Ann Dunphy
A lifetime spent seeking to empower Aotearoa’s next generation through mentoring has seen Te Awamutu-born Ann Dunphy recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list.
A former Te Awamutu College Dux, Ann was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to youth and education.
“It was an amazing surprise, but the recognition wasn’t just about me. The way I see it, mentorship is about being a team, so this acknowledges the work so many others are doing too.”
College Dux in 1960, Ann’s brother Clem also received the accolade in 1956.
Shifting to Auckland after college, Ann told The News she regularly reflects on her time in Te Awamutu.
In March, she and a group of fellow former college classmates had a reunion.
This year, the classmates are collectively 80.
After Te Awamutu, Ann was at Auckland University on a teaching studentship from 1961-1964.
Her first teaching job was in the Bay of Plenty, she worked at Ōtara’s Hillary College and was Tangaroa College deputy principal.
She became Penrose High School principal in 1986.
Trialling mentoring and guidance schemes at both Tangaroa College and Penrose High School, Ann co-founded the Auckland Youth Mentoring Association – now the Youth Mentoring Network – with former colleague, Tangaroa College principal Jim Peters, in 2000.
She chairs the Youth Mentoring Network charitable trust, delivering advice and services to providers running mentoring programmes.
Workshops are held nationwide.
“Some young people are fortunate they’ve got natural mentors,” she said.
“But lots, through no fault of their own, don’t have enough connections to help them maximise their potential.”
Instrumental in the publication of The Guide to Effective and Safe Practice in Youth Mentoring’, Ann was a Great Potentials Foundation trustee from 2008 through 2013.
There, she led the Junior Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme (MATES), focussed on addressing the fact many disadvantaged teenagers in New Zealand underachieve educationally.
Since 1999, Ann’s been a University of Auckland lecturer at the School of Teaching, Learning and Development.
“I knew mentoring could really make a difference in connecting to the good will and care in the community,” she said of the trust’s early days.
“Mentoring itself isn’t new, it’s something we humans have always done intuitively – but the whole idea of structured programmes was less common.
“I thought, let’s not reinvent the wheel – let’s establish a network through which people can connect as efficiently as possible.”
Ann’s passion for mentoring is unwavering.
“I’m really keen to highlight that there’s so much scope too – be it formal or informal, mentorship really adds to human happiness and community cohesion.
“And, our young people being able to tap into the experience of caring adults who are there for them is invaluable.”
Asked where that passion came from, Ann’s under no illusions – her father, John Elliott.
“What’s wonderful about mentorship is that it’s intergenerational,” she said.
During Ann’s last two years in Te Awamutu, her father was Pukeatua School principal.
Ann loved those years and poignantly, in the education sector, Ann sees him as one of her own early mentors.
She said it was fun being able to let her family know about her King’s Birthday recognition.
She sent the Governor General’s letter to both of her sons, Chris in Melbourne and Mike in Dubai.
“When I was in high school, it would’ve been out of the question to think of being principal of a co-ed high school.
“I’m very conscious of how fortunate I am, so I’m driven to do all in my power to see others reaching their full potential.”
