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SMOGA - Old Girls

The St Matthew’s Old Girls’ Association, or SMOGA, as our group is fondly called, has as its key objectives keeping in contact with as many past pupils of the school as possible, and to aid St Matthew’s wherever possible.

Formed in 1931, SMOGA has been instrumental in providing support to the school in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most prominent was securing the little church from Turakina, near Whanganui, and transporting it to the present site at the school in 1985. Other Old Girl driven projects you may notice around St Matthew’s include plaques, gardens, outdoor seating and many of the photographs which hang in the school hallways and foyers.

Significantly, we also administer two Grants:

 

Spirit of New Zealand Grant

The “Spirit of New Zealand” Grant funds each year one current student at St. Matthew’s a once in a
lifetime opportunity of a voyage on the Spirit of New Zealand. The Grant is open to either:

  • Any student who is 16 years and over that is a daughter, niece or granddaughter of an SMOGA member, or
  • Any student of St. Matthew’s Collegiate from Year 12 and 13 who joins SMOGA.

The “Spirit of New Zealand” Grant selection process will be based on a random ballot process and
will only be awarded in years when there are sufficient funds in the SMOGA “Spirit of New Zealand”
Grant Fund. The Grant value is currently $2,500 per year.

 

Endeavour Grant

The “Endeavour” grant aims to financially assist an old girl, or the widower of an old girl, who
wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to send their daughter to St. Matthew’s.
Available for 2024. Applications close before November 2023.

 

For more information about both Grants, and to apply visit the Academic/Scholarships tab on the school website:  Scholarships – St. Matthew’s Collegiate School for Girls (stmatts.school.nz)

 

Note: Terms and conditions for all grants apply and they are administrated by the Grants Committee which is independent of the SMOGA committee.

 

All leavers are offered the opportunity to become Life Members of the Association by paying a one-off fee at the conclusion of their days at St Matt’s. We then keep in touch with those members via an annual magazine which is full of articles and news of Old Girls. We keep an up to date database of past pupils, but to do this we need YOUR help by letting us know what you, your friends and family members are up to.

We would love to hear from you!

“

The Old Girls are there to make the present pupils aware that the school has a past. It belongs to us all – it is our school.

Helen Dashfield, To the Stars, 1989
“

When I visited St Matt's for the Centennial, some things around the ground had changed beyond measure since my own departure, yet the essence of kindness, good character and achievement still remain.

Charlotte Gendall, President, SMOGA