Scots College – Learning. For Life.

We are pleased to share with you the speech of Don Neely (MNZM, MBE) from the Hodge Sports Centre opening last 04 November 2011.  Mr Neely was past President of NZ Cricket, with 14 years as a New Zealand cricket selector.

Thank you Mr. Yule for those very kind words.

Good morning to the Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown and Councillors; The Hon Members of Parliament, Annette King, Heather Roy and Chris Finlayson; Mr. Grant Dennis, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Scots College and Board members; Mr. Graeme Yule, Headmaster and the staff of Scots College; boys of the Prep School; gentlemen of the Secondary School; ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Headmaster for inviting me to be with you today to cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the Hodge Sports Centre. I am deeply honoured.

When I was in the third form, (year 9), at Rongotai College I was torn between playing softball or cricket. I loved playing both games.  In the first term of 1949 we played Scots on the wicket at the southern end of this ground. When Rongotai won, I was 53 not out. It was the first time that I had scored a half century and after that I devoted all my attention to cricket and so it has remained that way for the past 62 years.

My wife, Paddianne has been the Scots College Archivist for 25 years.  I was helping her one-day about a year ago when Mr. Maurice Harry asked me to come over to his office.  There he showed me drawings of the proposed Covered Sports Centre.

I was dazzled by the drawings because all the indoor centres that I had used as a cricket coach had been old halls or add-ons to an existing building.  They all lacked financial support, warmth, good lighting and top-level conditions.  When I turned the lights off to leave, even in the afternoon, the areas were plunged into darkness.

Over the last nine months I have been fascinated to see the drawings come to life.  I offer my congratulations to the innovative architects that have been responsible for the most exciting cricket development that I have encountered from Lords Cricket Ground to the Sydney Cricket Ground. How an area 60 metres by 20 metres, previously the home of five, well-worn concrete wickets could be transformed into this stunning creation, is a revelation to me.

The timber beams, built like the rib cage of a giant whale encased with translucent polycarbonate sheeting, will allow a high level of diffused light and provide natural warmth.  They are breath-taking features and will serve well, all the various sports that will practice here.

Athletes, from whatever sport they are practicing, will feel that they are in excellent outdoor playing conditions even though they are inside, and a fierce southerly is raging, outside.

Soon the area where the pupils are now congregated will be cleared and nets, which are currently roosting in the roof, will be lowered by pressing a button to create courts and different playing spaces.

It takes courage to make bold decisions and to Mr. Dennis and previous Chairmen of the Board of Governors and Board Members, may you always be proud of the architectural legacy that you have created for Scots College.

During the 14 years that I was a New Zealand selector I had the greatest respect for Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe.  Both these great world-class players, dreamt from about the age of eight of becoming New Zealand champions.

They read every cricket book that they could find.  They continually played cricket in the back lawn with their elder brothers.  They haunted club venues to see if they could get a game if any team was short of players.  They worked at test venues selling programmes. They collected autographs and spoke to national and international visitors. And they continued to dream.  They are living proof that dreams can come true, provided that you work very hard.

Today I envy all the boys in the prep school.  The Hodge Sports Centre will be your constant companion for the duration of your education at Scots College, be it for five or another ten years, no matter what sport you play.

To the boys in the Senior School I think aloud when I say, “Where were these facilities when I needed them most?” BUT BEWARE – you have exceptional facilities.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that they will ensure your progress into representing the College Ist XI, or representing Wellington provincial sides and later New Zealand teams.

The Hodge Sports Centre is a world-class indoor centre and it is up to you make full use of it.  You must, in discussion with Mr. Christie van Dyke, set yourself attainable goals that you want to achieve and by working hard, and practicing with full concentration, you may reach your targets, then you will reassess them and set the bar higher

People will be there to assist you to improve yourselves just like your masters do in class. Always enjoy what you are doing and remember that sport is firstly about having fun and please, please, begin to dream about conquering the wonderful world of cricket.  THANK YOU.