Newspaper Article 2009 – CHB College Jubilee

CHB College jubilee

Simon Pearse
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EX-PUPILS from the four corners of the planet converged on Central Hawke’s Bay College this weekend as the 50 jubilee got underway.

Seven hundred and seventy former CHB high school students registered for ‘the event, which started with a school assembly on Friday afternoon. Six hundred and fifty people attend the ‘chatter and platter’ function on Friday evening, 400 had lunch and the three course semi-formal dinner on Saturday night and the event culminated in a thanksgiving service in the college hall on Sunday morning.

Ex-students attending the reunion included minister for Maori affairs, the honourable Pita Sharples, Black Fern halfback, Emma Jensen, ex head girl and now a lawyer based in London, Elizabeth Church (nee Bird) and deputy secretary at the ministry of foreign affairs and trade based in Wellington, Chris Seed.

“I’ve come up to see my dad, who still lives in the area, and old mates from school,” Chris said.

“I’ve had a great time – its been fantastically well organised and blessed with great Hawke’s Bay weather,” he added.

The celebrations were not limited to pupils of the college over the last 50 years with ex-students from CHB high schools pre-dating the college.

Eighty-nine-year-old Charles Anderton went to Waipawa District High School between 1933 and 1935, was one of the oldest attending the jubilee and has lived in CHB all his life, apart from four years spent in military service.

“We used to travel to and from school on a goods train from Otane.

“It was sometimes late but we were always excused,” Charles says.

Wim van Dungen was at the college for just one year, in 1957.

“We were in CHB while my father built the Catholic Church in Waipukurau,” Wim says.

“There weren’t so many students back then but I’ve met a few old friends.”

While in CHB Wim met his wife, Mary Rosvall, who was at the college from 1959 to 61. They now live in Pourerere.

“I loved my time at the college,” Mary says. “I’m having a lovely time meeting heaps of people, some I haven’t seen for 40 odd years,” she says.

Ex-pupil, Peter Fleming, CHB Funeral Services and president of the HB rugby union, has fond memories of the compulsory military training at the beginning of each year (1963-68 in his case). He also played first XV rugby.

“The 1966 team was one of the-most successful ever at the college and the coach is still quite eloquent about the success of the team,” Peter says.

CHB mayor, Trish Giddens, is also a past pupil.

“I checked the list but didn’t realise how many old friends I would meet up with. It’s been great catching up with them, even one old classmate who now lives in Blenheim. What a fantastic turnout,” Trish says.