Waitaki Girls' High School

Ella Fraser

Waitaki Girls’ High School deputy head girl Ella Fraser hopes to become a sports physiotherapist.

It is the perfect career to combine two of her passions — sports and helping people.

Throughout her time at Waitaki Girls’, Ella has played netball, basketball and touch rugby, while also competing in athletics, swimming and multisport.

She is also the multisport representative on the school’s sports council and has coached a junior netball team and an Oamaru Intermediate School team for the past two years.

Her experiences with physios as an athlete made her want to join the profession.

"I have a really great physio, Nic, and she works with me really well, so she inspires me."

Ella also did work experience with her physio earlier this year, to get a taste of what the job is like.

She is also very inspired by her parents who she says are her role models.

"I know everyone says that, but it’s true. They’re very inspiring to me.

"My parents are both teachers, so they’re really passionate about helping people as well, and they both put others before themselves which I think is really inspiring."

Ella got to see her parents in action at Ardgowan School when she volunteered as classroom support.

Away from the sporting field, Ella has taken part in the 40-Hour Famine and has been a member of the Students Against Dangerous Driving and Well Being Committee at Waitaki Girls’, as well as receiving a Duke of Edinburgh bronze award.

She has also won the Emerging Female Talent award at the Network Waitaki Sports Awards in 2021, for her achievements the year prior.

Ella hopes to study health science at the University of Otago next year.

She is looking forward to studying "lots of subjects I enjoy, because I enjoy learning about the body".

"That helps because I have a passion for it."

Achievements

Deputy head girl (2025); NCEA level 2 endorsed with excellence (2024); 1st in maths and statistics (2024); Duke of Edinburgh bronze award (2025); senior B netball team (2023-24); senior A basketball team (2023); junior B basketball team (2022); senior A touch team (2021-25); Students Against Dangerous Driving member (2024); student council co- chair (2025).

Role models

My little sister and my parents.

Hopes for the future

To become a sports physiotherapist.

Sophie Rohrbach

Sophie Rohrbach is a people person.

She loves connecting with people, helping people and caring for people.

This has led to the Waitaki Girls’ High School head girl wanting to become a doctor.

"I’ve always wanted to be a doctor because I’m really interested in the health profession, and caring for people is something I’m really enticed by."

Her time at Waitaki Girls’, especially being head girl, has prepared her well for this career path. .

While she says it is "one of the bigger challenges" she has faced, Sophie has loved every second of it.

"It’s a lot to take on, on top of school work and other commitments.

"I don’t sit down a lot at lunch time. I’m often running around doing things, and sometimes I think, ‘oh, why did I do that to myself?’

"But it’s prepared me really well for anything to come, which outweighs the challenges.

"Being able to connect with so many people, plan different things, organise different things — it’s just really exciting."

Sophie began working at Southanjer Rest Home a couple of years ago and that experience offered a glimpse into what the health sector was like.

"I really enjoy getting to watch people, even though they’re not in the best state of health, still be happy and find their joy.

"The carers are a huge part in that.

"I don’t think that aged care is necessarily something I want to go into, but it did open me up to the idea of going into the healthcare profession because you’re with someone at their worst and you can help them try to get better."

She planned to study health sciences at the University of Otago next year and eventually go in to medicine.

Achievements

Head girl (2025); NCEA level 1 with excellence (2023); NCEA level 2 with merit (2024); Co-leader of Amnesty International (2024-25); Waitaki Way Consultation Group (2024); SISS Rowing Championships, gold medallist in U18 women’s novice coxed four (2022); New Zealand Rowing Championships, gold medallist in women’s intermediate coxed eight (2023); Sports blue for rowing (2024); Oamaru Rowing Club, club captain (2024-25).