A Timaru Boys’ High School old boy’s medals have been returned to the school.
George Risk’s 1999 Royal Society and Technology medal and his 1959 dux award were given to the school by his sister, Helen Henderson, in a ceremony last week.
Mr Risk, who died in 2019, was described as being influential in taking electrical resistivity techniques, which were used in geothermal exploration, from infancy to a finely developed technology.
New Zealand’s leadership in geothermal technology could be in part attributed to Mr Risk’s developmental work.
The medals would now be put on display in the school’s memorial library.
Rector Dave Thorp said Bruce Leadley — who was a teacher at Timaru Boys’ High when Mr Risk attended — had spoken at the ceremony about Mr Risk’s school days.
Mr Leadley recalled Mr Risk being a quiet and modest farm boy from a one-teacher country school in Maungati.
He had adapted well to the Thomas House environment and was well liked by pupils and staff.
Mr Thorp said: ‘‘Bruce said that it was no surprise to anyone at Timaru Boys’ that George went on to have such a distinguished career in the world of scientific research.
‘‘He had an extremely sharp mind and a bent towards perfectionism.’’
Mr Thorp said the school was honoured to receive Mr Risk’s medals and he was thankful to Mrs Henderson for passing the treasures on to the school.
‘‘George’s success will be a real inspiration to our academic students.’’
