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Since the early days of the Club's history, a strong link has been maintained between the
Club and the school through a regular inter-change of visits and the oratory contest.
In 1964 Eric Mason presented a cup for oratory to be contested between girls of the College.
Originally the contests were held in front of Club members, with the members voting for
the winner.
Club member Des Lanigan
had a strong link with the school and served on it Board of Governors for
several years in the late 1980's. A Maori speaker, he provided a valuable
cultural link during exchange visits, a role later taken on by Duncan
Jamieson, Richard Spence and Hans Hollis.
By
2000, with the strong development of Maori speaking, the winner has been decided by the
school, with the winner repeating the speech to members at the school's annual visit to the Club.
Early Assistance.
The
following are Bulletin extracts.
1968 Club give $36 to cover sports
affiliation fees. -
In
1969 the Club purchased a microscope for the school funded by a project
selling name plates. -
A
report in the Bulletin 14th May 1970, reports that $40 was paid to cover the
school's basketball and hockey affiliation fees. Generally however the Club
has assisted through providing Job Interview training and vocational advice
evenings, as well as provided prizes for the winners of the Mason Cup for
Oratory. -
July
1970, Invitation to Club members and wives to a School function in
appreciation for $40 donation for sports fees.
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Eric Mason, Foundation Member and
donor and judge of the Mason Cup
Des Lanigan served on the
school's Board of Governors |
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The Eric Mason Cup
The origins of the Cup go
back to 1963 when a contest in public speaking was held between girls
of Colenso High School and St Joseph's Maori Girls' College. This kind
of inter-school contest was changed the following year, with Past
President Ron Munro donating a cup for public speaking to Colenso, and
Eric Mason did likewise for St. Joseph's. The link with Colenso died
with the building of Taradale High School in 1970.
1964 Eric Mason presents
a cup for public speaking. -
1968 Ann Greatorex. Her topic was a tribute to Sir Apirana
Ngata. Ann presented her talk to a full Club meeting at the Club rooms. This is reported
to be the first Mason Cup talk to be given at the Club Rooms. -
1971 Stephanie Henderson;
cup presented personally by Eric Mason. -
1975 Laura Hond; 3 speakers attended a Club meeting with Sister Maureen.;
cup presented personally by Eric Mason. -
1978 Nannette Wehipeihana;
cup presented personally by Eric Mason. -
1979 Tracy McIndoe
The Cup was lost for a
period of time but a new one was purchased to replace it. Jim Dine told
the story in a 3 Minute talk he gave to the Club in late 1999. He had been given
the honour of presenting the new cup to the school at a combined meeting with
the school in 1989.
In March 1989 I had the honour of presenting to St Joseph's
Maori Girls' College on behalf of the club. The trophy that will be presented
tonight to the winner of St. Joseph's College Speech Contest is a replacement as
the original cup was lost about 1980. The cup is known as The Eric
Mason Cup and it was first presented round about 1964.
The format for the contest at that time was for three girls,
selected by the College as the three best orators, to speak to the Club at the
St Joseph's Night. Voting was by club members, the winner receiving the cup and
all contestants were given book tokens.
Of the man who donated the original cup, Past President
Eric Mason was an Englishman in the true sense of the word, cultured in both
speech and bearing. He was, I might add, a particularly good orator himself
being able to talk with authority on almost any subject. He could fill the guest
speaker's place on club nights at a moments notice and always gave an
interesting and entertaining address.
Eric first visited New Zealand in 1953 and liked the country
so much that when he returned to England he sold up and came back to settle
permanently at Poraite. He was a Charter Member of the Club in 1959 with the
classification of Horticulture, Director of Community Service in the 62--63 year
and President for the 64--65 year. He was a Senior Active member of the club
when he passed away in 1983.
I will conclude with the sentence I used at the re
presentation, "May this cup continue the memory of a very fine man and the
friendly association between St Joseph's College and The Rotary Club of
Taradale". Thank You.
Jim Dine. 14/10/1999 (3 minute talk)
The
Summer Science Schools
Since 1998, the Club has supported the school
by nominating girls to attend Summer Science Schools, the most common of which is at the
Waikato University. Attendance at this school has had a great impact on the girls
attending and an even greater impact on the school and its community, because the girls
have been very successful an this success has inspired other girls to study science at
University.
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1998 Racheal Viles
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2003 Hester Goodwin, Naedene Ngoungou
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2004 Marama Paku; Kelly Ratana
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2005 Hester Goodwin & Manawa Roa
Sproat
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2006 Teremoana Metuamate and Kataraina
Reihana
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2008 Gina Reed, Kataraina Faiers
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2009 Deena Tapara
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2013 Madison Clark-Taylor, Kema
Hawke and Karangawai
Paringatai-Hare (Waikato
University).Lyric Bird & Te -Waihuka
Herewini-McDougal (Rotary National Science Technology Forum Auckand
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2015 Hinewai Hosford
& Elsa Hug-Nicol
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2016
Ranera Keepa and Hiraia
Haami-Wells
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2017
Marie Scott, Daria Bell and
Paretao Tipoki-Hansen
Recent History
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Each year visits have
been exchanged between the Club and School. For many years, the Club
held one meeting at the school every second year, but recently the
meeting has been held in the Main Hall of the Taradale Town Hall,
where members and their wives have greatly enjoyed the girls
performances of Maori songs and poi action songs.
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In the past members have
assisted the girls by putting them through mock interviews, and the
Club sponsors the school senior speech prize with a Cup (called the
Mason Cup in memory of a past member, Eric Mason) and a financial
award.
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This photo was taken at a meeting in the old Town Hall in 1975. Girl's from St
Joseph's were guests of the Club and competed for the Mason Cup.
Eric Mason can be
seen rear.
Sister Maureen Richardson in the centre.
Laura Hond, Mason Cup winner 1975
Jim Dine.
Represented a new cup to replace
the lost
Mason Cup 1989
Rangimarie Rautjoki receives the Mason Cup
from President Richard Howell, 2008
Katariena Faiers Winner of the Mason
Cup 2009
Alana Broughton receives the
Mason Cup from Director of New Generations, Paul Bee, 2013
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