The young people awarded Otago Daily Times Class Act awards
in 2003 are making the most of their opportunities. Photos
supplied. Photo of Scott Campbell by Emily Hlavac Green.
As the Otago Daily Times prepares to celebrate
another group of high-achieving high school pupils with Class
Act awards this week, Kim Dungey looks back at the class of
2003. It seems they want it all - from
successful careers to overseas travel. But they are also making
a contribution in myriad ways.
Otago's most talented young people are having a ball, mostly
in places other than Dunedin. They might return eventually
but only if there are suitable jobs.
In 2003, 57 high school pupils received Otago Daily
Times Class Act awards. Seven years on, we asked them to
comment on the Dunedin City Council campaign to lure former
Otago pupils and students home.
The council is building online databases, which alumni groups
will use to organise reunions and other events in the hope of
encouraging ex-pupils living abroad to become involved in the
region again.
Of the 57 young people recognised for excellence, fewer than
half are still in the Otago-Southland region.
Twelve are overseas and more than 20 others plan to join them
in the next few years.
University research opportunities and the presence of family
would be inducements for some to return but the small job
market would be a significant barrier.
Ed Heydon, who studied medicine in England and is now a house
officer there, says while Dunedin has much to offer certain
groups, such as students and families, there is a lack of
incentive for young professionals to stay.
Tiam Maghsodi, who manages a large cosmetics counter in
London, says Dunedin is a fantastic place in which to grow up
but there needs to be a "huge change" in the infrastructure,
including public transport.
Others such as Jamie Kearney say they will probably return to
New Zealand in several years' time but there is no incentive
to do so at the moment because they want to experience what
is on offer overseas. Jamie has worked on yachts in the south
of France and is now with a banking group in England.
When asked what could be done to encourage former students to
return, some suggested pay increases and cheaper flights from
Dunedin to other main centres. One advocated "getting rid of
the terrible mayor and having a democratic city council",
while another said the climate would have to improve.
Rosslyn Knox, who works for a natural health product
manufacturer in Te Puke, adds people like her would return
sooner if there was more confidence that Dunedin businesses
would remain and develop, but a smaller, more isolated city
may be hardest-hit by restructuring.
Everyone wants to be involved with a success story, she adds,
"so stories of successful Dunedin businesses would attract
more people back to the area".
Seven years after it was touted as the cream of the crop, the
class of 2003 is a success story in its own right. Among
those achieving in a wide range of areas are commercial pilot
Nick Hoffman, composer Andrew Baldwin, Tim Muller, who is
doing volunteer work in India, and Tania Ashby, who is a
professional dancer in Mexico.
Closer to home, Jenna Mitchell owns a Subway restaurant and
Mario Leoni, one of five teachers in the cohort, juggles
classroom duties with nights as a DJ.
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