileged to be chosen for this award and it has given me the confidence to keep striving forward in my goals and passion in hopes of making a difference for both marine and terrestrial conservation in New Zealand. The award has given me the opportunity to continue my volunteer work as well as an opportunity to kickstart a New Zealand science-based web series next year. This web series will cover the topics of biology, physics, chemistry and most importantly NZ conservation in new and innovative ways to engage younger people in hopes that they will become more informed and passionate about the world we live in and the protection of it."

About Dannie Cullen...

Dannie grew up in England before moving to New Zealand and attending Long Bay College where she completed years 11-13. As a youth she developed a strong passion and fascination with animals and marine life, completing her Open Water Diver qualification at just 10.

Following high school, Dannie completed a Diploma in

Marine Studies (also awarded the Top Student Award) and a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Marine Biology and Environmental Science. Still an enthusiastic diver, Dannie is now a qualified PADI Dive Instructor with numerous specialties, and, during September 2012 was awarded a sponsorship to conduct her Diploma thesis on a behavioural study of humpback whales in relation to commercial eco-tourism vessels in Vava’u, Tonga.

A passionate volunteer, Dannie has worked with Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, Long Bay Regional Park and the New Zealand Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

In addition to science, Dannie has a passion for film and photography. During her final years of high school she started making films and short “vlogs” on YouTube and has obtained over 1 Million views, 5,000 subscribers and was offered a place in the original YouTube Partner program. In 2010 Dannie was the recipient of an Auckland Art Award, won a video competition that landed her an internship at MTV and achieved NCEA Outstanding Scholarship in Photography.

Through science communication Dannie has firmly established a desire to make science more accessible to the public. Subsequently, her love of film and science are now combined and she has since endeavoured to find ways to communicate science and NZ conservation via media.

Dannie intends to continue her tertiary education by completing a Master of Science Communication endorsed in Science and Natural History Filmmaking at the University of Otago with plans to commence pre-production stages of a New Zealand sciencebased children’s show covering topics of biology, physics, chemistry and most importantly conservation using new and innovative ways to engage younger generations to become more passionate about protecting the country and world we live in. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 25

WINNERS 2014

JUDGES SPECIAL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING BOXER AND SINGER

David Light received his AIMES Judges Special Awards from Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

DAVID LIGHT BOXING (22)

AIMES Judges Special Award Winner 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medalist in boxing, David Light, was one of two recipients of an AIMES Judges Special Award (and a grant of $6000) in 2014.

Born in Takapuna, David was home schooled as the youngest of eight siblings and then attended Senior College in 2008. David has had a love of boxing since a young age and actively participated for the last seven years. His competitions at a national level commenced in 2011 with steady top rankings.

His highest recent achievement saw David compete in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bringing home a silver medal in addition to a second silver at the highly competitive China Open Cup. David’s continuous top placings at international events puts him in serious contention for not only qualification but a medal

PAGE 26 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

at the 2016 Rio Olympics With training now both in New Zealand at the High Performance Centre and at the Australian Institute of Sport he will compete in a number of international competitions in the lead up to Rio qualification stages.

In addition to boxing David also attended Auckland University doing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Chinese Language.

David’s boxing achievements to date include; 2011, 2012, 2013 New Zealand 81-91kg Amateur Boxing Champion; 2012 Oceania Silver medalist; 2012 Serbia Winners tournament Bronze medalist; 2013 Guiyang China Open Cup Silver medalist; 2014 GB tournament, Helsinki, Bronze medalist; 2014 Serbia Winners tournament Silver medalist; 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Sliver medalist. n

Tayla Alexander received her AIMES Judges Special Awards from Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

TAYLA ALEXANDER SINGING (13)

AIMES Judges Special Award Winner 2014 The second AIMES Judges Special Award (and a grant of $4000) went to 13 year old singer Tayla Alexander.

South African born Tayla resides in Albany, singing and performing from four years of age and at just 13 has chosen to dedicate her professional career to music, working with some of the most talented teachers and performers in New Zealand.

Musical achievements to date have seen her perform a number of solo performances at high profile events including singing for Rt. Hon Prime Minister John Key and Sir Peter Leitch as well as nation-wide televised performances. She has also performed at two AIMES Awards Gala Dinner's, including this years event when she was presented with the Judges Special Award.

Tayla's debut album Songbird peaked at number four on the Independent Music New Zealand album chart in 2012 and made her the youngest local artist ever to feature on the New Zealand charts.

Her development and performance ability now provide a chance to pursue international opportunities and she plans to invest in recording equipment to grow her presence and reputation on social media along with travel to North America to work alongside key industry players.

Tayla’s performances to date include; 2012 to 2013: Won four out of five categories in the 2013 North Shore Performing Arts; Youngest participant in 2013 Opera Idol age group, won 2nd prize; Selected to sing solo in front of 200,000 for Coca Cola Christmas in the Park 2013; Performed live on the Erin Simpson Show and Sticky TV; Performed live on Good Morning (3 times).

2014 (Age 13): Selected to sing solo at the New Zealand Pops; Selected by Disney Channel Australia / New Zealand for special program; Invited to sing solo in the 2013 New Zealander of the Year Awards; Selected for one of the leading roles in 2014 Long Bay College production of Les Miserables. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 27

JUDGES REPORT

Sue Stanaway with Olympic swimmer Hayley Palmer at the North Harbour Club Olympic Lunch held just prior to the 2012 London Olympics.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE

ONE OF THE JUDGES?

By Sue Stanaway, North Harbour Club Trustee and AIMES Awards Judge.

Sue Stanaway has been a supporter, member and trustee of the North Harbour Club for a long time. One of the roles she cherishes the most about her involvement is as a member of the judging panel for the annual AIMES Awards. Sue is part of a five-strong panel that also includes Simon Lamb (Chair), Andrea Davies, Jan Dawson and Mike Stanley. We asked her to provide this report for Northside 2014/15 on her role as a judge.

I look back with pride at the now world renowned names of young people who have been assisted financially and given the support of the amazing collection of business people and philanthropists that make up the North Harbour Club. I feel privileged to have been part of the journey over the last eight years to recognise and contribute to their success as a judge for the AIMES Awards.

Each year there is a treasure trove of entries from talented young North Shore people who are excelling in their chosen field of either Arts, IT, Innovation and Science, Music, Education, Sports or Service to the Community that flood in and are sorted for the judging panel to deliberate and decide on the most worthy for awards. And each year never fails to deliver surprises at how multi talented and how hard working these entrants are, striving to reach their goals and follow their passion to succeed.

Having the honour of being a Trustee for the club and sitting amongst the five judges pondering often with admiration at the depth and breadth of ability I still feel a sense of amazement at the huge pool of talent we have on the Shore.

So often at the time of applying for an AIMES or Emerging Talent Award these young people have barely been recognised for their success and are certainly poorly funded, often relying solely on parental support to get them to training and pay for travel and tuition to compete or study internationally. Yet it seems to be the nature of these rising stars that they are determined to make it to the top and prepared to struggle with minimum financial support and usually no sponsorship to follow their dreams.

Without question though, there is a strong sense of

PAGE 28 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

gratitude to parents and coaches and tutors for the time that is invested in giving support and almost everyone makes mention of this both in their entry and if they make it through to the short list for interviewing.

So how do we make those selections?

With just under 100 applications each year every entry is checked to make sure it meets the AIMES criteria for age category and alliance to the North Shore and then is set on line for the judges.

Reading each application and looking at the achievements and accolades it is then a matter of selecting those people that will be shortlisted and invited to meet the judges for a face to face interview. There are usually 5-6 interviews conducted in each category and we are looking for AIMES Award winners, Emerging Talent winners and an overall winner. There is also the ability for the judges to nominate someone for a Judges Special Award if it is felt someone is a worthy recipient.

The judges meet to confer on those to be interviewed and then several evenings are dedicated to the interview process and the final decisions made in each category. It is important that at each interview (whether in person or on Skype with those who are overseas) we give the young person an opportunity to share their dream, and the journey they have been on to reach that point in their success, and their goals for the future.

From divas and artists, top sportspeople and Olympians, world champions, international scholars and technology gurus, the North Harbour Club AIMES Awards are there to support, recognise and reward those young people who are the future in our community.

Being a judge for AIMES has become a highlight for me each year and something I certainly value as it has expanded my vision, understanding and appreciation of the young talent that surrounds us. It is also very rewarding to see the giddy heights some have risen to and that they are now coming back to the Shore as role models for the next wave of rising stars. n

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EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2014

EMERGING TALENT AWARD RECIPIENTS 2014

HARRY BARTLETT (16) IRISH DANCE

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014 Harry, a North Shore local attends Pinehurst School currently studying the Cambridge curriculum with excellence results. His passion lies in Irish Dance, dancing since age four; current holder of seven National Championship titles, numerous regional titles and excellence results in competitions across Australia and North America. Harry was placed 16th at the World Championships of Irish dance in London and won the inaugural Australian International Oireachtas in June.

His outstanding results and continued training at the Doyle Academy of Irish Dance lead into a long term goal of turning dance into a career. In addition to over sixteen hours of training per week Harry teaches beginner classes at the studio and holds a leadership role within the school.

He was recently offered a position at the renowned Harney Academy in Boston to study and train with champion Dance Master Liam Harney in preperation for the 2015 World Championships in Montreal, Canada where over 600 of the worlds best dancers will compete.

Academically, Harry plans to study business management and psychology through Massey University.

Harry hopes that opportunities to train for and attend international events will increase his ability to develop Irish Dance within New Zealand, particularly the North Shore and provide inspiration for others to follow.

His recent achievements include; 2012 • Gold Coast Championship, Australia 4th 2013 • World Championships, USA 30th • Mc Aleer Championship, Australia 1st • North American Championship, USA 9th 2014 • World Championships, London 16th (Recall Medal) • Australian International Oireachtas 1st • North American Championship Montreal.

LEWIS FRY (22)

MEDICINE, OPHTHALMOLOGY AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014

Lewis commenced his education at Kristin Primary School where he went on to senior school, graduating as Head Boy and Dux of School. Impressively he was also named Dux of his year 6 out of 7 senior years. He finished with a perfect IB score of 45 (achieved by 0.2% of students internationally) which in turn gave the opportunity to study at Monash University in Melbourne on a full scholarship.

His stellar academic record was also backed by a strong sporting involvement as well as varying community volunteer projects including fundraising events for World Vision, Mangere Refugee Centre and St John.

Lewis’ studies at Monash University have continued with top performance having maintained a high distrinction

average, recently being awarded the top Year 3 student in medicine overall as well as receiving the Shaun Summers Prize for Excellence in Medicine.

Lewis has recently been offered a coveted opportunity to spend a year researching at Australia’s leading eye research institute the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) based at the prestigious Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. The focus of his research will be in retinal neural dysfunction in diabetes. This is novel and exciting research with a potential to make a significant difference and to develop new long-term research areas. He will conduct this research as an additional year away from his medical degree in a Bachelor of Medical Science, effectively an honours year.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 31

EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2014

EMILY SCOTT (24) VOCAL PERFORMANCE

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014 Emily, an Australian born New Zealand resident proudly grew up in Devonport, attending Kristin School where her musical talents saw her receive a number of distinction awards for performing arts. Currently completing a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance (Voice) at the University of Auckland her musical background is extensive having immersed herself from a young age in jazz, musical theatre and classical, recently honing her performance skills exclusively to the classical and operatic genres.

She hopes to one day establish herself as a professional singer and performer with plans to complete Honours and then a Masters abroad. In addition to her studies she continues private vocal tuition and coaching with internationally recognised professionals such as Patricia Wright and Rosemary Barnes.

Her most recent crowning achievement is her inauguration as an intern of the New Zealand Opera Company as one of their Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist’s, which will provide Emily with first-hand experience working with a National Opera Company and tutelage by their Patron (Dame Malvina), Resident Artists and visiting International Professionals. Additionally she will be allocated comprimario and/or understudy roles and travel with the principal cast to perform in their three annual national productions held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Most recent achievements include: North Shore Performing Arts Society • Second Place – Lieder (2014); • First Place – Folk Song (2011); • First Place – Musical Theatre (2013); • Third Place – British Arts Song (2013); • First Place – Sacred Solo (2011); South Auckland Performing Arts Competition Society • Recipient of Gowan Brae Valley Studio Trophy – Ladies Champion; • Recipient of A and E Serpell Trophy – Most Points Senior Vocal; • First Place - Folk Song (2014); • First Place - Musical Theatre and Light Opera (2014); • Second Place - Oratorio (2014); First Place and Recipient of Gina Saunders Trophy – Class Recital (2013); • Second Place – Operatic Genre (2013); • Very Highly Commended – Musical Theatre and Operetta (2013); Ronald Dellow Memorial Competition - Finalist (2013) University of Auckland • First in Class Award in MUS 122 (2012) – Performance Skills; • First in Class Award in MUS 222 (2013) – Performance Skills.

KIT REILY (17) DANCE

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014 Kit grew up on Waiheke Island and attended Takapuna Grammar. Dancing from age 11 he has a strong passion for performing arts and trained under tutelage at Devonport School of Dance. Throughout his time at Takapuna Grammar he was awarded the prize for Top in Year dance as well as a trophy for Outstanding Choreography and Male Performer of the Year.

Rapidly excelling in the field Kit sat the Royal Academy of Dance Vocational Ballet Exams in 2011 and attained a Distinction. Following that, in 2011 he was accepted into the Junior Associate Programme at the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington, which he attended four times per year receiving intensive training from the schools esteemed faculty.

PAGE 32 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

Kit was further offered a 25% scholarship to train at the prestigious Alegria Dance Studio and at just sixteen years of age made the decision to move to Sydney and pursue his aspirations of becoming a Professional Ballet Dancer. The school has an exceptional reputation as being one of the best schools for training male dancers in Australia and now halfway through his year he has attained consistent distinctions in all exams. Notably he was a finalist in the Isobel Anderson Awards which was a competition held earlier this year run by the Royal Academy of Dance.

Most recently Kit was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance Full Time Programme commencing in January 2015.

EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2014

NICOLE ASHBY (21) MIND, BRAIN AND EDUCATION

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014 Nicole proudly grew up and was schooled on the North Shore starting at Murray’s Bay Primary followed by Kristin School where she was a prefect and the recipient of numerous academic awards in an array of subjects including French, Chemistry and English. Following this, she went on to complete a conjoint degree with a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts.

She deliberately took an eclectic mix of subjects during her four years at the University of Auckland and established a fascination in the junctions between subjects. On this basis she began to explore the intersection between fields, specifically that of neuroscience and education, determined to fuse the two together. This in turn lead to her application

to Harvard University where she was inducted to the yearlong intensive Masters programme named ‘Mind, Brain and Education’ in the emerging field of Educational Neuroscience.

