Charlie de Woeps
Charlie de Woeps
Sad songs say so much about the human condition.
That’s why Kaikorai Valley College country music singer Charlie de Woeps finds them so therapeutic to sing.
The 17-year-old had a rough time growing up, and playing guitar and singing was a major factor in getting him through it.
"Country music got me out of a very dark place.
"I was not in a very good head space, and the only way my parents could get me to go to school was by promising me music lessons.
"I’d always loved music and I’d always wanted to be a musician.
"It was a way for me to focus. I would say to myself, ‘if I get through school today, I get to do music when I get home’."
Charlie says he still uses some of those difficult feelings to create emotion in his musical performances.
That emotion has won him many country music awards, including the Gold Guitars Freeze Ya Bits Off open busking competition in 2019 and 2021, three highly commended awards at the Gold Guitars this year, and the vocal solo award at the Country Music Dunedin Awards last year.
He has also proven to have a sharp ear in music production, and has been a sound engineer for many school and community events, including the Silver Peaks Country Music Club.
Charlie likes to balance the dust and dirt of country music with time at the beach as a surf life guard.
He is a qualified surf life-saver and last year he won three medals at the South Island Surf Life-Saving Championships.
Next year he plans to study music and technology at the University of Otago in pursuit of a career as a professional country singer and sound engineer.
Achievements: NCEA level 1 and 2; 1st Gold Guitars Freeze Ya Bits Off open busking competition (2019, 2021); Gold Guitar vocal solo finalist (2019); three highly commended awards at Gold Guitars (2021); Country Music Dunedin Awards vocal solo winner (2020); Hands on Otago music production (2021); NZQA Certificate in entertainment and event operations level 3 (2020); Brathwaite Centre production sound engineer (2019, 2020); Silver Peaks Country Music Club volunteer sound engineer (2021); SLS regional lifeguard (2020-21); qualified volunteer surf lifeguard (2018-21); three silver medals at South Island SLS Championships (2020); SLS
Intermediate Life Guard School (2020); SLS IRB drivers award (2020); SLS board and rock rescue qualification (2019-20); Brighton SLS Club most dedicated lifeguard (2018), most promising lifeguard (2019); school contribution to surf life-saving award (2019, 2020); SLS first aid level 2 (2020); NZQA health and safety level 1, 2 & 3 (2020-21); school water polo team (2015-21); Judo green belt (2019); Taekwondo blue belt (2020); junior judo assistant coach (2018-21); Student Volunteer Army bronze award (2021); Future Student Pacific Leadership Programme (2021); cultural leader (2021); peer support leader (2021); breakfast club (2021).
Role model: Dunedin country singer Bevan Gardiner.
Hopes for the future: To study performance and technology at the University of Otago.
Lachlan Colquhoun
Lachlan Colquhoun
It is not about how good you are — it is about how badly you want it.
Kaikorai Valley College head boy Lachlan Colquhoun says it is a philosophy that has driven him to achieve at far higher levels than he thought possible.
"When I was younger, I wasn’t really that flash at sports, but I kept trying my best."
In recent years, the 17-year-old has found his determination to succeed and be the best, has started to pay dividends.
"I guess in the end, it paid off."
Lachlan is in the Otago Sports Academy for hockey and handball this year, and he has been a member of the Otago under-18, under-21, under-23 and Otago men’s handball teams, the Otago men’s beach handball team, the Otago under-15 and under-18 hockey teams, and the New Zealand Handball Federation under-19 National Handball Tournament All-Stars team.
Over the past three years, he has been passing on his inspired approach while coaching the Otago hockey under-13 and under-15 goalies, as well as the Otago Boys’ High School junior handball team.
Eventually, Lachlan hopes to become a member of the New Zealand Black Sticks hockey team or the New Zealand handball team — or both.
After much he has progressed with his determined attitude, he believes he will one day represent New Zealand.
"It’s not just a dream — it’s possible."
He says his philosophy also holds true in the classroom.
Last year, after receiving NCEA level 1 with merit, he decided he wanted to take it one step further, and focused on achieving NCEA level 2 with excellence.
His strong desire for success resulted in him achieving the endorsement.
Next year, he plans to study health sciences at the University of Otago.
Achievements: Head boy (2021); NCEA level 1 with merit, level 2 with excellence; Otago Sports Academy for hockey and handball (2021); Otago handball U18 (2019-2021), U21 (2019), U23 (2021), men’s (2021); Otago hockey U15 (2017-2018), U18 (2019- 2021); Otago junior handball MVP (2020); Otago men’s beach handball team (2021); Otago hockey U13 and U15 goalie coach (2019-2021); Otago hockey U18 most valuable goal keeper (2020); University Panthers premier hockey team MVP (2020); Taieri College hockey team (2019, 2020); NZHF national handball tournament U19 All Stars team (2019); NZHF U18 training camp (2020); school handball team captain (2021); Otago Boys’ High School junior handball coach (2020, 2021); sports Blues for handball and hockey (2019, 2020); school sports person of the year (2020); peer support (2021); Breakfast Club (2021); school kapa haka (2021).
Role model: High performing sportspeople, because they show that dedication pays off.
Hopes for the future: To study health sciences at the University of Otago.
