2012 Hall of Fame Inductees

Hamilton Boys’ High School celebrated the induction of four new members of the Hall of Fame on Wednesday 27 June, 2012.  Old Boys, friends of the school, the press, staff, family and current students witnessed the induction of Mr Warren Cole (Sport), Mr Lindsay Wilson (Sport), Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott ONZM (Service), and Mr Graeme Rogerson MNZM (Business and Racing).

Warren Cole

 Warren Cole was born in Palmerston North on 12 September 1940, and attended Hamilton Boys’ High School from 1954-1957. The arrival of the late Tommy Thompson saw the introduction of Rowing as a sport at the school, and Warren eagerly tried out for the elite initial squad of 12 boys.

In 1956, he rowed in the Coxed Eight and won the inaugural Thomas Thompson Memorial Shield.  In 1957, the Coxed Eight came second in the Maadi Cup, the first HBHS crew to ever compete in this event. In 1968, Warren rowed in the Coxed Four winning gold at the Mexico Olympics, and in 1969 he rowed on the North American tour, culminating in the World Rowing Championships in St Catherines, Canada.

From 1966 to 1974, Warren continued to row and win, for the Waikato Rowing Club, of which he was a founding member.  In 1977 and 1978, he was the NZ International Rowing Team Manager for the World Rowing Championships, in both Amsterdam and at Lake Karapiro. 1990 saw Warren honoured at the NZ Sport Hall of Fame awards.

Warren began his working career as a milking machine fitter for Gane Milking Machine Company in Hamilton, before spending 2 years on an OE in the UK and Europe, where he worked at Hunterston Nuclear Power Station in Ayrshire, loading Uranium 235 fuel rods into 2 nuclear reactors. On his return to New Zealand, Warren’s career progressed within the Agricultural Industry, until his appointment as Export Manager with Waikato Milking Systems, Hamilton. In 1990 an 18 year relationship with the company commenced and Warren later became a Partner and Export Director. 

Lindsay Wilson

 Lindsay Wilson was born on 15 October 1948 in Methven, coming to Hamilton Boys’ High School in June 1964.

Lindsay’s passion for rowing started with the Waikato Rowing Club when he was 18. After just three seasons with the Club, he was selected for the NZ Rowing Eights in 1971, winning this event at the European Championship Eights. He was again selected for the Eights at the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany in 1972. His reward was a Gold Medal for New Zealand. In 1974-1975, Lindsay competed in another two World Championship events, rowing in the Eights at the World Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland, and then later in Nottingham, England.

In 1976, Lindsay had his final Olympic rowing appearance, crewing in the Eights at the Games in Montreal, Canada, to receive  a Bronze Medal. He continued to row for the Waikato Rowing Club for the duration of his club rowing career, winning 6 National titles in the rowing Eights and Fours. Lindsay was selected for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, but because of New Zealand’s boycott of the Games he was unable to attend.  Lindsay went on to become a National Rowing Selector for four years and Team Manager for Under 23 Rowing Teams to Australia and Holland.

Lindsay also coached for many years at the Waikato Rowing Club and for Hamilton Boys’ High Rowing Crews. Under his direction, rowing at HBHS went from strength to strength and the highlight for him was winning the Springbok Shield Coxed Fours at Lake Karapiro in 1995. 

Alongside his rowing commitment, Lindsay began a Career in the Public Service in 1971, working for the Ministry of Justice in the Maori Land Court division, and holding senior management positions, including a 5 year period in Wellington.

Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott ONZM

 Graham Lintott was born on 29 March 1955 in Canterbury. Moving to Ruakiwi at the age of 4, Graham came to Hamilton Boys’ High School in Year 9 in February 1968, staying at the school until the 7th form in 1973 remaining throughout a popular and  diligent student.

Graham’s flying career, took off literally during a trial flight at the Waikato Aero Club as part of a Liberal Studies Programme run through the school.

The boys were allowed a 15 minute lesson, once a week for 4 weeks after which, Graham knew that flying was for him. Second prize in an Aero Club scholarship provided another 10 hours of flying, but it was a Golden Kiwi lotto ticket, which provided the funds which enabled him to continue, culminating in Graham passing his private pilot’s licence.

