Jubilee Weekend a true gathering of "heartwood"

Our 80th Jubilee weekend was a true milestone in Avondale College’s history—three unforgettable days of connections, shared stories, and rekindled friendships.

On Friday afternoon, we were honored to have poet laureate and alumna Selina Tusitala Marsh come and speak to our students about her creative processes. She shared about her experience of meeting Barack Obama, and recited her poem "Fast Talking P.I" which won her the opportunity to perform for Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey.

That evening, the Mix and Mingle event brought alumni together from as far as New York and Australia, creating an incredible atmosphere of nostalgia and camaraderie. Former Head Girl and current Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad spoke about how the values instilled in her at the College still guide her today.

Saturday morning saw current and former staff members reunite for morning tea, followed by sports games and our official Jubilee event. We were delighted to have celebrity chef Nadia Lim and former Tall Black Lindsay Tait pop into catch up, too.

Current school leaders and former principals Alan Burton (1981- 1986) and Brent Lewis (2001–2019) addressed guests, alongside Nicola Taylor, the daughter of the late Phil Raffills and founder of Tax Traders, Black Cap Ajaz Patel and community advocate Simon Matafai.

The event concluded with 95-year-old foundation pupil Barbara Carlyle (née Morris) cutting the birthday cake with her great-grandson Kahu Curreen—a beautiful tribute to our rich history. Class photos of each decade followed.

Our Family Festival was the perfect way to wrap it all up, bringing the wider community together to enjoy cultural performances, food trucks, craft stalls and bouncy castles. Special thanks to Dixon Nacey and the talented musicians of the Alumni Jazz Quintet, our Alumni Gospel Singers, and the Alumni Dance Crew. We also deeply appreciate the birthday video messages from Daito Bunka High School, John Banks, Lisa Crawley, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, Kevin Carter, Wilson Chau, Selina Tusitala-Marsh, and Nadia Lim.

None of this would have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our Avcol staff, prefects, and volunteers—your hard work made this weekend truly extraordinary!

Having so many people return to the College is a true testament to the College’s values, character, and enduring spirit—a gathering of heartwood, "Kohia ngā Taikākā."