L E A DIN G FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Senior prize giving speech
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– mihi nui kia koutou ga katoa – nau mai, haere –nei po whakanui mai ki te – o nga akonga.
Welcome to this very special evening where we celebrate outstanding achievements and share our hopes for the future. Special thanks to Board Chair Andrew Peterson and the incredible support of the trustees and fantastic staff who share the successes of our girls tonight. I also acknowledge the leadership of many who have inspired us over the year to be ‘more than we ever imagined’. Special thanks to Head Prefect Katie Pearce, Deputy Head Jemma Couillault and Dean Lynn Tonking – the ‘Tonkinator’ – who have unpacked their –tau to deepen our sense visionary Ko Ta of community and belonging. You have collectively woven new insights into our culture and your legacy leaves us enriched. Just a couple of weeks ago, another auspicious human achievement barrier was broken. It sat alongside myth-busting legends like Sir Edmund Hillary who showed that human life could reach the highest point on earth and survive. It was similar to Roger Bannister’s first sub four-minute mile that was deemed to be humanly impossible. Once broken, the fourminute mile standard was then repeatedly broken by Sir John Walker over one hundred times in his athletic career. On a cold morning in Vienna on 12 October, another impossible human barrier was broken. The Economist in 2017 reported that it would be impossible until at least 2036. But undeterred, Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour marathon barrier. Some could
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DIO TODAY
It is our hope that young women graduating from Diocesan this year will live wisely and be well prepared. We also hope that you take away a strong sense of identity and culture – this is the key to your resilience in adapting to change and finding new ways to thrive. You have gained highly recognised knowledge. Beyond all other attributes, there is no substitute for knowledge.
argue that the technology involved in pacing the race with the world’s best runners set up the outcome, but in his interview Eliud impressed with his vision. He said, “We can achieve great things and create a beautiful world together.” He did it to show what is possible, that people working together can achieve anything. Inspiring people have this year shown us many great achievements – women completed their first spacewalk, scientists discovered how to achieve spinal cord reparation, researchers have customised cancer vaccines, we have dexterous robots and cow-free burgers. It is refreshing to see human capability in its fullness. In a world that
continues to change as a result of new technologies, societies are grappling, as we are, with the ethical concerns such as freely available pornography on the web. But all freedom comes with careful thinking about rights and responsibilities and results in a range of outcomes including unrealistic expectations for young women. Our concerns in education are about how we protect the positive freedom of wellbeing while expanding human capability and maintaining peace. Persevering with the concept that increasing economic growth guarantees a higher standard of living has collided with the growing rejection of environmental impact caused when humans and technologies create new revolutions of change. Parts of the Earth are becoming uninhabitable, and the freedom to thrive has been at the cost of others. Important voices are being heard about greater controls, more action. Voices are speaking for those who cannot, to protect the vast diversity of life on our planet. What we can assume is that major changes to the way we seek the freedom of wellness, equity and identity on our planet are in the midst of critical debate and tension. It is our hope that young women graduating from Diocesan this year will live wisely and be well prepared to thrive amidst these tensions. You have gained highly recognised knowledge. Beyond all other attributes, there is no substitute for knowledge. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” A few years ago, my mother was adding glucose to her tea. Asking why, she told me that it said on the packet that it was a ‘reducing sugar’ and she felt that she would be losing weight. It actually refers to reduction as a chemical reaction and has nothing to do with weight loss. She
