Vandals Destroy Anzac Display

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 3

Vandals Destroy Anzac Display

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, April 27.

Desecration of their floral Anzac Day display has upset the teachers and 300 pupils of the Casa Nova primary school, Oamaru.

The display, in the form of a big floral cross, with the word “Anzac” spelt twice in flowers, in the school grounds, was kicked to ruins some time during the weekend. and obviously not by animals. Pupils and teachers spent most of Friday afternoon preparing the display after sawdust patterns had been moulded and watered. Every child brought flowers from home and classes worked on the project in turn. The primer classes’ effort was “Anzac” in 18 inch lettering, and the standard pupils prepared a six foot iong cross with “Anzac” in three foot lettering. The mass of varying coloured flowers was striking.

“We had a similar display last year, and it was so admired we decided to do another,” a member of the staff said tonight. “We took even more care this time, and some spectators took coloured photographs.” When a teacher visited the school about 10 a.m. on Saturday the display was still intact. Early on Sunday morning it was a shambles. “The intruders were obviously bent on destruction,” the teacher said. “The display was systematically kicked through the middle. Dogs or cats could not have made that mess.” The display, which would have lasted some days in its bed of sawdust, was beyond restoring and had to be cleared up. “We are fairly sure the culprits are not pupils of Casa Nova,” the teacher said. “The children were enthusiastic about the display and took pride in arranging it, and discreet inquiries have given us no leads. “This has upset teachers and children, and does not offer much incentive for future projects. The display was to mark Anzac Day in an artistic and useful way which pupils would remember,” the teacher said.