Old Boys and Girls To Be Courted

Funding has been secured to encourage ex-pupils of Otago schools to visit, move or invest in the region. The Economic Development Unit within the City Council has received funding from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to co-ordinate a project that will help old boys and old girls associations to track down ex-pupils who now live outside the region. The project will also assist the alumni groups to improve communication and re-unions.

Peter Harris, Manager of the Economic Development Unit said that the project aims to "re-engage" ex-pupils now aged 30-50 to offer them inspiring opportunities to become involved with the region again. "Many people leave the region with very fond memories of their time here", he said. "We want to ensure they not only get to relive these times through re-unions, but that they understand the ways the region has changed since they left, and the opportunities there might be for them here now". EDU Business Development Advisor, Deb Sutton, is co-ordinating the project and will be creating online databases and re-union tools for use by alumni organisations, and then encouraging these groups to pass on opportunities to their ex-pupils.

The project will assist secondary and tertiary providers streamline their communication and offer ways to organise re-unions more easily. This will help keep ex-pupils informed about what is happening at the school and provide opportunities to support schools in future projects. Mr Harris further commented “The potential to be involved with local businesses also will help ex-pupils feel more involved with the city bringing benefits to the school, ex-pupils and the community around us."

Otago Forward, the regional economic development agency, backed the project. Clive Geddes, Queenstown mayor and chair of Otago Forward, said that it will help connect businesses looking for staff, investment or mentoring with alumni scattered around the world who have goodwill towards Otago. "This project will help alumni turn good memories into great opportunities and will offer Otago businesses an incredible pool of talent, contacts and investment", he said.