TRINITY CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Lauren Jarvie
Role: Netball coach (eight years).
My story: Being involved in school sport is incredibly inspiring. I am very passionate about students having a really positive experience in sport and cementing a passion for their involvement for life. Players all have different backgrounds and it is fantastic to work together with them to develop their skills in a way that also develops pride in themselves. Being involved in sport and succeeding in your goals builds confidence, friendships and skills that improve all other aspects of your life. Coaching is an opportunity to support players not only to be the best at the sport they have chosen but to support them to develop other skills like being a great communicator, contributing to a great team culture, goal-setting and time management. Sport at Trinity Catholic College is a real joy to be involved in. Their students are amazing people and they love sport. The school’s approach is to support players to achieve at their highest level across many codes and ensuring all players regardless of whether they want to play competitively or not can participate and are supported well with coaches and the same opportunities. Diverse experiences and a love of sport is the best approach for teenagers and it has proven to be very successful with many students achieving nationally and continuing to play at club level after they graduate.
QUEEN’S HIGH SCHOOL
Anna Cross
Role: Teacher in charge of athletics and cross-country (since 2020), involved in Ariki children’s athletics club, organising and supporting our young coaches and running children’s training nights (involved with club since competing as a child).
Legacy: It has been exciting to watch athletics and cross-country grow at Queen’s. For many students, being involved in a sport is a huge positive aspect of coming to school, and I want to continue providing a space where students of all abilities and levels can compete and get involved. It’s awesome to see so many students keen to give running a go. Hopefully many of them will come back to running when they leave school. At Ariki, there are a lot of young coaches coming through the club now. I want to continue to help where I can and provide a visible pathway for others to give back through coaching as well. It is so rewarding and a great way to stay involved!
My story: I became interested in athletics because of my teachers and coaches when I was at Otago Girls’ who encouraged me to get involved and provided me with opportunities. Colleen Hokianga, Jarrod Adams and Brent Ward gave up so much of their time to invest in me and other young people, and I am grateful I am now in a position to give back like they did with me. Going away on athletics and cross-country trips was the absolute highlight of my time at high school, and I loved spending my afternoons training at the Caledonian with an awesome group of like-minded people. When I started teaching at Queen’s, I was really keen to get involved in athletics and cross-country. I started out by copying what other teachers and coaches did with me and that seems to have worked.
Highlights at Queen’s: After a lot of preparation, we came away with a third-place medal in the 4x100m relay at nationals last year, which was so well deserved by the team. We also recently won the South Island cross-country shield (overall top girls school), which was an exciting achievement. When I first came to Queen’s in 2020, we had a very small cross-country team. Now we have roughly 20 competitors each season. Every young person needs their "thing", and I feel really thankful that I am in a position where I might be able to assist in helping students find their passion.
OTAGO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL
Bill McKinley
Role: Clay target coach (since 2019), committee member and trap manager/mechanic at the Dunedin Clay Target Club.
His story: Bill provides coaching on a Wednesday afternoon after school to our squad of 12 students in all weathers. Additionally, Bill volunteers at least eight hours a week maintaining the traps and manufacturing equipment or parts the club needs outside of competition days. Bill is a keen shooter himself, having represented Otago in skeet. Having been a club member in the 1970s, Bill returned to Dunedin and the club in the early 1990s. Bill took over coaching Otago Boys’ in 2019 from Ernie Webb. He was adamant that secondary students were the future of the sport. His passion, calmness and humble manner has brought out the best outcomes for many of our school shooters. Bill has travelled thousands of kilometres over the years to support the boys in their competitions. It has been a common and welcome site to see Bill’s bus parked at national secondary-school competitions in Christchurch.
Legacy: Under Bill’s tuition many boys have claimed national titles and made national teams. They include Harry Brenssell (2019, North Island secondary schools single rise), Henry Sim (2019, North Island single barrel; 2020, NZ schools single rise; 2022, NZ junior champion and NZ open team; 2023, NZ junior team; 2023, NZ open team at world DTL championships), Nick Sim (2020, NZ schools single rise across all age groups; 2022, NZ schools single barrel and NZ junior team), Jack Small (2021, NZ Schools single rise), Otago Boys’ team (2021, second in DTL at NZ schools), Ollie Nicholson (2022, NZ skeet junior team), Shamus Young (2024, NZ team that won world junior trophy), and Jonathon King (2024, NZ junior skeet team).
Andrew Willmott
Role: Involved in sport at Otago Boys’ for over 20 years, primarily in a volunteer capacity.
My story: My journey began with cricket, drawing on my own playing experience, including managing and playing for the 2nd XI in the senior men’s competition — highlighted by scoring a century for the school. Having a young family, my involvement transitioned into more family-friendly roles including cycling and mountain biking. I support students from national road and mountain biking championships through to racing downhill with groups on Signal Hill. I’ve also contributed to football across a range of teams from the 10 Whites to the 1st XI. I am currently coaching the Senior Blues in the Dunedin premier schools competition. An early advocate for futsal, I facilitated the introduction of the sport to Dunedin in the early 2000s, through a connection with the Australian-based Vikings Futsal Association. I am still involved, and have enjoyed watching it grow into a major participation sport. Triathlon and surfing have become personal passions, and I continue to support students to get involved in these sports. It has been a privilege to work alongside dedicated coaches, managers and supportive parents during my time at OBHS. Together, we’ve helped create opportunities for our students — whether pursuing their dreams or simply enjoying a game with their mates.
