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  • What's Going On?
  • The Old Boys' Blog
  • The Foundation
    • Foundation Goals
    • Become a Foundation Member
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    • Funding The Future
  • FDMC History
    • The Early History
    • Father Francis Vernon Douglas
    • De La Salle Brothers
    • The Brothers at FDMC
  • Photo Galleries
    • Photos From The Early Days
    • 1960's Photos
    • 1970's Photos
    • 1980's Photos
    • 1990's Photos
    • 2000's Photos
    • College Captains
    • FDMC From The Air
    • 50th Jubilee Photos
    • Photos From the 60th Gathering
    • Sports Photos >
      • The NPBHS Game
      • 1st XV Photos 1959 - 1979
      • 1st XV Photos 1980-1999
      • 1st XV Photos 2000-2019
      • 1st XI Photos
      • Athletics Sports
      • Swimming Sports
    • Activities Photos
  • Old Boys Directory
    • Registered Old Boys
    • Doctor Who?
    • Past Student Directory
    • Past Staff Directory
  • College Magazines
    • 1960's Magazines
    • 1970's Magazines
    • 1980's Magazines
    • 1990's Magazines
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    • 2010's Magazines
  • On Reflection
    • Staff Reflections >
      • Our Foyer Painting
      • Graham Blanks
      • Graeme Mustchin
    • Student Reflections
  • College Culture
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The Old Boys' Blog

11/29/2015 0 Comments

Our First 1st XV?

We are currently trying to build a resource of old sports photos which old boys can download from our web site. In doing this we came across the photo opposite of our 8th Grade rugby team circa 1959. Given this was our first year as a College and there were no senior school students we wonder if this team could be called our first 1st XV? Leave a comment if you can clarify this for us. 
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0 Comments

11/26/2015 0 Comments

Br John Hanson RIP

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We received news yesterday from Br Adrain Watson of the sad passing of former staff member Br John Hanson. Br John taught RE and Maths at FDMC in the late 1970s into the early 1980s.

Br John had been unwell for some time and had been resident at Villa La Salle in Southport, Queensland. All those who taught with, or were taught by Br John, will recall a gentle, caring and humble man who was always a pleasure to be around. He was a great example of a Lasallian role model who was happy to "walk with" others.  
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, 
and let perpetual light shine upon him. 
May he rest in peace.

Amen.
0 Comments

11/25/2015 1 Comment

Farewell To Karen

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Last Friday was the last day at FDMC for our long time Receptionist Karen Gray. Karen has been greeting people with a ready smile and plenty of advice for the last 13 years at the College. Many old boys will recall the sterling work she did in the lead up to the 50th Jubilee and there have been many students who have had cause to be grateful for her caring common sense over the last decade or so.

Karen has taken up a position as the Executive Assistant at Wanganui Collegiate and we wish her all the best for her new challenge. 
1 Comment

11/22/2015 0 Comments

A Little Bit Of Business

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The Young Enterprise Scheme has been a part of College life for over twenty years. Bearwood (pictured right), one of our business groups this year, took out the supreme regional award for 2015. The photo on the left is one of the 1997 groups SIDZ, with mentor Mr Kibby. We can't recall what it was they made and would be interested to know their product. It would also be good to know how many went on to dazzle the business world. 
0 Comments

11/20/2015 0 Comments

A Fond Farewell

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Last week marked the loss of another FDMC old boy. Chris Bates was a student at the college in the 1960s and had gone on to travel widely before bringing his great love of literature to several generations of students at New Plymouth Girls High. Chris's passing was well marked by NPGHS and the wider community and we can assure his friends and family of our thoughts and prayers.

​In recent months Chris had donated some photos from his school days which we have added to our 1960s photo gallery page. You can view these photos here.
0 Comments

11/18/2015 1 Comment

Attention!

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Two photos from the archives showing a cadet parade from the 1960s. We believe it is Noel Karalus chatting to the big brass in the left hand photo but know no more than that about this occasion. Leave us a comment if you can offer any more details.
1 Comment

11/15/2015 0 Comments

The Head Boys Of Old

If you have had a browse around our site recently you would have noticed that we are in the process of updating and upgrading a lot of pages. One reworked offering is our Past Head Boys page where you can see all of those leaders from the past - click here for a peek.
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0 Comments

11/13/2015 0 Comments

An Open Letter To Conrad Smith

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Dear Conrad

On behalf of the FDMC Community, thank you.

Thank you for the pleasure we have gained from watching your exploits on the rugby field over the course of your career. You have always played the game in the right spirit and it has always been a source of excitement to watch you perform at the highest level. You have written your name into the rich saga of All Black history and that is something we are very proud of. You are a poster child for skinny white boys everywhere.

Thank you for the way you have carried yourself as a sports figure. You have been an excellent role model for others and have shown that you can be a public figure without selling your soul to celebrity. We have really appreciated the way you have interacted with all age groups, represented your teams with humility and pride and had some fun along the way.

Thank you for being part of our community. You have made yourself available whenever possible and have often acknowledged and supported your old school in a very positive manner. You were and remain a "good College man", something that is shared and celebrated by many of your old school mates.

The All Black time is over for you but there is a whole lot more stretching ahead. Whatever paths you take we know you will carry with you the same class and integrity you have always shown. 

It has been a fun ride for you, and for us. Thanks again, and in the words of the great John Whyte  "Go Well". 
0 Comments

11/12/2015 0 Comments

Well Before Our Time

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While researching for a social studies unit on pa sites in New Plymouth we came across this image which was painted in the mid 1850s. The pa in the centre of the image is Okoare which every FDMC old boy knows as Pa Hill. The settlers cottage was owned by one J. Stephenson Smith Esq. and a little further research suggest that the image was used in a booklet published in London in 1857 to encourage more migrant farmers to come to NZ. A reminder that there was a lot going on even before the FDMC foundation stone was in place.
0 Comments

11/11/2015 0 Comments

Framed Up

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Work on earthquake strengthening and updating the main classroom block is now in full swing. All the classrooms are being stripped out, ready to be renovated, and the new foundation supports will be poured soon. Imagine the fun students could have if they could only gain access to that slide from the third floor!
0 Comments
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    The FDMC Foundation exists to keep old boys aware of their old school and give them the chance to stay connected.

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