Aged 17, Graham decided to become a pilot in the Air Force, and in April of 1973, the school records show that he left to join the RNZAF.  Graduating in 1975 as a fully qualified RNZAF pilot, Graham flew Sioux and Iroquois

Helicopters in New Zealand, Antarctica and Singapore, supporting the New Zealand Infantry Battalion.

After several years as a Flying Instructor, Graham joined the elite Red Checkers Formation Aerobatics Team, after which he led humanitarian missions in the Sinai Peninsula, Rwanda and Zaire – based in Uganda and flying humanitarian aid to victims of the Civil War.

Graham has held many senior leadership positions including Commander of Ohakea Air Base and Commander of all Air Force  Operations.  From Air Commodore, Graham was promoted to Assistant Air Force Chief in 2004, responsible for Strategic Commitments and Intelligence at New Zealand Defence Force Headquarters in Wellington. In 2006 he was made Air Vice-Marshal and became Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, a role which he remained in for 5 years, before becoming the New Zealand Defence Attache to the United States of America.  In 2008, Graham was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Graeme Rogerson MNZM

Graeme Rogerson was born on 17 July 1947 and  enrolled at Hamilton Boys’ High  School  in January 1961. He stayed at HBHS until April 1964, when he left to work at  Horotiu Freezing Works as a Meat Inspector. Growing up near the racecourse at Te Rapa, Graeme had an interest in horses, and became an accomplished show jumper. With his studies in Agriculture behind him, and a Training Licence, he started to train racehorses in Cambridge and began to shape a reputation as the ‘Dream Merchant’ of New Zealand Racing. Graeme’s career has been a series of Firsts: he was the first of the big NZ syndicators and the first Kiwi to get a training licence in Australia, the first NZ trainer to operate in the United Emirates, and the first to win the Golden Slipper with ‘Polar Success’ in 2003. Graeme was also the youngest trainer to reach 1000 winners.

Among Graeme’s successes, are twelve Premierships in NZ, and 3,500 plus winners. In 1991 he was Racing Personality of the Year, and inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. In 2004 he was awarded the NZ Order of Merit by Her Majesty the Queen. Graeme’s completion of a ‘Holy Grail’ triple in the racing world, was heralded by his horse ‘Efficient’ winning the Melbourne Cup after ‘Savabeel’s’ Cox Plate win. ‘Polar Success’ completed the triple, winning the Golden Slipper.

Having accomplished so much in Thoroughbred racing, Graeme turned his hand to Harness Racing, building trotting facilities within his established Tuhikaramea centre. Successful horses already making their mark on the Harness Racing world, include On The Razzle, Muscle and Power and Chocolate Brownie.

Graeme Rogerson, has become the biggest trader in the Southern Hemisphere of both thoroughbreds and harness horses. His enthusiasm and passion for racing has fuelled his desire to be the best, and his long list of winners is proof of his continuing success.

Background to the Hamilton Boys’ High School Hall of Fame

The Hamilton Boys’ High School, Hall of Fame, was established in March 2008, when the school celebrated the outstanding success of three former students, each of whom had made a significant contribution to New Zealand.

In establishing a Hall of Fame, Hamilton Boys’ High School aims to celebrate the success of past students within our school community. By regularly exposing present students to successful local leaders, the school aims to raise student awareness of leaders in our community. 

Bill Foreman                           Business, Plastics Industry                             2008

Ray Richards                          Publishing Industry                                           2008

Wendell Phillips                      Building Industry                                              2008

Donald Riley                           Entrepreneur, Theatre                                      2010

Frederick Jones                     Global Energy Industry                                     2010

John Clough                            IT, Manufacturing, Finance                              2010

David Braithwaite                  Service, Mayor, Property Development           2010

Bill Falconer                            Business and Rowing                                       2011

Graham Wilshier                     Building Industry                                                2011

Hon John Luxton                    Service, MP, Business                                       2011

Mike Pohio                              Business, Service to Maori                                2011

Jack (Dufty) Wilson                Service to Education                                          2011

Leon Narbey                           Service to Film and Photography                     2011

Warren Gatland                      NZ and International Rugby                              2011