Ali Lu
Role: Badminton coach and manager (four years).
My story: My legacy is rooted in both competitive success and personal development. One of the proudest moments was leading our team to win the New Zealand secondary schools (division 2) tournament last year. We’ve also brought home a bronze and two silver medals from the South Island championships over the past three years — milestones that reflect the hard work and growth of our players. But more than medals, my lasting impact has been building a team culture grounded in discipline, respect and resilience. I’ve watched students grow not just as athletes, but as confident, responsible young people who support one another and strive to be their best. My hope is that long after they leave school, they carry those values with them.
Alastair Campbell
Role: Founder/manager/organiser of the OBHS climbing club (2023).
My story: I have climbed for over 30 years, been a member of the NZ Alpine Club for over 15 and established the OBHS club at the beginning of 2023. We climb at the Resistance Climbing Gym every Tuesday after school. On Thursday evenings, I do ad hoc climbing with whoever wants to climb. Every term, I organise an OBHS climbing competition which recognises our strongest climbers and most improved. We offer several outdoor climbing trips, often with OGHS, throughout the year. The highlight is the four-day bouldering trip to the Castle Hill Basin held after NCEA exams in term 4. I have no idea how many hours I have spent on club activities but it would add up. It would be impossible without the support of teacher Tim Adler, Resistance Climbing Gym, the OGHS climbing club and the wider climbing community.
Legacy: The club has grown from 14 to 30 boys today with a waiting list. For a significant number of the club, this is their first sporting activity they have signed up for. From having absolute beginners three years ago, we now have boys competing in and gaining excellent results in national competitions. The pleasure I get from seeing climbers puzzle out problems and successfully complete them with a smile on their faces is huge. The legacy I am most proud of is old boys who have continued to climb and share their passion with new climbers.
COLUMBA COLLEGE
Jodi Brown
Role: Netball coach (four years).
Her story: Jodi was a member of the Silver Ferns from 2002 to 2015 with breaks for injury and pregnancy. She retired after 61 tests, having helped the team draw the 2015 Constellation Cup series against Australia. In 2016, she was appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to netball. Now chief executive of Basketball Otago, Jodi is a passionate advocate for women’s sport. She and husband Markham have three children, two of whom attend Columba College (years 10 and 12). Columba is incredibly fortunate to have Jodi as one of our sports coaches and volunteers. She also serves on the Columba sports council, where she actively promotes girls’ and youth sport.
MANIOTOTO AREA SCHOOL
Michelle Grundy
Role: Hockey coach (five years).
Her story: The Maniototo hockey team is ever so grateful for Michelle, who has coached, mentored and supported the hockey team for the past five years. She develops the younger players from zero skills to becoming dab hands on the hockey turf. Michelle is highly regarded, well respected and a trusted partner of the school hockey team. She is a valuable extension to the school coaches, joining them on tournament week and building not only technical skills but confidence and a resilient mindset in the players. Michelle and husband Martin are sponsors of the local hockey club, netball club and play an integral part in the community as owners of the local Ranfurly Four Square too.
Tom Weir
Role: Basketball coach (five years).
His story: The Maniototo basketball teams and the wider community are benefiting from Tom’s skill, aptitude and absolute love for the game of basketball. Tom stepped up in 2024 and offered to coach the boys basketball team. The school were more than appreciative of his offer and also added the girls team. Maniototo now has both a boys and girls team in the Central Otago basketball competition. This is fantastic for the players as they can now play their own style of game and are not constrained by playing in a mixed team. Tom also re-invigorated a Maniototo community basketball competition over summer, with seven teams entered. This has done wonders to increase the presence of basketball among our entire school and also brought the community together to cheer on their teams every Wednesday night. We appreciate Tom giving up his time to support our rangatahi every week, and his passion for the game is infectious.
LOGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
Syreeta Norris
Role: Netball and volleyball coach.
My story: I started off working alongside some experienced coaches who had already paved the way for previous Logan Park teams, which was an awesome way to learn. Since then, I’ve coached junior and senior netball, and junior and senior volleyball. I’ve also been running a Wednesday morning "engine room" session — where any student can show up and push themselves physically and mentally. The students are what keep me going. They deserve opportunities, and I want to help give them those chances. I’ve got a pretty full-on schedule, but seeing their progress, both physically and mentally, makes it worth it. There’s so much potential in them, and if I can help unlock even a little bit of that, then I’m doing my job. I’ve been around sports for a long time now. I’ve had my time as a player, and now it feels right to share those experiences with the next athletes coming through. For me, it’s not just about winning games — it’s about creating a space where students can grow, test themselves and walk away 1% better than they were yesterday.
