4 days ago
Believe in yourselves, inductee tells students
Vietnam War veteran Lox Kellas (left) and former Blackcap Ken Rutherford stand in front of the King's High School Wall of Fame yesterday. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON
A Vietnam War veteran and a former Blackcap have been honoured by their secondary school in Dunedin.
Lox Kellas and Ken Rutherford were inducted into King's High School's Wall of Fame at an assembly yesterday.
Mr Rutherford, who attended the school from 1979 to 1982, said it was remarkable to be recognised among his peers.
His message to the King's students was "you've just got to keep going".
"There's a lot to be said about reacting well to life's experiences when they perhaps don't go the way they're intended to and to have a real confidence in yourself that you can still achieve lots."
Two years after Mr Rutherford left school, he was facing one of the most feared fast bowling attacks in the world in West Indies' Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner.
He got three ducks in his first four innings and was subsequently dropped from the team.
However, he worked his way back into the international side after scoring runs in domestic cricket and made 107 not out against England in Wellington in the 1987-88 tour.
Mr Rutherford was now the Northern Districts Cricket Association chief executive.
Mr Kellas, who attained the army rank of major, said the honour took him by surprise.
"There are a lot more former pupils out there that have done a lot more than I've ever done," the Vietnam War veteran said.
He recognised a few of the names on the King's Wall of Fame and did not expect to see himself on it.
"Life's full of challenges and if you accept those challenges and do it well, that's the reward."
Mr Kellas, who attended the school from 1961 to 1966, was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in 2007 for services to New Zealand Police.
He was involved in the community through a variety of initiatives and organisations including as the Returned Services Association Otago and Southland district president, a founding member of the Dunedin Coastguard and a Otago Peninsula Community board member.
Mr Kellas said he kept his remarks to the King's students very short and addressed them as "tomorrow's leaders".
He offered them a Gaelic quote which translated to "lead but serve".
King's principal Nick McIvor said it was great to celebrate the fascinating lives and remarkable achievements of former students.
Alongside Mr Kellas and Mr Rutherford, Geoff Thomas, Philip Craigie, Al Fastier, Graham Fortune and Tony Merriman were also inducted into the Wall of Fame.
