During his fledgling career as a sharebroker, Jeremy Nurse (6664) looked out the window and wished he was in the great outdoors.

It was no surprise then, that two years later, Jeremy quit the trading floor to follow his dream of farming. Over the years he and his wife, Amanda, owned two farms before settling in the Clarence Valley, 30km north of Kaikoura, where they ran merinos, deer and cattle for 17 years.

While Jeremy, now aged 81, and Amanda returned to live in Christchurch in 1997, he wasn’t ready to put his feet up. In 2007, along with six other trustees, he founded the 180 Degrees Trust to help vulnerable teenagers. Using Jeremy’s love of the high country and his passion for triathlons and sport, the Trust now runs development programmes that utilise the natural environment to physically and emotionally challenge youth, aimed at fostering confidence, courage, respect and cooperation.

“I had a positive family life, and I was very lucky to go to Christ’s College where there was so much on offer, and I got into everything. I was one of those go-go people.”

Not much has changed. Jeremy’s age belies his energy and enthusiasm for working with young people and he still heads away on some of the Trust’s signature 243km Southern Alps Traverse week-long expeditions.

“We set off from Christchurch and drive over to Hokitika, then begin to make our way back to New Brighton over six days, using a combination of mountain biking trails, hiking trails, privately and publicly owned huts and rivers for rafting. We arrive back in Christchurch on a Friday and have an award ceremony where all families and friends of 180 attend,” Jeremy explains.

“The purpose of the Traverse is to instil confidence, work as a team and keep our young people 100% focused all the time. They learn goal setting, discipline, respect for others and the environment as well as accomplishing great physical and mental challenges and endurance.

“The kids are often wary and anxious when they arrive. They have needs which reflect severe trauma and need guidance and mentoring at a very sensitive time of their lives. Referrals can be from Oranga Tamariki, their school or the Police. One of the challenges is to build trust,” says Jeremy.

The transformation from the start to end of the week is amazing.

“When I’m at the finish watching the kids come back, I can hardly talk because of the emotion and pride seeing the huge gains made by both staff and the youth, the barriers overcome.

“I really enjoy people, whether it be our talented outdoor leaders and mentors, or the young people who are referred to us. Young people have so much potential talent, the earlier they come to us the better. My team at 180 is yet to meet a young person whom we could not have a positive influence on in some way. We want to empower them to make wise decisions, foster pro-social behaviour, encourage personal growth, and inspire motivation.”

Jeremy is still very involved, backed by a strong board including Cilla Glasson as Chair, Neil Edmond, Keith Jessop, Glen Stuart and Nicholas Davidson.

Jeremy’s friends from College sometimes join 180 Degrees trips as volunteers, making it a unique opportunity to ‘give back’. Those Old Boys participating to date include Tony Banks, Ben Evans, Tim Glasson, Peter Guthrey, Tony Mortensen, David Murchison, Dr Jonathan Pascoe, Chris Rutherford, Brian Stokes and Will Rutherford.