Nicole has a passion for education, having tutored and volunteered in a number of different areas of education with young people. In particular she will use her time at Harvard to explore the mechanisms by which children learn, especially those that enable the acquisition of mathematical concepts and literacy. She hopes to understand the neural basis of variation in learning styles and investigate the promise of neuroplasticity.

Ultimately, her goal is to apply what she discovers while studying educational neuroscience to derive ways to help children in New Zealand learn better.

ELIZA McCARTNEY (17) POLE VAULT

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014 Eliza is a year 13 student at Takapuna Grammar School and competes in pole vault at an International level. In 2013 she won Australian and NZ age group titles for pole vault and decided to specialise in the event.

In 2013 Eliza claimed her first NZ age group record and was selected to compete at the IAAF World Youth (under 18) champs that were held in Donetsk, Ukraine in July 2013. She went into the event ranked 8th in the world and finished 4th on count back after jumping the same height as the bronze medalist. Eliza qualified for World Juniors in Dec 2013 where she broke the secondary schools record with a vault of 4.10m and defended her junior title. She was selected for the New Zealand World Junior athletic team to compete in Eugene, Oregon, USA in July.

In July she won the Harry Jerome track classic meet in Vancouver, Canada with a vault of 4.40m. Two weeks later she went on to compete at the IAAF World Junior Champs in Eugene, USA where she jumped the same height as the silver medalist and was awarded the bronze medal on count back.

This 4.45m vault was a new PB for Eliza and broke the NZ senior women's record. The women's pole vault final was described by the IAAF as the most competitive they have ever had. Eliza is only the second NZ woman to win a world junior medal since Valerie Adams. This performance also ranked her second in the Commonwealth as a senior woman for 2014. Unfortunately she was unable to qualify for the Commonwealth Games as illness and injury earlier in the year had prevented her from competing at her expected level within the qualification period.

This year Eliza will be competing nationally and internationally

in Australia, Korea and China. Given her recent results she is now in contention for the Olympic team to compete in Rio, 2016.

As well as being an international athlete, Eliza has an impeccable academic record achieving NCEA level 1 and 2 endorsed with excellence. She is currently sitting level 3, is a prefect and plans to study physiology at the University of Auckland.

2013 • January - Broke the Under 17 NZ record with a 4.01m jump at the Cook's classic meet, Whanganui.

• March - Broke the Under 17,under 18 and under 19 NZ Women’s pole vault records.

• March - Broke the Under 17, under 18 and under 19 NZ Women’s pole vault records at the Greater Auckland School Athletics Champs.

• April - Awarded Level 3 Carding by NZ Athletics High Performance • July - 4th in the final of the Women’s pole vault at the IAAF World Youth Champs in Donetsk, Ukraine • December - Won the open women’s pole vault at the Secondary School Nationals breaking the record with a 4.10m vault 2014 • March - Won the NZ women’s junior pole vault title • June - Broke women’s 17,18 and 19 NZ records with a 4.15m vault • June - Broke the NZ women’s indoor record with a vault of 4.27m • July - Harry Jerome Classic, Vancouver. Won the women’s pole vault and broke the women’s 17,18,19 and 20 NZ records with a vault of 4.40m • July - Bronze medal at the IAAF World Junior Champs, USA breaking the women's 17,18,19,20 and senior NZ records with a vault of 4.45m

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 33

EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2014

GEMMA JONES (20) OLYMPIC CLASS YACHTING

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014 Gemma attended Rangitoto College and at 20 years of age is currently campaigning for the 2016 Olympics in the mixed gender catamaran yachting class. Gemma also represented NZ at the 2011 ISAF Youth Worlds in the 420 Class and prior to this sailed Optimist.

Gemma is currently (latest ISAF rankings) ranked 9th in the World and last year finished 9th in the 2013 Worlds Championships (70 boats).

She has teamed up with Jason Saunders (placed 5th in the 2012 London Olympics in the 470 Class) and they travelled to Holland in early 2014 to take possession of a 2nd new Nacra 17 catamaran. The Nacra 17 is a new 2 person Olympic class boat, and also for the first time in Olympic sailing, ISAF have chosen the crews for the Nacra to be mixed gender.

Gemma will be spending 7 months in Europe (2014) competing in regattas with all the best sailors in the world, taking time out from all other personal commitments. This commitment is necessary to reach Olympic medal level.

Gemma’s recent achievements include: 2012 Yachting Achievements • 2nd Open NZ Hobie 16 Nationals – Tauranga;

• 1st Youth NZ Hobie 16 Nationals; • 2nd Open 420 class Sail Auckland – ISAF Grade 1 regatta; • 5th ISAF Youth Worlds – SL 16 catamaran – Dublin, Ireland; • Finalist - Yachting NZ Young Sailor of the Year Award; • Recipient of Auckland University Blues Award; • 4th Open Viper catamaran class at 2012 Sail Melbourne – World Cup event; 2013 Yachting Achievements • 20th Palma Grade 1 World Cup regatta; • 12th Hyeres World Cup event; • 4th Garda Eurosaf Olympic event; • 6th Kiel Week Eurosaf Olympic event; 9th Inaugural Nacra 17 Olympic Class World Championships • Current Number 1 in NZ in the Olympic Nacra 17 Class; • 5th Sail Melbourne Grade 1 World Cup event; • Ranked 9th in ISAF World Rankings; • Auckland University Sportswoman of the Year; 2014 Yachting Achievements • 1st NZ Nacra 17 Nationals; • 1st Sail Auckland.

DANIEL HOY (16)

TRIATHLETE

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2014

Daniel, a Westlake Boys High School student, is currently a member of the NZ Tri National Junior High Performance squad and the Pathway to Podium programme for High Performance NZ. Daniel was coached by the late Jack Ralston, and following his death in August 2012, Nathan Richmond (previous Olympic and NZ elite triathlete) took over as his mentor and coach. Under the guidance of Nathan and Mark Bone, Daniel is making great progress towards his ultimate goal of becoming a NZ Elite triathlete.

He is the current U16 NZ 1500 metre record holder and after a strong race in Penrith, Australia qualified for the Youth Olympic Games held in China. Spectacularly and with a ‘textbook race’ he took home New Zealand’s first medal at the games claiming silver in the men’s sprint triathlon completing the race in 54 minutes 43 seconds.

A highly motivated individual, Daniel’s achievements show stepping-stones to incredible future achievement

PAGE 34 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

on the world stage; • Silver medal - Mens Sprint Triathlon at Youth Olympics – China – August 2014; • 3rd ITU Elite Mens Sprint Triathlon – Osaka, Japan – July 2014; • 2nd U18 NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country – Palmerston North – June 2014; • 1st U16 Auckland Secondary Schools Cross Country – June 2014; • 1st U16 NZ Secondary Schools Triathlon and Aquathon – Gisborne – March 2014; • 2nd U23 Oceania Elite Sprint Triathlon – Kinloch – February 2014; • 3rd place individual in age group (U17) - 10th overall (up to U19) and 1st place overall in team triathlon at Youth Olympic games qualifying triathlon – Penrith, Australia – January 2014 (these provided qualification for Youth Olympics); • 1st 3000 and 1500m Secondary Schools Athletics Track and Field – Hamilton – December 2013.

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AWARDS GALA DINNER 2014

2014 NORTH HARBOUR CLUB

AIMES AWARDS PRESENTATIONS The annual North Harbour Club AIMES Awards Gala Dinner for 2014 was held at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna on Saturday November 8th. The North Harbour Club rewards excellence achieved by the young people of the North Harbour region in the areas of the Arts; IT, Innovation & Science; Music; Education; Sport; Service to the Community. In 2014 $125,000 was awarded to 16 young people in the AIMES Awards and Emerging Talent Awards.

The annual dinner is one of the North Shore's gala events of the year, with over 400 people in attendance for a night of glitz and glamour to reward excellence achieved by young people of the region. The 2014 event was no different. The Bruce Mason Centre was transformed into a grand "Great Gatsby" theme with entertainment personality Dominic Bowden engaged to host the evening.

In a break from tradition the crowd was entertained by speed painter Gavin Bell, who has developed a big reputation in Australia. As well as painting, he provided the full entertainment package supported by two "Gatsby Girls" for the evening. He painted a portrait of Leonardo de Caprio on stage and had also painted portraits of the 2014 AIMES Supreme Award Winner Ben Sanders and previous winner Ella Yelich-O'Connor (Lorde). These paintings, excluding the Ben Sanders painting, were auctioned on the night to raise funds for the North Harbour Club and future AIMES Awards.

This was also the perfect stage and setting for AIMES Award winners to shine – Joel Granger (Emerging Talent Award 2013) sang and we were also treated to performances on the evening by 2014 winners Tayla Alexander (singer), Hye-Won Suh (flute), Emily Scott (opera singer) and Harry Bartlett (Irish dancer).

It was a wonderful evening with many heard to say it was the best ever with great wine, food and entertainment expertly coordinated by musical director Mark Dennison.

All the 2014 AIMES Award Winners with the North Harbour Club trustees.

PAGE 36 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2014

Ben Sanders received his AIMES Supreme Award from Dr Jonathan Coleman (left) Northcote MP and Minister of Health; Minister for Sport and Recreation.

During the presentation the painting of him done by the speed painter Gavin Bell (right) was unveiled to his surprise. Also pictured holding trophy is Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

Ben Sanders received his 2014 AIMES Arts Award from Robbie Macrae (of award sponsor Bruce Mason Centre/Auckland Live) and Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

Leighton Watson received his 2014 AIMES IT, Innovation and Science Award from Professor Serge Demidenko (of award sponsor Massey University) and Matthew Bellingham.

Hye-Won Suh received her 2014 AIMES Music Award from Andrew Mackenzie (of award sponsor Albany Toyota) and Matthew Bellingham.

Finn Lowery received his 2014 AIMES Education Award from Philippa Fee (Board Chair) of award sponsor Kristin School and Matthew Bellingham.

Due to her absence overseas Teneale Hatton's mother Patricia received her 2014 AIMES Sport Award from Max Abbott of award sponsor AUT Millennium and Matthew Bellingham.

Dannie Cullen received her 2014 AIMES Service to the Community Award from David Brook of award sponsor ASB and Matthew Bellingham.

Singer Tayla Alexander received her 2014 AIMES Judges Special Award from Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

Boxer David Light received his 2014 AIMES Judges Special Award from Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 37

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2014

One of the many highlights of the night was the performance of Irish Dancer Harry Bartlett, also a winner of an AIMES Emerging Talent Award for 2014.

Speed painter Gavin Bell put on a great show.

AIMES Judges Special Award recipient, 13 year old Tayla Alexander sang the national anthem.

Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

Bayley's award-winning auctioneer Daniel Coulson always entertains. He didn't let us down when auctioning two of the three paintings produced by the speed painter Gavin Bell.

AIMES Judging panel chair Simon Lamb.

The two paintings about to be auctioned. MC Dominic Bowden excites the crowd prior to Daniel Coulson starting the auction.

2013 AIMES Emerging Talent recipient Joel Granger showed just what a talented performer he was when he came back from Perth, where he is based, to sing at the 2014 Awards.

PAGE 38 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

AIMES Emerging Talent Award winner Emily Scott sang beautifully.

All entertainers came together for a grand finale.

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2014

Maree Laurent, Robbie Macrae, Terence Harpur, Lisa Davis.

Ross and Gaylene Cheeseman, Harry, Michelle and Emily Bartlett, Karen and Loma Sager.

Rachel and Patrick O'Reilly, Gary Monk, Rebecca Cook, Rick Nelson

Dannie, Dottie and Scott Cullen.

Ngaio Merrick, Sue and Trevor Stanaway, Greg Hornblow.

Chelsea Johnston, Amy Burgess.

Michelle and Aidan Bennett.

Andy Robinson, Leona Round, Maurice Stack.

Adam and Kylie Heath, Phillipa and Rod Fee

Tarryn Bellingham and Cam Calkoen.

Bob and Pauline Jago, Sandra Keaney and Dr Jonathan Coleman, Jennie and Mark Jago.

Dave and Lesley Lane, Gail and Ian Taylor, Paul and Judy Alexander, Joan Finlayson.

John Ingle, Kate Luxton, Colin Francis, Craig Luxton, Martina Lutz, Helen Francis.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 39

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EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2014

BELLINGHAM WALLACE 2014 AIMES

EMERGING TALENT AWARDS

For the second year the AIMES Emerging Talent Awards for 2014 were presented at a cocktail function held at the Bruce Mason Centre earlier on the evening of the AIMES Awards night, Saturday November 8th. The function was attended by recipients, their families, North Harbour Club trustees and sponsors most of whom then moved on to the AIMES Awards Gala Event afterwards.

The Bellingham Wallace sponsored AIMES Emerging Talent Awards recognise the high levels of achievement of talented individuals from our region, who have applied for AIMES 'category' Awards but have been assessed by the judges as being in the 'emerging' category. Many previous AIMES Emerging Talent Award winners have gone on to win AIMES Supreme Awards and category awards. Recent examples have been Ben Sanders, Lydia Ko and Andrew Maloney.

Eight young people received AIMES Emerging Talent Awards in 2014, and each a cheque for $5000. They were:Harry Bartlett (Irish Dancer); Lewis Fry (Academic); Emily Scott (Classical Singer); Kit Reilly (Dancer); Nicole Ashby (Academic); Eliza McCartney (Pole Vaulter); Gemma Jones (Sailor); Daniel Hoy (Triathlete).

Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club addressing attendees at the Bellingham Wallace Emerging Talent cocktail function.

Simon Lamb talks through the reasons that singer Emily Scott received her award.

The 2014 Emerging Talent Award recipients on stage at the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner with judging panel chair Simon Lamb. Emily Scott, Eliza McCartney, Harry Bartlett, Daniel Hoy, Kit Reilly and Gemma Jones.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 41

EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2014

Sailor Gemma Jones was presented with her award by Aaron Wallace (second from right) and Mike Atkinson (right), directors of sponsor Bellingham Wallace. Also pictured is Matthew Bellingham, President of the North Harbour Club.

Ballet Dancer Kit Reilly received his AIMES Emerging Talent Award from Aaron Wallace, Mike Atkinson and Matthew Bellingham.

16 year old Irish Dancer Harry Bartlett from Pinehurst School receives his AIMES Emerging Talent Award from Aaron Wallace, Mike Atkinson and Matthew Bellingham.

Westlake Boys Daniel Hoy receives his AIMES Emerging Talent Award from Aaron Wallace, Mike Atkinson and Matthew Bellingham.

Singer Emily Scott, who attended Kristin School, receiving her AIMES Emerging Talent Award.

