Waiwhare School D and A Day

D & A Day

D&A Day – first recorded 26/11/57 Matapiro Domain, not called that though.

13/11/58 Pukehamoamoa
3/11/59 Sherenden
30/3/61 – “District Activities” Day
24/3/62 Matapiro
14/3/63 Waiwhare
“District Activities” ? [17/3/63 Waiwhare Log Book]..
“D&A Day” [Waiwhare Log Book 2/3/66].
“D&A Day” 20/3/67 held at Matapiro Domain.
“D&A Day” at the Matapiro Domain March 1970.
April 1970 – for the first time the athletic events were run as inter-school competition, not as houses March 1972
March 1973
March 1974
April 1975
April 1976
April 1977
April 1978
November 1979
4/11/80
3/11/81
2/11/82
1/11/83
6/11/84
7/11/85
5/11/86   all at Matapiro Domain
13/11/92 at Crownthorpe
Sports day Crownthorpe 5/11/93
4/11/94 Matapiro

Phone conversation with Eric Hogge 11/3/02, 835-5030

Asked him what “D&A” day stands for

“Demonstration – Activities” day. He started it in 1956 at Rissington and Patoka and introduced it to our area in 1957 at Matapiro. Kids were brought out from town to demonstrate aspects of physical activity that rural children didn’t see eg gymnastics apparatus. Started it with Tom Turbott. Schools got subsidies for buying equipment such as beat boards, vaulting box etc. Showed different high jumping methods.

It was also an important family/social day which all member of a family would attend.  Also for the teachers – some weren’t good at sport and the day enabled them to pool their skills for the benefit of all children.

The gymnastics festival in Napier was an offshoot of D&A day.

There were tabloid sports in the morning with schools mixed up, a demonstration at lunchtime, relays and athletic sports in the afternoon.

Still going today. Other parts of NZ developed it as well. He liked the Waiwhare ground because it was flat. Overall impression of rural school was their keenness to learn new things and to participate. Liked the family atmosphere of the day.