WelCom June 2018:
“The major award – the O’Shea Shield – was shared by Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt, and St Catherine’s College. The fact that winning the O’Shea Shield was a shared result, and that the Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runners-up was shared by three schools: St Patrick’s College, Wellington; St John’s College, Hastings; and Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth, is real evidence, this year, of just how close the competition was.” – Cathy Ryan
Joint Winners of 2018 O’Shea Shield, St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie (host college); and Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt.
The Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runners-up was shared by St Patrick’s College, Wellington; St John’s College, Hastings; and Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth.
2018 O’Shea Shield a success in more ways than one
Kathy Ryan
Despite damp weather, spirits were far from dampened at St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie, over the weekend of May 12‒13. The 72nd O’Shea Shield competition was hosted by St Catherine’s for the first time. The mammoth task of welcoming and looking after a total of 17 schools – some 300 students and accompanying teachers, parents and supporters – involved every member of the College community.
The weekend theme was ‘Youth – Faith – Joy’, drawn from the preparatory document for the Synod, called by Pope Francis to be held in October this year that looks in to young people, their faith and vocational discernment. Over the weekend, youth, faith and joy was apparent in abundance, as students from all the colleges met each other, socialised together and had fun ‒ in spite of competing for the coveted Shield.
Winners of the various sections came from a range of different colleges, with the major award – the O’Shea Shield itself – being shared by Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) and St Catherine’s College. The fact that winning the O’Shea Shield was a shared result, and that the Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runners-up was shared by three schools: St Patrick’s College, Wellington: St John’s College, Hastings; and Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth, is real evidence, this year, of just how close the competition was. St Catherine’s has a very proud history of success in this competition. Success in the O’Shea Shield carries the same importance as winning any sporting event. Last year, the College placed third overall in the competition, having won the Shield for the previous four consecutive years. In the past 20 years there has rarely been a year when St Catherine’s has not been amongst the top three schools in the competition. This success is driven by a small but dedicated group of teachers and old girls who put in many hours with the 17 students in the O’Shea team, to ensure the girls showcase their extraordinary talents and represent St Catherine’s to the highest level.
“The major award – the O’Shea Shield – was shared by Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt, and St Catherine’s College. The Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runners-up was shared by St Patrick’s College, Wellington; St John’s College, Hastings, and Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth.”
This year, this task was magnified by the responsibility of hosting the competition. Every event needed staff and students to run everything smoothly, and 25 expert adjudicators were called in to judge the competitors and provide feedback to help them to further develop their skills. Hosting the competition required every staff member and student to come on board, so that the weekend was a great success.
Nan Walden, the Head of Technology at St Catherine’s College, mobilised a talented army of students, staff and PTA members for provide high quality food for everyone, and the logistics of this job rated an article of its own in the NZ Education Gazette recently, as Nan was able to use this real-life catering experience for her students to be assessed and gain NCEA credits into the bargain.
Winning the Shield once again is definitely ‘the cherry on the top’ of a wonderful weekend, full of spirit and joy – a definite success in more ways than one.
Next year St Peter’s College, Palmerston North, host the O’Shea Shield.
The eight events
- Debate (Tautohetohe)
- Junior Prepared Speech – Year 9 and 10 students (Whaikōrero Teina)
- Te Reo Scripture Reading (Pānui Karaipiture i Te Reo Māori)
- Scripture Reading (Panui Karaipiture i Te Reo Pakeha)
- Oratory (Whaikōrero Tuakana)
- Religious Drama (Toi Whakaari Whakapono)
- Impromptu Speaking (Kōrero Tene)
- Religious Questions – based on the [Youth] pre-Synod document (Ngā Patai Whakapono)
O’Shea Shield 2018 – Te Hira O’Shea 2018
The 72nd O’Shea Shield annual celebration of the Catholic Secondary school cultural competition was hosted by St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie, over the weekend of May 12–13. Wellington and Palmerston North Diocesan Catholic College students participated in eight speech and drama events including: debating, religious questions, prepared speech, impromptu speeches, religious drama, scripture reading, oratory and scripture reading in Te Reo Māori. Seventeen Colleges took part. St Peter’s College, Palmerston North, is the O’Shea Shield host for 2019.
