Author: aorangiclub

The Speaker for October 7th is:

Simon Keable Elliott

Simon is a writer and lecturer based in South London. Educated at Sherborne School and Durham University, Simon first worked in Fleet Street – as a barman – before managing restaurants in Mayfair, Hampstead and Putney. He owned and ran Keables, a café bar restaurant in West Norwood, for 8 years before re-training as a teacher and spending 25 years as Head of Politics and Director at a secondary school in Croydon. He has written articles for Genealogy Today, The Church Times, The History News Network, The Beresford Family Society Magazine, and The Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research (to be published next year). He is a regular speaker at events run by Western Front Associations, U3As and Family History Societies.

The Speaker for September 23rd is:

Wendy Rapp

Wendy joined the West-Auckland Riding for the Disabled team at the beginning of 2021, starting her volunteering journey as a side-walker for our riding sessions. Since then, she has extended her involvement, taking charge of the quarterly newsletters and speaking on behalf of West Auckland Riding for the Disabled at community events. Wendy joined the West Auckland RDA Governance Board in 2023. She brings twenty years’ experience working with children as an alternative health practitioner. She also has management and teaching experience in the wellness industry. Wendy brings a strong strategic focus to the West-Auckland RDA team and practical experience having supported children and young people with their health needs. 

The Speaker for September 9th is:

Professor Harry Allen

Australian Aboriginal Art and Archaeology: Looking back and looking forward.

Abstract: Australian Aboriginal people have a remarkable history spanning more than 50,000 years of environmental and cultural change, showing both adaptation and persistence in the face of the climatic extremities of Australia. Often dismissed as ‘hunter gatherers’ and seen as the simplest social form of human existence, it is in their art that Aboriginal people have had the greatest impact on contemporary society. This talk will concentrate on Aboriginal art, bringing in relevant aspects of history and archaeology, though each of these topics could form a series of lectures on their own.

Dr George Foote

Dr George Foote graduated from the Otago University School of Medicine in 1965, gaining his radiology certification in 1972. George and his business partner opened the first private CT Radiology Clinic in New Zealand, which was in Gillies Avenue, Auckland, in 1984. He was a Partner at Auckland Radiology Group from 1988 to 2011 before deciding to step back to a consultancy role. George’s specialist areas include oncology imaging, chest and abdominal imaging, scintigraphy and bone densitometry.

The Speaker for August 12th is:

Patrick Drumm Principal Mt Albert Grammar

Patrick Drumm is Headmaster of Mount Albert Grammar School, the second largest school in New Zealand with over 3,600 students and 400 staff.  He holds additional responsibilities for the management of a Boys Hostel, a recently established Girls hostel, the community Aquatic Centre and 10hectare ASB MAGS Farm on site; and Mount Albert Grammar School being the managing and enrolling school for Auckland City Alternative Education Consortium.

Patrick has served as Principal at Botany Downs and Aorere College prior to Mount Albert Grammar School.

Patrick is a former Chair of the Polyfest Trust and a member of the College Sport Auckland Board. He is a keen rugby follower having been President of the Auckland Secondary Schools Rugby Union and a former Premier rugby referee.

The Speaker for July 29th is:

James grew up in Auckland during the 1960s and 1970s when Auckland was served by a large and extensive electric trolley bus system. At age 15, he joined the Tramway Division at MOTAT and has now been an active volunteer member of the tramway for 48 years. Most of his working life was spent in retail, but in 2011 he was asked to take on managing the operation of the new tramway down in Wynyard Quarter. Today, together with this role, and a full-time position at MOTAT looking after the infrastructure for the MOTAT Tramway, he says he is now like a pig in mud.

The Speaker for July 15th is:

