MAURICE SMITH, ANNE SMITH (DAWSON)

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Maurice and Anne have much to thank Matamata College for. They both attended at the same time and in 1965 became “Mr and Mrs Smith.” Recently (2015), they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Queenstown with their family.

Maurice was a School Prefect in 1962 and Head Boy in 1963. He was also a member of the First XV for three years, the last year held the job of Captain.

On leaving school Maurice graduated from Massey University with a Business Management Degree. He returned to Matamata and farmed for six years. Following his stint in the farming industry Maurice entered the Business world taking up a sales and marketing position which included three and a half years as Regional Director of Marketing for Eveready Batteries in Hong Kong.

Anne was a Prefect in 1962 and Deputy Head Girl in 1963. Anne starred on the Netball court. For three years Anne was a member of College A (a very successful College A) as well as playing “A” Reps for Matamata in the latter two years.

Anne graduated with distinction from North Shore Teachers College in 1980. She has taught in both New Zealand and Hong Kong and specialised in early childhood development and in teaching K-2 aged children.   Anne started teaching at NumberWorks in 1986 and as Director of Training was responsible for the ongoing development of training programs both for Franchisees and Franchisee Trainers as well as systems and procedures for maintaining quality control at all centres

Together (1989) they opened an after school tuition business, NumberWorks Australia. Maurice and Anne have been responsible for the continued growth and franchising of the business in New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, UAE and the United Kingdom. They contemporises contemporises lived and worked in Sydney for 15 years before returning to Auckland in 2004.

Many contemporises from their era will remember Sue-Ellen Thompson and Craig Bush who were the first American Field Scholar students to attend Matamata College. Maurice and Anne hosted a class reunion in 2012 to celebrate 50 years since they were at Matamata College and were delighted that Sue-Ellen and Craig both attended along with ex-staff members Paul Canham and Fleur Stark.

Maurice and Anne have two daughters living in Auckland and a son in Bathurst, Australia.