Athletics, business breakfast, prize giving, swimming and singing - and a wee bit of socialising
My week was a bit of a whirlwind affair with a few community events and activities for me. I attended the Central Otago Primary School Athletics Championships on Tuesday with the 54 strong Goldfields Team.
This is a fantastic event run by COPSSA (Central Otago Primary Schools Sport Association). The Terrace School in Alexandra take the lead role in the organisation of the athletics day, which is held at Molyneux Park. Each school takes responsibility for managing an event and we have the amazing Mrs Simmers from Goldfields on the long jump every year. We are very grateful that even though she has moved into semi retirement, she still agreed to come and play in the sand pit this year. Athletics day is a huge organisational effort with schools from Queenstown, Wanaka and throughout Central Otago sending students aged 8-13 along to compete.
It is a really big day for the kids and much of the job of the teachers in attendance is keeping everyone calm, trying to keep tabs on where everyone is across the events and the venue and ensuring that everyone makes it to their events. We have lots of nervous, slightly lost kids all day - particularly our 8 year olds at their first Central Otago Athletics event. We all go home shattered!
Next on the cards was the Cromwell Business Breakfast on Wednesday morning. This was a first for me - I've spent my career in education and quite often these areas don't mix. I decided it was important in my new role on the Community Board to make some connections with the Cromwell business community. My lovely bloke is a Cromwell business owner - he's not quite made time to get to the monthly breakfast gatherings - he's a bit suspicious about what it's all about, maybe I'll convince him to get along and participate.
I really enjoyed the meeting, there was a great atmosphere. I met new people, had a yummy breakfast and learnt some new stuff. I am looking forward to the next one that is being held at the newly renovated Golden Gate Lodge in December.
Thursday night brought the Cromwell College Senior Prize giving. Lummox no.3 is Year 11, so in the youngest age group for senior prize giving. He received an award for his achievement in rugby - but he's not been putting in the level of effort required to receive any academic awards this year. He is fully aware of the links between respectful behaviour, work ethic and positive results and is a bright and capable student, he was still a bit disappointed - ah well onto exams!
I really enjoy seeing the celebration of the Year 13 students. In a small community we have all known these kids forever and it is great seeing them heading off to the next adventure. I loved the community speaker Jim Hugh's final comment 'You will all amount to something' - he recounted his own experience of the Principal as he left school telling him 'You'll never amount to anything.' It is important that our kids know there are multiple pathways to success - and no one way into adulthood is necessarily more valuable than another.
The next big event for me was the Cromwell Swim club annual meet - The Otago Spring Carnival, held on Saturday 5th November. This is a big day for our little club. We had 180 swimmers from 18 clubs from Southland, Otago and South Canterbury, 18 key officials, 18 timekeepers, 2 marshalls; and coaches, team managers and parents supporting their swimmers. Our youngest swimmer was aged 7 and the oldest 27. It was a busy place to be.
I've stepped down from the club president role and it was great seeing our new president Gareth King taking this on. He's done a great job of rallying the committee and ensuring all the competitors, officials and supporters were welcomed to our town. He didn't however take up the challenge of singing the National Anthem (A tradition to open our meet), the mic was still handed over to me for that job. It is the most nerve wracking thing I do each year. I usually shake uncontrollably as I sing - this year I managed to keep that under control. Must have been all the practice in the shower - visualising myself standing at the pool singing to the crowd.
We are really lucky to have friends of the committee Marie Holden and Mike Patton continue their involvement in organising the Spring Carnival. They use their amazing knowledge and contacts to ensure it is a fantastic event every year. We just hope they don't disappear or fall off the planet any time soon - we need to keep on tapping that expertise.
After a big event a debrief is always in order. We headed to the hospitality of the Bannockburn Hotel for Quartz Reef bubbles, chips and a few too many beverages. We had kids making best use of the great outdoor space and the stayers who don't know when to go home keeping the bar staff entertained. Today has been a wee bit slow.
Tomorrow is the start of another big week. The first Cromwell Community Board meeting for our new board is being held tomorrow afternoon. I will spend the rest of my evening re reading the documents. Looking forward to getting round the Board table and getting on with the job.
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| The start of the Year 6 boys 800m race. Goldfields boys were first and second in this event - awesome result! |
It is a really big day for the kids and much of the job of the teachers in attendance is keeping everyone calm, trying to keep tabs on where everyone is across the events and the venue and ensuring that everyone makes it to their events. We have lots of nervous, slightly lost kids all day - particularly our 8 year olds at their first Central Otago Athletics event. We all go home shattered!
Next on the cards was the Cromwell Business Breakfast on Wednesday morning. This was a first for me - I've spent my career in education and quite often these areas don't mix. I decided it was important in my new role on the Community Board to make some connections with the Cromwell business community. My lovely bloke is a Cromwell business owner - he's not quite made time to get to the monthly breakfast gatherings - he's a bit suspicious about what it's all about, maybe I'll convince him to get along and participate.
 |
| Glenys Ker addressing the Cromwell Business Breakfast at the Bannockburn Hotel on Wednesday morning |
Thursday night brought the Cromwell College Senior Prize giving. Lummox no.3 is Year 11, so in the youngest age group for senior prize giving. He received an award for his achievement in rugby - but he's not been putting in the level of effort required to receive any academic awards this year. He is fully aware of the links between respectful behaviour, work ethic and positive results and is a bright and capable student, he was still a bit disappointed - ah well onto exams!
I really enjoy seeing the celebration of the Year 13 students. In a small community we have all known these kids forever and it is great seeing them heading off to the next adventure. I loved the community speaker Jim Hugh's final comment 'You will all amount to something' - he recounted his own experience of the Principal as he left school telling him 'You'll never amount to anything.' It is important that our kids know there are multiple pathways to success - and no one way into adulthood is necessarily more valuable than another.
The next big event for me was the Cromwell Swim club annual meet - The Otago Spring Carnival, held on Saturday 5th November. This is a big day for our little club. We had 180 swimmers from 18 clubs from Southland, Otago and South Canterbury, 18 key officials, 18 timekeepers, 2 marshalls; and coaches, team managers and parents supporting their swimmers. Our youngest swimmer was aged 7 and the oldest 27. It was a busy place to be.
I've stepped down from the club president role and it was great seeing our new president Gareth King taking this on. He's done a great job of rallying the committee and ensuring all the competitors, officials and supporters were welcomed to our town. He didn't however take up the challenge of singing the National Anthem (A tradition to open our meet), the mic was still handed over to me for that job. It is the most nerve wracking thing I do each year. I usually shake uncontrollably as I sing - this year I managed to keep that under control. Must have been all the practice in the shower - visualising myself standing at the pool singing to the crowd.
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| Lummox no.2 AKA Jack receiving his cash for winning the 15&over Roaring Meg relay with team mate Caitlin |
After a big event a debrief is always in order. We headed to the hospitality of the Bannockburn Hotel for Quartz Reef bubbles, chips and a few too many beverages. We had kids making best use of the great outdoor space and the stayers who don't know when to go home keeping the bar staff entertained. Today has been a wee bit slow.
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| The 'old enough to know better, should have gone home 2 hours ago' crew |
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