Tarryn Hutchins
Tarryn Hutchins
Sometimes the best laid plans can fall apart. But when they do, they can often open doors to new opportunities.
Gore High School head girl Tarryn Hutchins was due to go on a student exchange to the United States in August last year, and in preparation, she focused on her studies during year 12, so she could gain NCEA level 3 before she left.
She was delighted when she passed the qualification, but it became clear the Covid-19 pandemic would prevent her from going on the exchange.
While she was disappointed, she found that returning to school this year gave her an opportunity to aim for an excellence endorsement in NCEA level 3 (which she has now achieved), as well as spend more time doing things to make life better for her fellow pupils — particularly following the Covid disruptions the previous year.
During this time, Tarryn became more aware of the importance of mental health and the effects it can have on pupils and families, and decided to put her passion for humanitarianism to use.
"I created mental health awareness posters and put them up in all the school bathrooms, and contacted the Mental Health Foundation so that Gore High School pupils could get extra support.
"I realised people were being affected by it — people close to me. I just wanted people to think about it and get that extra support out there."
Tarryn has also spent time this year helping to organise the Prefects’ Variety Concert, the school ball, the Bee Kind Campaign and many other school and community projects.
In her spare time, Tarryn has a passion for designing and creating award-winning fashion garments.
"From the skills I have gained in fabric technology, I was able to adapt these into a garment that won awards at both the Hokonui Fashion Awards and the HETTANZ Awards."
Next year, Tarryn plans to combine overseas travel (Covid permitting) with study at Otago Polytechnic.
"I want to go out and see the world and explore different cultures.
"That will help me decide what career path to follow. It’s a difficult decision."
Achievements: Head girl (2021); NCEA level 1 and 2 with excellence; NCEA level 3 (2020); 1st in hospitality (2020); Hokonui Fashion Awards highly commended (2019); HETTANZ excellence award (2019); Prefects’ Variety Concert co-organiser (2021); school ball committee leader (2021); student council (2017-21), leader (2020); year 9 camp mentor (2021), year 10 camp mentor (2020); school cafe volunteer (2019-20); Hokonui Militaires and under-16 marching teams leader (2019); Eastern U15 netball team (2019); Gore Trampoline Club coach (2018-20); school senior B netball (2019-21), captain (2021); Hot Shots Longford netball coach (2019); netball umpire (2017-19); Spirit of Adventure (2021).
Role model: My sisters.
Hopes for the future: To make the most of all opportunities and see the world with my own eyes.
Libby McChlery
Libby McChlery
Just as well Libby McChlery is a fast runner.
The 18-year-old Gore High School deputy head girl has a lot of places to be during her busy days.
Libby has been the school’s age-group athletics and crosscountry champion for the past five years, and has won the Southland Secondary Schools Athletics Championships 100m, 200m, 400m and long jump events.
She has also represented Gore High School at the South Island Secondary School Athletics Championships in the 100m and 200m events.
Her success in athletics gained her significant recognition in the community and she was named the Gore Athletics Club’s most promising athlete in 2018, and was a nominee for the Gore Youth Awards Outstanding Youth Champion Award in 2019.
Somehow, Libby finds time to play for the school’s netball and basketball teams.
She says her time management has come in handy over the years as she has tried to cover all of her responsibilities as deputy head girl, school council member, school ball committee member, Students Against Dangerous Driving committee member, prefect, and year 9 and 10 camp leaders.
As a leader in her school, Libby says she has always tried to foster the qualities of Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in her fellow pupils.
"Freddie Mercury is my role model, because he was authentic and he was never afraid to be creative and show difference to the world."
It is also a quality she will take with her into her career as an occupational therapist, working with people who have mental and physical disabilities.
Achievements: Deputy head girl (2021); NCEA levels 1 and 2 with excellence (2019, 2020); 1st equal in history (2019); school girls age-group athletics champion (2017-21); school girls crosscountry champion (2017-21); 1st Southland Secondary School Athletics Championships 100m, 200m (2017, 2018, 2019), 1st 400m (2018), 2nd 100m and 200m (2019), 1st in long jump (2020), 2nd 200m and 3rd long jump (2021); South Island Secondary School Athletics Championships 100m and 200m competitor (2018); Gore Athletics Club most promising athlete (2018); Gore Youth Awards Outstanding Youth Champion Award nominee (2019); school netball team (2017, 2018, 2020), MVP (2018); 4th South Island year 9-10 mixed netball team tournament (2018); girls senior A basketball team (2021); school council (2019); school ball committee (2021); SADD committee (2021); year 10 camp leader (2020); year 9 camp leader (2021).
Role model: "Freddie Mercury, because he was authentic and he was never afraid to be creative and show difference to the world."
Hopes for the future: To study occupational therapy at Otago Polytechnic and work with people who have mental and physical disabilities.
