Years at Middleton Grange: 1982–1995 (New Entrant to Year 13)
Life at Middleton Grange
I was fortunate to spend my entire school life at Middleton Grange, starting as a wide-eyed New Entrant in 1982 and graduating at the end of Form 7 (year 13) in 1995 full of confidence and ready to take on the world (even if the world had other ideas at first!). Looking back, these years provided a foundation of faith, integrity, respect, and leadership that has continued to guide me throughout my life.
I loved sport at school. If you asked my parents, they would probably tell you that I went to school mainly to play sport and the rest of the day just happened around it! Sport was my passion – before school, at lunchtime, and after school you’d find me kicking a ball around, in the gym shooting hoops, or in the cricket nets. I represented the school at any sport I could and accumulated quite a collection of blazer awards and sports colours across a multitude of sports. In all seriousness though, the lessons learned on the field about teamwork, leadership, and resilience have stayed with me far beyond school life.
Other highlights from my school life included being part of the MGS 25th Jubilee in 1989, and being given a leadership role as a Prefect in 1995.
One of the greatest blessings from my time at Middleton has been the friendships formed along the way. Many of those connections have stood the test of time – there are at least a dozen fellow “ex-Middletonites” that I still catch up with regularly. It’s a reminder of just how strong the sense of community was (and no doubt, still is) at MGS.
Career Journey
After completing Form 7 (year 13), I went straight into the workforce and worked in various retail, hospitality, and customer service roles. In 2003, I secured a role as a sales rep for a global beverage sales/marketing business and spent the next 22 years in sales, marketing, and management roles for various liquor/beverage producers and distributors.
Today, I work as NZ & Asia-Pacific Sales Manager for Giesen Group, a local, family-owned producer who are a major player in the NZ wine industry and have gained a great reputation for their innovative approach to brewing and 0% beverage production. My role is pretty varied – one day I’m negotiating with major New Zealand supermarket chains and managing local distributor relationships, the next I’m working on export growth in places like China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
It’s a role that constantly challenges me, but I enjoy the mix of strategy, travel, and building relationships.
My career has been full of challenges and opportunities, and my faith has been central through it all – shaping how I lead, how I work with others, and how I navigate decisions and pressures in business.
Whanau & Community
I live in Redcliffs, Christchurch with my wife and children. We have four active, energetic, sport-mad boys – so life is never dull!
Family, community, and faith are at the centre of our lives, and our church community plays a huge role in shaping and supporting us. We’re actively involved in children’s ministry and broader church life, which continues to strengthen our family’s connection with God and with others.
Outside of work and church, I’m passionate about sport and community, and I love getting stuck in with roles/organisations focussed on our Tamariki.
These roles have given me the chance to give back, encourage young people, and to contribute and serve in the place we call home.
Reflections
Middleton Grange played a huge role in shaping who I am today. The combination of academic challenge, Christian character-building, and genuine community laid a foundation I still draw on daily – in my career, in family life, and through our church involvement. I’ll always be grateful for the teachers, the values instilled, and the friendships that began at Middleton Grange and continue to enrich my life.
Advice for Current Students
Life isn’t always easy, and the world we live in can sometimes be a hard place to exist – but don’t let it hold you back. Keep your faith strong and your perspective grounded. Remember that every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and every setback can build resilience if you allow it to. God will never throw anything at you that you can’t handle!
Embrace your faith and let God guide your path. Success isn’t only about what you achieve – it’s about how you go about it and the values you bring with you. Work hard, stay humble, keep a sense of humour, and trust that God will open the right doors at the right time.
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Say yes to opportunities, even if they feel daunting at first. Back yourself, stay curious, and remember that growth often happens in the moments where you feel stretched the most. Remember that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy!