MUCH-LOVED TEACHER

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 185, 7 August 1935, Page 9

MUCH-LOVED TEACHER

DEATH OF MR. F. WILKS. KOWHAI SCHOOL'S TRIBUTE. A moving tribute to the memory of a miK'h-loved teacher was paid yesterday at the Kowhai Intermediate School when reference was made to the death of Mr. Frank Wilks, formerly of the Kowhai staff and recently appointed headmaster at the Warkworth District High School, who died suddenly at the end of last week.

Mr. J. F. Wells, the headmaster, addressing the children and staff at assembly, spoke of the long years of suffering through which Mr. Wilks had passed consequent on severe wounds he received during action with the New Zealand forces at Messines and Passehendaele. "Mr. Wilks was one of the most courageous men I have ever known," said Mr. Wells, "because, though for years he knew that his injuries would prove fatal, in the face of death he carried on his work amongst you children, never complaining, never shirking a duty, taking part with you in your sports and games though suffering daily from his injuries sustained in his country's service. Hβ died of wounds, yet his determination, his greatness of heart and his fortitude, along with a cheery optimism, carried him through the years."

Mr. Wells touched on the lesson to be drawn from the life of their late teacher, from his high devotion to duty in spite of painful handicaps, his determination and his willingness to help others, and voiced the deep sorrow of the staff, to whom Mr. Wilks had endeared himself as much as to the children by his courage and personal attributes. After the headmaster's eulogy the. whole school stood in silence as a mark of respect. Mr. Wilks served with the 2nd Ambulance, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was severely wounded in the back, and although he carried on with his teaching career after the war he spent several years in hospital, besides undergoing almost innumerable operationsr