Traffic-stopping farewell for Sir John
Sir John Graham was farewelled with a 2500-strong haka at the end of a funeral service celebrating his contribution to sports and education as an All Black captain, NZ Cricket manager, university chancellor and Auckland Grammar school headmaster.
Auckland Grammar School students silently filed into the courtyard outside St Mary’s Cathedral Church in Auckland just before noon yesterday.
A group of 80 students turned into a crowd of 2500 in just short of an hour, ready to greet the exiting mourners and Graham’s coffin with a haka that reverberated around the suburb of Parnell, causing passing motorists to slow down and bringing some to tears
It was a rousing end to a service that would have made Graham, widely known as DJ, ’’exceptionally happy’’, according to former All Black coach Sir Graham Henry.
’’I wondered whether the church was going to big enough and all those sorts of things, and perhaps it wasn’t, but that’s what DJ wanted. He would have no fuss, let’s get on with it, one hour will be enough, three speeches.’’
Graham’s history at Auckland Grammar was well known but perhaps less well known was his work at Southern Cross campus, in Mangere, which had caused the ‘‘black and white’’ Graham to change some of his own values, according to Henry.
Graham had a ‘‘gruff exterior’’ but understood people and felt great compassion for them. ’’He probably assisted more people than anybody else I know,’’ Henry said.
Graham was knighted for his services to education and sports in 2011. The attendees at his funeral reflected the wide impact he had on the country with former Prime Minister Sir John Key, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman, former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming, and a host of ex-all Blacks in attendance.
Graham played 22 tests for the All Blacks, including three as captain, between 1958 and 1964, and was president of the New Zealand Rugby Union from 2005 to 2007. He managed the New Zealand cricket team from 1997 to 1999.
After touring South Africa with the All Blacks in 1960, he said that ‘‘if we had any conscience and feeling for humanity, we should not have been touring South Africa’’.
Along with another All Black captain Wilson Whineray, Graham decided against attending matches during the controversial 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand.
Though madly keen on rugby and sport in general, he also sought perspective with New Zealand’s infatuation with rugby.
‘‘I don’t think rugby union is anywhere near as important in this country as solving the problems of poverty and unemployment. We’re happy, aren’t we, when our rugby team goes well, yet we’re prepared to let some aspects of our nation go almost ignored.’’