Ross Preece.The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will continue to be felt into the 2021 school year, with Ashburton College watching as $100,000 is carved from its income now the well of international students has dried up.

Principal Ross Preece counts himself lucky that the school’s international students number only 20 each year; many schools count their numbers in 100 or more and that will equate to a significant drop in funds, he said.

“We’re planning on zero students next year and every other secondary school will be in the same boat, but we’re fortunate in that we are not overly dependent on them.

“We can cope with $100,000 less.”

Three staff were involved with the international student programme and they had all been redeployed in other areas of the school, Preece said.

When the door opened to students from overseas, New Zealand was likely to be a winner against many other countries, he said.

“Our agencies in Germany for example, have students queuing up to come to New Zealand.

“This has enhanced our reputation as a safe country.

“Unlikely as it seems, the Covid crisis will be a benefit for us with our international marketing.”

High demand from students for places in New Zealand schools is unlikely to see the college up its numbers, however, with Preece saying he preferred to stick within the ministry’s recommended number guidelines of 5 per cent of the school roll.

A year without any international students, however, would definitely change the flavour of the school, he said.

The pandemic will also see the college put all off-shore school trips on hold for the next year.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 18 December 2020

Smiles of success from students Neil Alombro, Mount Hutt College (centre) and Marshall Ashton, Ashburton College, winners of $2000 scholarships, awarded by EA Networks chairman Phil McKendry. Photo Sue Newmant’s every student’s dream, being handed a job opportunity before you’ve completed your course of study.

And thanks to EA Networks, graduating Year 13 students, Marshall Ashton (Ashburton College) and Neil Alombro (Mount Hutt College), have each received a $2000 boost to their bank accounts and the option of holiday employment and employment prospects post study.

The pair received their scholarship certificates this week from EA Networks board chair Phil McKendry and when the university year begins, Marshall will be heading off to Victoria Univerisity to study computer science and computer graphics, while Neil heads to Canterbury University to study engineering.

Part of the scholarship deal is the offer of holiday employment and the possibility of employment on graduation.

Marshall has been on the holiday payroll for the past 18 months and Neil said he was keen to look at job opportunities until university started.

A scholarship winner who understands the value of working in an industry that’s linked to your course of study is one of last year’s winners Harrison Hyde.

Before heading to university he worked in EA Networks IT department and has returned to that job each holiday break.

He’s studying towards a Bachelor if ICCT and said working at EA Networks gave him a good understanding of the practical application of his studies.

“Yes, it was good that I got the money, but there was a real advantage to getting some real experience on the ground and knowing how relationships were built.

“And I’ve been able to come back to EA and talk about my studies,” he said.

In presenting the scholarships, McKendry said they were established in 1996 to mark the lines company’s 75th birthday and had continued to be awarded annually to one or more students.

Those scholarships were made to students who excelled in areas that were related to EA Networks’ business such as ITC and engineering.

As a company, EA Networks was consumer owned and it supported the future of the Ashburton District, he said.

“We want to see it grow and progress, we’re about sustaining our community.

“Our job is to keep the lights on and the web connected.”

The company was now about far more than poles and power lines, however, McKendry said, with the bulk of its 130 staff employed in the areas of engineering or IT.

Across its divisions it had about $300 million worth of assets and very low debt.

The real value of the company, however, was the people it employed and the investment it made in them, he said.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 17 December 2020

BBrendon Adam sets himself for a forehand shot during open grade interclub tennis on Saturday. Photo Heather MackenzieA nine-match sweep by Team Yonex has resulted in Wilson plunging out of top spot.

It was a lopsided affair between the two teams in Mid Canterbury’s open grade interclub sixth round clash, as Yonex moved into a share of second spot after claiming 11 points.

Overtaking Wilson on top was Babolat, who claimed a 9-3 win over Team Head in the other interclub meet.

Babolat’s win came off the back of a 6-2 win in the singles and a 3-1 win in the doubles.

Lee Gilbert, Jayden Cromie, Brendon Adam, Phil Crozier, Jacob Adam and John Leslie all claimed singles wins.

Tyler Leonard was toppled by Ethan Cooke in a three-setter, while Cromie was put through his paces by Riley Breen to eventually win 7-5 7-6 (5).

Leslie’s battle with Angel Spooner was also a prolonged bout, taken to three sets (6-4 3-6 10-6).

Yonex dominated the match against Wilson, not conceding a single set, according to the scorecard.

While Neil McCann was taken to a second set tiebreaker against Gareth Evans, Rhys Cromie, Aidan Watt, Ryan Watt, Josh Jones and Clinton Cooke all put on excellent displays in their singles match-ups.

The side’s rule of the court did not stop there, with clinical wins in all three doubles encounters, which capped a prosperous day out for the newly minted frontrunners.

The competition’s third round phase begins this weekend before breaking for Christmas.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 16 December 2020