Christine Fernyhough
Speaker report November 11 - Christine Fernyhough
The club welcomed back an old friend, when Christine Fernyhough joined us to share highlights from four life stages, in her evergreen commitment to making a difference through philanthropy - and as an unfailingly energetic, optimistic and eloquent communicator.
This story began many decades ago, when words from Beth Heke in Once Were Warriors, expressing despair at “Booklessness in a world run on the written word” led author Alan Duff to grow his reach from supply of musical instruments in Rotorua schools, to the iconic Duffy Books in Homes, where he and Christine became such a memorable combination, developing an exceptional network of sponsorship for literacy growth and educational aspiration.
Christine noted the abundance of new books to be treasured through widespread and generous sponsorship, while in 22 matched primary schools there were further dimensions of Hero Assemblies bringing role models to students and the Caught Being Good recognition of positive behaviours. Outreach in the arts came through the Mainfreight calendar competition and the Duffy Theatre Programme - which began the career of Jacob Rajan and Indian Ink. So much groundbreaking work with resources also made it very apparent that these alone were not enough and that additional staffing was crucial to address crying needs!
Awareness of the injustice and waste of unused human potential, in the 10% of gifted students who exist throughout the entire community, but struggle to access opportunity in low income areas, then inspired Christine to support school principals in developing the Gifted Kids Programme. This began at Tamaki Primary School and resulted in the model of a Junior High programme with a year 7-10 curriculum – which then hit the challenge of widespread access.
2003 brought the devastating loss of husband John and her father on the same day – with Hawkes Bay friends the Frizzels, inspiring a refocus beyond urban life, hence her $2.4m purchase of Castle Hill Station, with its incredible natural beauty of limestone rocks and high country landscape, along with a very different social environment, which brought a fondness for Waimakariri whisky! From her 10 years of that most memorable life phase, Christine gained deep familiarity with 5 Ds – Drenching, Drafting, Dagging, Debt and Dogs – where she maintained a pattern of Too many pats and not enough slaps!
Missing too many family milestones brought her back to Parnell in 2014, but it was during her time beyond Auckland that Christine became aware of the 6 week Limited Service Volunteer programme, run by most successfully by the Defence Force at Burnham, for 17-24 year olds from the South Island and Bay of Plenty. This MSD-funded project for work-readiness, also has a branch at Whenuapai, with an 83% success rate of young people moving from highly dysfunctional backgrounds into Employment or Education. Christine spoke movingly of participant appreciation of 3 meals a day and their own clothes, noting that there were only 10% of girls in 2011, but this had increased to 40% in 2024. Disadvantage is starkly apparent in lack of dentistry, but the optimism, strength and leadership of these beautiful young women is truly inspirational, with real promise of future intergenerational benefits.
Christine’s sincerity and dynamism were greatly appreciated - and she concluded by promising follow-up with the LSV programme next year.
Next Meeting………
Tuesday 18th November at One Tree Hill College, 8.30am
Student showcase, junior musicians with Diana Rhodes and prizewinning senior baker Alberto Tungal – introduced by Vocational Pathways co-ordinator Ann Crawford.
Creations by top baker in Vocational Pathways at MIT Alberto Tungal, will also feature. As a recent arrival from the Philippines, Alberto is not eligible for funding for tertiary studies, but he is committed to self-help! So host teacher Ann Crawford who will introduce Alberto, has ensured his access to the school’s kitchen for preparation of his tempting wares!
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New Zealand