Children to interview Governor-General

Press, 29 September 1983, Page 15

Children to interview Governor-General

Five Canterbury schoolchildren will get an opportunity today to meet and interview the GovernorGeneral, Sir David Beattie. He is in Christchurch this week attending celebrations at Christ’s College. Last year during Christchurch Show week, when Sir David Beattie was in the city for a fortnight, he gave his first television interview on the role of the GovernorGeneral to “The Mainland Touch.” Sir David described it as a unique experience and expressed some surprise that television had so far made no approaches for interviews.

Three months ago, Simon Williams, editor of “T.M.T.,” wrote to Government House asking Sir David if he would be prepared to repeat the experience — with a slight difference. This time, instead of a face-to-face interview with Rodney Bryant, the Governor-General will answer questions put to him in the studio by schoolchildren from Timaru, Ashburton, Christchurch and Rangiora. The five — Craig Osborne, a third form pupil from Rangiora High School; Nicholas Newman, aged 13, from Ashburton College; Michelle Croft, aged 14, from

Timaru Girls’ High School; Fiona Mackay, aged 11, from Christchurch South Intermediate School; and Nicky Coventry, aged 11, from Cobham Intermediate School — have been selected by the various schools.

They will meet Sir David shortly before recording the interview. Each of them has submitted a list of six questions which they would like to put to him. There is unlikely to be time for them to put all six questions, but a wide cross section of inquiries ranging from the health of the ViceRegal dog, to Sir David’s attitude to teenagers and their problems today, and

his relationship with the Queen, will ensure His Excellency of a lively time. The Governor-General will be accompanied by

Lady Beattie and while at Television New Zealand’s studios, they will also record a special Christmas item for broadcast later.