Kit Reilly and his proud parents.

Takapuna Grammar's champion Pole Vaulter Eliza McCartney was on hand to receive her Emerging Talent Award.

Harry Bartlett and his family.

PAGE 42 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

Daniel Hoy and parents Giles and Jane.

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“Proud sponsors of the North Harbour NORTHSIDE Club” MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 43

AIMES SUPREME AWARD WINNERS 2012/2013

AN LORDE ON TOP OF

TWO TITANS OF TALENT HAVE TAKEN ON THE WORLD SINCE THEIR AIMES SUCCESSES Currently one of the biggest stars in music worldwide, Lorde, received the Supreme North Harbour Club AIMES Award in 2013 and top women's golfer Lydia Ko has stormed to international fame since collecting her North Harbour Club AIMES honour in 2012.

Lorde, aka Ella Yelich-O'Connor, now spends time hanging out in Hollywood with fellow popstar friend Taylor Swift and, at the time of going to print, had red carpet images from the Golden Globes splashed all over the world. She was nominated for an award for her hit song of 2014 'Yellow Flicker Beat' from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack, which she also curated. She is still only 18.

In the year of her AIMES Award win, Lorde released her

debut album, Pure Heroine, after her initial hit single Royals had flooded the airwaves across the world in 2012. It rode high in the album charts of several countries, including the UK, Canada and the USA and had sold 1.5 million copies by the end of 2013. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Four more hit singles followed.

By her eighteenth birthday in November 2014, it was estimated that Lorde was worth NZ$11 million.

Whilst former Takapuna Grammar student Lorde has been taking over the worldwide music scene, fellow North Shore teen Lydia Ko has been rocking the golfing world. The Westlake Girl was just 16 when she turned professional in

T

AND LYDIA

F

THE WORLD

2013, the year following her AIMES Supreme Award win. The sport's governing body even had to implement a rule change to allow her to enter the professional echelons of the sport at her tender age, after her sheer dominance of the amateur scene - she was the world's top women's amateur golfer for 130 weeks prior to turning pro.

North Harbour resident Lydia was the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tour event - whilst she was still a 14-year-old amateur - and became the youngest person ever to win an LPGA Tour event when she won the Canadian Women's Open as a 15-year-old in 2012.

In 2013, both Lydia and Lorde were named in the top three (Lorde 1st, Lydia 3rd) of the TIME 100 list of most influential teens in the world, leaving the likes of Justin Bieber and President Obama's daughter Malia in their Shore shadows.

Since then, Lydia, who started playing golf as a five-year-old

at Pupuke Golf Club, has begun to challenge for supremacy in the world of women's professional golf. By September 2013 she had risen to fifth in the Women's World Golf Rankings, having only taken part in 23 professional tournaments. That year Lydia was named New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year and received the Halberg Supreme Award.

In April 2014, this supremely talented sportswomen was named as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, of any age. During the same month, she advanced to the Number Two professional female golfer in the world when she won the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in California.

The former Pinehurst School pupil rounded off 2014 with a win in November in the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida, taking her professional prize-winnings to over $2.1million US dollars.

We watch with great interest as to what 2015 holds for these two amazing AIMES alumni.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 45

PAST AIMES AWARD WINNER: MOSES MACKAY, MUSIC 2011

SOL3 MIO

THE EVOLUTION OF OPERA SINGER MOSES MACKAY SOARS AFTER AIMES AWARD

International success has followed for Moses Mackay in the three short years since winning an AIMES Music Award. This super-focused baritone singer from Unsworth Heights has followed his dream of carving out a career in opera after winning his award from the North Harbour Club in 2011. As part of hugely popular trio SOL3 MIO, with his cousins Pene and Amiti Pati, Moses’s fame has exploded across New Zealand and continues to grow over the world, with ever-growing fan bases in the UK, the USA and Japan, to name a few countries where ears are enjoying the sounds of these characterful Kiwi crooners.

The opera-singing family tour de force came about when the three young Auckland University Bachelor of Music graduates performed together for Pene’s farewell on his selection to the Wales International Academy of Voice. When an audience member suggested they form a group, they initially laughed it off.

But, a seed had been planted and, within a year, all three had been individually chosen to attend the prestigious Welsh singing academy - they formed SOL3 MIO as a way to fund their studies.

A seed had been planted. And, boy, how it’s grown.

Last year, they had one of the biggest years in New Zealand music history, having had the highest selling New Zealand album for two years in a row, and completing a year of extensive live touring around the world. And 2015 looks

like being even bigger still for SOL3 MIO. Auckland Zoo is the venue for their first tour date of 2015 in February - the “There and Back” national tour will continue throughout February and March. Through their combination of classical musical with a contemporary edge, crisp looks and cutting humour, they look set to take on the world. Listen up!

In 2011, former Rosmini College Head Prefect Moses was interviewed for Northside after winning his AIMES Music Award. Heather Vermeer took a look back to reflect with baritone singer Moses on how far he has come since then and what’s next in his impressive career...

Heather Vermeer: When you were last interviewed in Northside three years ago, you said you wanted to be a respected name in opera within ten years. And you’re already experiencing phenomenal recognition with SOL3 MIO. What have been the pivotal moments in bringing this success about so quickly?

Moses Mackay: A lot of travelling and performing!! You're right, it's been a bit of a whirlwind since the last time we spoke. We've travelled to the UK and back (to New Zealand) more than 10 times in the last four months, let alone Spain, France and the US. But it hasn't really sunk in if I was to be honest. I have my goals and I know where I want to be and I am far from completing them!

HV: Whose respect do you most seek?

MM: I never seek respect. It's something that if one deserves, they will get. I have an admiration for people who are willing to push through even when the odds are against them.

HV: Can you sum up Sol 3 Mio in three words?

MM: Pene, Amitai and Moses. ;) HV: Which performers would you most like to work with?

MM: Michael Jackson.

HV: What do you feel accounts for opera’s continued popularity?

MM: Opera always has a place in peoples lives, most of the time they don't even realise it. For it's continued popularity, I would say it's the influx of the younger generation being aware of it and what it actually is...

HV: Do you have any specific goals for 2015?

MM: Personally, I have a few auditions lined up for several opera houses in the world so I am excited about that...and for SOL3 MIO, this year is looking crazier than last year with the interest of the US, Europe and Japan, but only time will tell I guess. :)

HV: If I wasn’t an opera singer I’d be….?

MM: A singer song-writer probably. But if it couldn't be anything to do with music... I've always wanted to fly my own plane!

HV: What’s your favourite spot on the North Shore?

MM: Home.

HV: How did winning an AIMES Award help you?

MM: The AIMES Award came at a time in my life when I was young, full of all these crazy dreams and little more than a few dollars in my bank account. The Award not only gave me the inspiration I needed to make things happen, but it reminded me that there were people in my own community that were willing to support a young dreamer.

HV: In your 2011 interview, you said you’d like to have played The Met in New York within ten years. Is this still an ambition? And if so, how long do you give yourself before achieving that one?

MM: Haha you're right! That's definitely an ambition...but not impossible. I don't know how long or if this will ever happen.

But I know that if it does, I'll be giving you a call.

HV: I’ll be waiting by the phone! See you at The Met Moses.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 47

INTERVIEW: AIMES GALA DINNER MUSICAL DIRECTOR MARK DENNISON

A CHAT WITH MARK DENNISON...

THE AIMES AWARDS MUSICAL MAESTRO! The annual North Harbour Club AIMES Awards Gala Dinner is one of the North Shore's prestigious events of the year.

A key to the success of this event is the entertainment that primarily features AIMES Award winners mixed with seasoned professionals to really put on a show. Every year it is different and each year it seems to get better and better. The key person who has pulled all this together for many years is musical director Mark Dennison. Mark is recognised as one of the best in the business, so to have him for this annual charity event is huge for the North Harbour Club. We are indebted to him for the effort he continues to put in year after year to produce a real showcase at our gala dinner.

Aidan Bennett put these questions to him in late 2014, following the AIMES Award dinner.

AIDAN BENNETT: How long have you been working with the North Harbour Club on the AIMES Awards?

MARK DENNISON: Six years I believe. I first got involved in 2009 for the 'My Way' concert that celebrated the late founder of the club, Ross Finlayson.

AB: How did this involvement come about?

MD: Shane Cortese, who was the MC for that My Way event, and on the board of the Bruce Mason Centre at that time, recommended me. Shane and I were working on some other projects at the time.

AB: It is well documented that you put 110% into the awards, what do you enjoy about your involvement?

MD: I love working with up and coming performers and the AIMES Award committee seems able to find amazing people each year. These young talents bring new ideas and a lot of energy to the process of performance. It keeps me on my toes!

And it's a joy to work with the performers who have received AIMES Awards in previous years, and come back to show what they've learnt as a result of the financial input into their careers.

I have particularly enjoyed working with the AIMES committee, present and past, as well. Courtney Jackson, Catherine Lamb, Simon Lamb, Gary Monk, Sue Stanaway, yourself (Aidan Bennett), Phil Brosnan and Shane Cortese.

They not only bring a wealth of experience to the table, but also display a genuine belief in young talent that is all too rare.

And there's really lots of things I enjoy about my involvement.

It's always a pleasure to assemble the best musicians in Auckland to play at the Awards ceremony. Here too, young talent features - most of the 12 piece string section are from the Auckland Youth Orchestra - mixed with players of 40 years experience.

AB: You are spending some time in China early in 2015, tell us what this is all about?

MD: I've been here since November 24th playing clarinet/flute/ piccolo in the pit orchestra of The Sound Of Music. This is the same Andrew Lloyd Webber/David Ian Production that was in Wellington and Auckland last year. I was lucky enough to play for those New Zealand shows, and the producers asked me to stay on for this leg of the tour. We're currently in Shanghai for another week, and have already been to Qingdao, Beijing, and Chongqing. There's one more stop, Guangzhou, before I get back home in early February.

I've got to thank Gary Monk for his advice about where to

go, what (and what not) to eat and drink, and how to appreciate the culture here.

AB: What does the rest of 2015 hold for Mark Dennison?

MD: As usual at the beginning of the year, there's talk of many things. Some will come to fruition, some not. Those confirmed include conducting the Rotorua Lakeside Concert on February 21st (featuring Annie Crummer, Jason Kerrison, Pene Pati from Sol3Mio, Tina Cross, Darryl Lovegrove and many others) and playing in the New Zealand season of the London Production of Singing In The Rain in April/May. And, the 20th anniversary AIMES Awards later this year. I'm looking forward to that!

AB: How did you get into the Music business?

MD: I grew up in Australia, and learnt to play sax in a community band at the Bankstown Police Boys Club. A group of us formed a band and found regular work playing dance music and backing acts in local League and Tennis clubs. We were all underage (I was 13), so our parents had to come as chaperones. That band (Sounds United) worked for many years, and I was fortunate enough to play with many great musicians and performers and get an idea of what was required to make a living in the music business.

AB: Tell us about your family. We know you often have your son playing in orchestra's you are involved with which must be a thrill?

MD: My son Tom is a professional player, and has played bass in all the AIMES Awards that I've been involved in. He's also a film composer and has a recording studio at Candlelit Films. Daughter Holly is a lovely singer and piano player, but is pursuing a career in the marketing department of Bay Audiology (in Smales Farm). Wife of 28 years, Glenis, was a ballet dancer and has worked in radio and advertising.

AB: What do you love about what you do?

MD: It's a constant challenge. Very few days are the same as

the one before. I get to work with amazing people, not just performers and musicians, but the passionate people who make shows happen. It forces me to keep thinking.

AB: What are your other passions outside of the Music business?

MD: I've always enjoyed cooking. Mostly just regular family meals, but I'll go through phases of Indian, Italian, Mexican etc.

And reading. If there's no music to be made, and no food to be cooked you'll usually find me curled up with a good (real, not digital) book.

AB: Favourite holiday spot in New Zealand and Overseas?

MD: I'm a big fan of the 'stay-cation'. In the school and summer holidays, Aucklanders head away in droves, leaving the city quiet and accessible. It's like a different place, with all of the comforts of home. Overseas, my parents live over the road from Mooloolaba Beach on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

The water's always warm and the body-surfing exhilarating, and there's lots of catching up to do.

AB: If you weren't a Musician what else would you be doing?

MD: Maybe teaching - not just music, but any subject. When I first moved to Auckland in 1996, there wasn't a lot of music work, so I started giving lessons at the local school, Churchill Park Primary. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and went on to teach at St Kents Primary and High Schools. There a huge reward in seeing a child or young adult realise something new for the first time, process the information, and adapt it into the way they see and do things.

AB: Looking forward to producing the 20th Year AIMES Award Show in 2015?

MD: Absolutely! 20 years is an enormous achievement, and a testament to the vision of Ross and Joan Finlayson and the North Harbour Club. Looking forward to 20 more.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 49

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As has been detailed in this issue of Northside, the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust was formed in 1995. Since this time the club has awarded over $1.65 million to the youth of the North Harbour region through the annual AIMES Awards. The first grant was made in 1995. The inaugural AIMES Awards dinner was first held in 1996 and this hugely successful annual event has been the focus of the club's activities ever since. In these pages we have provided an update from award recipients from the past four years. It is a thrill for North Harbour Club members that these AIMES Award recipients continue to achieve at the highest levels.

CATCHING UP WITH THE RECIPIENTS 2013 TO 2010...

2013

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Supreme Award ($20,000) & Music Award ($10,000) – Ella Yelich-O'Connor, Singer/Song Writter/Musician; AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Bridget Costello, Musical Theatre Performer; AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Sarah Mitchell, Scientist; AIMES Education Award ($10,000) – Michael MacDonald, Scholar; AIMES Sport Award ($10,000) – Andrew Maloney, Sailor; AIMES Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Loren O'Sullivan, Community Volunteer; AIMES Special Judges Award ($10,000) – Liam Stone, Diver.

In addition there were six recipients of the North Harbour Club Emerging Talent Awards in 2013. They were: Joel Granger, Matthew Jones, Alex Taylor, George Muir, Georgia Williams, Finn Howard, Natalie Te Paa, Keon Park (they each received $4000).

ELLA YELICHO'CONNOR

AIMES Supreme Award & Music Award 2013 (See feature in this issue)

BRIDGET COSTELLO

AIMES Arts Award 2013 In April I was fortunate enough to have signed with David Daly Associates after the Royal Academy of Music Agents Showcase. I was then cast as Amy March in the RAM summer musical ‘Little Women’. Upon graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Musical Theatre with Distinction in July I was offered the position of Soprano in the Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Approximately 1,300 singers apply each year. The cast consists of 50 singers, 22 dancers and 29 orchestral players.

