2019 Common Election results
For 5 parent representatives
info Alphabetical order
We therefore declare the following duly elected:
Mr David John William Bennie, Mrs Jenny Donnelly, Mr Aaron Goodall, Mr Brent Webster and Mrs Tracey Maree Yardley.
Meet your representatives
My name is Dave Bennie and I am standing for the Otatara School Board. I am a recent resident of Otatara (3 years) with my wife Karen and my son Liam, but have lived in Southland my whole life. I grew up in Ohai and moved to Invercargill when I was 9. Salford, Rosedale Intermediate and James Hargest got me off to a great start in life. Then I started my IT career studying at the then Southland Polytech, where I was lucky enough to have my tutors recommended me for an IT helpdesk role at Southland Boys. This enabled me to start my own business for a few years and then I moved to join the team at Focus Technology Group. At Focus over the last 16 years I have gone from service engineer to technical team leader, shareholder and a director of the company. During this time, Focus has grown from 25 to a team of 63 across the South Island. I believe this experience in IT and governance will enable me to assist the school in its strategy and helping it to keep its strength in the future.
It’s not all work in life and one of our family projects has been growing native trees from seed and cuttings. This knowledge my wife learned from the Community Nursery and I am very much her apprentice. We hope to plant 800 new trees this year, which was a few less than our initial goal of 2000, but we are very much still learning. Its not hard work, when you love what you do.
My motivation to be elected to the board comes from wanting to be more active in this wonderful community and keep up the great work that is already being done at Otatara School. Being on the board to me is helping the staff and assisting in the development of new strategies to ensure the amazing learning environment continues for our current and future generations.
A core belief in the All Blacks is to leave their jersey in a better place than when they received it, and I too believe it is my responsibility to leave this community in a better place than when I joined it.
Please vote for me in the up coming Otatara Board of Trustee elections in the knowledge that I will be working for the community.
My name is Jenny Donnelly and I am standing for Otatara School Board. I am a current member of the Board standing for re-election as a parent representative. My husband and I have two daughters at Otatara school currently in years 3 and 5 and we very much enjoy being part of the school community. I am a Chartered Accountant and have worked in various roles within the accounting profession for the past 20 years.
Otatara School is fortunate to have a Board made up of highly-skilled and experienced members of our parent and school community and I am keen see that continue as our current investments and projects come to fruition.
My name is Aaron Goodall and I am standing for the Otatara School Board.
I am a Chartered Accountant with over 28 years experience in local businesses and firms plus a stint overseas. Currently I am the Financial Controller for both Mitre 10 Invercargill and Queenstown. In my professional career, which has included roles in finance, operations, business development, strategy and project work, I am typically seen as down to earth, pragmatic and analytical.
I have now completed my second 3 year term on the Board and enjoyed working with a great group of dedicated individuals. Working with people is something I really enjoy, and I’m keen to continue to be part of the team focused on developing the best resources for the education of our children. My key responsibility over these 6 years on the BOT has been the Finance function of which I now have an in depth understanding of and can once again provide a significant contribution to this vital area of the schools’ operation.
I am passionate about the Otatara area having lived in this wonderful part of the region for over 15 years. In my spare time I play competitive golf, enjoy cycling, attempt to keep fit and like getting outdoors with my family.
My wife Cathy and I have had an involvement with Otatara School since 2006 when our eldest son James first attended. Our younger son Finn has also been through the school with our daughter Ruby currently in Year 5. Like all parents at Otatara School, Cathy and I want the best for our children and I would like to carry on utilising the business skills and experience I have gained to contribute to this wish. I see this as a great opportunity to give back to my community by supporting the school through governance at the Board of Trustees’ level.
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