A former Wakatipu High student is thrilled to be working for an organisation dedicated to resourcing it across the board.
Arrowtowner Celeste Collie is the new executive officer for the Wakatipu High School Foundation, which this year plans to fund the school to the tune of $450,000.
‘‘What they achieve is really incredible,’’ she says.
Having attended Wakatipu High in the ’90s, she has ‘‘super-great’’ memories of its Branches Camp and outdoor education programme, in particular.
But Collie says the school — literally, because of its new campus, and figuratively — is ‘‘completely different’’ from her day.
‘‘Knowing the history of Wakatipu High School, it perhaps didn’t have this amazing reputation, now it does.’’
Its academic achievements are particularly impressive nowadays, she points out, while it’s also offering a broad range of extracurricular activities.
After studying at Otago University, Collie worked in the wine industry, in marketing, both locally and then in Sydney, between ‘‘a little bit of mothering’’.
She shifted back to the local area early last year, and has one daughter who’s Year 9 at Wakatipu High, and another who attends Arrowtown School.
She says her new role is ‘‘a great opportunity to be part of something that’s so crucial to the community and something obviously I hold really dear’’.
The foundation recently raised about $66,000 from a fundraiser at Flame restaurant, and will raise further funds from
a Whiffenpoofs choral concert in August and a golf day in October.