The three-hour show, a real extravaganza, features non-stop singing, dancing, humour and variety acts. The vocal score is a mixture of choral, pop, musical theatre, classical and jazz. I

Bridget Costello.

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was chosen to sing the Habanera from 'Carmen' as well as a vocal arrangement of ‘Gymnopedie No. 3’ by Erik Satie, and You'll Never Walk Alone from 'Carousel'.

The music rehearsals started in London at the end of September and by early October the cast had relocated to Norfolk to begin the dance and staging calls and rehearsal with the orchestra.

The shows ran from November 8th until December 23rd. With one day off a week, each performer will work around 70 shows in total, two shows per day.

After Christmas I will return to London in early 2015 and continue on the audition scene in the pursuit of performing work in the UK.

SARAH MITCHELL

AIMES IT, Innovation and Science Award 2013 2014 has certainly been another busy year for me! I am now in the third year of my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology.

In May I passed my Candidacy exam, a formal oral exam where research to date and plans for future research are presented and critiqued. It's a big milestone as I am now officially a Ph.D. candidate! Later in June I graduated with my Master of Science, which was a special occasion celebrating the hard work of my first year at Caltech.

It was extra special as Mum and Dad flew over from New Zealand to see me graduate.

Over the course of the year I have continued to work on my research, which involves writing algorithms to optimize the structure of an anode in a lithiumion battery. We are hoping to develop a battery with significantly enhanced capacity and cycle life, which would have

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

a great impact on battery technology for use in applications such as electric vehicles. Progress is steady, and we are inching ever closer towards some great results. As of today I have two papers in preparation, which will be submitted to journals for publication hopefully next year.

In addition to this, I have been continuing to take classes such as Continuum Mechanics, Computational Mathematics and Space Structures. In the most recent term I have also taken on the role of Teaching Assistant for a first year Ph.D. Solid Mechanics class.

It's very busy, but I also truly appreciate any spare time I can afford. I have been on some great adventures including camping in Joshua Tree National Park, hiking in Yosemite National Park, skiing at Mammoth Mountain, and also exploring the sights of LA such as the California Science Center where the Endeavour space shuttle is displayed. I am so incredibly grateful for the support from the North Harbour Club. It has been immensely helpful to me, and has enabled me to focus on pursuing my dreams rather than wondering how on earth I will be able to afford it. Thank you!!

Sarah Mitchell (left).

Melbourne winter and enjoy the Californian summer for a month! This was also my first trip to the United States, so I had a great time exploring San Francisco and various National Parks, including Yosemite, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.

ANDY MALONEY AIMES Sport Award 2013

Michael MacDonald.

MICHAEL MACDONALD

AIMES Education Award 2013 I've had a busy year since winning the AIMES Education Award last year. I am continuing my research on my PhD project at the University of Melbourne, which relates to effect of rough walls on a turbulent fluid flows. This work has been progressing steadily, and I have presented some results at the Fluids in New Zealand (FiNZ) 2014 workshop, held at the University of Auckland in January of this year. I also recently attended the 19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AFMC), held in Melbourne in December. These have been great opportunities to talk and discuss my work with other researchers.

The research group in which I work has also started to submit journal articles, so we are expecting a few publications shortly. This year, I was also excited to have my first journal publication accepted into the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. This work was based off my final year project which I conducted at the University of Auckland in 2012.

I was also fortunate enough to be selected to attend the Centre for Turbulence Research summer program, held at Stanford University in July. This is a month-long research program which enables us to spend time and collaborate with other researchers from around the world, and was highly beneficial to my work. It also allowed me to escape the

At the time of writing my entry yesterday marked 600 days until the 2016 Rio Olympics begin. With major improvements and much to work on still, it is definitely a very exciting and motivating statistic! I’m writing this on the plane home from Australia, from my final regatta of 2014. It isn’t too unusual these days to be on a plane with my laptop out. The routine debrief after an event, or doing some form of logistical work to make use of a few hours, out of the hundreds of hours spent on these ‘big birds’ throughout the year.

2014 has been a big year of learning throughout some highs and lows. From learning new skills on the water, to planning for performance and understanding myself more as a person and athlete, it has all been invaluable. I have learned things about almost every area of my Olympic campaign, and now putting all these positive learnings into practice going forward is a focus.

The year began well in New Zealand with the domestic summer racing by defending the NZ Laser National Championship title. Then it was off to Europe for the first time for the beginning of the European ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas. The highlights during that trip were a solid top 5 result at the Princess Sofia Regatta and coming home with a Silver medal in Hyeres at the French leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. From there, I experienced a string of slightly disappointing results while continuing to work on a few key areas and learn as much as I could while competing in the large, high quality European fleets.

A trip to Rio in August for the ‘Olympic Test Event’ was invaluable. The venue in Rio for sailing throws at you such a large range of conditions that any time spent there is so beneficial. I spent a couple of weeks training around the event time, experiencing the winds, sea states, and tides that both the harbour and ocean courses can throw at you through

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 51

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Andy Maloney.

LOREN O'SULLIVAN AIMES Service to the Community Award 2013 (and 2007)

I have just arrived back in New Zealand after another rewarding year in Honduras, teaching English and looking after babies in an orphanage. NPH is an organization that has homes for abandoned and orphaned children in 9 different Latin American countries. I was lucky enough to spend two years volunteering in the Honduran home with 500 amazing children.

Loren O'Sullivan

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different weather systems. The technical and tactical challenges that the venue proposes definitely excite me and I’m looking forward to getting back there in 2015. From Rio it was on to Santander, for the ISAF World Championships, my pinnacle event of the year. The week was challenging, not sailing to the best of my ability and missing a couple races on the final day all added up for a mediocre result that was a tough pill to swallow.

I finished 14th, just outside the cut for the top ten medal race, but the amount I took away from the event was maybe one of the best things for me. The classic “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”.

To summarise my year in one word, it is simple; Learning. I aimed to learn as much as possible throughout the year by competing at a number of events, and that has definitely been achieved. Some of the results towards the second half of the year have not been what I am aiming for; the goal is always numero uno. The most important thing now is putting all these learnings in place and using them to my advantage from here on out.

Making a few weaknesses into strengths, and getting on the podium at key events next year.

Thanks to the North Harbour Club for their support over the years. It’s awesome to represent New Zealand and the North Harbour both nationally and internationally.

This year was very different to my first – the love the kids showed me really made me feel at home. It was still a very challenging year though, with greater need in Honduras meaning that 70 new children joined us, 20 of which were under 5!

My most rewarding moment was in my final week, exchanging gifts with my students for ¨Secret Santa¨. I didn´t think the kids would have much more to give than a few lollies… so this is what I bought for my Secret Santa. Much to my surprise a 16 year old boy, Andreas, gave me a very large present. When I opened it I was shocked and incredibly moved to find a pair of Nike shoes that he had made for me! It must have taken him many weeks to make these beautiful shoes… they were my exact size and favorite colour! For me it was so moving to see people who have so little, give so much, straight from their hearts.

Now that I´m back in New Zealand I will be teaching Spanish at Sacred Heart College in Auckland. I hope that through my example I will be able to encourage other young New Zealanders to do community service, locally or overseas. Of course I will miss my kids in Honduras, so I look forward to sponsoring 2 children and helping with fundraising for NPH. To learn more about short/long-term volunteering opportunities or sponsoring a child, go to www.nph-nz.org

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MAKING IT ON THE MEN’S CIRCUIT LIAM STONE

AIMES Judges Special Award 2013 2013 North Harbour Club AIMES Judges Special Award recipient Liam Stone’s stunning 2014 went from strength to strength completing the year as the number one ranked Junior Springboard diver in the Commonwealth on both one metre and three metre and earning himself a full four year scholarship to the University of Tennessee.

2014 saw Liam embark on an arduous debut international campaign on the Open Men’s circuit with improved performances at every step. At most, if not all, events Liam, at just 17 years, was the youngest competitor.

Liam’s outstanding performances of 2013 continued into the 2013/14 Australian Open Men’s championships where, diving against Olympic and World Championship medalists he won a rare individual medal for a New Zealand male at these championships. His third place in the one metre qualified him for the Commonwealth Games.

Liam then debuted with distinction in the Men’s three metre discipline on the Grand Prix circuit in Spain, Germany, Puerto Rico and Mexico where he qualified on both three metre and synchronised diving for the Games and culminated with a breakthrough semifinal appearance in Mexico.

Liam qualified for the Men’s World Cup so, on the way to Scotland, he stopped off in China to be the youngest competitor at this top FINA event. He completed another personal best score to finish 29th out of 38 competitors.

Liam then moved on to the Commonwealth Games where he took the diving world by surprise in the Men’s one metre event, eventually finishing in seventh position. He was described by British Olympic medalist and television commentator Leon Taylor as being a “New Zealand treasure”. His performance in this event was quite remarkable

Liam Stone.

where, in this white hot competition, he smashed the New Zealand record and served notice he had arrived on the international scene. He was 14th in the 3 metre event and then, with his Wellington team mate, became the first New Zealanders to compete synchronised diving at the Commonwealth Games, finishing in 6th place.

Not long back home and Liam was off again - this time to the FINA World Junior Championships in Russia. Once more, on the big stage, Liam set a new New Zealand record in the three metre event, making a rare final for New Zealand and finishing eigth in the world. He was the only Commonwealth diver to final in this event and was also the top Commonwealth diver in the one metre event.

From not having a men’s ranking at all, he finished the year ranked number 34 in the World on the Men’s circuit, he set two New Zealand Men’s records and one age group record and currently holds nine Open and Age group national records in total.

As an ex-pupil of both Albany Junior High School and Greenhithe Primary School, Liam was invited as the guest

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speaker for their end of year prize giving and graduation award ceremonies, providing a great insight into his experiences this year to these younger students and their parents.

Liam notes it is not easy pursuing a minority sport in New Zealand. Despite his successes in 2014 he receives no external funding from Government agencies and will need to fundraise further to continue on the international circuit as he attempts to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Already at Tennessee he has competed in three events with six podium finishes as a “Freshman”. But he says “my passion, determination and help from my parents, coach and club have helped me overcome some of these difficulties. I intend continuing to beat the odds and be the best that I can be”.

Liams results in 2014: September 2014 World Junior Championships: 8th in 1metre (1st in Commonwealth) (New Zealand Record); 13th in 3 metre (1st in Commonwealth).

July 2014 Commonwealth Games: 7th in 1 metre (New Zealand Record); 14th in 3 metre; 6th in 3 metre synchronized diving.

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

JOEL GRANGER Emerging Talent Award 2013

George Muir.

GEORGE MUIR

Emerging Talent Award 2013 Provincially I played in the North Harbour under 21 men's Hockey team who went through the national tournament unbeaten and won gold, the most successful team ever and part of the National league senior men's team who came 5th.

Once again I was fortunate enough to be selected in both the Junior Blacksticks and Blacksticks mens senior squads and for the senior men I played 11 tests in 2014 on New Zealand soil without losing any. As a team the Blacksticks remained

Joel Granger.

6th in the world and the highlight of the year was a 2nd placing in the world league tournament.

As part of the juniors team I have been to India for the junior World Cup and Singapore and Malaysia for the Sultan of Johor cup which we finished 7th and 4th respectively.

In terms of study I am still plodding along with my law and commerce degree at Auckland uni, and am into my fourth year this year. This year I have also picked up a sponsorship with Honda which has been great to go alongside my ongoing support from GoHockey and Mizuno.

Having just finished my second year of study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in Perth, I can say that the last year has been quite demanding, yet incredibly rewarding.

A lot of the year was dedicated to rehearsing for the major musical, West Side Story. Working with visiting Sydney choreographer, Lisa O’Dea, on such an iconic show was a fantastic opportunity for us to enhance our skills as ‘triple threats’ (acting, singing, dancing).

Although the second year students usually feature as ensemble in the mid year show, I was very fortunate to play the cameo role of Glad Hand. During this time, I was also presented with the Bill Warnock Award for most promising student.

Other performance highlights this year include The Laramie Project and playing the role of Japheth in the Stephen Schwartz musical Children of Eden, based on the book of Genesis.

An iconic moment for the WAAPA 2014 calendar included welcoming alumni Hugh Jackman for the opening of the Jackman Furness Foundation for the Performing Arts, and being allowed the opportunity to meet and talk to this incredibly charismatic man. As I prepare for 2015 and my final year of study, I look forward to working on the musical line up of Urinetown, Legally Blonde and Carrie the Musical. The end of the course then culminates in a touring showcase around Australia in the hope of gaining representation with an agent.

Back in New Zealand, I had the opportunity to perform a solo concert at Rannoch House due to the generosity of Sir James Wallace and the Wallace Arts Trust.

Finally, I was lucky to finish the year with an invitation to perform at the North Harbour Club AIMES Awards Gala Dinner. I had an incredibly enjoyable evening both on and off the stage, and never would I have thought I would be asked to learn and perform a song in Gaelic!

Thanks to the North Harbour Club and Bellingham Wallace Accountancy, I am able to continue to do what I love and enjoy an immensely fulfilling university experience.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 55

MATTHEW JONES Emerging Talent Award 2013

Georgia Williams (left).

GEORGIA WILLIAMS

Emerging Talent Award 2013 Since the AIMES Awards in November 2013 I’ve been busy training and racing all over the world. My biggest event that I competed in was the Commonwealth Games. When I was at the AIMES Awards I had been named on the long list and not too long after I was officially selected. To train for the Commonwealth Games I had to move down to Cambridge so I could train with the New Zealand Team on the new indoor velodrome at the High Performance Centre. The money I got from the AIMES Awards helped my move and living costs. The Comm Games took place in July 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. On the way there we had a training block in Belgium and France. Being only 20 years old I played more of a supporting role for my older more experienced Kiwi team mates in the Points and Scratch race. I had an awesome time and learnt a lot.

Returning home from the Games I had three weeks off the bike in Auckland catching up with family and friends before heading back down to Cambridge. My race focus now changed to the womens team pursuit.

This is a race on the velodrome over

4km with four riders, where you have to post the fastest time together with at least three of the riders finishing.

This is the event which is being targeted by Cycling New Zealand at the 2016 Olympic in Rio. I will be fighting to keep my spot in the team for then.

In November 2014 I raced the team pursuit in the first round of the World Cup series in Guadalajara, Mexico. We placed 4th here. We then returned home for three weeks before we headed off to London for the second World Cup. I placed 5th here in the team pursuit. After returning home from London I got to return home to Auckland for some road training over Christmas with a racing block in Geelong, Australia in the start of the New Year. Since then I’ve been back in Cambridge training for the NZ Track Nationals which will take place this week from the 29th-1st of February. A week after nationals I will head off to Paris for the 2015 Track World Champs. I will race as one of the four women in the team pursuit chasing for a spot on the podium.

