Academic accolades

A year of academic success was celebrated at the Marlborough Girls' College hall last night by students, staff, family and friends.

Alison Faulls was named school dux and Amber Woolf was the proxime accessit.

Principal Karen Stewart said the night was "a time of endings and goodbyes, of beginnings and new challenges" for the year 13 students who finish their schooling this year.

"I know that you are ready to take the next step in life, to take responsibility for yourselves and to face whatever life throws at you," she said.

The school had at least 17 students this term who had received scholarships from the universities they had enrolled at, she said.

The students were also "contributing positively" to the community and the world. She mentioned the charity fundraising they had done during the year.

They had raised more than $30,000 for organisations including the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake appeal, World Vision and the Japan earthquake appeal, she said.

Ms Stewart encouraged the girls to "look for opportunities to succeed" and "to never be one of the masses just agreeing for the sake of it".

"You have so much to give and so much potential. Remember we are proud of you."

The college sporting and cultural prizegiving was held in September.

PRIZE WINNERS The full college prize list will be published tomorrow.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 08:01 08/11/2011

Alison Faulls and Amber Wolf

Drink-driving cases in court

Drink-driving cases in the Blenheim District Court yesterday were:

Vaclav Jendrejek, 27, a seasonal worker from Riversdale, admitted driving on Budge St, Blenheim, on October 19 with an excess breath alcohol level of 971mcg per litre. He was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

Anthony George Heyrick, 49, a manager from Waikawa, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level for the third or more time. He was stopped for speeding on October 12 with 688mcg per litre of breath. He will be sentenced on December 19.

Marion Edith Clifford, 59, from Burleigh, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 641 mcg per litre of breath on October 7. She was disqualified from driving for six months.

Matthew Perepe Le-Noel, 18, unemployed from Renwick, admitted driving driving while disqualified and with an under-20 excess breath alcohol level of 238mcg on October 21. He was disqualified from driving for nine months and ordered to complete 60 hours community work.

Jonathan Brian Mason, 19, a fisheries worker from Nelson, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 462 mcg on October 9. He was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Bridget Yvonne Burridge, 19, from Blenheim, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 400 mcg on October 9. She was disqualified from driving for three months.

Christian Wilkinson Bailey, 17, a landscape gardener from Riversdale, admitted damaging a street sign at the corner of Henry St and George St on October 29. He was ordered to pay reparation of $177, as were two co-defendants. He was also fined $150.

Lewis William Chapman, 20, a brewery worker from Blenheim, admitted driving while disqualified for the third time or more on October 8. He will be sentenced on November 28.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:05 08/11/2011

Dynamic duo take dux

Two Marlborough Boys' College students were named dux at the school's end-of-year prizegiving today, something which has not happened since 1978.

According to the boards of previous winners hanging in the school hall, it was the fifth time since 1922.

Matthew Curnow and Paul Dey were both given the top honours at the afternoon ceremony which celebrated a year of academic, sporting and cultural achievement.

The pair say they are good friends and have worked together in their duties in the library.

Matthew is head librarian and academic prefect while Paul was one of the deputy head librarians.

Both also have big plans for their futures.

Paul has enrolled to study architecture at Victoria University in Wellington.

''I enjoy it in terms of design and thinking processes.''

Meanwhile, Matthew plans to study either computer engineering or computer science at the University of Canterbury.

Since he started college in year 9 Matthew said he had made a lot of friends and that it would be a weird feeling to not come back to the college next year.

''I know a lot of people very well now and it will be sad to see some of them going to the North Island and some going to Canterbury.''

Head boy Luka Velebit said in his speech the year 13 leavers had ''started school as strangers and are leaving as a brotherhood''.

Year 12 student Jack Keown was also named head boy for 2012.

Principal Wayne Hegarty said his highlight of the year was watching the students achieve in all areas.

He was pleased with the overall improvement in the 2010 NCEA results compared with previous years.

However, he expected this year's results to be even better.

All departments have been expected to support students in studying for their merit and excellence marks in their exams, he said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:21 08/11/2011

BEN CURRAN

Double act: Marlborough Boys' College students Paul Dey and Matthew Curnow were both named dux of the school.

Bride lures groom to secret wedding

David Shoemark would ask his partner Cherie Butler most days to marry him.

"One day," she always replied.

That day arrived yesterday when Miss Butler and a small group of their family and friends gathered in secret at Pollard Park in Blenheim to surprise Mr Shoemark with the wedding he was so eager to have.

Standing patiently in a black and white wedding dress, Miss Butler waited for her groom, who thought he was on his way to a family picnic.

He had been successfully distracted by a fishing trip to Seddon during the morning, but said he realised something was going on as he got to the park. Walking along the path, a few people were taking photos of him and he spotted a few faces he was not expecting to see.

"They stitched me up well and truly."

The couple were married by marriage celebrant Jenny Andrews in the rhododendron garden in the park with a bridesmaid and best man at their sides.

They were joined by about 40 family and friends, including some who had travelled from other parts of the country.

A short ceremony was followed by the signing of the register and a wedding reception at the Blenheim Bowling Club.

Miss Butler – now Mrs Shoemark – began planning the wedding about a month ago and was confident she could keep it a secret, although there was potential for a leak at a family birthday party the night before.

Mr Shoemark's mum Irene said the wedding was "always on the cards" for the couple, who have been together for three years.

"It was just a matter of planning," she said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 31/10/2011

BEN CURRAN

THEY DID: Cherie and David Shoemark are married at a surprise wedding yesterday among family and friends at Pollard Park, in Blenheim.

Havelock School marks 150th

The Havelock School hall turned into a museum on Saturday as the normally plain brown walls were adorned with photos and stories from the school's 150-year history.

About 200 former students gathered at the school at the weekend to celebrate its 150th jubilee and reminisce about their time at the school.

Among those was former teacher Naome Mead who, despite teaching at the school for only a term in 1947, was remembered by many pupils.

Mrs Mead became a teacher after finishing teachers college in 1945 and her early career was spent as a reliever at some sole-charge schools.

Before starting at Havelock School she had completed short stints at Tuamarina, Onamalutu, Deep Creek and then Kekerengu and Wairau Valley, where she taught for about three years.

"The jobs [at those schools] were being kept open for the men coming back from the war," she said.

She did not mind the travelling life, though – in fact, she quite liked it.

"It's all right when you're young, living out of a suitcase. I had a nice time. I got to know a lot of people."

Later in her 10-year on-and-off-again career she was teaching in the Hutt Valley in the North Island, but disliked it.

"I'm a country mouse, not a town mouse."

At Havelock School, which was further along Main Rd from where it is now, she taught standard 1-3 (year 3-5) and said her students were always well behaved.

The threat of the strap or cane was hardly ever used – and besides, it was going out of fashion by then, she said.

Nola Harwood was one of those who remembered Mrs Mead as her teacher and learning how to darn socks, sew and embroider.

One of her first memories of school was being "mortified" at being late on her first day. Her mother walked her to school that day and spent so long telling people her daughter was starting school that they arrived after the bell rang.

Many of her other memories happened outside school hours.

"We didn't have pocket money so when people used to go clay bird shooting over the mud flats we would go pick up the ones they missed and get a penny for each of them."

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:50 31/10/2011

Last updated 11:05 31/10/2011

A plaque dedicated to former Headmaster, William Moore is unveiled by Todd Benseman 13, Hugo Rose 6, Jack Rose 11, Beth Newman (teacher), Gill Newman and principal Simon Heath

Last updated 11:05 31/10/2011

Leatrice Leslie cuts the jubilee cake with her great granddaughter Jorja Hoquart, 5.