Annalee Black
Annalee Black
Roxburgh Area School’s Annalee Black plans on using her love of sport to inspire others.
The sporty 18-year-old grew up with four brothers — three older and one younger — in Roxburgh, where the family moved from Blenheim when she was 2 years old. They ran a small beef farm there and a large dairy farm in Southland.
Playing sport was not really even optional, she said.
"My whole family’s very sporty — my mum’s nephew is [Highlanders captain] James Lentjes.
"All my brothers played sports, my parents played sports, it’s encouraged in my family."
Annalee started playing Rippa rugby before taking up netball about 10 years ago. She became a coach last year and took up basketball in year 10.
For the past three years she had been the only girl on the school’s team.
"It’s good because I learnt a lot more at a lot faster pace, because when you’re against boys they’re a lot rougher ... But I’m really lucky with the team I have, how supportive they are ... they’re really inclusive."
The netball goal defender and A team captain had also discovered a newfound love for coaching her younger peers.
"My goal with coaching is just to make them enjoy it, because if they didn’t show up to practice, they wouldn’t learn anything.
"My whole thing was as long as they all play netball next year, then I’ve done my job as a coach."
It is that sort of thinking that has led Annalee to the University of Otago next year, to attend PE School, though at present she is keeping her options open about long-term plans.
"I’ve always had really good role models in my life that have been teachers, so I want to be a teacher as well, or something to do with helping youth.
"I’m going to feel it out next year and see where I want to go."
Achievements: Student council leader, PB4L leader, Enviroschools leader, Netball A team captain, years 7 and 8 netball coach (2021); NCEA level 2 overall excellence endorsement, Outward Bound Mind, Body and Soul course, Netball A team best all-round player, South Island Secondary Schools talented player list; Steps Steel Accelerator programme, joint top sportsperson, athletics champion, Pringle Trophy winner, years 5 and 6 netball coach, Pioneer Science scholarship (2020); NCEA level 1 excellence endorsement (2019); top scholar (2017-20); Netball A team player (2018-21); Marine Science Camp (2018, 2019).
Role Model: Jenny Wilson, Roxburgh Area School teacher.
Hopes for the future: A high school PE teacher, or going down the track of a counsellor.
Georgia Buchan
Georgia Buchan
Georgia Buchan is more comfortable than most on stage, but her future lies behind the scenes.
The 17-year-old Roxburgh Area School head pupil plans to forge a career as a make-up artist for films, TV and fashion.
Her first step is studying for a degree in beauty therapy at Otago Polytechnic, in Dunedin, beginning next year.
"I’m really looking forward to it ... it’ll be good to start something new."
While she had an early interest in science, attending a Marine Biology Science Camp in 2018 and the following year attended a Deep Thought biology programme and won a Pioneer Science scholarship, her creative side won out when it came to choosing a career.
A promising artist, whose work was selected for last year’s Teviot Valley Heritage brochure, she also intends to continue dancing.
Starting with jazz when she was a 4-year-old, Georgia switched to contemporary dance two years ago, travelling from Roxburgh to Wanaka every week for classes and competitions.
Last year, she achieved 94.5% in her level 8 exam, and was awarded best overall dancer for her class.
In Dunedin, Georgia intends to continue dancing to complete her contemporary curriculum next year, and also hopes to model for a third time in the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.
She would be bringing her beloved acoustic guitar with her, contemplating turning up at some open mic nights.
The lead guitarist in her school jazz/rock band for the past two years first started plucking strings as an 8-year-old.
"A family friend started playing guitar and was really good at it.
"I looked up to him and thought, ‘I want to start doing that’, so I started going to lessons, got my first guitar and never stopped."
Georgia said while entering the beauty therapy and make-up industry was "a little bit different to everything I’ve done", it was her "dream job".
Achievements: Roxburgh Area School head pupil, Southern Area Schools Tournament artwork designer, board of trustees student representative, Sticks’n Stones committee leader, Southern Area Schools Tournament (touch rugby, soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton) (2021); school jazz/rock band lead guitarist, Benger House co-captain (2020-21); Hokonui Fashion Design Awards model (2021, 2019); Akaroa Leadership Camp, NCEA level 2 excellence endorsement, contemporary dance level 8 high honours, Dance Wanaka best overall dancer (contemporary Level 8), Teviot Valley Heritage brochure artwork, Akaroa Leadership Camp, Pioneer Energy science scholarship (2020); Tartan Wearable Arts model, year 11 Deep Thought biology programme, year 11 NCEA level 1 excellence endorsement (2019); Roxburgh Badminton Club (2018-19); Pony Club D certificate, Marine Biology Science Camp (2018); Roxburgh Area School joint top scholar (2017), consistent diligence award, citizenship award (2017-20), Roxburgh Area School top scholar (2015); senior choir member (2015-21), netball (2013-2019).
Role model: Katrina Bristow, Hokonui Fashion Design Awards show organiser.
Hopes for the future: My dream job is working in fashion and film, doing make-up artistry.
