Latest news with #StPeter'sCollege
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
South well represented
A strong group from Otago and Southland have been named as part of a New Zealand secondary school cross country team to compete in Australia. Wakatipu runners Siena Mackley and James Weber, Otago Boys' runner Ruie Hyslop and St Peter's College runner Millie McFadzien will race at the Australian all schools cross country championships in the Gold Coast in September. — APL
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Principal brings community focus
St Peter's College board of trustees member Ceri Macleod and principal Kieran Udy are making changes to reflect the community's needs. PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG. Small changes beget the future for St Peter's College, as the school moves to better reflect its community's needs. Principal Kieran Udy, who joined the school earlier in the year, is vocal about his desire to better connect with the community. Now two terms on, Mr Udy said they have been working to implement and respond to the community and parent voice, tweaking where needed. "At this stage it's just some minor changes. The whanau time system is changing, because of student and parent voice. "There's increased time for numeracy and literacy in the junior school, our seniors are doing some stuff around careers and future-focused education," he said. School spirit had been a big focus as well, with the house competitions picking up in a big way, as well as St Peter's Day being expanded on. "It's been great. Traditionally it's just been a mass, but we had a range of sports and art activities for students, "We finished the day with a tractor pull, house versus house and we'll reveal the winner early next term," he said. The curriculum will also be adapted next year, with the school hoping to better reflect opportunities for students in the local area. Mr Udy said this would not only help with a transition into the workforce for leavers, but would also better connect and retain young people in Gore. "We're saying what are local industries, what are the opportunities there, and how can we align what we learn at school with them?" he said. The board of trustees' presiding member Ceri Macleod said this was a great step to help students self-actualise into adulthood. "Our focus in on our students and how we can help them the best they can, whatever direction they take. "The Southland economy is thriving and we want to show our students what career pathways are available locally. "There are so many exciting opportunities, on our doorstep," she said. St Peter's College was in a great place, Mrs Macleod said and she was excited to see how the school will continue to evolve — maintaining its focus on academic excellence while expanding on vocational opportunities for students. "Our students are amazing and our focus remains on helping ensure they thrive and excel. "They're an incredible bunch, supported by equally strong staff and leadership team, of which Kieran is leading. "I think we've got a very strong, positive future ahead, and I'm very privileged to be involved here," she said.
Herald Malaysia
01-07-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Official opening of St Peter's Church celebrated heartwarmingly
The majestic St Peter's Church in Padungan has been officially opened, standing proudly as both a house of worship and a reflection of Sarawak's rich heritage, unity and homegrown craftsmanship. Jul 01, 2025 As seen (front row, from left) Chin, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, and Poh walk into St Peter's Church during the official opening ceremony. Photo: Ramidi Subari KUCHING: The majestic St Peter's Church in Padungan has been officially opened, standing proudly as both a house of worship and a reflection of Sarawak's rich heritage, unity and homegrown craftsmanship. During the official opening ceremony on Saturday, the church's Rector Father Vincent Chin described the newly built church as a house of God built with love, faith and purpose. 'In designing this sacred space, we were guided by the principle of anchoring traditions, embracing change. 'It was Archbishop Emeritus John Ha who suggested we adopt a classic Neo-Gothic style – to root this church in timeless tradition,' he said. He added that much of the church carries deep meaning, with the tabernacle mosaic wall inspired by that of St Peter's College, the roof trusses carry the same design from the old church, but constructed with modern steel instead of traditional wood. 'The altar in the day chapel is the very same from 1949 – the year our parish began. 'The plaque with the Chinese character is the same plaque that was given by the Hang Hwa Catholic community with which the original parish Church was built. These elements connect us across generations,' he said. He also acknowledged that the church celebrated the hands and talents of the locals whereby the tiles designed by the interior decorator were made by the local tile factory; the main door made of Marabau; the wooden cross hung above the main altar were crafted by our local wood specialist; and the crucifix and fittings were all crafted by local artisans. 'Even the stained glass, while designed and made by Italian masters, was made entirely here on site, incorporating our local Dayak design. This is truly a Sarawak-built church,' he said. Moving forward, he hoped the church would be a place not just of beauty, but of renewal – a space where one deepened their faith, served one another and grew as a community rooted in Christ. Meanwhile, a parishioner who is also part of the member of the church's working team, Donald Tan said the event marked a new beginning that inspired them to strengthen their faith and give their best. 'We are all very inspired by God to try and deliver our best so that moving forward this church will become a very important part of our faith. 'Apart from that, it is not just about the beauty of the church, but a spiritual renewal,' he said. Another parishioner Esther Law, who is also Yast Group founder, described the official opening of the church as a powerful symbol of faith, hope and unity. 'I am deeply moved by how God has worked miracles throughout the journey of the church. This is truly a special day for all,' she said, while adding the church adds architectural charm to Kuching. She added that as a landmark in the heart of the city, the church is not just a place of worship but could also serve as a place where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to share their stories, celebrate religious and cultural events, support one another and help the less fortunate. The opening ceremony also welcomed over 80 pilgrims from the Jesus Caritas Church, Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur. One of the pilgrims, Christina Leong said she was glad to be able to witness this historic church opening and attend the Consecration Mass tomorrow. 'The church is really beautiful. You all Sarawakians are so blessed and the unity of the local community truly reflects the spirit of Sarawak,' she said. As for a pilgrim from St Dominic and The Rosary Church in Miri, Angela Noie, she had joined a group of parishioners from Miri specifically to attend the church's official opening. 'When I stepped into the church interior, I was truly amazed and captivated by its elegance and beauty – something rarely seen elsewhere in Sarawak,' she said.--Sarawak Tribune
