Founders’ Day Address by WBHS Headboy 2011

Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, Staff, Mr Hart, Honored guests and most importantly to you Wynberg Boys.

It is with great honor that I stand before you gentlemen and formally thank you for allowing me this opportunity to talk to you today. I wonder how many of you understand or appreciate how privileged you are to be wearing that blazer you carry on your shoulders right now. I can tell you that it is no ordinary blazer and that badge that you wear upon your heart is a special symbol of you Wynberg Boys. Unlike you, I did not grace these walls as a Wynberg junior and although I am very grateful for the grounding my junior school has given me , a part of me wishes that I had come here for I would love nothing more than to call myself an old faithful. I walked through the high school gates for the first time as a grade 8 substantially smaller than I am now with the fear of the unknown. On face value, Wynberg seemed like a fantastic school but you never know what it is really like until you are part of it.

So there’s me, David Maasch, a tiny fish in a massive pond wondering how does a little boy like me fit in at a school like this. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was a part of a family, the Wynberg Family, after I received my mentor, my matric buddy. Soon after I was part of a very special ceremony, the blazer ceremony which made me realize what a special school this is.

On a daily basis I would spend more time at school than I would at home so naturally I made most of my friends here at Wynberg. What I didn’t realize was that my school was playing a massive part in shaping me into the young man that I am today. I also learnt that this was not just a place where I was taught math’s, shown how to scrum or given detention for trying to light someone’s hair in science; this was to be my home away from home. This was to become my secondary family, the school which I proudly call my own.

Many of you gentlemen will be lucky enough to be part of this family in your high school careers; given that you return good academic results and that you are good role models at your school. It goes without saying that helping out in service, being good on the sports field or being able to play an instrument will also count in your favor towards your acceptance at Wynberg.

I will tell you right now that Wynberg is a school where you can get out what you put in. It is a school of endless opportunities that you need to embrace. If you throw yourself whole heartedly into everything for which the school stands for, you will leave the school gates a man, equipped with an arsenal of skills to become the most successful person you could possibly be.It is also a school of challenges. Coming to Wynberg you will be faced with many difficulties and there will be times when you will ask yourself “what have I got myself into” but there is a reason for that. The original meaning of the motto, Supera Moras means overcoming difficulty. A true test of a man’s character is how he mans up in the face of adversity.

Once you leave the gates of Wynberg you would have overcome many difficulties and will be prepared for the big wide world with an exceptional advantage of being able to call yourself a Wynberg Old Boy.

The adapted meaning of the motto, Supera Moras is that a Wynberg man never gives up. What sets a Wynberg man apart from the rest? His ability to stand up when everyone’s been knocked down, to be knocked down again and for him to stand up again. It is the reason why other schools fear us, it’s because we don’t know when to stop and we don’t know what it feels like to quit. It is not something we are taught, it’s something that is branded into our character and once it’s there it’s not going to leave.

I will be leaving this school soon in presence but never in spirit. This school has given me memories which I will take to my grave. Plenty of good memories and some bad memories but there is absolutely nothing I would change in the five years I’ve spent at my school. I’ve made friends for life and formed bonds that are strong beyond measure.

This year the school was shocked to find out one Sunday morning earlier this year that a few of our fellow Wynberg brothers were involved in a car accident. Some came away with minor injuries, some with more major injuries but Gere Coghlan was stuck with serious life threatening injuries, so much so that the doctors did not think he was going to make it. To be quite frank, he should not be with us today but what that doctor did not know was that Gere was a naturally feisty character and worse still for the grim reaper, Gere was a Wynberg man. If you were able to walk up to the high school, you won’t take too long to find Mr Coghlan as he is probably walking down the passages with a massive smile on his face. He is a true testament to the character of a “Wynberg man”.

Wynberg Boys truly are brothers in an endless chain. About 2 weeks ago, I attended a family member’s funeral and I attended it in my uniform. A man who I had never met before stopped me and said “ Head boy 2011, I matriculated at Wynberg in 1957” and from that moment it felt as if I had known that man for a long time. We spent almost an hour talking about our school and that’s when I realized that I was part of an extra ordinary brotherhood. There was an 18 year old youngster talking to a man in his 70’s as if he were my grandfather. You’d be interested to know that during that time, the high school was still on these grounds.

You boys all know the odd guy at your school that says he doesn’t care about Wynberg, you know stuff Wynberg. It’s funny because it’s those guys who actually love the school deep down but are too cool to admit it. Put that guy at a party and dare someone to go over to him and tell him Wynberg sucks. I bet you’ll find that same character in Groote Schuur hospital the next morning.
There are living examples of loyalty that you will come to find at Wynberg in the teaching staff at the school in the form of Mr Moser and Mr Creed. Don’t ask me how long they have been there because I don’t think the history books go back that far. I’m probably going to get detention for saying that.

I am enormously privileged to be head boy of the school in 2011, the 170th year if our school’s existence. People ask me if my job is difficult and my response is always the same. My job has been easy. Leading men who are already dedicated and passionate has made my job an absolute pleasure.

It is almost time for my Valedictory Service and it is a scary thought. It’s been 5 years and they have flown by. Many of you gentlemen will be a part of Wynberg High School next year and it is important that when you have your Valedictory, you must look back with absolutely no regrets because you only get one shot.The Wynberg brand has five points, one for every finger on your hand. Pride, manners, respect, aim high and Supera Moras. A Wynberg man will not only live by this brand through his schooling career but throughout his life.The Wynberg creed was written by the Wynberg Old Boys Union President, Mr Steve Doidge and it reads:-

I am a Wynberg Man.
I have answered my school’s call.

I am a Wynberg Man.
I am faithful to a proud heritage,
A tradition of honor
And a legacy of valor.

I am a Wynberg Man.
Passionate, Respectful and Resourceful.
I will fight for my school whenever battle calls,
I will defend my school’s honor to the end.

I am a Wynberg Man.
I will never let down my Wynberg Brothers.
I will never falter,
And I will not fail.

I am a Wynberg Man.
I will never surrender.

I think it is clear that the creed sums it up. Wynberg took me in as a boy and I’m leaving as a young man. Make the right choice gentlemen but make it for the right reasons and the Wynberg family will welcome you with open arms. In closing, I believe we will be taking on ancient rivals this weekend. A teacher by the name of mr Schenk always said that Wynberg is second only to SACS and ONLY in age. The difference between us and them is that they have the thin stripes and we have the bold stripes. I’m here to tell you gentleman that you will give SACS absolutely nothing and they will leave with absolutely nothing besides battered bodies and bruised egos. Thank you and Supera Moras.