Peggy Lockyer
What a ball of energy! There was nothing Peggy didn’t participate in (and excel) during her time at college. She was the school swimming and athletic champion, cross country winner, captain of the A netball team, completed her life saving exams, played for the girls cricket team, did the outdoor pursuits adventure, did a stint on the Spirit of Adventure and somehow found time for sailing. Peg also played a part in the college production.
As Head Girl Peggy was an inspiration. Her energy and enthusiasm rubbed off on many of her contemporaries and as well she had great empathy with the younger students. Peggy had “presence”!
I don’t think anyone could have put more into their five years and got more out of it than Peggy Lockyer. I could fill the page with Peggy’s standout memories of school but her particular memories were of her Form 7 class of ’79, most of whom she had spent her five years with. Outdoor education experiences were high on her priority list and as so many others say, Form 3 and Form 4 camps will never to forgotten. Peggy was an outstanding netball player. I doubt anyone as ever taken more interceptions from the GK position than Peggy did!
Peggy has a great philosophy on life and the following quotes sum up her viewpoint.
A person who asks a question is a fool for a minute; a person who never asks a question is a fool for life. And from the Robert Frost poem “Road not Taken”:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less travelled by
And that has made all the difference.
Overall, secondary school, “I just loved it – I never really got that team sport buzz again, hence my move to the individual sports.”
On leaving school naturally sport was the field that Peggy pursued. Her qualifications gained:
1992 Diploma of Teaching (PE) Auckland College of Education
1992 Bachelor of Education Degree Massey University
2000-2001 Post Graduate Diploma, Sport and University of Waikato
Leisure Studies
2009-2010 Master of Education (1st Class Hons) University of Auckland
2011 Master of Legal Studies University of Auckland
For many years Peggy was a fulltime sportswoman. She did not commence teaching until the age of 27 as a PE Teacher and over the years has held positions of responsibility, HOD, Dean, and Senior Management in different Auckland Secondary Schools.
While sport training Peg “worked to live” as a lifeguard, a bouncer, a pool attendant and bar work. At one stage early on she joined the police force but after beginning the training she felt that she was too young and too inexperienced so withdrew to continue with her sporting interests.
Sporting pursuits post school mainly involved water sports. She took up flat water canoeing and in no time became New Zealand champion – a title she held for eight years. Peggy was selected as a NZ representative and in 1991, canoed at the world championships in Paris and gained a semi-final berth.
Dragon boating was another success for Peggy. As a member of Taniwha team they won the open category in 1989 and as a member of the Auckland Surf Life Saving team were winners in the mixed category in 1992.
Peggy has two Out Rigger Canoeing titles to her name. Their 4-person team won the NZ 1000 m and 2000 m event.
For many years Peggy has been a Surf Life Saver and as well as patrolling busy beaches, she participated in various national championships representing Bay of Plenty and Auckland from 1983 to 1992.
Her final stint as a netballer was as a member of the Otago Under 21 team in 1984.
Peg’s successes lead to her receiving sponsorship to assist with her training and travel. JOICO New Zealand Hair Products supported her from 1989 to 1991 and local firms Tidco NZ Ltd and Hymac NZ Ltd also got behind her endeavours. She received a combined package with Sandvik Steel NZ and Sweden to help cover costs.
When asked to comment on “Lifetime Achievements” Peg feels that as great as it was to represent her country, gaining first class honours in her Education Masters was just a satisfying. Her approach to everything and anything is: set a goal and just go for it!
In Peg’s words: I was proud of my school and proud to represent the college when playing sport and as head girl. Many successful people have emerged from Matamata College and Waharoa Community and I am delighted to be a very small part of the legacy. I left Matamata College with a wonderful set of skills which have set me up for life.
Peg returns to Matamata regularly to visit her Mum (87) and other family members. Sister Sharyn, also a College A netballer now lives in Waihou, sister Judith a brilliant swimmer in her time lives in Edgecumbe and brother Ross lives in Tauranga. She has valued family and home support and believes she has only got where she is today from a great start on the home farm!