Tell us about your time at SKC

A lot of friends I have that didn’t go to SKC have told me they didn’t like school and couldn’t wait to leave. I was the opposite I loved school! I spent 5 years at SKC as a boarder where I made lifelong friendships.

Dorm life was awesome, it felt like being on holiday and sleepovers with your mates for a whole year. To be fair, the food was great as-well with plums for breakfast and Pie Friday being a highlight. From spending time “at the tree” by the gates, drinking coffee in the girl’s hostel and running harriers are all fond memories.

Team Sport was always encouraged when we were there, and I firmly believe it has taught me discipline, respect, and a form of interaction with others that has helped me in my chosen career’s. While at SKC I was fortunate enough to have some local friends who would take me on day leave from the hostel for rodeo practice at a local arena.

A real highlight of my SKC days was winning the peanut when we were huge underdogs. It definitely made the blooda party all that more enjoyable rubbing it in to the Waitaki boys pupils (who are now long-time friends also).

What have you been doing since leaving SKC?

After finishing SKC I took a scholarship to Lincoln University where I completed a Bachelor in Commerce. From there I travelled extensively for a lot of years throughout Australia, Canada, Thailand, USA and NZ generally chasing summers and carrying on with my rodeo career. I competed professionally in the USA and Canada in the Pro rodeo Circuit making numerous rodeo finals and “living the dream”. I also Captained the New Zealand rodeo team which was a humbling highlight along with doing the haka in front of a sold-out stadium of around 30,000 people in Australia.

After coming home for my brother’s wedding, my parents conned me into growing up and getting a real job. I then started as a Financial Analyst with Westpac (working alongside ex SKC pupils Pip Oneill and Damo O’Sullivan) in Timaru before becoming the Rural bank manager for Westpac for the Otago region.

I then progressed to work for Datamars as the Lower North Island Territory Manager before getting the urge to finish off what I started in the US and head back on Pro Rodeo Circuit.I was fortunate to travel and work with the best cowboys in the world and make the Pro Rodeo circuit finals for the Northwest. Since the wild covid times of 2020, and a family tragedy I soon realised that being close to family and home is more important than travelling the world living like a rockstar on the rodeo circuit.

I Now live in Alexandra, married to my lovely Canadian wife and have just welcomed our first child this year.

I now work as the Business Development manager for Catalayst Performance Agronomy helping to better service the rural community with specialist help with all things Seed and Chemical. It is uncanny when talking with farmers now adays who mention their own great school days at St Kevin’s where we can compare notes and the familiar names, we encountered during our days at SKC. The area I work now includes North Otago so I find myself doing the odd drive through grounds, looking up to where Magee building used to be, the first 15 grounds and half expecting to see Mr Conners walking back from the stables. But nothing can compare standing in front of the castle and remembering all the friends I made and the way that SKC helped mould my future to enable me to do the great things I get to do.

How did SKC shape you for life outside of school?

SKC gave me important life skills to help navigate the real world. Discipline, knowledge and work ethic have been a huge help but more importantly the exposure to new experiences. I tried everything at school that a kid from an isolated small town in Central would otherwise have never been given, from rowing, basketball to drama and choir. It really taught me to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations and to step outside of my comfort zone and embrace every opportunity you get. I credit the hostel and the school staff for pushing me to be the best I can be and reining me in when I got carried away.

Article added: Monday 12 February 2024