Class notes

Class

notes

Dr Ron Jones (1957), a retired gynecologist, obstetrician, and former professor at the University of Auckland, has been awarded the 2022 Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr Jones is being honoured for his role in exposing one of the biggest medical scandals in New Zealand’s history, around cervical cancer screening. He was part of a group of three Kiwi doctors who exposed ethical abuses in a study examining cervical carcinoma in situ, or CIS, in what was later called the ‘unfortunate experiment’.

Dr Ron Jones

Damien Rowse (1997) is part of Rainbow Awakening, a collective of gay men who wish to honour the memory of loved ones lost to AIDS. They offer a shared meal and sharing circle every day in central Auckland. Prior to this, Damien was based in India for six years helping to build a gay ashram. Marty Kain (2006) was selected for the USA Twenty20 International cricket squad and made his debut against Ireland in December 2021.

Sam Blakelock (2007) lives in Los Angeles where he co-founded Pickup Music, a leader in online education, teaching 20,000 students worldwide how to play guitar. Previously, he studied his Masters of Music in New York City and worked in marketing at Carnegie Hall before growing a social media following of one million musicians on Instagram.

Sam Blakelock

Squadron Leader Mike Ward (2007) has served in the Royal Air Force since 2009. He is currently a Flight Commander on IX (Bomber) Squadron flying the Eurofighter Typhoon and is based at RAF Lossiemouth in north-east Scotland. IX (B) Squadron are famed for sinking the German battleship Tirpitz, in November 1944 and they currently hold the UK Aggressor role; training UK and US front line units to fight and win against a peer adversary. Prior to his promotion, Mike served on Number 6 Squadron and as a Qualified Weapons Instructor on Number 1 (Fighter) Squadron, the oldest airborne fighting unit in the world. In this role, Mike was deployed on numerous operational tours in Iraq, Syria, and the Falkland Islands, conducted Quick Reaction Alert in the UK and the South Atlantic, and took part in exercises all over the world from the Middle East to the USA. As a hangover from his days at St Andrew’s College, Mike has taken to all things Scottish from golf to haggis. He enjoys the travel and the unique experiences offered with the RAF and living overseas. In 2020, Mike achieved a Masters Degree in Aerosystems specialising in Air Operations and Tactics from Staffordshire University. He is soon to move to the Middle East to continue teaching on the Typhoon to the United Kingdom’s defence partners. Many kids grow up dreaming about space and rockets, Christopher Scott (2008) is now living that dream working at Rocket Lab leading the development of the first and second stage Rutherford rocket engine. After studying a Bachelor and Masters of Mechatronics Engineering, focusing on biomedical and aerospace applications, Christopher spent a few years working in commercial aviation. He then joined Martin Aircraft, a startup developing a prototype jetpack, where he was responsible for the testing and verification of the flight control systems on the jetpack. This role was critical for flight support and resulted in multiple deployments to China to support flight demonstrations of the prototypes to VIP and government officials. Christopher then joined Rocket Lab as a propulsion operations engineer. This switch of discipline from avionics to propulsion enabled Christopher to understand the intricacies of the Rutherford engine and how it interacts with the Electron vehicle. At Rocket Lab he has been involved in engine hotfire tests, vehicle tests, launch operations and anomaly investigations as a subject matter expert. He now leads the team of engineers responsible for the development of the Rutherford engine, from design through production and launch. When you watch the Electron launch from Mahia, you can see (and hear) his team’s hard work as it boosts to space.

Christopher Scott

Jackson Stent (2011) has signed with the Canterbury Rams in the New Zealand National Basketball League. Jackson attended St Andrew’s College until Year 10, then moved up to Westlake Boys’ High School under our Teacher in Charge of Basketball, Ben Eves. Jackson has been studying and playing within the basketball programme and coaching at Houston Baptist University.

Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson (2013) accepted the role of St Andrew’s College Ballet Academy Patron. Joshua is a role model of excellence for the Academy’s dancers. As part of the role, he will be co-choreographing a small portion of the new Company Ballet Syllabus with Dr Carolyn Cairns.

Harry Grigg (2014) won The Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards 2021, held in Frome, England, in December. This is a singing competition for young artists aged 22–30 inclusive, presenting a programme of Wishart and Handel.

Samuel Gilbert (2016) was named in the 2022 Highlanders rugby squad and Raymond Nu’u (2015) was named in the 2022 Melbourne Rebels squad at the end of 2021. Shilo Klein (2017) and Richie Mo’unga (2012) were both selected for the Crusaders squad.

Kelera Nawai-Caucau (2016) made her debut as Trident Homes Tactix player 69 in Round 1 of the 2022 ANZ Premiership. Kelera, who was born in Fiji, came to New Zealand on a scholarship to St Andrew’s in 2014. Her excellent season with the Pulse last year has led to her joining the Tactix.

Harrison Smith

Harrison Smith (2016) won the esteemed Gold Medal in Law for 2020 University of Canterbury graduates. Harrison studied at the University of Canterbury and after finishing his degree, moved to Auckland to work as a judges’ clerk at the Auckland High Court. This award has been presented to Canterbury graduates since 1883 and has been won by some very prestigious lawyers over the years. The Honourable Justice Moore presented Harrison with this award in Auckland.

Zack Rumble (2017) won three gold medals at the National Rowing Championships, including the Premier Coxless Four and Double Sculls, to receive his first ‘Red Coat’ presented to winners of a premier event at the nationals. Zack and Ben Taylor (2017) will be trialling for the U23 and Winter Training squads, and Thomas Russel (2017) will be trialling for the 2022 Rowing New Zealand World Cup team. Cameron McHugh (2016) is a professional singer and musician, who with his partner, recently opened a performing arts school, THESPA – the only school in Taranaki offering training in all aspects of performing arts. The new school attracted over 80 students in its first week. Cameron took Drama and Music at St Andrew’s and had leading roles in various productions, including playing an incredible Emcee in the 2016 Senior Production, Cabaret. In 2019, he graduated from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA), where he developed a strong passion for teaching and music direction, writing original music for two shows and accompanying many performances during his time there. After graduating, he went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Primary), as well as a certificate in vocal pedagogy and technique from New York City’s biggest vocal studio, New York Vocal Coaching. Cameron also runs his own music studio, Cameron McHugh Music, where he takes private vocal, piano, and theory lessons. Saxon Morgan (2018) won the Mini OxMan triathlon which took place in rural North Canterbury in December 2021.

Bella Ambrosius (2019) who is 2nd XI hockey coach at St Andrew’s, was invited to trial for the Black Sticks team.

Harrison Bradley (2019) gained a contract with the Australian Ballet, the largest and most prestigious classical ballet company in Australia.

Zak Foulkes (2020) made his debut for the Canterbury Wizards against Auckland in February.

Cameron McHugh

Harrison Bradley James Tavendale and Louie Murden (2020), and Emma Inglis (2021) were all medallists at the National Rowing Championships for the Avon Rowing Club.

Lose Faingaanuku (2021) made her debut as Trident Homes Tactix player 70 in Round 1 of the 2022 ANZ Premiership. Lose had a fantastic first game, after playing in the National Netball League while she was a Secondary School student at St Andrew’s.