The trustees of the Foundation were greatly saddened to learn of the sudden death of David Richardson on March 9, 2024, at the age of 77.
David was one of those extraordinary people who throughout his life managed to juggle a busy and demanding career with a dedication to community service across a range of roles, while still finding time to spend with his family whom he adored. At the heart of his career was his passion to support, assist and guide young people to achieve their educational goals.
David was born and raised in Oamaru. He moved to Dunedin to study Geography at Otago and became a resident of Knox College. During this time he met his future wife, Carolyn Campbell, on the steps of St Margaret’s College, where she lived while doing a BA in English.
After graduation, David entered the teaching profession. In 1976 he was awarded a Victoria League grant and he and Carolyn, plus their two small children, Chris aged 2 and Nicky 6 months, travelled to Scotland where David taught for a year in Dumfries. During that time the family took the opportunity to travel extensively through the UK and parts of Europe.
Back in New Zealand, David’s leadership skills were soon recognised, first as head of geography at Queen’s High School, followed by his appointment in 1986 as Deputy Principal at Geraldine High School and in 1988 as Principal of Dunstan High School. He spent 11 busy years at Dunstan, weaving the far-reaching changes of the government’s Tomorrow’s Schools programme into the fabric of school life (a mammoth job), as well as growing Māori cultural programmes and introducing Te Reo into the curriculum.
In 1999 David moved from the secondary sector to the tertiary sector, when he was appointed Director of Student Services at the University of Otago. The role was wide-ranging, but the main focus was the oversight of student welfare, a huge task involving the pastoral care of thousands of students at the most vulnerable period of their lives. David’s personal and professional skills and attributes were just what was needed in the role, combining his strong leadership skills with a deep pastoral care ethos that was fundamental to his nature, along with a sympathetic understanding of young people and an ability to encourage others with his infectious optimism and a fine sense of humour.
Nowhere were his unique characteristics more evident than in his dedication to extend Otago’s efforts to transform itself into a Disability-friendly campus, which involved working closely with the feisty and dynamic Donna-Rose Mackay, then the sole advocate for disabled students and staff on campus. What a team they made, Donna Rose zipping along in her electric wheelchair with David striding beside her, ready to front up to senior management with their enlightened and far-sighted ideas aimed at transforming the campus to accommodate the needs of their community. Similarly, David developed warm and productive relationships with staff of Otago’s Māori Centre, Te Huka Mātauraka, and the Pacific Islands Centre, which quickly bore fruit in the improvement of academic results for Māori and Pacific students.
Another outstanding achievement during David’s time was the establishment in 2007 of Campus Watch, which has proved to be a game changer for the student community in North Dunedin.
David retired from the leadership of Student Services in 2014 at the age of 67, but this wasn’t the end of his outstanding service to Otago’s student community. A comprehensive review of Knox College and Salmond College by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand resulted in changes in the governance structure and the appointment of a new Board with David as its chair. His leadership skills and his commitment to pastoral care were once again instrumental in guiding the Colleges through some difficult times to face the future with confidence.
David’s service within the Presbyterian Church organisation was not limited to his role at Knox and Salmond Colleges. For six years from 2013 to 2019 he was chair of Presbyterian Support, and together with Carolyn served as Joint Clerk of Knox Church Session from 2006 to 2011.
In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to both University of Otago and the Presbyterian Church David was awarded Life Membership of the Presbyterian Support Organisation and the Otago University Students’ Association.
Outside of his University and Knox/Salmond responsibilities, David served as a Justice of the Peace from 2005 and was appointed as a Board member of the JP Association Council. In 2022 he became the independent chair of the Port Otago Noise Liaison Committee, a change from his usual education/church focus that reflected David’s concerns about contributing to the betterment of people’s lives wherever there was a need.
Carolyn was David’s mainstay and support throughout his busy life, and it was his willingness to help coupled with his cheerful and fair-minded approach that she says marked him out as special. She recalls his determination to always see the best in people and especially to see young people achieve their full potential.
David will be remembered by all for his generosity of spirit, his enormous contributions to the welfare of secondary and tertiary students, and his ability to focus on the future needs of the communities in which he worked. The trustees of the Foundation have extended their deep appreciation to his family for sharing David with Knox College and Salmond College, and the wider University. May he rest in peace.