VALEDICTORY

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1944, Page 3

VALEDICTORY

Mr and Mrs C. F. Shapcott WORK FOR EDUCATION ACKNOWLEDGED After being connected with school committees and associated bodies in the Grey district for seven years, Mr C. F. Shapcott leaves on Saturday evening on transfer to Dunedin, where he will be Manpower Officer Last evening, at a social arranged by the ladies of the Grey Main Home and School Association, he was farewelled by representatives of various educational bodies, and made a presentation on their behalf by Mr M. K. B. Sheard, who referred to the conscientious and able work of Mr Shapcott, where inatters of education were concerned. T> West Coast would regret the loss of a champion. Mr Shapcott had been associated with the Main School Committee, the School Committees’ Association, the Dominion Federation of School Committees, and the Dental Clinic Committee. It was most regrettable to have to lose him. Great credit was also due to Mrs Shapcott. . . Mr W. D. Taylor, chairman of' the Grey Main School Committee said the departure of Mr Shapcott would leave a distinct gap in organisations in the town. Whatever he did, he made of it a good iob. He had been a member of the Technical High School Board of Governors, 1 where his work had been exceptionally fine. He had been a tower of strength when secretary of the Grey Main School Committee, a position he had occupied for many years. He wished Mr Shapcott ,the best of fortune in the future. Rev. Bro. Tarcisius, on behalf of the Marist Brothers’ and Convent Schools, also expressed regret at the transfer of Mr Shapcott, remarking that it was not often a man so skilled in departmental work, as was Mr Shapcott, would offer his services gratuitously to the numerous committees with which he had been connected He offered his best wishes to Mr Shapcott and his wife during their soiourn in Dunedin, commenting that the appointment there would be a stepping stone to higher things. , . . Mr M. J. Gallagher, chairman of the Greymouth Dental Clinic, associated himself with previous speakers in wishing Mr Shapcott the best of success, and referred to his exceptional capacity for work on behalf of the schools". Mrs E. Parfitt, chairwomen ol the Grey Main Home and School Association. s.aid she was very sorry (0 see Mr Shapcott go away, and wished him, his wife and family the best of good fortune. . Mr L. J. Shuker, chairman of the Blaketovn Home and School Association, commented that Greymouth s loss would be Dunedin s gain. Mr Sheard then made a presentation of an envelope of notes to the guest, on behalf of the schools in the locality, as a mark of . the appreciation and the esteem in which . he was held. . Mr Shapcott. returning, thanks on behalf of his wife and himself, said he acknowledged sincerely the expressions of appreciation and the good wishes. It was nice to know on tlYe ever of his departure from Greymouth that his services had been appreciated and that he held .the esteem of the bodies with which he had worked. That was sufficient reward in itself. The work had been interesting and he had enjoyed, doing it He had not, however, irrevocably broken his association with ed Supper was then served by the 8 the annual meeting of the Grevmouth Dental Clinic Committee, eulogistic reference was made to Mr qhapcott’s • work as secretary, and the annual report alluded, to his.capnhlo administration of the committee’s affairs as follows: “This report would not be complete without paving a tribute to our secretary, Mr Shapcott. who is leaving the district When Mr Shapcott assumed the position of secretary, the clinic’s finance was in a very unsatisfactory coition, but due in a very large measure to his efforts, a considerable improvement was soon effected, and when the Health Department later assumed full responsibility for the cost of administration of dental clinics, the committee’s financial position \had already recovered to such an -extent that a satisfactory I credit balance could soon have been expected. During the past three vears when the time of members of I the committee has been fully taken in their occupations. Mr Shapcitt has shouldered the whole of the committee’s responsibility, and we desire to place on record our appreciation of his services to the clinic ov°r a neriod of years.” This evening Mr Shapcott will be farewelled bv ■ the Public Service Association and to-morrow wil] be met" by' members of the Public Trust Office.