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PORTIA McPHAIL, 16, MANUREWA
Portia would have had such a bright future, a friend told the Herald yesterday.
Described as gentle, kind, beautiful and mature, Portia was always thought of as a girl who would go far, the friend said.
She was academic, but she also excelled at sport. Her love of netball, a sport she played and coached, was well known.
Elim principal Murray Burton said Portia was the type of girl highly regarded by other students.
He said she was a motivated and well organised student.
TARA GREGORY, 16, MT WELLINGTON
Tara was developing into a gutsy, determined girl full of empathy, according to her former trampoline coach, Kay Shaw.
Elim principal Murray Burton described her as being a friendly, mature and determined sports woman.
"She will be remembered as a brave, selfless and academic student."
Ms Shaw said Tara had flourished as a person as she had gone through the trampolining ranks.
She had competed at both Auckland and North Island level and was still a member of the Icon Trampolining Club.
She was a quiet, strong, bright and talented sportswoman and was going to be missed by all who knew her, Ms Shaw said. Emails of condolences had come in from trampolining clubs around the country yesterday.
"She was a very special child. She was brave and gutsy in her quiet way, doing sports that pushed her.
ANTHONY MULDER, 16, HOWICK
Anthony Mulder wanted children to know that Jesus loved them.
A constant presence at his church's children's ministries, camps and clubs, Anthony loved the time he spent helping and teaching children.
But he also showed great leadership potential, and last month represented Elim Christian College at the Rotary RYPEN Leadership Camp in theHunua Ranges.
Elim principal Murray Burton called Anthony a talented boy who loved the outdoors and loved playing sport.
"He was a fun person with a great sense of humour and he loved tocook. He lived to serve the Lord, especially through children's ministries."
A family member described Anthony as a fun-loving person who would often go fishing with his Dad and spend time with his family.
He also enjoyed playing the drums.
But it was his willingness tohelp others and do things for themthat defined him, "right from very young".
HUAN (TOM) HSU, 16, FARM COVE
Tom Hsu had overcome tremendous odds battling cerebral palsy to become a student leader at Elim Christian College.
Originally from Taiwan, Tom was in his second year as an international student at the school.
He was a peer support leader this year and a representative on the student council.
Suffering from cerebral palsy had thrown up a huge challenge for Tom, but he had done remarkably well to get to where he had in the school, principal Murray Burton said.
Cerebral palsy is a condition where connections between different parts of the victim's brain don't work as they should, affecting control over their physical movement.
It is non-progressive and non-contagious and is caused by damage to the motor control centres of the young developing brain.
Tom was described as being very funny, always cheerful, God-loving and having the ability to do his best in all he did.
FLOYD FERNANDES, 16, HOWICK
When a production or event at Elim needed music, more often than not it was Floyd Fernandes who would provide it on his keyboard or guitar.
In a school that focuses heavily on music, Floyd was known as a highly talented, musical tall poppy.
But he was a sports fan too, using his MySpace profile to highlight his love of soccer and cricket.
Principal Murray Burton described Floyd as a humble student who was a good all-rounder, loved sports and was very active in many areas of school life.
He also spoke of himself as loving games, all types of technology, Star Wars and food.
His profile reads: "I also like hanging with my friends, playing and listening to music, and I love God."
When not playing music he would listen to his two favourite bands, Christian rock groups Switchfoot and Relient K.
The Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings trilogies were among his favourite movies. The Simpsons, soccer or cricket satisfied TV cravings.
NATASHA BRAY, 16, PAKURANGA
Andy and Nikki Bray had high hopes and expectations for Natasha, their eldest child.
Elim principal Murray Burton told a school assembly yesterday that Natasha was the one student he "sincerely hoped" would be the school's head girl next year.
He described her as a talented all-round role model who loved God and people with a passion.
With Anthony Mulder, she had represented the school at last month's Rotary RYPEN Leadership Camp, where she met Manukau City Mayor Len Brown.
She also coached netball and was a bronze Duke of Edinburgh recipient. The Duke of Edinburgh scheme works at developing self-reliance, organisational skills and leadership potential.
During a press conference, Andy Bray spoke of her maturity and kindness. Despite her young age, she had often written notes to her parents, letting them know she appreciated and loved them.
ANTHONY McCLEAN, 29, HOWICK
Tony McClean was determined to head back to his missionary work in Nepal, to teach young children there to read.
Last year, he took time out to spend six months working with children in the mountainous nation.
Mr McClean had worked before as an intermediate teacher at several schools and a youth pastor at Eastview Baptist Church in Howick.
Described in a tribute yesterday as the "gospel on legs", Mr McClean had been loving the challenge of teaching the older children at Elim. He put people at ease and people felt it safe to talk openly to him, his friends said.
Elim principal Murray Burton described Mr McClean as having a "passion for serving people". Despite his short time at the school, he had made a huge contribution as the sports co-ordinator.
An avid surfer and snowboarder, he was an impassioned advocate of all things outdoors. He was also a successful musician in East Auckland indy hip-hop group Fatmonks.
