“The last six years have seen change at our school at a rate and on a scale unprecedented in our 119-year history.”
Dan Reddiex, Headmaster
Dilworth School’s values of compassion, respect, integrity, excellence, and service shone through every aspect of Founders’ Day 2025. Through the successes of the outstanding young men who crossed the stage to receive awards, the powerful story of guest speaker and Dilworth Old Boy Mr Lee Taniwha, and the moving and inspiring words of Dr Thomas Swinburn, awarded the Sir David Beattie scholarship.
The celebration was opened by Te Kapa Haka o Titikōpuke, followed by a striking Mihi Whakatau delivered by Dilworth student Wiremu Apaapa-Kuku.
In his opening address, Headmaster Mr Dan Reddiex talked about the core meaning of Founders’ Day: “This is a day when we gather together as an entire Dilworth community for the express purpose of celebrating and offering thanksgiving for our founders, James and Isabella Dilworth.”
He said that the foresight and generosity of our founders over the course of over 119 years had “Provided approximately 5800 students with the gift of a Dilworth Scholarship” and that it had been his privilege over the last six years “to work with approximately 800 of those 5800 young men.” He went on to talk about the massive rate of change at Dilworth over the last six years: “That change has been driven and motivated by a solitary purpose, to provide the opportunity and experience for the 500 young men who sit in front of me today and the hundreds more who will sit here in years to come, to provide the opportunity and experience for them to encounter a rich and fulfilling and exciting and enjoyable Dilworth that even our Founders, the visionaries that they were, could not have envisaged 130 years ago”.
Board Chairman Mr Aaron Snodgrass, in his final Founders’ Day address as Chairman of the Trust, expanded on the significance of the legacy of James and Isabella Dilworth, noting just what a ground-breaking move it was for the times.
“Founders James and Isabella Dilworth provided a fully funded scholarship for young men, and this was back in the days when secondary education was, in the main, the preserve of only the wealthiest in society, so it was quite remarkable”.
Mr Snodgrass said that these days, Dilworth students are not only high achievers—demonstrated by last year’s outstanding results across academics, music, sports, and other fields—but continue to possess a deep commitment to service. This spirit of giving back is an integral part of Dilworth, characterised by a combination of excellence, character, and service passed down through generations.
While introducing guest speaker Dilworth Old Boy Lee Taniwha, Mr Snodgrass remarked that Lee characterised just the kind of young man he believed our founders would have wanted to benefit from a Dilworth education: “Lee has an incredibly powerful story and a heart for service. His journey is one of extraordinary resilience and courage. Overcoming tremendous adversity, he has used his talent, passion, and business acumen to support others and make a meaningful impact.”
Guest speaker Lee Taniwha talked straight to the heart of Dilworth students, telling them, ‘My wheelchair can drift, you know’, breaking the ice through his incredible sense of humour. Lee, who has tetraplegia, had a near-fatal accident diving into a swimming pool at his cousin’s place. It left him able only to use his left thumb.
Lee said he returned to Dilworth in year 10: “I had to come back as a spectator. It shook me, and my smile covered up the dark clouds. But the boys made the difference; they held me up so I could speak to them about things… I got to be a prefect. I used to do my best to level with all the boys, check in with all my brothers, and learn to be a leader”.
He certainly learned to be a leader. Now CEO of his company, Care Upfront, Lee and his team have helped over 500 people recover after accidents or medical events. And as Lee said, ‘None of them planned to be in a wheelchair.’ Lee left a clear message for students and everyone present at Founders’ Day 2025, telling them his incredible story about the power of changing your thoughts through words, actions, and habits*.
In his address, Saulala Tafa, Dilworth’s Head Prefect, spoke directly to Lee, saying, “You have shown us what resilience truly looks like” “and you've shown us that anything is possible with the right mindset, a strong work ethic, and a heart dedicated to serving others.”
Next came the presentation of Dilworth’s most prestigious awards to Dilworth alumni: Ella Burford, Roger and Julie France Award for Performing Arts, and the Sir David Beattie Awards. The remarkable accomplishments of each winner were shared through citations, adding to the day*.
Below is a complete list of award winners. In the coming weeks, we will feature each recipient's stories and achievements.
Dr Thomas Swinburn, recently awarded the globally renowned and prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, was the sole winner of the Sir David Beattie award. On behalf of the award winners, Dr Swinburn replied, “I wanted to be back in this place (Dilworth) that has been so much part of my journey—8 years ago, I wore this tie.” (Prefect tie)
This is the first time Thomas has returned to Dilworth as a qualified doctor. He said this scholarship will go towards his PhD, which he will do at Oxford University in the UK.
Dr Swinburn said that during his time at medical school, he encountered so many social problems that were getting in the way of good health, and his ground-breaking study will focus on that area. He said this scholarship would allow him to ‘stay connected with Aotearoa’ during his time at Oxford, ‘the ‘place and people I love’. And he said he hoped that one day he would be able to ‘take it forward’.
In closing, Dr Swinburn commended Headmaster Mr Dan Reddiex and Board Chair Mr Aaron Snodgrass, turning to them and saying, ‘You have taken the school to new heights, re-energised our community, and led a transition with an unwavering commitment to doing what is right.’
Founders’ Day 2025 was a wonderful tribute to the generosity and vision of our Founders, James and Isabella Dilworth. It showcased the opportunities their legacy continues to give so many wonderful young men.
2025 Founder’s Day Award Recipients
Sir David Beattie
Dr Thomas Swinburn
Ella Burford
Deme Shortland, Hezekiah Young, Jerome Jarvie-Otufangavalu, Anton Falepeau, John Taumoepeau, Ben Taulagi, Jalal Woods, Leo Su, Eleazar Taufa, Hemi Young.
Julie France Award for Performing Arts
Riley Piakura
*We will feature an interview with Lee Taniwha next month.