Past Pupils & Friends [Network News Ed. 3]

Hutt Valley High School Crest

Internet search
Enter a search phrase:
 
(doesn’t search www.hvhs.ac.nz)
 
 Home PageHome Page
 ProspectusProspectus
 NewslettersNewsletters
 ExaminationsExaminations
 ContactContact
 Past Pupils & FriendsPast Pupils & Friends
 School ActivitiesSchool Activities
HVHS School Life Rotating Photo Gallery [JPEG]


Welcome to the 3rd Edition of the "Network News"

We were really thrilled with the excellent response from our ‘Christmas Greeting’ sent to those whose names we had received but who had not sent us their details. The ‘network’ has increased by 200 as a result. Many people sent donations and these are greatly appreciated as the committe continues to move the Association onto a solid footing.

We are hoping over the next few months to finalise the dates for the 75th celebrations in the year 2001. This will enable those people intending to travel from long distances to make their plans. Keep speading the news - look out your old class photos and if you know where people are living, make contact by passing on the ‘Join Me Up’ form.

This household is having an enormous ‘clean up’ at present, and all manner of souvenirs are surfacing from our distant past. Photos pop out of the most unlikely places, as do school ties, badges, newspaper cuttings etc. Our archivists are keen to hear from people wanting to offload their memorabilia. So what about school magazines? PLEASE - if you come across copies and you no longer wish to keep them, don’t even ask us - just post them off to the Association at Pvt Bagm31909, Lower Hutt. We have had quite a number of requests from people who have lost their copies and we will gladly find a new home for your old magazines.

The AGM is set for the 17th March and we will start with a short social time with wine and cheese. We look forward to seeing some of you there.

- Pam Stevenson

From the inbox

From Clyde Hurrell

(1943-46) clyde@xtra.co.nz

Chat code "The Kiwi who Flew" ...being no good at typing, I enrolled as a pupil at Horowhenua College and have passed NZCC in Computing II and am now working on III. I am a committed geneologist and this interest has taken me on trips to Britain and Europe in 1997. Ill health now precludes further trips.

From David Thompson

(1959-62) dthompson@broadreach.com

Thanks for the Christmas Greetings letter. I was really happy to get the news and learn of the reunion that is planned.....How about developing a page on the HVHS web site for the Reunion - a one-stop electronic shop. Also why don’t you consider emailing the newsletter to those who respond with their email address - can’t beat the cost. Good luck and thanks - see you at the Reunion. (Good suggestions! Editor)

From Karin Rolls (Brown)

(1959-62) derekr@one.net.au

I would be very happy for anyone that know me to make contact -I would love to hear from someone. I now live in Brisbane, Aust.

From Jennifer Hartman (Scott)

1984-88 (LpgPapa@aol.com)

I am trying to contact old classmates - I graduated in 1988. Is there anyway you can help me? Also do they still hold reunions of any type? Next reunion is in 2001 - watch for more details in later editions - Ed

From Nils (John) Powell

1954-59 (bini@tassie.net.au)

I don’t know if it is a common experience, but I really only became interested in my schooldays as I became older. Names tend to fade, but a look at old class photos brings back a flood of recognition and with it the urge to find out more about those in the photo beside me. As a retired airline pilot, and a stranger to NZ.it is difficult to remake old friendships and acquaintances, so I hope you are successful in persuading others to make contact.

Could I also make a plea for teachers to do the same? Whilst I am sure, to them, most of us were just part of a sea of faces, for each of those faces there were teachers who made a substantial contribution to any success we have achieved. From my own photos two readily spring to mind - Mr Wilson who left me a lifelong enjoyment of literature and reading and Miss Diana Fussell. I would like to come to a reunion, but it would be nice to have established contacts.

Students View

Extract from "A History of the World"

by Richard Lederer

The inhabitants of Ancient Egypt were called mummies. They lived in the Sara Dessert and travelled by camelot. The climate of the Sara is such that the inhabitants have to live elsewhere, so certain areas of the dessert are cultivated by irritation.The Egyptions built the pyramids in the shape of huge triangular cubes. The Pyramids are a range of mountians between France and Spain.

Pharaoh forced the Hebrew slaves to make bread without straw. Moses led them to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread which is bread made without any ingredients. David was a Hebrew King skilled at playing the liar. Solomon, one of David’s sons had 500 wives and 500 porcupines. (Mrs Malaprop had nothing on these!!)