A lot of hard work as well as fun ahead of me, with even bigger goals to achieve in Rio next year! A huge thanks to the North Harbour Club for their support and contribution to my success.

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Soon after being awarded an AIMES emerging talent award in 2013 I graduated from University of Auckland with an Honours degree in computer science achieving first class honours.

I then went on an 8 month OE, first working at a winery in Perth saving up money then traveling to Malaysia, Nepal where I embarked on a 25 day trek through the Himalayas, the UK and Western Europe.

Once the money I earned in Perth dried up I got a job at a cancer research lab at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. I must thank the North Harbour Club at this point as without the money I received with my award, moving to New York would have been impossible. My work involves using statistical data analysis techniques and machine learning algorithms to learn about the biology of cancer and find drugs effective in combatting cancer.

I work in a small team of biologists, statisticians and software engineers, working together to uncover the important little details of how our bodies work.

Since moving to New York I have been going to broadway shows, visiting the amazing museums, attending concerts and exploring the weird and wonderful bars and restaurants. Looking into the future I plan to get my PhD after a year or two at my current position.

Matthew Jones.

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Finn Howard.

FINN HOWARD

KEON PARK

Since winning the AIMES Award in 2013, our crew defended our Under 23 World Championship Title becoming the first crew to defend an U23 title in a big boat.

There was a lot of pressure on us to win in 2014 after winning in 2013 and it was a huge relief when we did.

The campaign started shortly after our win in Austria (2013). I was selected into the New Zealand Summer Squad along with the rest of the crew. We set the goal to try win back to back world championships title which no one had ever done in the bigger boat classes. We all knew that this was going to be no easy achievement with us as a crew setting the bench mark and knowing that crews around the world would try and better it.

We were sent to two of three Elite World Cups in preparation. It was invaluable experience going up against the elite mens eights. Racing in the Sydney World Cup where we place 3rd and the Lucerne World Cup where we placed 5th behind current Olympic and world champions.

We went on to Italy for the U23 World Championship. We had a near perfect lead in to the regatta with the help of our coach Ian Wright. It came down to the final with USA and Australia having very strong crews. But we had trained for every different scenario and had a text book race and took the title for the second year.

The AIMES Emerging Talent Award I received in 2013 was a huge help with achieving these wins as both of these campaigns were self funded. We raised money to get overseas (and to live in Cambridge for training) and the AIMES scholarship took some of the pressure off so the focus could be on getting as fast as possible.

After my 2013 academic year I was in debt almost US$30,000 to Penn (State University) and education was put on hold.

I took a year off during which I worked to pay off the debt (the AIMES scholarship money helped pay it off). During my year off I was involved in tutoring and later was contracted as an engineer by a company in the gas industry. During this time I also married my girlfriend of five years. We met at Penn in our freshman year. 2013 was a time of realization and a time when I started to understand the meaning of privilege.

Near the end of my year off I joined Professor Shu Yang's lab where I started working on polymeric anisotropic

Emerging Talent Award 2013

Emerging Talent Award 2013

nanostructures created via anodic aluminum oxide templating for application in microfluidics in biochips and in dry adhesion. I work fairly independently with almost full autonomy. I hope to finish this work to submit it as a paper for publication.

In 2014 I Returned to Penn but this time with US$32,000 in grants and scholarships and completed my 2nd to last semester gaining another two A grades in my major (Senior Design and Crystallography of nanoscale materials) bumping my Major specific GPA from 3.89/4 to 3.93/4.

I recently applied to a handful of the top-tier graduate programs and am also in the job market applying to researchheavy jobs.

I am currently sitting three Material Science and Engineering courses for my final semester at Penn. It's both exciting and nerve-wrecking since my future feels like it's up in the air right now.

My vision is still remains the same.

I believe that self assembly is the way of the future. That advancements in engineering anisotropy in structure and by breaking the symmetry of nano particles we will be able to harness what nano science has to offer us. My dream is to pursue and develop this next generation electronics and energy devices.

Keon Park.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 57

ANZ – proud supporter of the North Harbour Club.

We’re committed to playing a part in our local communities by supporting things that are important to New Zealanders.

To find out how ANZ can help you achieve your business goals, contact Lynda Mann, ANZ Regional Manager on 09 252 5006.

anz.co.nz ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited 11/14

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non-musical topics, including as a contributor to the listener blog. He is a member of the CANZ committee and editor of the Canzonetta newsletter.

He also teaches composition and orchestration at Auckland University.

He has performed in a variety of groups including Auckland Youth Orchestra, DSCH String Quartet, the Blackbird Ensemble, the Dissonance Quartet, Live Live Cinema and Dr Colossus. Alex is a regular contributor to the LOUNGE poetry readings and his poems have been published in Potroast, minarets and JAAM. His first poetry collection vocoder lorry is scheduled for release in early 2015, published by Compound Press.

Alex Taylor.

ALEX TAYLOR

Emerging Talent Award 2013 Alex Taylor (ex-Westlake Boys) is one of New Zealand’s leading young composers of orchestral and chamber music. His music has been performed by prominent artists, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Ben Hoadley, 175 East and the NZTrio. He completed his Masters in Composition under the supervision of Dr Eve de CastroRobinson and Associate Professor John Elmsly at Auckland University in 2011. Alex’s works have been featured in concerts in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, America and Europe.

With Louise Webster he convened the 2014 CANZ Nelson Composers Workshop and he will convene the 2015 workshop with Chris Gendall. Alex has recently become more involved in scoring for theatre, collaborating on productions of Cloud 9 and Soo Young the Musical.

In November 2014 Alex was the New Zealand Young Composer representative at the Asian Composers League Festival in Tokyo. Next year he will be the Caselberg Trust Creative Connections Artist in Residence from April to June.

As well as being a composer, Alex curates the Intrepid Music Project, a series of contemporary arts events focusing on new music and poetry. He plays a variety of instruments, including violin, saxophone and piano, sings, conducts, and writes on musical and

2012

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Supreme Award ($20,000) & Sports Award ($10,000) – Lydia Ko, Golfer; AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Rob Tucker, Artist; AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Amy Smith, Neuro-Scientist; AIMES Music Award ($10,000) – Jason Bae, Musician; AIMES Education Award ($10,000) – Andrew MacDonald, Doctor; AIMES Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Joseph Bergin, Community/Youth Ambassador.

Arts division, helped fund. Generously the Bruce Mason Theater, Takapuna, sponsored these funds.

My London art residency 2013 was an absolute whirlwind and a fantastic experience, as I worked closely with my London and New York based gallery, Rebecca Hossack Gallery (RHG). This enabled me to be part of an artistic community at Artist Studio Company (ASC) a hosting creative studios company throughout London, whilst making the most of my time with what London and the galleries had to offer. I painted and supplied my new work to RHG for many international art fairs and my first London solo exhibition January 2014.

This London journey came to an end last Christmas 2013 and 2014 when I returned to my Devonport studio to continue developing and supplied work abroad for shows.

In May I ventured across to New York for my first solo exhibition, visit many galleries and art exhibitions. During this time I visited Los Angeles and viewed many galleries and a mentor before I returned home.

A highlight of the year was to have a large 180cm by 140cm still-life painting accepted to exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts London, Summer Exhibition.

Last year I exported most of my works from my Devonport studio. My works were exhibited at many grand art fairs in London, Toronto, New York, Aspen, Miami, Hong Kong, Singapore and Melbourne and the momentum has been growing strong.

In addition there were six recipients of the North Harbour Club Emerging Talent Awards in 2012. They were: Petra Bullock, Nick Hall, Teneale Hatton, Sarah Mitchell, Mattea Mrkusic, Jeremy Reid, Ben Sanders (they each received $4000).

LYDIA KO

AIMES Supreme Award & Sport Award 2012 (See feature in this issue)

ROB TUCKER AIMES Arts Award 2012

A year ago I returned from my London art residency, of which my AIMES award-

Rob Tucker.

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This year I’m planning to move to Canggu, Bali to set up a studio, to further develop and keep practicing and supply RHG. There is a growing creative community there and as a base I intend to visit many emerging Asian art scenes in near by cities.

Change is inspiring, however the shore will be missed!

Photo courtesy of Anthony Low.

JASON BAE

AIMES Music Award 2012 (and Emerging Talent Award 2009) I have just finished the 1st term of my final year (2nd year) of Masters of Arts in Solo Piano Performance at Royal Academy of Music in London. Since winning the AIMES Music Award in 2012, I was able to use the scholarship prize money to afford a return trip plane ticket to London where I took a live audition at the Royal Academy of Music. My audition was successful and I was one of 10 applicants from all around the world to be accepted as a Masters student at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music.

I have started my first academic year in September 2013.

Since then, I have given 17 piano

solo recitals; 9 recitals in U.K including 2 recitals in London Steinway Hall, Paris, Cosmos Hall in Seoul, Jakarta, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington and a concerto performance with Manukau Symphony Orchestra.

In December 2013, I was the First New Zealander to be invited by the Attorney General of New Zealand and Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage of New Zealand, Hon. Christopher Finlayson, to present a piano solo recital at the Grand Hall of New Zealand Parliament ‘Beehive’ in Wellington.

Also, in July 2014, I was invited by the Ambassador of Republic of Korea to New Zealand, His Excellency, PARK Yong-Kyu, to give a recital at the St. Andrew’s Church on The Terrace in Wellington.

In my Season 2015, I will be making my recital debut at the prestigious St. James’s Church Piccadilly in London, Asia House London. I have been invited back to give a recital at London Steinway Hall. I have become the artist for the 2015 Chamber Music New Zealand Encompass Tour and I will be giving 12 recitals around New Zealand. I will be also performing Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5 with Bach Musica. www.jasonbaepianist.com.

Jason Bae.

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Andrew MacDonald.

ANDREW MACDONALD

AIMES Education Award 2012 The past year has been full of challenges for me as I have furthered my career as a doctor.

I worked for most of the past year as a senior house officer (SHO) after having gained my full New Zealand medical council registration (from my first year as a doctor in 2013).

I worked for 6 months in the Department of Neurosurgery at Auckland City Hospital in early 2014. I learnt an incredible amount on this rotation as well as taking on some small amounts of added responsibility. I also had the chance to perform a couple of (supervised!) neurosurgical procedures (burrholes in the skull).

I have since returned to North Shore Hospital and started work in December 2014 as a registrar in Orthopaedic Surgery, which is the next step in my medical career. My responsibilities now include assisting the senior (consultant) surgeon in surgery directly, occasionally performing minor operations myself, and admitting patients with orthopaedic problems (mostly broken bones) from the Emergency Department.

Outside of my work in the hospital I have continued developing my scuba diving experience and have started exploring deep water dives and ship wreck diving off our New Zealand coastlines.

Joseph Bergin.

JOSEPH BERGIN

AIMES Service to Community Award 2012 2013 has been another big year. Aside from the obvious political events and the leg work that often requires, this past year was also my last year of full-time legal studies and the first year of my second term on the Auckland Council.

The combination of these two allconsuming roles, along with the political side duties of a general election, saw little time left to even sleep let alone anything more productive.

Unfortunately, or fortunately maybe, I didn't realise this until after I had taken on a few more assignments. When the annual law school competitions came along and the opportunity came to compete in the Russell McVeagh Client Interview Competition, well I couldn't help myself. After winning the

faculty competition, my partner and I ended up in Brisbane competing for the Australasian title in the Norton Rose Fulbright Client Interview Competition.

By the end of the week long tournament we ended up just falling short of taking home the trophy in the Grand Final to the University of New South Wales. I also found it necessary to become treasurer of my law students society and to take on an additional 5th paper in each of my academic semesters.

This past year I also continued to work part-time for employment law firm Kiely Thompson Caisley as I attempted to convert my legal theory into legal practice. In further pursuit of that goal, I then was fortunate enough to be offered a role as Clerk at Kensington Swan for the Summer to allow me the chance to try my hand at a few other areas of law.

On the Council front, the new role of Deputy Chair has brought new

responsibilities and a whole set of new challenges. The Council has continued its transition from the legacy arrangements of the former cities we all knew, to a standardised system we most certainly don't. The former North Shore, and particularly the Local Boards that cover it, have struggled to push back on new rating systems, planning instruments, bylaws and bureaucracy which have caused all kinds of problems for our area.

However, I remain optimistic we will find a happy median in this still new Supercity, we have to.

I am reminded everyday since the 2012 AIMES Awards of the generosity of the North Harbour Club and encouraged by the example of their community focus.

If not for the help and support I have had from these awards and the club members, I know I would not have come as far as I have. Thank you again for your support.

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JEREMY REID

Emerging Talent Award 2012 Since receiving the AIMES Emerging Talent award in 2012, I have made a lot of exciting progress academically. Last year, I was invited to be a Thomas W. Smith fellow at the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom at the University of Arizona. This fellowship included a research assistantship working with Professors Fred D. Miller and David Keyt on issues in ancient Greek political philosophy for a forthcoming volume with Oxford University Press. This was a great honour, as Professors Miller and Keyt are internationally recognized experts in this field.

My most significant recent achievement was having my work on Plato’s Symposium accepted for publication in a forthcoming volume with Cambridge University Press. Publication in ancient philosophy is particularly difficult and getting a publication before I had finished my second year is a major accomplishment. Cambridge University Press is one of the prestigious publishers in the field, so I could not have wished for a better venue. The contributors have been invited to the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium in March to present their chapters at a conference to celebrate the release of the volume. As I am the only graduate student to be included in the volume, and my co-contributors are wellrespected professors from universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Notre Dame, Stanford, and Northwestern, I am particularly excited about this opportunity and honoured to be presenting alongside many of my academic role-models.

In addition to this, I was one of the three scholars accepted to present in the ancient philosophy section at the upcoming meeting of the American Philosophical Association in Philadelphia in December this year. I also had a paper accepted to the annual meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy at Fordham University in New York this October.

Having now finished the required coursework for PhD candidacy, I have started on the dissertation phase of my studies and am spending the 2014–2015 academic year as a visiting scholar at Princeton University, working on issues in ancient political theory and moral psychology.

Jeremy Reid.

NICK HALL

Emerging Talent Award 2012 Since receiving an Aimes Emerging Talent Award in 2012 my life has been permanently changed. By being the recipient of this award I was able to fund studies in Vancouver where I studied a Masters of Music, Majoring in Trumpet Performance for two years at the University of British Columbia. During these two years I expected to learn the finer details about classical trumpet playing and I hoped to come back to Auckland as a much more experienced and versatile performer. I can say that with the amazingly high calibre of my Professors and Tutors that this has definitely happened. What I wasn't aware of though is how much this time away from home would affect my personal life as well.

