College Mourns Loss of Board Deputy Chair
1 October 2010
Graeme Hunt, our Deputy Board Chair died at his home on Wednesday September 22, 2010.
Graeme John Hunt (58) was educated at One Tree Hill College (formerly Penrose High School). He held a history degree and Diploma in Business Studies. A journalist from 1974 he worked in newspapers in Britain for many years and was the Auckland Star's youngest business editor then editor of the National Business Review. He earned numerous journalism awards and was a David Low/Chevening fellow at Oxford University.
An historian, genealogist and notable political commentator, Graeme authored more than 15 books covering a range of topics including a history of his beloved Penrose High School, the Rich List, a biography of legendary trade unionist Fintan Patrick Walsh, the Cave Creek disaster and books on various other noteworthy events and characters of NZ past. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of New Zealand history and a huge network of contacts.
Graeme was standing as an independent candidate for the Albany ward of the new Auckland Supercity Council and the Waitemata Health Board.
Graeme was passionate about education and in particular One Tree Hill College. He was a longtime advocate of enterprise education in schools and a member of the Young Enterprise Trust supporters' council as well as a past trustee of Kelston Girls High School.
In 2003 Graeme convened the Jubilee committee to organise the celebration of Penrose High School's first 50 years. In 2007 he was elected to the Board of Trustees and was into his second term as Deputy Board Chair. Apart from his involvement with the Jubilee and Board of Trustees, Graeme fulfilled the vital task of ensuring that the archives of the college were up to date and safely recorded.
Graeme's tireless and selfless commitment is a huge loss to One Tree Hill College. He is survived by his wife Saluma, son Robert and daughter Ellen. We will miss his indefatigable passion and energy. His depth of knowledge is irreplaceable.
