Posted in General Distinguished Alumni 2022

Date: 18 August 2022

What a privilege to be able to honour three Distinguished Alumni at a dinner held in our amazing new building Te Kupenga Wānanga.

Invited guests included, members or former members of the Onehunga High School Board, Past Pupils Committee, Business School Advisory Board, MP Anahila Kanongata’a Suisuiki, Principal Deidre Shea, the Senior Leadership team, staff, and friends and family of the inductees. We were gathered to celebrate the successes and service of Judge Dianne Partridge, Dr Maree Weston and Dr Steve Unwin.

Judge Dianne Partridge attended Onehunga High School from 1882-1986 and is District Court Judge in the North Shore District Court.

Dr Maree Weston attended Onehunga High School from 1992-1996. Ms Weston is a General and Colorectal Surgeon, Deputy Head of Department and Surgical Lead for the Counties Manukau Bowel Screening Programme.

Dr Steve Unwin attended Onehunga High School from 1985-1989. Dr Unwin is a Veterinary Specialist in Zoo Health Managementand  a former Lecturer in Biosystems and Environmental Change (University of Birmingham). He is developing One Health networks in Africa and SouthEast Asia, to promote environmental conservation, wildlife health and disease prevention.

Fran Mes was surprised on the evening with the Special Contribution Award. Fran has been a member of the Onehunga High School Board of Trustees since 2004, and Board Chair since 2005. Our community has re-elected Fran to the board every three years and at the beginning of each year, our board has re-elected her as Chair. This is an indication of Fran’s outstanding leadership. Thank you Fran for your nineteen years of dedication and support of our staff, students and whānau.

The speeches given by all the award recipients were universally acknowledged by guests as being entertaining, inspirational and thoughtful. They contributed to a thoroughly enjoyable evening as did the simply superb food provided by our Food and Hospitality department. One distinguished and very well traveled guest commented that the food was as good as they had ever had in a restaurant, anywhere!

Finally a huge thank you to our MC, Dana Gasic 13Lu, and her team Samontae Dickey 12Lu, James Hawtin 13Al, Kathryn Simanu 12Wt, and Eva White 13Cw, for their contribution to this memorable evening.