Year: 1951 - 1955
Occupation: JP

Graham began his working life in the hospitality industry and in 1965 opened the Montana Restaurant in Hamilton. He ran the restaurant for 25 years – during that time they won many awards and several of his apprentices took the top chef awards. In 1991 he opened the award winning Souter House Restaurant and Guest House. Graham was Chairperson of the Waikato Restaurants Association and also Vice president of the New Zealand Restaurants Association from 1966 to 1990. He has been an Honoury Member of the Wine and Food Society for 20 years. He was instrumental in setting up the Department of Hospitality and Tourism at the Waikato Technical Polytech, and a member of the Hospitality and Tourism Board from its beginning in the early 70’s, and Chairperson until 2001when he retired. In 1998 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for lifelong services to the Hospitality Industry. Graham has continued working for the community and has been a Justice of the Peace, responsible for running the JP clinic at Mount Maunganui and JP for the Tauranga Customs for the last 10 years.

Year: 1951 - 1954
Occupation: International Yachtsman & Judge

Gary became a successful architect and worked on many projects including the library and music block of this school and the conversion of the old national Museum to Massey University. His real passion was yachting. His family were founding members of the Evans Bay Yacht club. He has won national championships and represented NZ overseas in 1979 -1982.He then became qualified to become a judge and was an International Judge for almost 20 years. He was awarded an “Honours Award” from Yachting New Zealand “In recognition of outstanding achievement and services to yachting”.

Year: 1951 - 1954
Occupation: Artist, Designer, Educator

Ray has been a teacher and leader all his life. His leadership includes Chief Executive & Academic Director PTE Arts & Media (Film & TV) College, Director Waikato Museum of Art & History, Chief Executive Northland Polytechnic Director where he lead rebuilding it into a debt free, award winning, degree granting institution. As Head of the Design School at Wellington Polytechnic, Ray worked with the Victoria University School of Architecture and the staff of both institutions to create New Zealand’s first university and polytechnic conjoint degree in design. As National Curriculum Officer for Art Education, he has worked with teachers throughout NZ developing and implementing a new art education syllabus for New Zealand primary and secondary schools and a new craft design qualification in polytechnics. He has had a huge impact on the way design was taught in NZ. He was the first Honours graduate in design from the University of Auckland and is a Life member of the NZ Design Institute.

Year: 1950 - 1953
Occupation: Neurologist

David came to New Zealand aged 16 with no English and left Tech at the end of 1953, having completed 7th form and having been awarded Dux. He went to Otago, qualified as a doctor, returned to Wellington for a few years then went to the UK to further his experience and specialise in neurology. He was persuaded to return to Wellington Hospital where he did a lot of work for epilepsy and migraine sufferers. He retired in 2004.David considered his most valuable work beyond his doctoring. David says that at Tech he never experienced racism but later in life learned that NZ has some very racist policies such as the Poll tax levied against Chinese in the early days. His work resulted in a government apology to the Chinese for their treatment in 2002, followed by the establishment of a small charitable Trust which provides assistance in research on New Zealand Chinese history and to assist in the recovery of the language and culture of the poll tax payers descendant community. He is currently writing the history of the New Zealand Chinese Association.

Year: 1950 - 1951
Occupation: Premier of Niue

Frank began working life in the merchant navy but became politicised when he returned to Niue and organised the successful first ever strike on Niue. Aged 28 he became the youngest person to be elected to the Niue Legislative Assembly. After losing the next election, he was re-elected in 1970 and spent the next 33 years in government, 24 as a cabinet Minister and 6 as Premier. He worked hard to improve life for people on Niue establishing village councils, family benefits, power and water supplies and free education and health. Frank stood down from politics in 1999. However, he has continued his community work and is currently Chair of the Niue Internet Users’ Society.