Newspaper Article 1962 – Waiwhare School baths opened

Waiwhare School baths opened

Waiwhare School – some 30 miles from Hastings on the Taihape Road – was gay with bunting yesterday, when a special function was held for the opening of the school baths.

Settlers and residents from all over the district attended.

Guest speakers were Mr P. L. Page, secretary-manager of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, and the district senior inspector of schools, Mr E. J. Watts.

Mr K. W. Lawrence, chairman of the school baths committee, gave an outline history of the building of the baths which had been thought at first to be beyond the means of the school and the district.

But an initial canvass of the district produced the sum of £625 which enabled work to start on the project. The baths were built in two months with the help of voluntary labour.

Mr Lawrence presented the key of the baths to the school chairman, Mr B. H. Drummond, who said that a school of only 44 children could be proud of the success of such an undertaking.

Presentations were made to Mr Lawrence and Mr D. Hay [Hoy] for the work they had done on the baths.

Mr Page recalled his first visit to the school 10 years ago when settlers had first requested building a school in the area.

The district’s interest in, and support for, education, was attested by the present ceremony, said Mr Page.

Mr Watts said there was a lot more to a balanced all-round education than learning the three Rs.

Cultural and sporting activities also had to be catered for and the Waiwhare parents had provided much equipment to the school to ensure their children had every opportunity.

Mr Lawrence declared the baths open, and on this signal the schoolchildren, led by Form II pupils, took their first plunge.

At night, a social evening was held in Mr Tolley’s wool [shed].

Photo caption – First in after the official Waiwhare School opening of Waiwhare School’s new swimming pool yesterday, was this group of bathers.