Onslow College

Onslow College is a state co-educational secondary school located in Johnsonville, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. It had a student population in 2020 of 1250 students. The current principal is Sheena Millar.

History

Onslow College opened in 1956 to serve Wellington's rapidly growing northern suburbs. It was named after the 4th Earl of Onslow, governor of New Zealand from 1889 to 1892.

The school roll grew from 201 third form pupils in 1956 to 1180 pupils in 1969.

The "Onslow Way" is difficult to define but a former principal Stuart Martin described it as "socially liberal but educationally conservative, decile 10 but physically run down". In 1969, Peggy-Anne Wendelken became New Zealand's first woman chair of a school board of governors; at this time Onslow's board had student representation, twenty years before this became a legal requirement.

The school has not had a school uniform since 1974 when it was abolished following student protest, despite the strong opposition of the Headmaster. In 2016 Onslow was one of the first schools in the region to have gender-neutral toilets for students.

Several staff have received awards for teaching excellence. Terry Burrell, received the prestigious Prime Minister's Science Teacher Prize in 2014, and the same year Esme Danielsen (Maths) received a Woolf Fisher Fellowship.

Onslow students won The Prime Minister's Future Scientist Prize in 2009, 2016 and 2018.

Music – Smokefree Rockquest Wellington regional finalists in 2021 were Obsidian Sun. In 2016 Onslow College bands and individuals took out 5 of the 8 awards the Regional Final: Best Vocalist – Raquel Abolins-Reid, Musicianship Award – Noah Spargo, Best Lyricist – Sarah Mc Bride, 3rd placed band – Bird on a Wire, 1st placed band and overall winners of the Wellington Regional Final – Retrospect.

In 2017 Onslow College won the Wellington regional "Festival Cup" for the school best representing the spirit of the Big Sing, a school choral festival organised by the New Zealand Choral Federation.

On 13 February 1997, 18-year-old former student Nicholas Hawker murdered 15-year-old St Mary's College student Vanessa Woodman on the school's grounds. Woodman was strangled, had her throat slit, and was stabbed 32 times. Hawker was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 10-year non-parole period. He was released on parole in 2015, but is not allowed in the North Island.

School principals

The school has had the following principals:

* 2018 – present Sheena Millar
* 2010–2018 Peter Leggat
* 2009-2009 Hamish Davidson (acting)
* 2001–2009 Dr Stuart Martin
* 1998–2000 Peter Smith
* 1994–1998 John Carlyon
* 1987–1993 Neale Pitches
* 1979–1986 Bill Officer
* 1977–1979 Harvey Rees-Thomas
* 1966–1977 Dudley Hughes
* 1956–1965 Colin Watt

Notable alumni

Academia

* James Belich – Professor of History and writer
* Mary Morgan-Richards – Professor of Wildlife evolution

The Arts

* Jackie van Beek – film and television director, writer and actor
* John McDougall – guitarist-songwriter (The Holidaymakers)
*Fazerdaze - singer-songwriter
*Kate Camp – poet and author
*Nick Bollinger – musician (Rough Justice, Windy City Strugglers), music critic and author
* Peter Marshall – singer (The Holidaymakers)
*Rosemary McLeod – writer
* Taika Waititi – film director and actor. Academy award winner.

Broadcasting and journalism

* Ian Wishart – editor ''Investigate'' magazine
* Rocky Wood – non-fiction author and freelance journalist
* Warwick Slow – radio DJ

Public service

* Catherine Delahunty – Green Party MP
*Georgina Beyer – the world's first transgender mayor and later member of parliament.
* Tāmati Coffey – Former TVNZ ''Breakfast'' weather presenter; Labour Party MP (2017–present)
* Trevor Mallard – former Labour Party MP and Speaker Of The House
* Sandra Lee-Vercoe – first Maori woman to win a general seat in Parliament

Sport

* Alan Isaac – International Cricket Council President
*Gavin Larsen – New Zealand cricket player
*Jeremy Coney – New Zealand cricket player
*Joe Wright – New Zealand Olympic Rower 2015
* Martin Dreyer – New Zealand Chess Champion
* Noah Billingsley – New Zealand football player
* Richard Ussher – New Zealand multisport athlete & World AR champion 2005/2006

Notable staff

* Jeremy Coney – New Zealand cricket player
* Penny Kinsella – New Zealand cricket player
* Tina Manker – German Olympic rower

References

External links

NZQA Provider Details – Onslow College

School 50th Reunion website

A Brief History of Onslow College
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{{Schools in Wellington

Educational institutions established in 1956
Secondary schools in the Wellington Region
Schools in Wellington City
1956 establishments in New Zealand