By spending 24 months in a foreign country where I didn't know anyone I had to create new friendships and find the strength to succeed without the close comforts of home. By learning these things I became much more confident and strong. This meant that when I arrived back in New Zealand I was ready to take on the world by storm!

On the day that I landed back in Auckland I had an interview for a Trumpet position in the Royal New Zealand Navy Band who I had previously sent an audition tape to. A few days later I was informed that my audition and interview were successful and since then I have been working full time as a musician,

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touring extensively nationally and internationally and performing at least weekly.

I am so thrilled that I have been able to take the skills that I learnt overseas and bring them back to the North Shore.

Through the incredible support of the AIMES Foundation I was able to study from amazing tutors in Canada and get a fantastic job as a musician who gets to represent the North Shore internationally.

Nick Hall.

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Mattea Mrkusic.

MATTEA MRKUSIC Emerging Talent Award 2012

2014 has heralded a series of new challenges and adventures for me. In May, I discovered I had been accepted as one of twelve transfer students internationally to finish their studies at Harvard University. Having spent eighteen wonderful months studying at the University of Melbourne, it was a bitter-sweet goodbye to Melbourne coffee and my community at UN Youth Victoria, where I had just helped organize the inaugural UN Youth Gender Equality Summit. After recharging on the North Shore for a week with family, I packed up my rucksack, bound for Harvard via Spain.

I spent July and early August trekking solo across Northern Spain, hiking a 700km historical pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago. I arrived at Harvard with battered boots and a rugged pack half the size of me--quite the first impression, I’m sure.

At Harvard, I’m majoring in Government, with a minor in Environmental Science and Public Policy.

Since arriving on campus, I’ve gravitated towards Harvard's Institute of Politics, where I am currently a member of the Campaign & Advocacy Program and the Women in Leadership Program.

I have also been elected Associate Multimedia Editor for the Harvard Political Review. Next semester, I’ll be producing podcasts, videos and photo essays that explore salient political issues.

There have been many Harvard highlights: hearing journalist Nicolas J. Kristof speak in Sander’s Theatre, going

Richard Stebbing.

to ethicist Michael Sandel’s lectures or my daily walk across the leafy Harvard Yard. It strikes me that I am so fortunate to be able to learn as my profession.

I would like to thank the AIMES Awards committee and the North Harbour Club for enabling these experiences, as well as my unfailingly supportive family and friends—I definitely couldn’t get up to all this mischief without you.

2011

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Supreme Award ($20,000) & AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Richard Stebbing, Biomedical Engineer; AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Elliot ChristensenYule, Actor; AIMES Music Award ($10,000) – Moses MacKay, Singer; AIMES Education Award ($10,000) – Blake Hansen, Scholar; AIMES Sports Award ($10,000) – Thomas Abercrombie, Basketballer; AIMES Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Amanda Judd, Community Worker; Judges Special Award ($10,000) – Alisha McLennan, Dancer.

In addition there were six recipients of the North Harbour Club Emerging Talent Awards in 2010. They were: Alexandra Foster, Adam Gerrett, Seok Jun Bing, Aine Kelly-Costello, Lydia Ko, Rebecca Dubber (they each received $4000).

RICHARD STEBBING

AIMES Supreme & IT, Innovation & Science Awards Winner 2011 2014 has been awesomely busy and very productive. I submitted and successfully defended my DPhil (PhD) thesis titled “Model-Based Segmentation Methods for Analysis of 2D and 3D Ultrasound Images and Sequences” which now marks the end of my time in Oxford.

As well as this, I had three bodies of work published: two of which were collaborations and one of which I was the sole contributor. The first, a product of work done during my second internship at Microsoft Research, was a system for learning personalised 3D hand models using the Microsoft Kinect. The second, in partnership with another graduate student in the Biomedical Image Analysis group (Ana Namburete), was an algorithm for determining gestational age directly from ultrasound scans of the fetal brain. The third was an algorithm to measure surface properties of the right ventricle from multiple incomplete ultrasound scans of the heart.

Alongside my DPhil work I also consulted for Oxford Genetics, developing in-house algorithms for DNA optimisation to reduce the cost of protein synthesis. This work was exceptionally fun and interesting. Throughout the year I learned a lot about the problem domain, and I also picked up some crucial lessons about developing robust software for non-technical users. Most importantly, it takes a lot of care! Outside of work, I continued as a Junior Dean at

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St Peter’s College until early December, and I have been also continuing training for powerlifting (of which progress has been slow and steady).

Moving forward, my initial priority before the end of the calendar year is to make code public from my DPhil that I believe is useful to other researchers and developers. As well as this, I am also in the process of determining where I base myself next year, and what exactly I will put my efforts towards! Opportunities inside and outside of academia have come up in London, the US, and in NZ, so it’s now time for me to make a decision before jumping into 2015!

Elliot Christensen-Yule.

ELLIOT CHRISTENSEN-YULE MOSES MACKAY AIMES Art Award 2011

AIMES Music Award 2011

Having just finished a full year (ten papers) of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, my mind is abuzz with new ideas and ways of thinking.

This year, I've learned all about algorithms (think - recipes), databases (think - Amazon.com), programming at the machine level (think - speaking in ones and zeros), graph theory (think - maps and GPS) and encryption (think - Alan Turing cracking the German WWII Enigma code).

The list goes on but I won't bore you further. What I will tell you is that my studies are going totally awesome-burgers. I'm working hard, pushing my limits and achieving great results. I often come in at the top of my classes which is a considerable feat given most classes consist of three hundred students. I even managed to get 104% for one particular assignment!

In other news, I've taken to longdistance running in a big way. I run to and from university every day and enjoy ending my runs by jumping in the ocean on the way home. I've been running for about a year and a half now and have made tremendous improvement. At first, I could barely get around the block. Now I'm running all over town for hours on end without breaking a sweat. I just can't seem to get enough of it!

Summer school couldn't come sooner for me, so in the meantime I'm teaching myself two new programming languages.

Yep, I'm a nerd but I love learning. What can I say?

Thanks again for your ongoing encouragement and support.

(See feature article in the issue).

BLAKE HANSEN

AIMES Education Award 2011 At the time of writing – in late 2014, it is now less than two weeks before I return home for Christmas to see the green lands of New Zealand for the first time in nearly four years. I anticipate diving back into all the trappings of our beautiful land – Pohutukawa’s in bloom, hearty pies everywhere and the highest quality shoreline on God’s earth. Only this time, as I return something is different. Not the Victoria Park under-pass; no, something far more substantial. This time, my fiancée is coming to see NZ for the first time with me.

It may seem a tad irrelevant to mention all this writing about a 2011 AIMES Education award. Only, it would be, if it weren’t that the AIMES award had invested in me to carry on building a life and career here in the UK. I've just completed the first term of my fifth year as the Youth Pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge, England. In my role I get to run our weekly groups, oversee the mentoring schemes, run leadership training, teach on the Christian faith and provide the young people of Cambridge with a place just for them where they are accepted and welcome.

We have a lot of fun, but the serious side is journeying through life with these young people – highs and lows – and

helping them to do that with God. From Biochemist to Pastor, it's a bit of an unusual career progression, but the mutual goal we both share is to see the next generation of young people given every opportunity to take their place, using every ounce of potential they have to achieve greatly. And the young people I get to work with? Well, they are brilliant.

There are roughly seventy who regularly take part in the weekly youth group and near a hundred who come to the extra events. And every single one a gem.

I am ever so grateful for the support of the North Harbour Club, whose investment in me has encouraged and spurred me on in this, and even enabled capacity to help me personally continue with this work where I am. I look forward to its continued growth and wish you the very best with your ongoing and vital work.

Blake Hansen.

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TOM ABERCROMBIE

AIMES Sports Award 2011

2014 has been a busy year as per usual with plenty of highs and lows. The year begun with a disappointing end to the previous Skycity Breakers campaign as we missed out on the playoffs for the first time in 4 years. I had no time to dwell on that though as I immediately joined French club, Asvel-Villerbuane for the remainder of their French season.

This was a great experience for me and my first time playing professionally in Europe. I was based in Lyon and played 10 games for the team before we were knocked out of the first round of the playoffs to eventual champions Limoges.

Returning back to NZ it was straight into preparation for the World Cup with the Tall Blacks team. This was a massive year with the World Cup in Spain and a whirlwind world tour in preparation got us in great shape for the tournament. We eventually lost to semifinalists Lithuania by 3 points but once again showed we are more than capable of beating some of the worlds powerhouse teams on any given night. The highlight of the World cup was undoubtledy getting to play USA though. Matching up against the NBA’s biggest superstars was an unforgettable experience.

Back into another Skcyity breakers campaign now, 2014 has finished on a high note with the team in a great position to make another deep run into the season. 2015 promises to be another exciting year and I’m looking forward to all the challenges ahead.

Tom Abercrombie.

Alisha McLennan

ALISHA MCLENNAN

AIMES Judges Special Award 2011 Reflecting on my year I suddenly realize how many artistic dance project I’ve worked on in the previous 12 month.

This year I have spent a lot of my time in a box or on one, or looking at one. All these boxes made of wood, in a variety of size, starting with a 2m cube down to about 10cm cube, have made up our set in most of this years projects.

The first project was the Touch Compass Film project, the company dancers worked with Olive and Otto, choreographers based in the US, to create ‘Undertide’ exploring the internal space of the body.

The company also worked with our community class turning their “significant moment” stories into short dance films.

Usually to create work a choreographer comes in to work with the dancers, however this year, with 5 of 6 dancers working for the company for 3 to 15 years we wanted to create a work uniquely

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‘Touch Compass’, the boxes were of course our starting point. We created “Watching Windows”, a truly physically dance piece that plays with the ideas of physical boundaries and limitations – an exploration of a place where bodies, objects and moments are hidden and revealed in a journey of discovery and intrigue. Alongside ‘Undertide’ and some of our films, ‘Acquisition 14’ was performed at Q Theatre in August.

I got to travel for another dance workshop, this year just across the ditch for quite a different experience as we were at a retreat in the Australian bush, and I travelled with Georgie Goater, (she the red head in the photo) who also works for Touch Compass.

The week explored creating dance in a dry riverbank, by a lake and in our sleeping quarters, culminating in our audience being guided to each performance venue.

My year would not have been nearly as rewarding without the opportunity to work with youth at TGS and the Touch Compass youth class. It is always incredible to watch students perform high quality integrated performances.

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Aine Kelly-Costello

AINE KELLY-COSTELLO Emerging Talent Award 2011

In 2014, I've had the privilege of participating in various bits and pieces whilst completing my second year of a conjoint in classical flute Performance, English and Spanish at the University of Auckland.

I may or may not be improving on my abilities to juggle studying, work, committee responsibilities and pretending I'm still a kid. Nonetheless, a year of papers in European Studies, Music History, flute Performance, Rhetoric, Music theory, Shakespearian Comedy, and Latin American Music is drawing to a close.

During the year, I habitually went to classes, slept and pretended I could cook. I habitually attacked the onslaught of communications and jobs clammering for my attention, with varying degrees of success. I habitually wondered, at 4am, about the resilience of my incurable preessay optimism concerning the length of time I required for decent proofreading and referencing. That's all over for another three months, thank goodness.

When nothing else is begging for attention, I've naturally devoted hours to my baby—amely a Burkart piccolo who became mine because of a certain AIMES award I was lucky enough to encounter. Over the past two years we've shared many memorable moments in Auckland Youth Orchestra. In other musical circles, scenes of joy, hilarity and love have predominated. For instance, there is this way cool programme for blind and partially sighted students called Music School that I chill at. One day, I

Rebecca Dubber.

found out how old I apparently look or sound when I was asked whose mother I was by a rather adorable 7-year-old (with my youngest potential child being 6, no less). For the record, I'm 19.

I also spent happy hours in the ageless discipline of folk music which reminds me, it's almost Auckland Folk Festival time again. AKA: a weekend of camping, yacking, jamming and singing till sunrise. Be there. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I better say so long, 2014. You treated me well and I hope you did likewise to my fellow citizens of Mother Earth. Your reign was always bound by time, wasn't it. It's 2015's turn now.

REBECCA DUBBER Emerging Talent Award 2011

2014 was a pretty awesome year for me, there were a few ups and downs but I got there in the end and feel that I am in the best shape ever now and am tracking really well towards my goals for 2015 and 2016.

My year started off in February at the NSW opens in Sydney, this was my first international swim meet since the London 2012 Paralympic games. Despite having a shoulder injury at the time I performed well even winning a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke. Next up was the NZ open championships where again I swam good times and qualified for the Para Pan Pacific Championships that were being held in Pasadena later that year. Three days after Opens finished I was admitted to hospital after my doctor’s discovered a large stone in my bladder that needed urgent removal. It was but a small bump in the road for

me because when I competed at the Para Pan Pacific championships barely 2 months later I won my first International title winning Gold in the women’s s7 100m backstroke. At the beginning of december we travelled to Noosa QLD, for a two week training camp before heading down to Brisbane to compete at the QLD state champs where I set two season best times and a new personal best time in my 100m backstroke. Not a bad way to finish my 2014 season.

ALEXANDRA LIGHT (WAS FOSTER)

Emerging Talent Award 2011 Since winning the Arts Emerging Talent Award in 2011 I have had the privilege of being a part of some amazing opportunities.

I have performed at Auckland’s Civic Theatre playing the amusing role of “Erma” in Cole Porter's smash-hit musical comedy “Anything Goes”, placed 3rd in New Zealand for NZIFBB Bikini Fitness in 2012 and more recently been on New Zealand’s first season of The X Factor NZ competing in girl group “Gap5” where we placed 6th in the competition. 2013 has definitely been my biggest year since winning my award, especially due to The X Factor and having my incredible wedding day shortly after leaving the competition. At the end of 2013, Gap5 performed in Auckland's Coca-Cola Christmas In The Park and featured in this years’ Parachute Music Festival.

To top of this year I was blessed in being cast as a lead in NSMT’s “Hairspray The Musical” where I played the teenage brat “Amber Von Tussle”.

Being involved in Hairspray has definitely been the highlight of these past few years for me. Being a part of a show

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with such world class talent and amazing people has been an experience I will never forget.

Overall I have been so fortunate with the openings that have come about since winning the AIMES Emerging Talent Award. I would like to thank the North Harbour Club once again for the great support and encouragement they have given me to chase my dreams!

