If you’ve driven past Westlake Boys High School recently you will have seen their striking new archway. The evolution of this project, how the archway was created and funded, and what it symbolises for the school is a heartwarming story.
Creating legacies that developed school traditions was a focus as the school came of age following its 50th Jubilee in 2012. The Archway symbolises the emergence of an enriching tradition at Westlake Boys whereby, from 2017 onwards, all new students will walk through the Westlake Boys Waharoa (entranceway) only twice – once on the day that they officially commence their secondary schooling journey and not again until their graduation day several years later. In the interim, the ground underneath the Archway remains tapu (sacred). Similar traditions have become part of the fabric of academic institutions the world over.
The initial design concepts for the sculpture were drawn up in 2013 by Westlake old boy and renown New Zealand sculptor, Jeff Thomson. His final design concept was finalised in 2014. The project was driven by a steering committee including Thomson, former Head of Art Dugald Page; current Head of Art Mark Masterton; Westlaker public artworks consultant Kim Martinengo and WBHS Community Relations Manager Vicki Fowler. Westlake old boys concrete contractor Aaron Brewis and civil engineer Geoff McNaughton also added valuable expertise and support to the project.
The archway sculpture was crafted out of 16mm steel, stands 4.6m high and weighs a substantial 2.5 tonnes. The concept was the brainchild of Mark Masterton and Dugald Page who, together with the school’s Foundation Board, were very keen to see a Jeff Thomson sculpture featured at the school. Jeff has been responsible for other local sculptures including the artworks in Milford’s “town square” and those located outside the Birkenhead library. The Helensville-based artist is well known for his work with steel, wire and iron, with corrugated iron a specialty. Many will be familiar with his collection of life-size animals featured at various sculpture parks around the Auckland area at Brick Bay, Gibbs Farm and at the sculpture trail events around the Hauraki Gulf. One of Thomson’s most famous pieces is a Holden car covered in corrugated iron which became the most popular exhibit at Te Papa Museum in Wellington.
"We anticipate that over the years ahead the sculpture will become a noted artwork not only of Westlake Boys and the Forrest Hill area but right across the North Shore,” says Westlake Boys Headmaster David Ferguson. "It brings with it an enriching cultural purpose and a great story of teamwork and collaboration between many individuals and organisations with a connection to our school and to the North Shore."
The project, administered by the Westlake Foundation, was fully funded by generous donations from old boys, school families and school community groups. Major donors to the project include Westlake old boys Mr Bill Smale, Sir John Hood, Graham Darlow, Dr John Russell and local Takapuna engineering consultancy MSC Engineering. The Westlake Foundation is an entity set up to future-proof the school’s cultural, physical and spiritual well-being. It’s role is to strengthen relationships with those who share a passion for the school and its future, and who are prepared to provide support by contributing their time, services, expertise and/or funds.
MSC Engineering, led by old boy Geoff Chilcott, undertook all the critical engineering consultancy work for the huge archway sculpture that presented many challenges due to its curved form. Manufacturing was undertaken by oil rig and bridge construction specialists, Fitzroy Engineering of New Plymouth. “The Big Arch” as it affectionately became known, presented the team at Fitzroy Engineering with a unique and interesting challenge. The curves of the Archway were created by feeding three separate sheets of 16mm steel through a massive rolling machine that was pre-programmed with the design calculations. These three sheets were then welded together and anchored by a brace between the two “feet”. The painting process was comprehensive and involved several trips to New Plymouth by artist Jeff Thomson.
The sculpture features 86 hand-painted words such as Integrity, Humility, Courage, Opportunity, Teamwork, Kia Kaha and Whanau. Students from each class nominated words for the sculpture and these were combined with words chosen by major donors that represented their personal experiences of their school. Symbolically, the words are not visible upon entering the Archway but are clear as students depart the school for the last time, by which time all the words will hold personal meaning for each of the Westlake Boys graduates.
“Having been involved with this project since its inception, I do think that this artwork is an enriching addition to the North Shore landscape as well as our school,” says Westlake Foundation Chairman, Mr Graham Darlow.
“It’s fantastic that the Westlake Archway is the creation of such an incredibly talented old boy and North Shore artist, and that the wider Westlake Boys community – past and present – have been involved in all stages of its evolution and the establishment of a new tradition for our school.”
After almost four years in the design, consenting, fundraising and manufacturing stages, the beautiful Westlake Waharoa (entranceway) was installed in mid-December last year and the official dawn blessing and inaugural student ceremonies were held in early February. The archway remained tapu (sacred) until it was blessed by Westlake Kaumatua John Marsden at the blessing ceremony. This coincided with the commencement of the school year and all new students, staff and school families participated in the inaugural Archway ceremony as they entered the school for their Powhiri assembly.