Otago Daily Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
From covering ground to covering crackers
Top Gore runner Millie McFadzien, 17, has turned her athletic advancement to food design, creating and marketing a smoked eel pate made from Southern-caught tuna. The St Peter's College student has had a successful week, pitching her pate to business experts in Invercargill and placing in the top 10 at a national cross-country competition days later. Millie finished ninth out of 120 runners in the senior girls 4000m race at the secondary schools cross-country championships in Whangarei on Saturday, with a time of 15min 29sec. Days earlier, Southland Business Chamber members were "blown away" by her pitch for the eel pate, she said. It was initially her father's idea, after seeing something similar on an episode of Country Calendar . She then engaged supplier Waituna Eel with an idea to resell its Lake Ellesmere eels on the international market, but was redirected to the idea of a pate by company chief executive Calvin Claridge. Millie then connected with Invercargill chef Ethan Flack and together they devised a recipe. "It's good on crackers and all that," she said. Her marketing company is called The Lost Larder and the agency Naked Creative has donated its time, creating the label and olive-green brand design. Millie was also fortunate to have the support of Southland signwriter Creation Signs who made her two pull-up banners, T-shirts and labelling for the pitch. Bluff fisheries company Ocean Beach also gave her some start-up funds for the project. The project is part of her school business class, as well as the national Young Enterprise scheme competition, which is a charity-funded programme that fosters and provides mentoring for business ideas of senior high school students for a year. Millie has ideas for other rare edible products under The Lost Larder, such as rabbit heart pate. She is looking to engage a food scientist to list the nutritional information on the packaged product, and potentially an industrial kitchen to seriously carry on with this venture. She has that to look forward to along with her running, as her top-10 finish meant she qualified for the NZ Secondary Schools Team that will compete on the Gold Coast, Queensland in September. Of her race on Saturday, she said it was "quite tough" as the course was steep, hilly and muddy. The following day, her Southland mixed team won the relay race, as well. Pre-orders for the eel pate can be sent to thelostlarder@
Irish Independent
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Obituary: Kenneth Bloomfield, central figure in Northern Ireland's civil service who survived IRA attack
Born in Belfast on April 15, 1931, to English parents, he received his secondary education at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the city centre. He went on to study modern history at St Peter's College, Oxford, and joined the civil service in 1952. He was appointed in 1956 as private secretary to then finance minister at Stormont, Captain Terence O'Neill, who later served as the North's prime minister from 1963 to 1969 and famously hosted a visit by then taoiseach Seán Lemass to Belfast in February 1965. Following the outbreak of the Troubles in the late 1960s, elections to a Northern Ireland Assembly were held on June 28, 1973, and talks on power-sharing subsequently took place at Sunningdale in Berkshire, between parties from the North. Under the Sunningdale Agreement of November 21, 1973, a power-sharing executive based on voluntary coalition was established, as well as a cross-border Council of Ireland involving the Irish Government. Bloomfield said he accepted Sinn Féin's presence in government notwithstanding the attack on his life With Bloomfield as its permanent secretary, the cross-party administration had its first meeting on New Year's Day 1974. The Ulster Unionist Party leader at the time, Brian Faulkner, was chief executive, with his Social Democratic and Labour Party counterpart Gerry Fitt as deputy chief executive and Fitt's party colleague John Hume as commerce minister, with Alliance leader Oliver Napier as legal minister and head of the office of law reform. However, there was deep unhappiness within the UUP over the agreement, particularly the cross-border body, and this led to Faulkner's resignation as party leader. He continued as power-sharing chief executive, but the Sunningdale Agreement collapsed because of the Ulster Workers' Council strike in May 1974, which lasted 14 days, with loyalist paramilitaries playing a prominent role. Bloomfield later served as permanent secretary at the Department of the Environment and the Department of Economic Development. On December 1, 1984, he became head of the Northern Ireland civil service and was the most senior adviser on a variety of issues to successive British secretaries of state. In 1987, he became Sir Kenneth Bloomfield after being appointed as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB). On September 12, 1988, he was subjected, along with his wife and one of their children, to an IRA bomb attack at their family home in Crawfordsburn, Co Down, but none of them was physically injured. Almost 19 years later, on August 23, 2007, at the Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, when a power-sharing administration in the North was headed by the Reverend Ian Paisley of the DUP and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, Bloomfield said he accepted Sinn Féin's presence in government notwithstanding the attack on his life. ADVERTISEMENT As I grow older, I care less and less which flag is flown and which anthem is played where I live 'I do not find the idea of some form of Irish unity or closer association — almost certainly after my time — in any way unthinkable in principle. But what is conceivably acceptable in principle would have to be mutually acceptable in practice,' he said. Offering a 'very personal perspective', he added: 'As I grow older, I care less and less which flag is flown and which anthem is played where I live.' He retired from the civil service in April 1991 and subsequently became a member of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains. Bloomfield also received honorary doctorates from Queen's University Belfast, the Open University and the University of Ulster. He was appointed to the chair of the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission and his alma mater, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. n December 1997 he was invited by then secretary of state Mo Mowlam to become the Northern Ireland Victims Commissioner for a fixed term, which resulted in a report on issues concerning victims of the Troubles entitled We Will Remember Them, which was published in April 1998. He was the BBC's National Governor for Northern Ireland from 1991 to 1999. Kenneth Bloomfield died on May 30. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, whom he married in September 1960 and their two children, Caroline and Tanya, formerly called Timothy, who is transgender and has spoken warmly of the support she received from her parents in that regard.
