Distinguished Old Collegian's Service

Each year one of the highlights of the year is our Distinguished Old Collegian's Service. Each year we induct two new Old Boys into this prestigious group. This year we had the pleasure of inducting Swim Coach - Lars Humer and TracMap Founder - Colin Brown as Distinguished Old Collegians.

In Chapel on Monday I challenged the boys to hear their stories and work to identify what they can learn from these. It was very encouraging to hear both Lars and Colin challenging the boys about discipline, friendship and opportunities. We were very lucky to have current staff (Kane Follows) and students (Lachlan Russell & Hugo Beeby) who are all coached by Lars join us.

The formal citations for each recipient are copied below.

Colin Donald Allan Brown

For services to agriculture and business 2024

John McGlashan College 1966-70 (2067)

Colin Brown was initially a farmer and in 1982 won the prestigious Young Farmer of the Year award. After a period working as a farm consultant, in 2006 Colin established agritech business TracMap, a GPS guided proof of application and job management system for landowners and agricultural contractors. It dominates the New Zealand market and sells into Australia, North America, and Southern Africa. Since selling TracMap, Colin chairs tech start-up Vibration Action, a system for detecting and preventing hand and arm vibration injury, a group building an off-road cycle trail across the Taieri Plains, mentors tech start-ups and works with groups that assist young people.

Lars Humer

For services to Swimming 2024

John McGlashan College 1971-79 (2420)

Lars Humer began his swim coaching career while still at school under the tutorship of noted coach Duncan Laing. His subsequent coaching career has taken him to World Championships, European Champs, World Cups, Commonwealth, Paralympic and Olympic Games guiding many swimmers from New Zealand, Great Britain and Ireland to international finals and onto podiums. For 19 years Lars worked in High Performance Swimming with Great Britain and Ireland and has been National Head Coach for Great Britain Para Swimming and the New Zealand Olympic Swim Team.

As an athlete, Lars competed professionally on the surf ironman circuit, was a national surf lifesaving representative, three times NZ surf ironman champion and runner-up in the world surf ironman championship. Lars was head prefect in 1979.