More Celebrity ties please

Boys step up to the fundraising challenge…

Waihi is a small rural boys primary school in the South Island of New Zealand, just 112 boys!

The school is 102 years old and the boarding house looks a bit like it! It has worn out and is too small. So the boys have taken it upon themselves to get a new one built hence the fundraising. It’s a big challenge but one we have let the boys instigate, plan and execute!

The boys have written to prominent men all across the world to see if they could get signed ties for a global auction. With great success they have secured some ties from Donald Trump and some amazing sporting greats such as Jonny Wilkinson, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Roger Federer and Nathan Twaddle…Wow. But you guessed WE NEED MORE!

They have tasked us the parents to help rev up the tie return by networking around the world with friends, family and contacts. SO HELPPPPPP!

So if you know anybody famous, a sporting legend, political figurehead, a TV personality, a global superstar then can you please ask, cajole, or beg for a tie for the boys?

We need their signature on the tie and the certificate of authenticity, so that we can prove it’s them. The certificate is attached for them to print and send with the tie.

We’re going to auction all the ties we get from the 1^st June until the 21^st 2010, on a global auction site and the money will go to our boarding house…how exciting.

To keep you informed and part of this great boys initiative we are on the following social sites.

Twitter@waihischool Facebook Become a fan Blog www.waihischool.blogspot.com

So email us back with any enquiries, be our global voices and help us to support our boys.

The Rugby Legend's Ties

The rugby legends are joining the fun!
Top left: We have a tie and shirt from Buck (Wayne) Shelford. The t-shirt explains his career.
Middle: Sir Colin Meads, New Zealand's favourite old time All Black.
Bottom left: Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, assistant All Black coaches.

The Australian Footy Show ties

Above left: Paul "Fatty" Vautin :Vautin has hosted The NRL Footy Show since 1994, propelling him to TV stardom.
Middle: Wendell Sailor former NRL player with the Kangaroos and also played rugby union with the Wallabies, on the Footy Show panel.
Below: Benji Marshall described as West Tigers NRL superstar, co-host of the NRL Footy Show

Rugby Celebrity Ties

Nick Farr-Jones "This tie is a "spoofer's" tie. Nick describes this as "An honourable game played with 3 cans by (hopefully) gentlemen" Please comment if any readers can explain "spoofers" for us!

Jonny Wilkinson sent his prep school tie with a lovely letter from his mum Philippa. Jonny signed a photo to Harry Bonifant with "Best of luck my friend. Enjoy yourself"

Robbie Deans ties:

The NZ Rugby Foundation tie - note says "Hi Linda Rob found another tie! Hope the auction goes well. Thank Braden for his lovely letter, Regards Jo" (Robbie Dean's sister)
This tie was signed by Robbie Deans for Robbie Harper and Zin South.

Richie McCaw says his tie was "worn as part of All Black suit" - wow, it was sent to Thomas Paterson.
Dan Carter's tie and certificate



Right: Graham Henry is set for rugby world cup fame in 2011? Go All Blacks!

Look at our tennis Celebrity Ties

Roger Federer's famous Nike neckscarf

Andy Murray's tie and signed photo

Any other tennis stars want to send a tie....supporting a great cause for our boys. You can buy these ties on eBay 1 June 2010, and support our boys plan for a new boarding house.

James Lovell's Tie

Matthew Hitchings was delighted to receive a tie from astronaut James Lovell.
Wikipedia says this about Captain Lovell:

James "Jim" Arthur Lovell, Jr., (born March 25, 1928) is a former NASA astronaut and a retired captain in the United States Navy, most famous as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered an explosion en route to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission control. Lovell was also the command module pilot of Apollo 8, the first Apollo mission to enter lunar orbit. Lovell is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon, and the only person to have flown to the Moon twice without making a landing. Lovell was also the first American to fly in space four times.

Further information says Captain Lovell is the world's most travelled man, having done the most miles, much of it in jet propelled aircraft and space ships. He is an inspiration to our boys and especially Matthew.
The message from James to Matthew was "A school like yours gave me this tie".

The GREAT Celebrity Global Tie Auction

Left: Donald Trumps personal collection monogrammed and signed tie. Donald was one of the first to respond to 11yo Cody Callaghan's request for a tie "Always Think Big Best wishes Donald Trump" - what an inspiration!

Boys take up the fundraising challenge...Collecting autographs for their school is a new sport for Waihi School pupils. The signatures are not just part of a boyhood collection. The boys are using it as a way of raising funds for the Centenary Complex, a new accommodation and dayboys facility for the school.

The boys have written to their favourite celebrities around the world telling them about themselves and why they admire them. The letter politely requests they sign an old tie and send it back. The ties will be auctioned online then the money put towards the $2million building fund.

Ties have been received from many famous people including American property developer, Donald Trump, tennis stars Roger Federer and Andy Murray, All Blacks and Richie McCawDan Carter, rugby coaches Graham Henry and Robbie Deans, Prime Minister John Key, Skateboarder Tony Hawk and Astronaut James Lovell among others. Television presenter Tamati Coffey signed a tie in person in Timaru and TV3’s John Campbell sent a tie that had been worn on air several times and said it ‘made him feel handsome”.

The ties are signed along with a Certificate of Authenticity validating the tie and saying why the tie is special to the owner. All Blacks Richie McCaw and Dan Carter have given special All Black ties.

Waihi is a boarding and day school for 8-12 year old boys in South Canterbury. It is set in a unique rural environment with expansive park-like grounds and playing fields where a healthy lifestyle complements quality education. Waihi School opened in 1907 and is owned and operated by the Waihi School Trust Board. Currently 116 pupils are enrolled for 2009. As an Independent school, all of the buildings are funded through fundraising.

Although small, Waihi School has a significant number of famous old boys many sportsmen, politicians and community leaders. These include Charles Upham, double VC winner, Bill Hamilton, jetboat pioneer, ex All Blacks Jack Hazlett and Robbie Deans.

The World's First Global Celebrity Tie Challenge can be followed by looking up Waihi School on Facebook and Twitter.

Anthony Horowitz Celebrity Tie

Anthony Horowitz is an English author of great repute, well known for his stories about Alex Rider, a 14 year old spy for British M16. He is also a writer for films, television and theatre.
Albert Hobson, Year 8, was delighted to receive his groovy green tie with the comment on the Certificate of Authenticity "I'm afraid it was a fashion crime".
Waihi School's Celebrity Tie Auction will be held in June and will be New Zealand's First Global Celebrity Tie Auction. Fans of Anthony will be able to bid on eBay to have their own piece of Anthony Horowitz.

Flying Start to 2010

2010 is up and running at Waihi School with 112 boys starting and a record for many years of 67 Boarders. The two new tennis courts are in use already. The courts are beside where the new boarding facility will be built this year
With boarding numbers rising there is great excitement about building the Centenary Complex. Stage One at a cost of $1.8million will commence once tenders are confirmed early this year. It is planned to hold a launch on completion.
With over $1.5 million raised for Stage 1, fundraising for Stage 2 of the Centenary Complex is underway. Our celebrity tie fundraiser will help the total. A total of 36 celebrity ties have been received and the ties will be sold online during 2010. Look out for further blogs showing our exciting array of signed ties...