PROFESSOR BRIAN R MCAVOY

MBChB, MD, FRNZCGP, FRCGP, FRCP, FAChAM, BSc

Professor Brian McAvoy has been a practising clinician for nearly 50 years, working as a general practitioner and addiction medicine specialist in New Zealand, Australia, UK and Canada. He graduated from Glasgow University in 1972 then spent one year as a Teaching Fellow at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada before becoming a lecturer at Leicester University and working in a rural dispensing practice in Northamptonshire, England. He was appointed Foundation Professor of General Practice at Auckland University in 1989, then Professor of Primary Health Care and Head of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. From 2000 to 2006 he worked in Melbourne as Executive Director of Research and Practice Development with the Royal Australian College of GPs and as Deputy Director of the National Cancer Control Initiative. Returning to New Zealand, he worked in inner city general practice, the public and private sector of addiction medicine, and with the Tasmanian Alcohol and Drug Service, retiring in 2020. He has published extensively, written several books and has been an Adviser to the World Health Organisation and the Health and Disability Commissioner. He has particular interests in addiction medicine, evidence-based practice, medical education and workplace bullying. Since retiring, he has written two non-academic books: The Last, The Least, The Lonely and The Lost. A memoir of medicine, meanderings and the marginalised and Moments. A personal anthology from the life of a peripatetic physician. He is a Compassionate Companion with Mercy Hospice.

The Speaker July 1st is:

Justin O’Sullivan

Justin M. O’Sullivan PhD is a Professor and Director of the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland. He has honorary appointments at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Australia), University of Southampton (UK) and A*STAR Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences. Justin’s research group focusses on genome sequencing for clinical care, understanding how disease associated mutations in non-coding DNA affect gene regulatory networks and the pathways that underlie disease development, the role of the microbiome in brain and behaviour development, and the role of microbiome restoration in clinical care.

The Speaker for June 17th is:

Milly Whitefoot
Development Manager, First Foundation

After a successful career in advertising, Milly followed her passion for making a difference and moved into the not-for-profit sector—and she’s never looked back. Over the past 20 years, she’s worked with leading organisations in both Australia and New Zealand, including the Fred Hollows Foundation, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Harbour Hospice.

Milly is all about authentic connection. She believes in the power of relationships and is driven by helping people create meaningful, lasting impact through their philanthropic giving. A strong advocate for social justice, Milly firmly believes in equity over equality; ensuring everyone has the support they need to thrive, not just the same starting point.

That’s why the mission of First Foundation resonates so deeply with her. By breaking down financial and social barriers to tertiary education, First Foundation creates genuine opportunities for talented young people who might otherwise be overlooked. Milly believes this work is vital to building a truly inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand, one where our future leaders reflect the rich diversity of our communities.

Outside of work, Milly enjoys time outdoors – skiing in the winter – with her two daughters, Ruby and Coco, and catching up with friends whenever she can.

The Speaker for June 3rd is:

Jim Morrow

Age 74

 Married to a very supportive wife, with 2 adult daughters who think Dad’s crazy!

Started outdoors exploration age 13 with a school tramping  club.

Joined Auckland Tramping Club at 17, member ever since, tramping, climbing, and ski-ing. Alpine instructor for Te Puke High School Outdoor Education each winter at Mt Ruapehu.

2005.First visit to Himalaya ,Tibet, trekking and sled hauling, summit Lhakpa Ri Peak 7045M.

2007, Tibet, attempt on Cho Oyu, 8201M, turned back by storm.

2009, Nepal, with a party of 4 made first known ascent north side of Himlung, 7126M

2011, Tibet, Mt. Everest by North Ridge route, 8848M

2012, Nepal, Led Auckland Tramping Club, 1 month expedition to Mustang Kingdom and

Saribung Peak 6338M 

2014, Tibet, Cho Oyu summit, 8201M. World’s 6^th highest mountain.

2016, Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia Island, Footsteps of Shackleton Expedition. 2016. Nepal, Led Auckland Tramping Club, 1 month expedition to remote Dolpo region in North West Nepal.  

• Argentina, Aconcagua summit, 6962M. Highest mountain outside of the Himalaya. 2018. Nepal, Led Auckland Tramping Club, 1 month expedition to Kanchenjunga in Eastern Nepal.
• Hawaii, with Hawaii Trail Club, 4 day climb of Mauna Loa volcano, 4169M.
• Tanzania, 8 days to Mt Kilimanjaro summit, 5895M. 

2020. Tanzania,  8 days safari to Serengeti.

2023. Nepal, Led Auckland tramping Club 18 day expedition to remote Naar-Phu region,  revisited Mt Himlung, climbed in 2009.

• Antarctica. With party of 5 climbed Vinson 4892M. Highest peak in Antarctica.
• Alaska, attempt on Denali 6190M, turned back at 4000M due to injury.

