Shannon O’Dowda knows her way around a kitchen — and a good idea when she sees one. As Ovation Hospitality’s on-site manager at Whanganui Collegiate, she leads a crew of four chefs and 30 kitchen staff. Together, they feed 450 students a day — and, in April, opened the new-look Collegiate Café.
The idea? Simple: take an underused tuck shop and completely reimagine it.
“We wanted to transform it into something with a real café vibe — brighter, warmer, more inviting,” Shannon says. “It’s now a Year 13 space, for senior students to hang out and spend time together.”
It’s got the feel of a student flat with flair: couches, rugs, hanging plants, students’ artwork — even curated beats.“They bring their own music in,” Shannon says. “They play cards.” It’s more Cuba Street than school canteen.
Crucially, headmaster Wayne Brown supported the idea from the start. “He really wanted somewhere special for the Year 13s — a place to hang out together and transition to university life next year. He’s backed us all the way.”
The food isn’t stock-standard school cafeteria — everything is made in-house and is over the top in all the ways that matter. “We make beautiful big pies — beef, cheese and bacon, mince ‘n’ cheese, mushroom slow-cooked beef. They’re massive, far bigger than the average petrol station pie.”
And that’s just the start. “We do big boujee pulled pork toasties with sweet & spicy pickle. Homemade sausage rolls. Donuts. Lamingtons. Tiramisu. And an Afghan caramel slice, which is an Ovation recipe we created. That flies out the door!
The café now hums with life. “The principal has meetings here. Teachers grab their coffees. Parents stop by after sports. It’s neat to have a space where everyone can come for barista coffees, chai lattes, iced chocolates, hot chocolates!”
Shannon laughs. “And healthy smoothies too, of course! Lots of those.”
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Ovation is proud to be a platinum sponsor of Independent Schools of New Zealand.
To find out more about what Ovation can offer your school, please contact our Business Development Executive, John Rippingham (ph: 022 135 8951 or email john.rippingham@ovationhospitality.co.nz).
