Page 6 - Southwell School_The Chronicle December 2022

Admission to the bar as a Barrister & Solicitor Left to right: Harry (2007-2009), Sam (2002-2003), Peter (2007-2008), of the High Court of New Zealand Ross, Kate (2004-2005), Fiona and Paul (1976).
ALUMNI FEATURE
IKATE FITZ-JOHN
n April this year this year it was announced that local Employment Law Sepcialists Edwards Law had promoted a new Senior Associate, Old Girl Kate
Fitz-John (nee Wilson 2004-05). Here at Southwell, its all about connections. Edwards Law is the Brainchild of Old Boy Blair Edwards (1981-86) and Kate hails from a large multi-generational Southwell Family. Father Paul is an Old Boy (1976) as are brothers Sam (2002-03) Harry (2007-09) and Peter (2007-08).
After leaving Southwell and attending St Peters, Kate graduated from Waikato University with an LLB/BSocSc
in 2015 and practised commercial, property and employment law before joining Edwards Law Hamilton office in 2018 to specialise in employment law. In 2019, Kate was promoted to the role of Associate, and this year she continued the climb.
What three things do you remember vividly about your time at Southwell?
The people. Southwell is filled with amazing, compassionate, and genuine people. I made some great friends during my two years at Southwell and I still keep in touch with them. We all have such fond memories and still share a lot in common. As a border, we were surrounded by passionate and committed staff members 24/7. Ms Mac was so generous with her time to us girls, and we loved having the young gap tutors.
Sports exchanges. I was never (and never will be)
a great athlete. But to have the opportunity to participate in the sports exchanges to other schools (including being billeted to a family in Napier for the night during an exchange with Iona College) was great fun. I travelled to lots of different schools throughout Auckland and the Waikato down to the Hawkes Bay playing softball and netball.
The Food. There are two parts to this answer. The first is the delicious food we got in the Boarding House. For morning tea we were often given this delicious caramel slice with real melted chocolate on top and generous gooey caramel in the middle. The second was doing Food Technology. Our food tech class was first thing on a Monday morning and I saved both of them to take home to my family at the end of the week. The bread was rock hard and looked like a potato!
Beyond your time at Southwell, share three accomp-lishments or moments in life that you are proud of.
Building a home and a family. I recently dug up a scrap book I did when I probably about 10-12 years old. I was highly amused to see my goals by the time I was 30 years old was to be married, have four children and a house! I am thrilled to say I have