Here is an update on the recipients of The Otago Daily
Times Class Act 2002.
• Bayfield High School
Katie Schofield (25)
Is: Doing a master of physical education degree at the
University of Otago, looking at the adaptations that occur to
skeletal muscle and blood hormones after resistance training,
followed by a period of not training, in individuals who have
a parent or two with type 2 diabetes.
Also: Works part-time as a facilitator for a distance
learning paper, for the Southern Institute of Technology.
Schofield competed in the senior women's events at the
Oceania track and field meet in 2002, finishing second in the
200m and third in the 100m, but after a serious knee injury,
she gave up running and took up track cycling. At the NZ
Track Nationals last year, she was fourth in the sprints and
third in the 500m time trial.
Qualifications: Bachelor of physical education.
Bachelor of science in human nutrition.
Plans: To cycle internationally and to focus on
improving sport performance in elite athletes.
Jeremy Weir (24)
Is: In Wellington, working for IBM as an IT consultant
for Global Business Services, and at present working on the
Earthquake Commission account.
Qualifications: B Sc (Hons) computer science. BCom
accounting and economics.
Plans: To head overseas for a few years and possibly
work for a game development company before returning to New
Zealand and starting his own company.
• Blue Mountain College
Tameryn Botha (25)
Is: A flight attendant with Mount Cook Airline (Air
New Zealand link), based in Christchurch.
Was: Working for the Bank of New Zealand for four
years.
Plans: On eventually opening her own beachside cafe.
Levi McCall (25)
Is: An investment adviser with Craigs Investment Partners
(formerly ABN Amro Craigs) in Blenheim and studying to
complete the last two papers of the New Zealand Exchange
(NZX) diploma.
Qualifications: BCom (finance and economics). NZX
associate adviser.
Plans: To establish his career in Marlborough.
• Columba College
Fran Hackshaw (24)
Is: In the process of moving from Dunedin to Upper Hutt
with her partner and working on her MA thesis. She
specialises in Old Norse language and literature, and her
thesis is about the Icelandic Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (a
narrative about pre-Viking Age kings and their rivals).
Also: Has been involved in theatrical productions of
Old Norse, Old English and Middle English texts and in March
travelled to the University of Cambridge for a conference
with the topic, "Between the Islands: Interaction with
Vikings in Ireland and Britain".
Qualifications: Did a BA at Otago before completing
her Honours year at Victoria. GDip arts.
Plans: To complete her MA thesis, then head to Canada
to work on her PhD.
Sarah Noble (24)
Is: Assistant manager at Fish Fine Music, a classical
music retailer in the Sydney CBD, and an opera critic for NZ
Opera News and TheOperaCritic.com.
Qualifications: Bachelor of arts (majoring in English
and French).
Plans: Seeing and writing about as much opera as
possible (see separate story: Passion for opera traced to gesture of
love).
• Cromwell College
Jessica Ferris (24)
Is: Working for Athfield Architects, Wellington, on a
variety of projects from multistorey hotel/apartments to
college and university projects and waterfront developments.
Qualifications: Bachelor of architecture, first-class
honours.
Plans: To continue working in architecture, gaining
experience and registration, and to travel.
Matt Seeley (24)
Is: Living in Napier and working as a house surgeon at
Hawkes Bay Hospital.
Qualifications: MBChB.
Plans: To do otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat
surgery) and would like to spend more time working in Sweden,
where he went for his medical elective.
• Dunstan High School
Jenny Willyams (24)
Is: A solicitor at Ward Adams Bryan-Lamb in Invercargill,
practising mostly as a family lawyer.
Qualifications: LLB, BA (English). Admitted to the
bar.
Plans: To remain in Invercargill at this stage and to
travel for a couple of months at a time in the next couple of
years.
Joe Dobson (23)
Is: A builder with Stewart Construction in Dunedin,
having completed his apprenticeship in April. Last year, he
won the Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year
competition.
Also: Is captain of the St Kilda Surf Lifesaving Club.
Was: An officer cadet in the army for three months
before working as a bricklayer.
Qualifications: Certificate of building and
construction.
Plans: To study construction management, using a $7000
study grant he won as national apprentice of the year. Is
considering doing aid work in South America. Would eventually
like to have his own construction business.
• East Otago High School
Toni-Lee Carter (24)
Is: Deputy principal at Timaru Christian School.
Qualifications: Bachelor of primary teaching.
Plans: To stay in Timaru for a few years and later
would run a facility for pregnant teens and girls with eating
disorders or drug and alcohol problems.
Ben Young (23)
Is: In Auckland where he runs bwagy Ltd, his own company
which provides internet marketing advice to start-up
companies and general business advice.
Also: Wrote a book, The Best Ideas are Free, and has a
blog detailing his ideas on business and marketing, which is
republished on The New Zealand Herald website.
Qualifications: Bachelor of commerce in management and
marketing.
Plans: To publish two more books he has written, using
a portion of the sales as micro loans for entrepreneurs in
developing countries.
• Gore High School
Laura Johnstone (nee Crosbie) (24)
Is: In Lorneville, near Invercargill, studying for a
master of veterinary science degree at Massey University and
writing her thesis by correspondence. Johnstone is
researching how lolitrem B, a fungal toxin that is in many
New Zealand pastures, affects horses.
Was: In Palmerston North conducting trials for her
masters at Massey University. Last year, she worked as a vet
at the Canterbury Equine Clinic in Prebbleton, Christchuch.
Qualifications: BVSc with distinction.
Plans: To do further study in the United States to
gain experience in equine medicine.
Naomi Johnstone (24)
Is: In her final year of an LLB (Hons) at Otago but has
taken time off to travel and work. This included six months
with the United Nations doing post-tsunami and post-conflict
work in Indonesia, working for an international
conflict-prevention and analysis NGO in Sri Lanka for four
months, and a university exchange in Belgium.
Also: Travelled around New Zealand and the Philippines
for six months playing in high schools with a band she was
in. Recently returned from a peace-building and
reconciliation conference in Sri Lanka.
Qualifications: BA (linguistics and Maori).
Plans: To work in intercultural conflict resolution
and human rights, in New Zealand or overseas.
• John McGlashan College
Tim Walsh (25)
Is: Studying towards a bachelor of music in trombone
performance at the New Zealand School of Music's Victoria
University campus.
Also: Is a territorial in the central band of the
Royal New Zealand Air Force, performing public concerts and
turning out on parade for commemorations.
Has played bass trombone in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra
since 2006. Will play with the NZ School of Music brass
ensemble at the Melbourne International Brass Festival this
month.
Was: In the National Youth Brass Band when it went to
the United Kingdom in 2003. Worked at the University of Otago
School of Pharmacy as a research assistant between studies.
Was in the bands 'Koile and RFM; the latter released an album
and twice toured the country.
Qualifications: Bachelor of science (chemistry).
Diploma for graduates (music).
Plans: To finish work on a music release for the
summer, "left over" from RFM and his music study at Otago.
May study overseas when he finishes studying in Wellington.
Ultimately would like to combine playing in an orchestra with
freelance work, teaching or recording.
William Jones (25)
Is: Working on his parents' Middlemarch farm which has
beef cattle, and merino and Romney sheep.
Also: Is a keen hunter, having shot a 14-point stag
and numerous boars over 150lb (68kg).
Was: Working in dairy farming, deer farming and live
animal capture from helicopters.
Qualifications: Bachelor of commerce in agriculture.
Plans: To run and eventually own some of the family
farm, and to have a flock of superfine merino sheep.
