Page 10 - 1973 News Clippings
P. 10
School Principal Trip to Fiji
Visits Fiji HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL’S
IMPRESSIONS
18th July 1973 12th September 1973
A very enjoyable holiday in the Tonga Dean, a member of the
salubrious climate and among the Ngaruawahia High School’s first XV
pleasant Fiji people including those of Rugby team, which has recently
Indian and European nationality was returned from visiting and playing in
recently spent by Mr A. B. Allison, Fiji, has this to say about the trip:—
principal of Ngaruawahia High School “We received the warmest of
and his wife and family. welcomes and great hospitality from
Mr Allison was very grateful to the Fijian people but could not but
his school for allowing extra time for notice the distressful poverty and
the May holidays for the visit. lack of desire for education among
many of the families.
While in Fiji, Mr Allison was very
happy to renew old friendships with “The price-haggling system in
Mr Jone Nisara, the Minister of the shopping centres seemed to me to
Education who was formerly a teacher have a bad influence over the youth.
at the Normal Intermediate School “We found it difficult to adjust
when Mr Allison was head-master and to the climate and although our
with Mr Tom Spooner, ex-principal of accommodation conditions were fair,
Te Awamutu College now headmaster the mosquitos made themselves felt.
of the Leleane Memorial School,
Nausori. “Transport caused some
amusement and apprehension. The
He also met the chief inspector of buses are much more decrepit than
Fiji schools and visited some schools. ours. A boat excursion to a football
Mr Allison remarked that students game was rather frightening,
of Indian background were especially when we began to be
extraordinarily eager for education swamped with water and the engine
while the Fijians seemed to lack stopped.
initiative and incentive. “Despite these minor
He was instrumental in finalising disadvantages the whole trip was an
arrangements for the Ngaruawahia educational one. We gained great
High School 1st XV Rugby team to respect for the two teachers who
play a similar Fiji team in Fiji in accompanied us and we are all most
August. The boys will be staying at the grateful to our parents and the people
Leleane Memorial School hostel. of Ngaruawahia who sacrifice much
financially to make the trip a reality.
Liaison officer for the game is Mr
Sefania Koroi, physical education “I am sure we are all keenly
officer for the Fiji Department of aware that without this aid we would
Education. not have had such a wonderful and
unforgettable experience.
Mr Bruce Stephens, a New
Zealand University and Waikato rep. is “I would like to say again —
coach and Mr Peter Vela an ex-New Thank you mothers and fathers and
Zealand soccer representative will friends.”
manage the Ngaruawahia team.
