Philanthropy

The Committee of the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association has always been a strong advocate of supporting the school, its pupils and alumnae in the most generous way it can. Our first committee set it out very clearly in the Constitution.

3.1 The primary objects of the Association shall be: 3.1.1 to promote the interests of the School; 3.1.2 to leave a lasting and permanent legacy for Old Girls; 3.1.3 to promote good fellowship amongst Old Girls of the School by reunions, sports, educational events, social functions or any other form of activity the Association sees fit; 3.1.4 to offer such scholarships, bursaries or exhibition to girls at the School or Old Girls, as funds permit; 3.1.5 to make donations towards School activities, and improvements of the buildings and grounds of the School as the Association sees fit;

Over the 95 years of its existence, through prudent and wise investments from our treasurers and accountants, the capital base of Life Membership funds, legacies, fund-raising and donations has been built up to enable the Association to grant a variety of scholarships, bursaries, exhibitions and donations to a large number of recipients, both in the School and community.

Two very special funds are named for their benefactors – The Gibson Webb Exhibitions and the Alison Kay Sports Awards. Rather than a donation to one cause, the Association chose to invest and grow these bequests using the interest to

1940s Boarders

benefit many girls. This way, we are also able to honour and remember the donors every year.

The Gibson/Webb Exhibitions are named after the Gibson sisters who founded Rangi Ruru, and Betty Webb, a past President and Patron of the Old Girls’ Association. These are awarded each year by the Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association to direct descendants of Old Girls in their senior year at Rangi who show outstanding endeavour and citizenship. These are girls who have maintained a sound level of academic achievement, and also demonstrated qualities that make the school and the community a better place in which to live. These qualities might include courtesy, reliability, persistence, sensitivity to the needs of others, as well as strengths in academic, sporting or cultural areas.

Alison Kay Sports Award Alison Margaret Kay attended Rangi Ruru from 1930 to 1939 as a boarder from Little Akaloa. She was very much a sportswoman enjoying netball, lifesaving and tennis while at school and continuing to play tennis for many years afterwards. Alison served on the committee of the Old Girls’ Association from 1957 until 1962. The Association was indeed honoured to receive a generous legacy after her death in 2016. After consultation with Alison’s brother, David, the committee at the time decided to invest the legacy and to use the proceeds to assist present or past girls in their sporting pursuits at an elite level. This assistance would be offered annually, upon application to the committee of the Old Girls’ Association. Since 2017, awards have been given to several individuals and also to the school’s SOAR programme.