‘An incredible experience which I was privileged to be a part of. It was amazing to meet so many young, talented people in such a short amount of time and I have come away inspired.’
– Nina Brown, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth
‘I was so proud of my 65 sisters’ – Tuimaleali’ifano Fiso, Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt
‘I joined the drama team at the last minute, and I was glad that I did because I got to experience what it felt like to win the Shield.’ – Amanda Pili, Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt
‘O’Shea Shield 2018 was quite honestly one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had! Although the sense of competition was strong, the atmosphere never ceased to be full of love and joy. There were so many amazing new people I am so thankful to have met and I am overall so grateful to have had this opportunity.’ – Cherry Symonds, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth
‘When I found out that we had won the Shield I was happy and it was also good to see Mrs Potter crying tears of joy.’ – Tiara Nanai-Iafeta, Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt
Competition Results
Winner of the St Catherine’s Cup for Best Negative Debating Team
Jade Alborn, Megan Ritchie, Theodore Gabites
Garin College, Nelson
Winner of the St Mary’s Cup for Best Affirmative Debating Team
Barnaby Elder, Ralph Zambrano, Joseph Sison
St Patrick’s College, Wellington
Te Kaipānui i te Kupu Cup for Scripture Reading in Te Reo Maori, Section A, donated by Bishop Charles Drennan DD
Wharewaiata Rolls
St John’s College, Hastings
Te Kaipānui i te Kupu Cup for Scripture Reading in Te Reo Maori, Section B, donated by Cardianl John Dew DD
Moana Paringatai-Hare
St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College
Winner of the George Family Cup for Junior Prepared Speech Section A
Brereton McKee
St Catherine’s College
Winner of the Vaughan Family Cup for Junior Prepared Speech Section B
Zach Newton
St Patrick’s College, Wellington
Winner of the Cardinal McKeefry Cup for Oratory Section A
Tuiamaleali’ifano Fiso
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt
Winner of the Bishop Cullinane Cup for Oratory Section B
Marcus Tumaai
St Patrick’s College, Wellington
Winner of The Catherine McAuley Cup for Scripture Reading Section A
Laura Hewson
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt
The winner of the St Peter Chanel Cup for Scripture Reading Section B
Dylan Bennett
St Bernard’s College, Lower Hutt
Winner of the Bishop Owen Snedden Memorial Cup for Drama
Bri Mitchell, Josephine Paxie, Anna Rogers, Shana Corkill, Zoe Simpson
St Mary’s College, Wellington
Winner of The Society of Mary Cup for Drama
Theo Gordon, Martin McPhee, Viki Moananu, Tamati Moriarty, Aaron de Rose
St Patrick’s College, Wellington and William Adams, Max Clifton, Sebastian White,
Te Atatu Patelesio, Manase Taulanga St Patrick’s College, Silverstream
Winner of the Sacred Heart Lower Hutt Jubilee Cup for Impromptu Speaking Section A
Caleb Mathews
Hato Pāora College, Feilding
Winner of The Silverstream Cup for Impromptu Speaking Section B
Brendan English
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream
Winner of the Hibernian Cup for Religious Questions Section A
Janina Go, Maia Cunningham, Amber Woolcock
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt
Winner of The Mercy Cup for Religious Questions Section B
Min Xin Lee, Anna Bejoy, Kayley Hamlyn
St Mary’s College, Wellington
The Jubilee Plaque awarded to the hosting school for 2019
St Peter’s College, Palmerston North
The Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runner-up
Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth and St John’s College, Hastings and St Patrick’s College, Wellington
The O’Shea Shield for 2018
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt and St Catherine’s College, Wellington