Latest news with #JamesNg
Newsroom
11-05-2025
- Newsroom
The bra-stealing rascals of Aquinas
In 1956 Aquinas students raided Knox College and stole the cutlery and cooking utensils before dumping them at Selwyn and Arana halls. The police were called and the culprits eventually confessed. James Ng, a resident from 1954 to 1958, described a recurring prank that involved fishing line to pull the chapel bell in the middle of the night; and in the winter of 1955 the students poured water on the flat roof to create a skating rink. Dominican Friar, Father Tom Fitzgerald, arrived at Aquinas in December 1957. He came to Dunedin to take over as superior at Aquinas and parish priest at Sacred Heart. He worked hard to create a spiritually uplifting atmosphere at Aquinas and to foster the hall's reputation as a 'house of study'. The residents were not always obliging He had little tolerance for disorderly behaviour. In conference with the dean of students and committee of the Students Association at the start of the 1958 academic year, he announced: 'Aquinas Hall is the property of the Dominican Fathers. Inmates of the Hall may do only those things which they are permitted to do by the owners of the Hall.' His warning fell on deaf ears. Just a few weeks later students from Aquinas raided Dominican Hall. Fitzgerald interviewed every member of the hall personally to find out who was responsible. He charged the Students' Committee with the bill for damage and wrote a furious letter to the ring leaders: 'Be good enough to present yourself at my office today, to show cause why [you] should not be dismissed from residence at Aquinas Hall, in view of the fact that, being responsible for the behaviour of students on the premises of Dominican Hall, 44 Park St, Dunedin on the 18th inst., you did allow them to enter by night the private apartments including bathrooms and dormitories, of the women proprietors and residents there, in the course of which entering, roof tiles and windows were broken, accessory soiling and inconvenience were caused, and later the building was exteriorly bespattered with mud, the ornamental pond was flooded, and metalwork and flower pots in the same were broken…' Really great photograph of Dominican Brother Martin Keogh wearing the traditional black scapular of a co-operator brother, taken from the newly published Preachers, Pastors, Prophets: The Dominican Friars of Aotearoa New Zealand by Susannah Grant * He was succeeded by Father Paul Jackson, dean of students at Aquinas from 1960 to 1975. Jackson, known variously as 'Jacko', set the tone. He ran the hostel with a light hand but was serious about study and spirituality and considered Aquinas 'a university community of scholars and Christian gentlemen'. The students at Aquinas enjoyed an active social life. The initiation of freshers usually involved early morning wake-ups; in 1968, freshmen were woken at 5:30am and mustered on the grass beside the chapel for a 'vigorous drill' of press-ups and knees-ups in their pyjamas. The day's initiation ended with a party in the television room. In 1970 the wake-up came at 4am. Freshers started the day 'very cold, very wet and very dirty, not the best time for a bath in flour and mud in the bush above the convent'. The students usually marked April Fools' Day, too. In 1966 they tied a goat to the chapel bell, which delivered a solitary mournful toll every time the animal reached the end of its tether. Aquinas entered some memorably shocking floats in the university capping processions. That of 1967 took the form of a church with a flaming cross and an effigy of Martin Luther King being hanged. The students dressed as Klu Klux Klansmen under a banner that read 'The Clueless Clots'. In 1969, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that the police objected to and banned many of their signs, Aquinas won a prize for their float titled 'Piggy Muldoon Smothers Otago University'. Hostel raids were still common in the sixties. In 1964 the Dominican Hall girls penetrated as far as Jacko's bedroom, tossing confetti everywhere and pasting newspaper on the windows. The Aquinas boys stole bras from Dominican Hall and strung them up like flags. A month or two later, when the residents at Aquinas had let their guard down, the girls broke in and put molasses on the stair rails and black nugget on the toilet seats. * By the end of the 1970s Aquinas was in serious financial difficulty. In 1978 a Board of Governors was