The Speaker for May 20th is:

Professor John Collins

Biography for Professor John P Collins (2025)

After completing his medical education in Ireland, John underwent surgical training in England during which time he shared in the Moynihan Prize and was awarded his MCH. He then joined the University Department of Surgery in Auckland and later completed his MD in medical education. He subsequently became head of one the University’s two clinical schools and head of General Surgery at Middlemore Hospital. He has served on a number of New Zealand Ministry of Health Committees.

He has been a member of the Board of Surgical Training, Chair of the Court of Examiners in General Surgery and Foundation Dean of Education at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He was Chair of the Australian Medical Council’s Joint Committee on Overseas Trained Specialists (JSCOTS). He has led major reviews of medical education in the UK, and of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand, Queensland Medical School, and Post Graduate Medical Training in New South Wales.

He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and the Academy of Medical Educators UK. He has been a Hunterian Professorship at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and was awarded the Sir Louis Barnett Prize, the Sir Alan Newton, Herbert Moran, and Archibald Watson Medals by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Until recently he was Visiting Professor in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and Fellow of Green Templeton College at the University of Oxford.  John is currently Professorial Fellow in Surgery at the University of Melbourne, Honorary Professor at the University of Auckland, and recently completed a PhD in History at the University of Auckland. He was recently appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2004.

The Speaker for May 6th is:

Grant Fox

Grant James Fox MBE, is a former rugby union player renowned for his exceptional goal-kicking skills. He played as a fly-half and was a pivotal member of the All Blacks team that clinched the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

In recognition of his contributions to rugby, Fox was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014. He also served as a selector for the All Blacks, helping shape the team’s composition and strategy.

Grant Fox is the father of professional golfer Ryan Fox, who has represented New Zealand on the international stage.

Fox’s legacy in rugby is marked by his precision kicking, tactical acumen, and significant contributions to New Zealand’s rugby heritage.

In his working life, Grant has been involved in the sports marketing industry for nearly 40 years and is currently the CEO of Monstavision.

He has been married to Adele for 40 years. They have two children, Ryan and Kendall, and five grandchildren.

Kenneth Brummel

Kenneth has over fifteen years of experience working at major art museums in Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the United States of America. In 2021–22, he was co-curator with Dr Susan Behrends Frank of The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, of Picasso: Painting the Blue Period, which in 2022 was named a top-10 international exhibition by The Wall Street Journal and the third-best exhibition in the world by The Washington Post. His collaborative research in the emerging field of technical art history has been covered in major magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and Science. A specialist of 19th- and 20th-century international art, he has mounted exhibitions on a range of modern artists, including Vilhelm Hammershøi, Joan Mitchell and Jean Paul Riopelle, Anthony Caro, and Andy Warhol. Kenneth holds a Masters in Art History from The University of Chicago.

The Speaker for April 8th is:

Eleanor Holroyd

Eleanor is a Professor in Nursing and Associate Dean of International, and Engagement, the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Co-director of the AUT Centre For Migrant and Refugee Health Research(CMRHR), and has a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology, She has 30 years of experience working in the international university sector, predominantly in Asia (the Chinese University of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore, University of Hong Kong campus Shenzhen) and Australia as well as more recently in East Africa, (Aga Khan University). Her research and teaching focus on health equity, human rights, and social justice has spanned nursing, public health, and social sciences academic disciplines. She has been focusing on social impact, with community outreach projects and NGO board memberships as well as contributing to the set up of steering committees, building relationships and partnerships with key community organizations, and writing joint publications and proposals.

Kathryn Jones

Dr Kathryn Jones has been involved with the Tiritiri Matangi Island project since 2005. Her roles have included participating in the kōkako and tīeke monitoring teams, guiding visitors, compiling Fauna Notes for Tiri’s Dawn Chorus magazine, as membership secretary, working as an archivist, and engaging in various citizen science projects.

Kathryn holds a diverse background in science, commercial law, and management. She is a customer manager for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, the government’s business development agency. Her PhD was on Alzheimer’s disease.

The Speaker for 11th March is:

Sam Stubbs

Sam Stubbs founded Simplicity, the not-for-profit KiwiSaver provider, in 2016. He had earlier made his fortune in banking, working at Goldman Sachs in London and Hong Kong before returning to New Zealand and becoming managing director of Hanover Group, “for the money”, which he says was a poor decision. He left in February 2009 after just seven months in the job. He has also worked for NatWest Markets, Fay, Richwhite and IBM NZ and been a board member of the Financial Services Council and a member of the Government Taskforce on Financial Services.