School Snipets

Past Pupils Award

At the 7th Form Prizegiving last year the Past Pupils initiated a new award for up to two students for "The most valued contribution to the Life of the School". The award recognises students who have made an outstanding contribution to the school during their senior years, in assisting others and undertaking extra responsibilites.

The recipients receive up to $800 towards their tertiary studies. The 1998 winners were Brooke Vickerman and Vijayalingham Nellailingam. Congratulations to them both.

"Jazz Spectacular"

Following the success of the HVHS Big Band at last year’s Tauranga Jazz Festival, they are once again travelling to Tauranga at Easter 1999. Their final concert prior to departure to compete in Tauranga will be in the HVHS Hall on Tuesday 30th March at 7.30pm. This is a great opportunity to hear this excellent band.All past pupils welcome! Call HVHS Office for tickets and information.

Head Students

Head Prefects 1999 are Arun Stephens and Kay Ballantyne. Congratulations to them.

Petone College - full circle

During the first school term of 1926, 164 ‘foundation’ pupils of HVHS used the Technical School building in Petone before moving in May to the Woburn Rd site. Today in 1999, some pupils from HVHS are once again using the Petone College site following that school’s

Mini Reunion

1958 - 1962

A group of ex-pupils from this era have had 3 mini reunions during 1998. The first was to welcome John (Shimon) Zelas and his wife, Jenny back to NZ, his first visit since leaving for Israel 30 years ago. this get together at Bruce Dryden’s prompted Betsy Larmer (Heaton) to have a Sunday night party for the group. The third was a dinner at the Wellesly Cafe in Wellington. This was in honour of Michael Mitchell, the boys’ Head Prefect in 1962, who is now domiciled in Rarotonga, but was on a business trip to NZ. The girls’ Head Prefect of that year, Helen Ritchie (Hess) also attended.

What happened to the old Spire?

Many of you will recall the original building which was the first of many on the Hutt Valley High School site. The imposing brick structure had a star above the main doors with the words Ad Alta (‘to the heights’) and a spire which became central to the school’s identity. The building was regarded as a superb piece of architecture when it was built, but became a serious earthquake risk in the late 1960’s following the Inangahua earthquake which forced some of the brick walls apart.

When work started on the redevelopment of the school site in 1970, the spire was taken away after the demolition of the main brick building and we believe went somewhere up the Ngauranga Gorge.

At the school’s 50th Jubilee in 1976 former students decided to use the Reunion’s proceeds to purchase it back for the school with the intention of re-erecting it. The special issue school magazine said it would be "suitably honoured ...in the new complex". However, we are told by the present Principal, Graeme Marshall, that what in fact happened was that "it was plonked under a hedge and rotted. All the copper and lead had been stripped off it, no doubt providing lead weights for people fishing off the bridge."

Several options were looked at for the refurbishment and relocation of the spire, but in the event all proved too costly. It was never restored to its former glory and was demolished and removed from the site in 1993.

A coloured rendering of the plans showing dimensions and details of the spire is framed and hangs in the Hutt Valley High School administration block. Staff would be pleased to show any past pupils who would like to see the drawing.

It is perhaps worth noting that today, the only original building which exists on the school site is the wooden Assembly Hall, which, although only able to accommodate one form level at a time, still does sterling service and is the venue for all major school events and productions.

Notice Board

Sylvia Burch (Smith) a pupil from 1962-66 and Head Girl in 1966, has recently been appointed to the position of Associate Principal (2nd Principal) of Hutt Valley High School. She was formerly Head of Modern Languages at the school and replaces Joyce Wilson who retired at the end of 1998.

Our congratulations go to her. Sir Thomas Eichelbaum NZ Chief Justice, was last year awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Victoria University. Sir Thomas was a pupil at HVHS from 1944 to 1948. In 1989 he became the 11th Chief Justice - the first to be appointed from the judical ranks. During his career he has achieved prominence and won great respect in a range of fields within the law profession. Many former pupils of HVHS will be saddened to learn of the death of Daphne Daubin in April, 1998. She had been attending a language course and travelling in Italy and died there as a result of a traffic accident. She is remembered with great affection by the many language students that she taught during her years at Hutt Valley High.