Chris Print - In the steps of my father
Tuesday morning was an exceptional meeting and a very special homecoming for Rotarian Cris Print, returning as guest speaker, after first visiting the school during his father’s principalship from 1969-77.
At the conclusion of his talk, Cris was photographed with his children lucy and William, in front of the Gretchen Albrecht works in the foyer – and he paid a heartfelt tribute to Art teacher Wally Crossman, who shared Rotarian Murray’s passion for Art in schools. Three works by Wally are now grouped in the foyer, where we hold breakfast meetings.
Cris spoke of the excitement of finding new works, that were then introduced to the school at assemblies – and his father’s particular interest in ceramics, which meant a childhood environment enhanced with works by Len Castle and woven baskets by his wife Ruth, while Barry Brickell’s Driving Creek railway to the Coromandel clay mine did not seem at all unusual.
Murray’s vision of A school with Art at its heart also extended to Music. Cris spoke of his father playing Heavy Metal – Deep Purple’s Smoke on Water at assembly and teachers working to produce original material for notable singers Tina Cross and Kim Hart.
Cris concluded his presentation by showing us the Chagall lithography that had been his father’s farewell gift from the school and Pat Hanly’s Do It! that was such a key message.
Curator Paul Baragwanath followed with the story of the later formation of an Art Trust and team to ensure conservation of this wonderful legacy, with the involvement of philanthropist Jan Farmer ensuring necessary conservation, then inspiring subsequent donations.
Before principal Nick took us on a tour of Art works at meeting conclusion, students from the OTHC choir performed a Tongan lament for a lost brother, then we all had the chance to sing Now is the Hour in memory of Rotarian Stewart Matthews.
Then it was an extraordinary experience to be taken through adjacent teaching spaces where students focused on their work, adjacent to so many exceptional items from the collection.
Cris had spoken about the powerful wairua he had experienced as a child of 6 or 7, when he first saw the McCahon Jet over Muriwai – so it was a very fitting finale for him to see it again in Nick’s office! Nick has also very kindly agreed to make the school available for a future lunchtime meeting, so that a larger number of Rotarians can have this special opportunity.
Video of presentation
Girls Choir OTHC 16 June 2026,