He was concerned about his neighbour, Richard Sime, whose Hakataramea Valley farm was badly affected by recent floods.
Fences were washed out, debris littered paddocks and, of 16 paddocks on the flat, only five remained stock-proof. The damage could not have come at a worse time, with lambing due to start in 10 days.
For Mr Sime, it was the worst flood damage he had seen on the property since moving there in 2000. A deluge of rain further up the valley led to water from the flooded Hakataramea River washing through his farm.
Jaron (15), a pupil at Waitaki Boys', lives on a neighbouring property and his father, Will, suggested he approach the school's agriculture department for help, saying the clean-up Mr Sime faced would be "a real big mundane job by yourself".
So Jaron asked Brent Maw, head of the agriculture faculty, if some volunteers could be sent to help Mr Sime, whose son Ricki was an old boy of the school.
Jaron and his father also spoke to rector Paul Jackson.
"He was excellent. There was no hesitation," Mr Fraser said.
Yesterday, a busload of 42 boys rolled out of Oamaru at 7.30am and headed for the Hakataramea Valley, to help with the clean-up.
It was a perfect sunny day and the boys got stuck into clearing fences, rolling up wire, pulling out posts and picking up debris.
A delighted Mr Sime described them as "bloody good".
He had a big fencing job to do before the start of lambing, but "I'll get there a lot quicker now they've been here".
Mr Maw was equally enthusiastic about the day's outdoor education, saying it was a way for the school to thank the community.
There was also some learning involved, with the boys now understanding "what a flash flood and fences down are all about".
They were predominantly "country kids" who knew how to pitch in.
For Mr Fraser, who also helped, it brought back memories of his days boarding at Waitaki Boys' and helping when the Kakanui River flooded.