established to assist the Dominicans with the administration of Aquinas. They needed a radical plan to get the college out of debt. In August 1978 the board voted to accept female students for the coming year. But even with more students paying higher fees (up 20 percent from 1978) the college still struggled. Food and power costs had increased, and the college had to borrow more for urgent repairs. In February 1980, with support from the College Board of Governors, it was recommended that Aquinas be closed at the end of the first term. The existing debt combined with rising running costs was insurmountable. With support from Otago University Chancellor Jack Somerville and ex-Aquinas residents they managed to battle on until the end of the year, but on October 5, 1980 the college celebrated its last formal dinner. Within a few weeks exams were over and the college began to empty out. The house chronicle recorded 'emotional scenes as some of our lady students left today. Tears and hugs for our lucky members of the community who were home.' Aquinas was sold to the Elim Church, who sold it on to the university. In 1988 the university reopened a student hostel on the site under the name Dalmore House, and later restored the original name. At time of writing, Aquinas College houses 152 students; the chapel has become a gymnasium. A mildly abbreviated chapter taken from the newly published history Preachers, Pastors, Prophets: The Dominican Friars of Aotearoa New Zealand by Susannah Grant (Otago University Press, $60) is available in bookstores nationwide. As heirs to a spiritual tradition dating back to the early thirteenth century, the friars have served in New Zealand as university and hospital chaplains, parish priests, liturgists, itinerant retreat leaders and theologians. Although no longer involved in active ministry the New Zealand friars continue to fund and facilitate Aaiotanga – the Peace Place – a community space in downtown Auckland focused on peace and social justice issues.
Hype Malaysia
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
TVB Stars James Ng, Hubert Wu & Moon Lau To Perform At Hey June Music Party; Ticketing Details Announced
The Arena of Stars at Resorts World Genting hosts exciting performances throughout the year, and another spectacular show is set to make its way up the mountains to delight music lovers. Get ready for an unforgettable night as three of TVB's most captivating stars come together for a night celebrating music and laughter! Multi-talented singer-actor James Ng (吴业坤), the Prince of OST Hubert Wu (胡鸿钧), and 2013 Miss Hong Kong second runner-up, Moon Lau (刘佩玥), will be taking the stage at the iconic venue for the Hey June Music Party! If you're unfamiliar with these stars, here's a brief introduction to each of them. James Ng, twice crowned 'My Favourite Male Singer' at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards, has captivated audiences with heartfelt hits such as 'A Song Touched by Sunshine' and 'Turns Out She Didn't Love Me Enough'. In recent years, he has also made a strong impression with acting roles in popular dramas including 'The QUEEN of News' and 'Forensic Heroes VI: Redemption'. Joining him for the concert is the soulful Hubert Wu. From his breakthrough as runner-up on The Voice 2 to winning the 2010 TVB International Chinese New Talent Singing Championship, Hubert has lent his emotive vocals to more than 20 iconic TVB drama theme songs. His unforgettable ballads and captivating voice have earned him a devoted following and the title 'Prince of Love Songs'. Last, but certainly not least, is the multi-talented Moon Lau. She rose to fame with her award-winning role as Miss Ko in 'A Fist Within Four Walls', and has since become a fan favourite through standout performances in 'The Exorcist's 2nd Meter' and 'Anonymous Signal', earning accolades across Asia. Details of the event are as follows: Hey June Music Party at Arena of Stars Date: 28th June 2025 (Saturday) 28th June 2025 (Saturday) Time: 6pm 6pm Venue: Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting Ticketing: RM418 (VIP), RM318 (PS1), RM228 (PS2) and RM118 (PS3) Let their voices be the soundtrack of your summer this June. Pre-sale tickets for GRC Gold Members and above are now available for purchase, while public sales begin on 13th May 2025 at 12pm on the official Resorts World Genting website. Be sure to mark your calendars and get ready to party among the biggest TVB stars!
