Page 49 - NHS Beyond the Classroom
P. 49
enthusiasm certainly is, and with good coaching, advantage of shopping and sight-seeing
inter-school and even international contact like we opportunities. Most of them attended all the
provided and a great deal of practice, the standard matches and their support was much appreciated.
will undoubtedly improve. Travel arrangements went very smoothly
We were bigger than all but one of our throughout the tour and it was comforting to have a
opposing teams (United World College) and we travel agent meet us at each destination, helping us
struck an unfortunate time of the year (September) through formalities and assisting with transport to
because seniors were sitting exams and were not and from matches, arranging sight-seeing tours for
always available for matches. the whole party, insisting on certain discounts, and
This did not, however, detract from the fine even taking the tour management out to lunch and/
rugby played by our boys who coped extremely or dinner. Alister Calder and A.T.A. Travel are to
well with the sometimes fierce heat, although many be complimented for the fine job they did with all
were walking by the end of the games! arrangements.
There were no major injuries during the In summary, the tour was an outstanding
matches and grazes sustained by hard grounds, in success for all 49 members of the party. Nobody
particular the pitted and rock-hard surface at was unhappy or disappointed at the end of the tour,
Raffles Institution, healed quickly. apart from possibly one or two who contributed
Sickness was also not a problem. Nobody significantly to H.M. Customs at the Auckland
was ever bed-ridden and the few stomach Airport, a reflection of the time and money spent
complaints reported to the tour management were shopping!
minor and of short duration. All four aims of the tour - sporting, cultural,
Safe drinking water was never in short educational and social - overlapped in a most
supply and although the boys did try the Asian hearteningly successful way. We are proud of the
food they did not enjoy it on the whole, and boys, proud of their sporting prowess, proud of
amazing amounts of nutrition was derived from their maturity and proud of the dignified manner in
potato crisps, chocolate bars, McDonald’s burgers which they conducted themselves for the full two
and Kentucky Fried Chicken! weeks. All members benefitted enormously from
The tour management, on the other hand, the experience and all would repeat it if they had
were very enthusiastic about the local food and ate the opportunity.
as wide a variety of Asian foods as possible. Martin Weren (Tour Manager)
The supporters, under the very capable Chris Grinter (Coach & Tour Leader)
direction and supervision of John Clayton, Maurie Abraham (Assistant Manager & Coach)
thoroughly enjoyed the tour and took maximum
1st XV Captain Joseph Tahana’s Report on the Asian Tour
The 1983 season will The tour was excellent and
always remind me of our Asian successful, playing six games. My
Tour, a historic journey, and the thanks to all the squad members
winning for the second time in for their tremendous support and
three years of the Vic McKenzie team spirit which made my
Trophy on College Day. position as Captain more
The tour of Asia began in enjoyable. This extended
Singapore where I was attracted throughout the whole of the
by the cleanliness of the city and season, as well as the tour.
its beauty. I learned the technique My appreciation also
of bargaining and had my first extends to Mr Weren, Mr
taste of Malaysian food, Abraham and Mr Clayton for their
The part of Singapore that administration of the tour and to
had the greatest impact on me our New Zealand-based Manager
was seeing Bougis Street. You Mr McIntosh, who unfortunately
name it, it was there (almost could not tour with us. To Mr
putting the pornography industry Murphy and the school for its
out of business)! continuing interest in the team, I
From Singapore the tour thank you.
progressed on to Malaysia, which My final acknowledgement
brings to my mind the Capital is to Mrs Grinter for being so
Kuala Lumpur. Its description - understanding in the amount of
Yuck! The place appeared to me time her husband spent away from
an environment almost up to the standard of the home and family.
Ngaruawahia rubbish dump! One exception was Mr Grinter - my rugby career has gone a
the sewage channel situated in Kuala Lumpur. long way - thank you for planting the seed.