2010

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Supreme Award ($20,000) & AIMES Sports Award ($10,000) – Jacko Gill (15) - Athlete. Jacko received a total of $20,000; AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Verity Burgess (23) - Singer/Dancer/Actress; AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – David MacDonald (24) Computer Scientist; AIMES Music Award ($10,000 each - Joint Winners) – Sophie Bird (25) - Violinist; Will Martin (25) - Vocalist/Musician; AIMES Education Award ($10,000) – Andrew MacDonald (21) - Scholar; AIMES Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Anita Walbran (24); AIMES Judges Special Award ($6,000) – Shaun Quincey (25).

In addition there were six recipients of the North Harbour Club Emerging Talent Awards in 2010. They were: Maddie Dillon, Chloe Francis, Stephanie Mitchell, The Naked & Famous, Michael Macdonald, Joseph Bergin. Each Emerging Talent Award Winner received $4,000.

Alexandra Light.

maybe a two year time frame to succeed internationally. I will need to get my distance out to a little over 21.00m as this is where the medals are handed out.

That hard work has already begun.

I have never forgotten the support and financial help winning an AIMES Award gave me. To get help from successful members of my own community was really special. The North Harbour Club is truly outstanding.

VERITY BURGESS AIMES Arts Award 2010

Since receiving my AIMES award in 2010, I relocated to the United Kingdom and graduated with my Masters in Musical Theatre from Guildford School of Acting. Since then, I have been very lucky to be able to work in the UK’s

JACKO GILL

AIMES Supreme & Sport Awards 2010 2014 has been a huge year of change for me having stepped up to the senior weight shot put (7.26kg) after having set the world mark as a junior with the 6.00kg weight.

The year finished with me ranked 25th in the world with the heavier weight (20.70m), a result I regard as on track to my goal.

So my senior career has begun but I am expecting some hard work and

Jacko Gill.

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musical theatre industry.

The latest project I have been working on is a touring production of ‘Evita’ . The first tour began in 2013 and travelled for 6 months around the UK. After a break of a month, it toured for another 7 months, visiting more cities such as: Edinburgh, Dublin, Cardiff, Manchester, finishing up in Oostende, Belgium. It was such a privilege to live in and experience such amazing places and audiences.

After a wonderful year of touring, came the exciting news that ‘Evita’ was to settle at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End, for a run of 7 weeks. The Dominion Theatre is one of the biggest theatres in London and has just been newly refurbished after housing Queen musical ‘We Will Rock You’ for 12 years. This was a truly overwhelming experience for me as it had been a goal of mine ever since I

Takapuna Grammar School International Baccalaureate World School

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

ANITA MCKENZIE

AIMES Service to the Community Award 2010

Verity Burgess.

applied for drama school. The highlight for me was being able to meet the composer and lyricist of ‘Evita’, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

After an intensive journey with ‘Evita’ I decided to take some time off to recover from a dancing injury and have an operation on my foot. I’m excited to spend some time recovering with family ready to start auditioning again in February.

I would once again like to thank the North Harbour Club and everyone involved in the AIMES awards for their continued support. It feels amazing to know that I have a supportive group of people backing me and for that I am very grateful.

SOPHIE BIRD

AIMES Music Award 2010 Since being the lucky recipient of an AIMES Award in 2010, life has changed rather dramatically for me. I have now completed all the course work and extensive examinations involved in a DM at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in the United States, and am currently ABD (all but dissertation).

After spending close to 7 years studying at a postgraduate level in the US, performing and working in various orchestras and groups, including the Petar Jankovic Ensemble and the CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, I felt ready for a change! In late February of 2014 I embarked on a trip to Europe,

Sophie Bird.

starting in the lovely country of Sweden, where I began taking auditions for orchestra positions. I was delighted to win an audition in April for a violin one position in a lovely orchestra on the Southwest coast of Sweden, in a town called Helsingborg.

As of August I began living in a vibrant neighbouring town also on the Southwest coast called Malmö, where I have officially taken up the job. Life as a professional musician in this orchestra setting is extremely satisfying and fulfilling, especially given that the orchestra is rather small and the players are all intently musical and soloistic in their individual playing.

This makes for a very stimulating musical environment that is both challenging and musically rewarding.

The future is an exciting place, and I plan to spend a summer back in Indiana writing my dissertation and eventually return home to New Zealand.

Once home, I would love to collaborate with the wealth of distinguished kiwi musicians in a conductorless touring orchestra project.

Finally, thank you to the North Harbour Club for the incredible support you give to young local talent and achievement!

2014 has been a busy but exciting year for Engineers Without Borders New Zealand (EWBNZ). We launched our Dialogues on Development study tour – an opportunity for development enthusiasts to learn about development through first-aid experiences with local humanitarians in Samoa. Another highlight was sending five volunteers to Vanuatu in November to work with three community partners in the areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and solar energy.

In mid-2014 EWBNZ performed a management restructure and I was very excited to be appointed as Operations and Organisational Development Manager. It is great to be able to stick my hands into something new as I’d been in my previous roles a few years now! The past couple of months I have been busy trying to handover my previous roles and recruit extra hands to help. I can’t wait to use my skills to further develop EWBNZ as an organisation and witness the increased impact EWBNZ will have in our work with communities in New Zealand and the South Pacific.

In September we held our Live Below the Line Fundraiser. I took part in the 5-day challenge, having only $2.25 per

ANDREW MACDONALD

AIMES Education Award 2010 (See report in 2013 section).

PAGE 70 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

Anita McKenzie.

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

day for all food and drinks. The hunger certainly got to me but knowing the funds raised were going to a very good cause made it worthwhile! We held fun cook-off competitions as part of the event - my team placed second with our chicken fettuccine and poached pears.

I continue to be involved on the board as Board Treasurer and Secretary. I have just got back from our end-of-year celebration event in Wellington. We were fortunate to have staff from EWB Australia come and share their wisdom with us all and it provided me with some inspiration and tools to help contribute to making a great 2015. Can’t wait!

SHAUN QUINCEY

AIMES Judges Special Award 2010 Having recently moved to San Francisco my family and I are having an incredibly exciting time having been given the opportunity to establish the North Shore company Debitsuccess in the USA market. Moving an 8 month old to the USA has not come without its challenges and I still believe there is no greater place in the world than the North Shore so I would be lying if I said there were not days where we craved being on Takapuna Beach in the Sun. California is the 8th largest economy in the world and it is a great feeling representing a North Shore based company in this vibrant and supportive market. The business community of

Maddie Dillon.

Shaun Quincey.

San Francisco has surprised me in their willingness to accept and support new business and their think big culture, ideas are embraced and not typically “Tall Poppied” as we all too often face in the New Zealand business environment. I would certainly recommend to any North Shore Business looking at the USA to take a look at San Francisco and give it a crack. Having recently snuck home for three weeks over Christmas we were fortunate enough to get a few days on our favourite beach.

MADDIE DILLON Emerging Talent Award 2010

2014 has been a big learning year for me. After leaving my home in Auckland to the high performance squad base in Cambridge I spent the first half of 2014 rehabbing a lower limb injury for three months.

After this slow start, July was when my season began. I travelled to Japan to race my first race of my overseas campaign and finished 8th in a very competitive field.

From there it was on to Spain to prepare for my first u23 World Championships in Edmonton Canada where I ended up a creditable 14th place. I was happy with my performance as I had achieved my goals within the race and after the slow start to the year I was just happy to be on the start line at a world championship.

At the end of 2014 I made the decision to leave the High Performance squad and return to my home coach Stephen Farrell. This now means I am doing all my training through the North Harbour Triathlon Club.

My goals for this season are to qualify for the World Championships in Chicago.

Now that I am a little bit older and stronger I will be aiming for the podium..

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 71

AWARD WINNERS 1996 - 2009

$1.65 million AWARDED...

2009

The AIMES Award winners for 2009 were:- Melissa Ingram ($30,000 - Joint Sport and overall winner), Anna-Louise Dillon-Herzog ($10,000 - Arts), Daniel Playne ($10,000 Joint Innovation & Science), Yvette Perrott ($10,000 - Joint Innovation & Science), Grayson Masefield ($10,000 - Joint Music), Amalia Hall ($10,000 - Joint Music), Adrienne Anderson ($10,000 - Education), Cameron Calkoen ($10,000 - Service To The Community Award). Emerging Talent Awards ($4,000 each) Sophie Corbidge, Chris Rahardja, Jenna Gallie, Jason Bae, Ellen Deverall, Arkesh Patel.

2008

The AIMES Award winners for 2008 were:- Tom Ashley ($30,000 - Joint Sport and overall winner), Sophie Henderson ($10,000 - Arts), Daniel Playne ($10,000 - IT, Innovation & Science), Naomi Jones ($10,000 - Education), Sean Yang ($10,000 - Service to the Community), Melissa Ingram ($7,000 - Judges Special Award). Emerging Talent Awards ($4,000 each) Verity Burgess, Brittany Carter, Andrew MacDonald, Andrew Maloney,Yvette Perrott, Yousif Rassam, Chris Steele, Erin Taylor,The Earlybirds (Filip Kostovich, Jared Aisher, Michael Cannon, Sean Patterson and Kane ter Veer).

2007

The AIMES Award winners for 2007 were:- Matthew Flinn ($25,000 - Joint Education and overall winner), Ananth Gopal ($10,000 - Arts), Daniel Playne ($10,000 - IT, Innovation & Science), Sarah McCallum ($10,000 - Music), Tanya Cooling ($10,000 - Music), Hollie Smith ($10,000 - Music), Jo Aleh ($10,000 - Sport), Loren O’Sullivan ($10,000 - Service to the Community).Emerging Talent Awards ($2000 each) Samuel Coldicutt, Robert Ellis, Mikhail Koudinov, Alexandra Maloney, Stephen Smith, Rob Tucker.

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2006

The AIMES Award winners for 2006 were:- Rebecca Spence ($20,000 - Joint Sports and overall winner), Juliette Haigh ($20,000 - Joint Sports and overall winner), Dmitri (Dima) Ivanov ($8,000 - Arts), Hayley Reynolds ($8,000 - IT, Innovation & Science), Julia McCarthy (Joint Music - $8,000), Sarah McCracken (Joint Music - $8,000), Chye-Ching Huang ($8,000 Education), Cameron Calkoen ($8,000 - Service to the Community). Emerging Talent Awards ($2000 each) Tom Ashley, Richard Chen, Caroline Grey, Blake Hansen.

Violinist Richard Chen also received $5,000 from Corelli School for production of his own CD.

2005

The AIMES Award winners for 2005 were:- Nodira Khoussainova ($17,000 - IT and overall winner), Ananth Gopal ($7,000 - Arts), The Checks - Karel Chabera, Jacob Moore, Ed Knowles, Sven Petterson, Callum Martin (Music - $5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD), Elizabeth Duncan ($5,000 Education), Hannah McLean ($5,000 - sport), Amalia Hall ($500 - Violinist, Judges Special Award).

2004

The AIMES Award winners for 2004 were:- Heather Brown ($17,000 - IT and overall winner), Kendra Oxley ($7,000 - Arts), Simone Roggen (Music - $5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD), Vicki McCall ($5,000 - Education), Nicole Roughan ($5,000 - Education), Juliette Haigh ($5,000 - Sport), Corney Swanepoel ($5,000 - Sport).

As has been detailed elsewhere in Northside, the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust was formed in 1995. As of November 8th, 2014 the Club has awarded over $1.65 million to the young people of the North Harbour region through the annual AIMES Awards. We have featured reports from some recent winners in previous pages. These are the other AIMES Awards recipients dating back to 1996.

2003

The AIMES Award winners for 2003 were:- Kristen Darragh ($27,000 - Music), Karen Lindsay ($8,000 - Education), James Cressey ($8,000 - Sport), Felicity Rogers ($8,000 - Arts), Nodira Khoussainova ($8,000 - IT), Matthew Flinn ($5,000 - Music).

2002

The AIMES Award winners for 2002 were:- Terenzo Bozzone ($18,000 - Sport), James Russell ($8,000 - Education), Sarah McCallum ($8,000 - Music), AnnaLouise Herzog ($8,000 - Arts), Michael Brown ($8,000 IT), Robbie Ellis ($5,000 - Music).

2001

The AIMES Award winners for 2001 were:- Mark Robinson ($13,000 - Education), Helen Candy ($8,000 - Arts), Emma Buckton ($4,000 - Music), Vanessa McGowan ($4,000 Music), Sarah McCallum ($9,000 - Music), Michael Bullot ($8,000 - Sport), Terenzo Bozzone ($7,000 - Sport), Paul Bracewell ($5,000 - Education), Ian Munro ($3,000 -Education) Dean Kent ($2000 - Sport), Jennifer Dryburgh ($2,000 - Sport), Jordan Barnes ($500 - Arts), Jonathan Coulam ($500 - IT), Fleur Ritchie ($1,000 - Music).

2000

The AIMES Award winners for 2000 were:- Clarissa Dunn ($13,000 - Education), Lara Hall ($8,000 - Music), Andrea Proud ($8,000 - Arts), Monique Robins ($8,000 - Sport), Scott Talbot-Cameron ($5000 - Sport), Steven Ferguson ($5000 - Sport), Michael Bassett ($3000 - Sport), Terenzo Bozzone ($3000 - Sport), Simon Rea ($2000 - Sport).

1999

The AIMES Award winners for 1999 were:- Rainer Gibbons ($8,000 - Music), Benjamin Pilley ($5,000 - Sport), Jennifer Dryburg ($5,000 - Sport), Nikolozi Meladze ($3,000 Education), Slavik Shorinov ($2,500 - Sport), Jamie Voss ($2,000 - Education & Sport), Mark Wells ($1,500 - Arts), Jon Gorrie ($1,000), Helen Candy ($1,000 - Arts), Elaine Dowsett ($1,000), Felicity Rogers ($1,000 - Arts), Bradley Fagan ($500 - Art), Ji-Hyun Kim ($500 - Music), Teresa Davis (Presented with a Picolo Clarinet - Music).

1998

The AIMES Award winners for 1998 were:- Nathan Handley ($8,000 - Sport), Neil Watson ($3,750 - Music), Justin Bird (Piano - Music), Amanda Rubick ($2,500 - Education), Jemima Smeadley ($2,000 - Sport), Alister Gair ($2,000 - Sport), Felicity Gould-Hope ($2,000 - Sport), Jennifer Dryburgh ($2,000 - Sport), Jayson Herbert ($2,000 - Sport).

1997

The AIMES Award winners for 1997 were:- Philip Misur ($6,000 - Education), Lara Hall ($3,000 - Music), Claire Speedy ($2,000 - Education), Sarah Macky ($2,000 - Sport), Jayson Herbert ($2,000 - sport), Alastair Gair ($2,000 Sport), Julie Worth ($2,000 - Sport), Craig Harper ($2,000 - Sport), Matthew Davies ($2,000 - Sport), Nathan Handley ($2,000 - Sport).

