All Black's gift raises funds to help old school

Sue Faulkner (front left), of Patearoa, takes possession of an Andrew Hore rugby shirt signed by the All Black squad, which she purchased at auction for $3000. The money was presented to the Maniototo Area School by Superior Minerals employee Tim Adcock (front right) to help pupils (back from left) Tim McMillan, Dylan O'Neill, Willie Miller, Nathan Huddleston and (front middle, from left) Cobie Stringer and Sam Miller with travel costs to a sports tournament. Photo by Peter Heron.

Hore, a former Maniototo Area School pupil, donated one of his rugby shirts, signed by the All Black squad, to be sold at auction to raise money for a young team of athletes to travel to Whangarei.

"When Andy heard that Maniototo Area School pupils needed $1400 each to attend the New Zealand area school sports competition at Whangarei in July, he decided to help by supplying one of his shirts," school principal Peter Heron said.

The signed shirt was framed and then auctioned at the Patearoa Golf Club during a recent clients' tournament sponsored by Superior Minerals.

Mr Heron said Sue Faulkner, of Patearoa, purchased the shirt for $3000, and was happy to support the school in doing so.

Otago's cricket team has also been helping pupils at the school achieve top results in their chosen sport.

Members of the team coached the school's young cricket players at Ranfurly this week.

Mr Heron said about five Otago Volts players from Dunedin gave playing tips to about 40 pupils.