June Renwick
Passion, dedication, drive, energy, inspirational teacher and leader – these are comments left on June’s LinkedIn page.
A stalwart of the Drama NZ scene who deserves recognition. June was a founding member of NZADIE and was the Secretary in the late 80’s and early 90’s . In this role Susan Battye the then Chair stated “she was very efficient and kept in touch not only with teachers but also with the Ministry of Education.”
She was very pro-active in promoting the development of qualifications for Drama in terms of 6th Form Certificate and more significantly she was the go to person for NZQA when it came to the development of Unit Standards and then NCEA Drama. If it wasn't for her work at this level Drama perhaps would look very different today?
She was also our first National Moderator.
Her generosity in the cooking department – especially mussels and cheerful personality at any NZADIE event was most welcomed by all and sundry at Drama workshops and conferences. In fact June actually trained as a home economics teacher. Ruthe Kenderdine was at conference this year and when someone mentioned June’s name she stated @Mrs Renwick – she was my form1 manual teacher. Her memories of Mrs Renwick were that during production weeks, time was spent watching rehearsals instead of doing manual classes.
She was HOD at Selwyn College for over 30 years and left the school with an amazing legacy, she was frankly a bit of a legend for her passion and dedication.
Duncan Allen said -he first heard of this wonderful women in the late 80's at the University of Otago's Theatre Programme. Fresh out of Timaru and burning for the stage, I had followed my heart to the bright burning lights of Allen Hall where I quickly found a new home and new friends, among which were David Coltman & Sofia Duncan fresh out of Selwyn College and raving about this wonderful woman, mentor, director, creator and all round thespian diva delight called June Renwick. I was fascinated and intrigued and more than a little bit jealous - although I had enjoyed certain aspects of high school in Timaru - in the 80's - I certainly didn't recall the delights and theatrical adventures these two were reminiscing about - heck, we didn't even have drama as an option - I wasn't even aware Drama was a legitimate subject. But of course so much of what was happening at Selwyn and at other enlightened schools across NZ was because of adventurous dreamers and stubborn hard grafters like June who knew Drama was indeed a legitimate subject and a wonderful learning opportunity all students should be encouraged to explore. And so I quickly became firm and fast friends with David and Sophia and over the years heard many more wonderful stories detailing the delights of an innovative drama programme and an inspirational drama leader. Eventually I found myself in Auckland and one day in 1999, I found my way to Selwyn College and met this legend in reality with her brand new, hard won and beautiful Selwyn Theatre. I was hooked, and the rest, as they say is history and theatrics.
Her list of credits includes:
30 years at Selwyn College
The formation of the Selwyn Tertiary Performing Arts Programme in 1995
The formation of the Selwyn Junior Performing Arts Programme in 2000
The transformation of the Performing Arts at Selwyn College, with the highlight of an annual school Musical each year along with a broad range of topical and challenging plays.
The establishment of Selwyn Community Arts Theatre in 2005 upon retirement.
Specialising in offering a broad range of members of the community the opportunity to collaborate creatively through the joys of musical theatre; SCAT has staged such musical gems such as Guys & Dolls, The Boyfriend, Me & My Girl, Spamalot, The NZ Premiere of The Drousy Chaperone, West Side Story, Oliver, Miss Saigon and many more
Teaching Drama for Kids through Selwyn Community Education - and guess what – we have heard that just last week leading up to the opening of Selwyn’s latest production ‘Dusty’ June’s Junior students were seen not in drama classes but instead watching rehearsals
Tackling the challenge of costuming many of the most recent Selwyn College shows; from Bye Bye Birdie to BatBoy, Little Shop Of Horrors to In The Heights, Hairspray to Ragtime and most recently stunning audiences with the most gorgeous gowns in Dusty.
June’s costumes are truly mind-blowing – and she recently has had a number of teacher’s through her house as she is selling off and decluttering…..this opportunity to purchase is not to be missed.
I truly hope that when I reach June’s age (80years) that I am still working in the field that I love just like June.
