Friday Newsletter

At the beginning of 2024 our school made an application to the HUGO Trust for funding to purchase a school van. The HUGO trust was established by Maryanne Green in honour of her father Hugh Green, and since 2017 has donated over 19 million dollars to charitable causes.

Hugh Green, known as “Hugo”, was born on 24 October 1931, in Raphoe, County Donegal, Ireland, and was one of eight siblings. By today’s standards, the family had very little, but they made do with what they had. He often recalled, “If you had a good pair of boots, a good pair of socks, and a feed, that was it.”
At twelve Hugh left school to work on the farm with his father, where he learned the cattle dealing trade. He was raised in a home where Catholic faith was at the core, and this faith stayed with him throughout his life. Like many Irish during that time, Hugh sought a better future, and at 17, he left Ireland for Scotland before eventually settling in New Zealand.
Through hard work and perseverance, Hugh built a successful business in New Zealand, all while maintaining a commitment to helping others. As he once told his daughter Maryanne, “When I kick the bucket, I want a fair bit to go to charity.”

We were very excited to hear late in 2024, that the HUGO Trustees recognised a school van would make a significant positive impact on our community, and confirmed we had been successful in securing funding. The van had to make a long journey from Japan and has quietly ventured its way to Dunedin. Today it made the short trek up the school drive to be welcomed to St Bernie's. We were all very excited!
A huge thank you to the HUGO Trust, Lindsay Routhan and SignBiz (Marti)! Thanks also to Tony (for driving the van to Dunedin) and Steve (for storing the van prior to its reveal), and Father Michael for blessing the "Bernies Bus".