Newspaper Article 2017 – Ex-Woodford House head acknowledged

Ex-Woodford House head acknowledged

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

By Alice Lock
[email protected]

FROM managing premier national sports teams to running secondary girls’ high schools, nothing is too much for Jacqueline Barron.

The former Woodford House principal has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to sports governance and education, in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Mrs Barron said the news came as a “real surprise” and was very humbling.

“It has been a privilege to work and support students and teams over the years and the two areas run very parallel to one another.”

Mrs Barron was manager of the Black Ferns when they won the 2002 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the Silver Ferns netball team from 2005-09, when they won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

She has also managed the Southern Steel netball team to win two national titles and managed the New Zealand U21 netball team in two World Youth Cup campaigns in 1996 and 2000.

“I am passionate about giving opportunities to sports people so they can be the best they can be.”

After her team management roles Mrs Barron joined the board of Sport New Zealand where she focused on encouraging women in their sporting careers and addressing issues that face women’s sport.

She was also asked to be on the New Zealand Rugby Football Union respect and responsibility panel.

Mrs Barron said her mindset in sporting governance was similar to her role as principal, as she wanted to enable others and help them to achieve.

“I think the common theme with these two areas is wanting to give people the maximum opportunities.”

She was principal of Woodford House from 2009 and became principal of St Hilda’s Collegiate in Dunedin in 2015. She was also deputy principal of Gore High School and in 2013 hosted a New Zealand symposium on sharing strategies for teaching and raising girls.

She said she missed “sunny” Hawke’s Bay but enjoyed her role down south.

“I enjoy working with young women and I hope to create a positive environment where they can build self-belief, resilience, strength and responsibility.”

Photo caption – JACQUELINE BARRON, MNZM