Wednesday 29 April 2026
This past week has been a very important one in the life of the College. We have held three separate occasions to remember the brave service and sacrifice of our Anzacs, including those who were to war from King’s College or as young graduates. On Tuesday of last week, the whole school gathered in the Great Hall for our annual Anzac Day Observance Service.
Along with the opportunity to sing majestic hymns like I Vow to Thee My Country the students were privileged to hear from Old Collegian, Captain James Burt (Averill, 1991-95) who attended the College from 1991 through to 1996 and was part of Averill House. Captain Burt, is also a barrister and current parent, serves in the Royal New Zealand Navy Reserve, having joined the Reserve in 1997, and is currently posted as the Assistant Chief of Navy (Reserves). Captain Burt spoke candidly about the importance of defence in the current geo-political climate, and also gave the students insights the lessons learnt in the Navy, including some hair-raising stories of being rescued at sea.
Last Friday, we were also privileged to be able to host Old Collegian, Mel Abbott ( Middlemore, 1995-96) who also attended the College in the nineties, was back to share the research she had completed on her grandfather’s experience of being a pilot in a Lancaster bomber crew for the RAF, during World War Two. This is what one of our students who were present shared about what this learning opportunity meant to them:
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Finally on Saturday, the Old Collegian community gathered for the KCOCA Anzac Day Service held in the beloved Memorial Chapel. Celebrating the 101st year of the Chapel, we were honoured to have amongst us Old Collegian Emeritus Professor Dr Ian Civil (Parnell, 1966-70). Civil served in both the territorial and regular force, undertaking active service as part of Operation Desert Storm and was the Commanding Officer of the 1st NZ Army Medical team. After leaving his post he continued his dedication to trauma and vascular surgery, providing leadership at Auckland City Hospital, the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and more recently as Director of the NZ National Trama Network.
Dr Civil gave the Anzac Day address, speaking insightfully about the sense of call to ‘service and sacrifice’ that seemed to be an expectation that was fostered amongst young people growing up prior to World War One and Two. He spoke movingly of the kinds of service and sacrifice by the students who had gone from the College with this strong sense of doing that, something which motivates many in the defence forces even today: something that youngers generation would do well to aspire to, as they think about their future in building a civilised society.
Services This Weekend
This coming Sunday 3 May we are pleased to continue to offer two evening services at 6pm and 7.15pm respectively. At 6pm, we look forward to welcoming Peart and Marion Bruce House students and their families, and at 7.15pm we look forward to welcoming Old Collegians and their families to our second Quarterly Service of the year.
In both cases, we look forward to seeing you there, and also offering a light supper at the conclusion of the service.
Peace and grace to us all.
Reverend Gareth Walters, Mr Max Masters and Mr Antony Horacek-Glading