King’s College enjoyed its centenary in 1996 and the occasion provided the College with a marvellous opportunity to celebrate the many achievements made in the 100 years of our existence. Accordingly, the College has been delighted recently to be able to help recognize the achievements of Wanganui Collegiate and Diocesan School on their respective 150 and 100 year celebrations this year. It is important to recognize that these two schools have, along with King’s College, made a substantial impact on New Zealand education over many decades and have influenced the lives of thousands of families during these times.

Whilst we remember the tremendous achievements that independent schools such as these have made within New Zealand, it is also important to remember the hardships and turbulent times that they have had during the two World Wars, the Depression and many other difficult times. Those critics who label such schools as elitist and wealthy often fail to realise the historical struggles which they have had to merely survive. It was often only through the magnificent support of Old Collegian families that they did so.

King’s College and the KCOCA joined together to provide gifts for Wanganui Collegiate and Diocesan School in honour of their celebrations this year. Two Old Collegians were approached to provide works of art as gifts. Andrew Barnes Graham painted a picture of a Wanganui versus King’s College cricket match, played at King’s, in honour of our long and rich sporting association with Collegiate. The picture was presented to the Chairman of the Collegiate Board and the Headmaster, by the King’s College Board Chairman Peter Jackson in March this year and it was very well received. It was a special moment for Peter Jackson whose mother’s family had a past association with Wanganui Collegiate.

	Brett Graham's "White Cross"

The recent gift to Diocesan recognises the strong links our two schools have had for virtually the entire length of our histories. Old Collegian Brett Graham was asked to provide a piece of sculpture he entitled ‘White Cross’, which he very willingly did, given his family’s association with both schools. Here is a transcript of part of my speech at the Diocesan Assembly which I attended with the Vice President of the KCOCA, Mr Alastair MacFarlane, explaining Brett Graham’s work:

Brett Graham describes his work as a part of a series concerning the relationship between the two hemispheres and the notions of Podes and Antipodes. The collection consists of coal briquettes made whilst he was an artist in residence in Switzerland with associations of blackness and filth and he then made works like this one from briquettes of wood native to the Alps, crafted to mimic the coal, but with associations of health, cleanliness and sterility. Coal and wood are the same material in different states, the antithesis of each other, just as the Swiss flag was reversed to become the symbol of the Red Cross Organisation. The positive and negative crosses further illustrate the idea of difference and similarity existing simultaneously.

That notion of difference and similarity existing simultaneously is a fine metaphor for the relationship between our two fine schools. We have had a ‘brother and sister’ relationship for most of our history. Whether it was through school dances, school choirs or school drama productions, students from King’s and Diocesan have long enjoyed each others’ company and have a common bond which goes far beyond our religious affiliation. The wonderful production of the Messiah in the King’s College Chapel late last year saw Old Collegians and former Dio girls join together to help mark the beginning of your centenary celebrations. Last week I watched King’s College boys participate in your tremendous production of ‘The Dio Story’. I wish to pay tribute to all of the staff and students from Diocesan who were involved in that original, fun-filled and energetic production.

However, we have many differences between our two schools (and rightly so) as well as the obvious similarities that we share, and we exist simultaneously in offering excellent education in the Auckland and New Zealand context. Brett Graham’s work is therefore a most suitable gift and we hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

It was a delight to be able to present a gift on behalf of the entire King’s College community to two schools with which we have a long history. We look forward to continuing a healthy and successful partnership with Diocesan and Wanganui Collegiate long into the 21^st century.