Dan Keno (38) has returned to his home town and his alma mater, this time to do his bit to help shape the future men of the district. Hamish MacLean caught up with the new boarding manager at Waitaki Boys' High School this week.
You served with New Zealand Police for 17 years, most recently as a detective senior sergeant in Greymouth. What has brought you back to Oamaru?
We've got quite strong family ties here in Oamaru.
My wife Anna's got a business here that's doing well. For me to go any further in police would have probably involved another move, probably further north and we weren't prepared to do that with the young kids (Sam (11), Grace (10), Jada-Rose (9) and Eva (7).
I'd heard about what was going on with the school and thought it would be an ideal opportunity to come back and give a bit back to a place that gave a lot to me.
I just think Oamaru's really thriving at the moment.
I obviously grew up here and you go back through town.
There are so many new faces and new businesses and young, keen, excited people working around town.
It's just a really positive vibe.
It's good to be back.
Are there any similarities between being a detective and a boarding manager?
It's still early days, but ... in terms of that sort of day-to-day or pastoral care of boys ... you need to be firm, and probably being in the police has helped with having to make some of those hard decisions, sometimes.
But a lot of them, you've got to be sort of parents to them.
It's a fine line around being the disciplinarian and being the parent for them, as well.
Will the types of people you deal with on a day-to-day basis be totally different?
I feel a whole lot more relaxed if I have to go and tell a boy off for not picking up rubbish rather than [detective work].
There's certainly some benefits there.
And they are definitely pretty keen to listen at the moment, so that's good.
What are your strongest, or best memories of Waitaki Boys' High School?
My fondest memories really are of the people I met, the teachers that we had.
But also as you grow a little bit older you realise that a lot of the traditions and values ... while you may not realise it at the time, they hold you in quite good stead as you grow up and move through life.
I think Oamaru is lucky.
This school in particular has a really strong old boys network and they are really involved in and embedded in the day-to-day life at the school and they share their knowledge and passions.
That's a huge part of where I've got to and lots of my friends are the same.
What do you hope to accomplish as a boarding manager?
Obviously, I've followed what's been happening at the school over the last year or so with a keen interest and I think at the moment it is in a really positive place.
And for me it's quite exciting for me to be part of that next stage, where Waitaki Boys' is heading.
The hostel is founded on those old Waitaki morals and standards and it's probably making sure that we are future-proofing those and keeping them current.
In the digital age so much has changed, but so much of what has happened in the past is still relevant.
The hostel is really the heart of the school, or I would like to make it that.
The boys at the hostel really set the standard for the school.
What are some of the big changes around Oamaru since you were a young man?
I think young people are a lot more mobile.
In our days, if we got together we would be at a friend's place.
Sort of around town.
Now, people tend to be able to get to go a bit further afield.
A lot of sport is played in Dunedin or Timaru, whereas we played locally.
I think lots of time away together is a good opportunity for young people to bond.
I think there's the same opportunities in Oamaru for kids, probably more.
There's lots of keen and clever people around and they are not afraid to offer their advice and services to people.
Are you going to miss anything about the West Coast?
We loved our time there.
I know people always talk about the West Coast weather and when it rains it really does rain.
You can't see a couple of feet in front of you some days.
On a beautiful day you can't beat the West Coast.
But I'm really looking forward to it in Oamaru. It's a really exciting time for Waitaki Boys', this rebuilding phase, coming out the other side.
