The WCOBA
Lumen accipe et imperti (Receive The Light And Pass It On).
The Wellington College Old Boys’ Association (WCOBA) is one of the strongest alumni organisations in New Zealand with 34,000 recorded Old Boys. With a thriving reunion and events programme, we are proud of the strong connection between the WCOBA and the Wellington College community.
Our current Old Boys come from a wide range of ages (from those who attended the school in the 1930s to those who graduated last year), backgrounds and interests. Their careers and achievements since they left the College have taken them all in different directions to the far reaches of the globe but through the WCOBA they are able to share and celebrate their association with Wellington College.
The WCOBA hosts regular functions and reunions which enable many of our Old Boys to keep in close contact with their friends from school – even 50 and 60 years since they left school. The Association focuses on encouraging all leavers to maintain links with the school and with one another.
The Association has an elected executive and many Old Boys have given distinguished service to the WCOBA Executive as members. The WCOBA contributes annually to scholarships for current students and provides financial assistance for school projects.
Every student who leaves Wellington College automatically becomes a member of the WCOBA. By becoming a Life Member, your subscription assists the Association’s endeavours to support the College, subsidise reunions and events and publish the annual WCOBA magazine, The Lampstand. Being a Life Member of the Old Boys’ Association provides many benefits including a membership certificate and Old Boys’ Lapel Pin, the annual Lampstand and special invitations to functions.
The WCOBA is your Association. We look forward to your participation in the life of the WCOBA. It is by making the effort to stay in touch we can all be sure that an education at Wellington College truly does last a lifetime.
WCOBA Executive 2024
Committee Members
Contact Old Boys
To maintain contact with the Old Boys, a register of names and addresses is kept at the College and requires constant updating. Any information regarding a change of address or the whereabouts or activities of any Old Boy is welcomed and should be forwarded to the Executive Officer, WCOBA by email.
2024 Reunions and Events
Please check that we have your email address so we can keep you up to date with news and invitations.
Queries and RSVPs can be made to Steph Kane, WCOBA Executive Officer at oldboys@wc.school.nz
Old Boys News
We love to keep the wider College community updated and appreciate hearing from our Old Boys. If you have news stories to share, please contact the WCOBA Office.
To read past digital Wellingtonian Magazines, click HERE.
An update from the WCOBA President
December, 2020
It is with much regret that we advise you that Wellington College is unable to continue to fund the Office of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association and the Archives in the way that it currently does.
As you may be aware, the school currently funds these two offices from its regular budget, which has relied heavily on income from international fee-paying students. As the Government is not currently permitting secondary school-aged international students to enter New Zealand, the budget for the school no longer extends to cover the cost of these two positions.
The Wellington College Old Boys’ Executive have now contracted the services of Steph Kane (Old Boys’ Executive Officer) and Archivist, (Mike Pallin) directly to the Association with thanks from donations from our Old Boys. We will continue to seek support from our community to ensure that Steph and Mike can work keeping our Old Boys engaged and connected as well as maintaining and showcasing our history to current students, Old Boys, and the wider community.
We are sure you will agree, we owe Steph and Mike (and Archives Volunteers, Gary and Alison Girvan, and Rod Page) a big thank you for all they have done over the many years of service to the College in keeping our Association active and engaged.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions which are associated with it have created a difficult financial situation for the College. We are grateful for the support of Old Boys at this time.
Ted Thomas, President WCOBA
Bank Details
If you are in the position to help support our team, you can make an online donation to our bank account
Account Number : 01-0505-0842393-00
Individual Donors
Individual Donors can claim a 33.33% tax credit for all donations over $5.00 when they submit their next tax return.