A proud history

Press, 27 September 1988, Page 34

A proud history

Rangi Ruru Girls’ School is enthusiastically preparing to celebrate its centennial next year. The programme of events to be held between March 812 will be the culmination of two and a half years work for the organising committee. Invitations have been sent to 5000' past pupils with details of all events. Opening the celebrations is a unique musical event to which the whole city is invited. This is at centennial concert tha typifies the school’s strong musical tradition. It will be held in the Town Hall auditorium, featuring specially commissioned works by Professor John Ritchie, his son, Dr Anthony Ritchie and an old girl, Felicity Williams. The events of the following days allow plenty of opportunities for swapping reminiscences, renewing old friendships and seeing the school as it. is today. Bus tours have thoughtfully been arranged for partners. The highlight for Thursday, March 9 will be the founders’ day opening, celebration for the greater school family — girls, staff, parents, board, old girls and friends. It will take the form of a ‘‘son et lumiere” showi illustrating all that Rangi Ruru has stood for in the last 100 years. The enormous school birthday cake will be cut and shared. The champagne dinner ball will be the highlight of the social events. This gala evening of dining and

dancing will be held in the marquee in the school grounds. Guests will be treated to the superb decor, a magnificent buffet dinner and evocative music provided by The Evergreens. The festivities will end with a grand finale concert in the Town Hall auditorium at 3 p.m. Beldinda Bunt, Sarah Bell, Susan Einstein, Brigid O’Meeghan and Fiona Steedman have been invited to return from overseas to perform. Since Rangi Ruru was opened by Miss Helen Gibson and her sisters in 1889, 6776 pupils have attended the school. The school’s name, which means “wide sky shelter,” was given by a Maori chief, Paora-Taki from Rapaki. To accommodate its burgeoning roll, the school moved to its present site, the Rhodes family home, in 1923. It is significant that today the school, with 700 pupils, has bought back almost all of the original estate owned by the Rhodes family, an area bounded by Hewitts Road, Merivale Lane, Rhodes Street and Rossall Street. Anyone who would like registration material should write to the registration convener, P.O. Box 29-180, Christchurch.