1996

The AIMES Award winners for 1996 were:- Patricia Bolton ($10,000), Daniel Slater ($5,000), Matt Brown ($2,500), Simon Cooke ($2,500), A. Ottingon ($1,500), J. Ashworth ($1000), A. Lye ($1,000), E. Tepavac ($1,000).

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES

charity lunches A CORNERSTONE OF NORTH HARBOUR CLUB'S CALENDAR OF EVENTS The North Harbour Club Charity Luncheons have long been highlights of the calendar, with 2014 being no exception. For four years the lunch programme has been known as the Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunches, due to the generous sponsorship of the leading local motor vehicle dealership owned by club members Mark and Bob Jago. Three Luncheon events were held in 2014.

PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY LUNCH The year kicked off with a sold out crowd in April when Prime Minister John Key addressed guests with his pre-budget speech. Members also had the privilege of hearing Will Martin (2010 AIMES Music Award winner) singing the National Anthem and entertaining all with an exceptional speech – it’s been said he may have even upstaged the Prime Minister! The event was MC’d by Matthew Hooton and held at QBE Stadium.

Pat Houlihan, Jackie and Todd Scott, Trevor Stanaway.

Nick Howe-Smith, Annie Zaloum, Eddie Simpson.

John Key and Heather Vermeer.

Mary Delamare, Wendy Stedman, Linda Dines, Gill Hopwood.

Justin Storm, Geoff Nash, Karsten Thomson.

Mike Fiscer, Rod Grove, Anne de Bruin.

Peter and Michelle Wall, Alex Baumann, Rick Ellis.

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Umberto Benucci, Daryl Briggs, Rob Carpenter.

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES

FASHION LUNCH

CHARITY LUNCHES

Guests attending the popular event were treated to a glamorous afternoon out including a Powder Room sampling collections of beauty products followed by a formal lunch and catwalk show (we even had the fabulous Hon. Maggie Barry modeling!). The luncheon is sponsored by a number of local businesses providing everything from centerpieces to auction items. The event was held at the Spencer on Byron Hotel in May and MC’d by Toni Street.

Karin Hawn, Alexis Siermans and Faye Freeman.

Karen Murrell, Ronnie Simpson and Dee Wakelin.

Candlce Murphy, Katie Stillers, Frida Klippel and Amanda Billington.

Marlene Auchterlonie, Renee Todd, Pauline Beadle, Rachel Elsey, Katya Vladimirova and Michelle Sceats.

Nicci Godinich, Moira Marcroft and Gaby Munro.

Debbie Brett, Margaret Peryman, Pam Bayer, Wendy King and Laura Finer De Sierra.

Rachel MacIver, Bridget McCutcheon, Nerissa Cassidy and Sarah Greenway.

Elize Hutchinson, Leigh Morgan, Lee Crook, Maree Erskine and Tania Rameka.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 75

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES

RUGBY LUNCHEON

CHARITY LUNCHES

With a stellar panel of sporting names the North Harbour Club Rugby Luncheon was again a near sell out. MC’d by local identity and club Ambassador Ian Jones we kicked off with the Rugby Rumble quiz (albeit slightly harder this year!) which was taken out by Joan Finlayson’s team. All Blacks Manager Darren Shand, interviewed by Sky TV’s Tony Johnson gave some interesting insights into the team followed by some local rugby updates from North Harbour ITM Cup Manager Steve Jackson. The event was held at QBE Stadium in August.

Jo Ralph, Annette Kann, Greg Robbins.

Frankie Walkington, Jeffery Matatia, Roger Marshman, Jack Marsden, Simon Hall.

Aidan Bennett, Kevin Schwass , Rob Gunston, Blake Douglas.

Michelle Brosnan, Bruno Goedeke, Phil Brosnan.

Philip Smith, Joan Finlayson, Gary Monk, Greg Ward.

Nicole Duncan, Amy Kozlowski, Paula Le Noel.

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MC Ian Jones.

Josh Muir, John Gold, Ian Jones, Mike Hare.

AFTER 5 FUNCTIONS

A LOOK BACK – NORTH HARBOUR CLUB

AFTER 5's 2014 The North Harbour Club 'After 5' functions are becoming increasing popular with members.

These events, hosted by members at their offices, provide the perfect opportunity for connecting and catching up with each other and AIMES Winners in a casual format. Each event provides a chance for the hosting member to showcase what they do here on the Shore – we sometimes even get a peek behind the scenes!

The first kicked off in March hosted by Sean Poulton, Senior Partner at BNZ Partners North Harbour. The BNZ are strong supporters of the club. This event had to contend with what was probably the major traffic snarl up of the year across the whole city meaning attendees were delayed or unable to get there on time so the numbers were down on usual attendance. But those who attended really enjoyed the event held in the excellent environment that is the BNZ Partners office on Constellation Drive.

In May we held the second After 5 at the office of one of our newest Corporate Members, Craigs Investment Partners. Guests heard an interesting presentation from Mark Lister, Head of Private Wealth Research for the company and we were hosted by members Mike Hare and John Gold at their Hurstmere Road (Takapuna) office.

October saw members hosted by Mike Stanley at the AUT Millennium Centre. This was a great evening in one of their fabulous function spaces overlooking the athletics track and out to the Hauraki Gulf. The packed room heard from Nathan Twaddle heading the Athlete Friendly Network, connecting local business communities to the next generation of talented athletes.

Our After 5’s were rounded up by another fun evening on the Simpson Western rooftop in Byron Ave, Takapuna, with most getting into the Christmas spirit donning Santa hats etc. Member Peter White won the best dressed award coming as a full-on Santa.

Sarah O'Grady, Fiona Murray, Dianne Simpson, Nicola Russ, Mike Hare.

Lynda Mann, Dianne Simpson, Santa (aka Peter White), Jayne White.

Fleur Clough, Lisa Hill, Alister Prew.

Ben Sanders, Greg Woodd, Emily Scott, Phil Brosnan.

Gael Taylor, Dave Delamare, John Algie.

Wendy Stedman, Maurice Stack, Hugh Stedman.

Ian and Gael Taylor, Gary Monk, Aidan Bennett.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 77

AIMES WINNERS NETWORK

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB LAUNCHES AIMES WINNERS NETWORK With an exceptional array of talented AIMES winners (214 of them to be exact!), the North Harbour Club has recently named and re-launched a network dedicated at connecting winners; creating a community of like-minded individuals that can promote themselves to other winners and Club members as well as catching up or sharing advice. With the calibre of talent recognised it’s no surprise to have so many winners on the world stage – like us though, they all call the North Shore home and the network in place ensures that when they’re here, we hear from them.

Sponsored by law firm Simpson Western the network will be in full swing during 2015, coinciding with the Club’s 20th Anniversary.

Two past recipients Cam Calkoen (Club Ambassador & 2009/2006 Service to the Community Winner) and Dima Ivanov (2006 Arts Winner) are leading the network and have been working to build up a social media presence to reconnect some of our past winners.

We spoke with Cam and Dima to get some insight into them and their plans for the network.

CJ: You've both remained linked with the North Harbour Club since winning your AIMES Awards several years ago – Why do you think it is so important for winners to stay connected after their grants?

Dima: Without patting my own back, I feel that the winners of the AIMES award are all made from some very talented, ambitious and dedicated material – young people who have made it clear to their family, friends and peers that they are out there to win and succeed. As the winners turn from teenagers and young adults, to professionals, the value of the personal connections grows – and who better to have in your network than other bright people, just like yourself, who’ve also

Cam Calkoen.

PAGE 78 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

demonstrated their commitment to success. We can all help each other – if not this year, then in years to come.

Cam: The pool of talent on the North Shore is incredible and I very much see those who win being those who will keep the club rolling in decades to come. We celebrate excellence and sometimes it can be a lonely journey. To connect with those who are on it, been there, or about to experience what it takes to ripple this world, a simple common link can inspire, create opportunities and result in the most awesome collaboration.

CJ: What are the key goals of the Winners Network this year?

Dima: The first year is about formation – putting the building blocks in place to allow the network to grow into the future. It might not sound exciting, but year one is about hard work – setting up an up-to-date list of all past winners and their contact details, getting back in touch with them and putting on our first two events to get the ball rolling. A lot of the guys and girls have left the Shore (temporarily, I’m sure!!!) – be it for study, an OE or for work – so we create and put in place a long-term plan on how to involve our expats in the AIMES Winners Network. And lastly, but not least important – is asking the winners what value they wish to derive from the network. We have our ideas – but this network must benefit the widest possible audience, and we are keen to listen.

Cam: It’s really key to establish who we are, what we do and how best we compliment the vision of club and winners.

Business is busy for winners we need to fit into their life through exciting, meaningful and impactful resources that continue to foster excellence. I know two things that excite us all is an epic networking event (I’m thinking something inspired by a TED type event) and a social media presence that’s interactive and bonding.

CJ: In 3 years I see the AIMES Winners Network …

Dima: My bet is that the winners are actually quite scattered all around the world – so in 3 years, the network will spread far beyond the North Shore. With social media and current communication technologies, organising events in any spot in the world has never been easier. In year 3, there will be 3 AIMES Winners Network events – 1 on the North Shore, and 2 in other countries – maybe 1 in Europe, and 1 in Asia or the Americas. The path to success can often be lonely, and for our expats waving the Shore flag overseas, an AIMES Winners Network event might be just that little bit of homely support and encouragement they need to continue to lift their game.

Cam: The AIMES Winners Network is “first port of call” for the best who look for the best. Our winners are extraordinary people who do what they love and with that attitude they will keep winning. In a competitive world we need people who can “tick a box” but go above and beyond what is expected.

Our winners personify this culture and there’s no doubt in my mind that if you engage someone through the AIMES Winners Network you would change lives, win competitions and have long lasting events, a winning team!!

CJ: How can someone become involved to stay up to date?

Dima: This part is easy, as long as you are on Facebook that is!

Search and like “North Harbour Club” – and that’s about it! The Club’s manager Courtney does an amazing job of keeping all of our contacts up to date with the happenings of the past AIMES Winners. If you are a past winner, please send Cam, Courtney or myself a brief message so we can invite you to the AIMES Winners Network group of the North Harbour Club page – this group isn’t available to the general public.

Cam: We are the hottest group you could ‘like’ on Facebook right now. It is here that we a paving the future and you will see the latest news, views and reviews. Our winners are carving up, and you know that feeling you get when you hear the winners been read out on awards night, the Goosebumps, the awe, the pride…this is where you get more of that.

And a couple of personal ones!

CJ: Favourite spot on the North Shore?

Dima: No competition! It would have to be Browns Bay beach – great skate ramp (where I spent most of my Rangi-years summers), calm water for waterskiing in the mornings, nice cafes and the best gym in the world – Beachside Health Club.

Cam: I’ve been away from Takapuna too long, this place is idyllic!!! We have cafés that put you on holiday, beaches that are the best in the world and views that allow you to create your personal National Geographic.

CJ: What is one thing you think the North Shore could do better?

Dima: The shore is an amazing place already. So, I think the better question would be – what do we need to KEEP IN PLACE for the Shore to remain amazing? Instead of improving, let’s keep our beaches clean and free to visit, keep up the great work in the public reserves, and ensure that as much of the shore’s public places remain just that – open for the enjoyment of all, and not developed on. Housing is great and good for

Dima ivanov.

the economy, but we mustn’t forget what makes the Shore so unique and appealing in the first place.

Cam: We have fostered young leaders who are now fostering their careers and their success can result in a massive contribution to this place we call home. As they do this we require housing that can see them staying local. I’m thinking the Takapuna fire-station becomes a village for 20 – 40 year olds who are exceeding expectations.

CJ: Can you remember the first thing you spent your AIMES Award money on?

Dima: A $3,000 laptop! As a designer, my computer is the only tool I have – it’s the only thing that earns us money. So, I decided to invest in the best “tool” I could at the time! Best investment I ever made.

Cam: It was either a massive party or buying a plane ticket to go and compete in Australia. Given it was vision, hard work, passion and preparation that got me my award I’m pretty sure it was the latter.

CJ: What would you say to anyone thinking of applying for an AIMES Award in the future?

Dima: This answer is aimed at the reader – yes, YOU! You applied already last year, or the year before, and didn’t win?

Got shortlisted, finalist may be? If this is you – and you’ve done something significant since your last entry – enter again! And if this is your third time round – enter again! It took me two tries to win an Award – and this year might be your year.

Cam: This is your opportunity to be proud and loud. To speak your dreams. To reflect on what’s got you here and the stand-outs in your life. To inspire, excite and make people see themselves as part of your journey – the best is yet to come!

CJ: Complete this sentence: If I wasn't a _________ I would be a ___________.

Dima: If I wasn’t an entrepreneur, I would be a windsurfing instructor in Fiji!

Cam: If I wasn’t a speaker, I would be a want-to-be speaker.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 79

THE LAST WORD: HUGH STEDMAN

THE LAST WORD Hugh Stedman was a founding member and is a current trustee of the North Harbour Club. Hugh lives in Takapuna with his wife Wendy.

Hugh Stedman.

I trust you have enjoyed reading this edition of Northside which annually celebrates the achievements of the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust.

The AIMES Award Dinner is a not-to-be missed event. In October 1996 I attended the very first one ever held and every one of them each year since. The common thread with all of them is you are blown away by the extraordinary talent of the youth of our region.

The Club had its beginnings from several meetings over coffee (and maybe a wine or two) between Ross Finlayson (Past President) and John Bishop (Past Trustee) regarding utilisation of the about-to-be-built North Harbour Stadium. Their thinking turned to the region, local businesses and the youth of the North Shore.

In July 1995 Ross Finlayson invited 35 North Shore business people, of which I was one, to attend a meeting where the idea of a North Harbour Club was floated.

Soon after the Club was formed with these objectives:

PAGE 80 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015

Promoting excellence in the Community; Meeting like-minded people; Raising funds and; Rewarding of excellence in the youth of the North Harbour Region.

The goals are still the same today. We have around 150 members who work and/or live on the North Shore and this year the Club will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The Club is administered by a group of dedicated Trustees and has a highly qualified and carefully selected panel of Judges to process each applicant for an AIMES or Emerging Talent Award. I was asked to be an AIMES Judge (I wouldn't make the cut now) when the Club was first established, a position I thoroughly enjoyed for a period of four years. For the last three years I have been a Trustee, a role I find very rewarding.

To watch the Club grow from day one to what it is today, to meet and be inspired by the wonderful young talent we support and to be a member of a club where members are interested in and supportive of each other, it makes me feel both proud and fortunate to be a member of the North Harbour Club.

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SMARTER SOLUTIONS FROM SPECIALISTS NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2014/2015 PAGE 81