FAREWELL TO POPULAR HEADMASTER

Hutt News, Volume XXII, Issue 10, 18 August 1948, Page 7

FAREWELL TO POPULAR HEADMASTER

Armchairs and Cheque Presented

The assembly hall at the College was crowded. Mr. W. B. Nicholson, chairman of the Board of Managers, presided. ,

In asking Mr. and. Mrs. McFadyen to accept two armchairs and a handsome cheque Mr. Nicholson paid feeling tribute to Mr. McFadyen’s services. During the 18 years he had been headmaster of the College he had won not only their admiration and respect, but their love. “Mr. McFadyen,” continued Mr. Nicholson, “is a man of principle, with a one-track mind. He knows where he is going and makes for

Mr. McFadyen’s Reply

that objective, which is the moulding and training of the youth of the Hutt Valley. We owe him the greatest debt that we' could owe to any man, for what he has done for the youth of the district. Thousands of students have gone forth from the College, bearing within themselves the fine thing that jie has planted there.” A letter was read from the Prime Minister expressing regret at beingunable to be present and stating that Mr. McFadyen was one of New Zealand’s outstanding technical schoolheadmasters. He had been closely associated with him for many years and knew the value of his work.

On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand lie wished Mr. and Mrs. McFadyen long life and happiness.

Invaluable in Community

Mr. A. F. McMurtrie, ActingDirector of Education, said that Sir. McFadyen was a - real and trutf teacher, and his work was invaluable in a community.. He had been a great colleague to the officers of the Education Department, and had always given all help possible. He had done a great job for the community of Petone. Mr. H. C. \Horler, representing the Hutt Valley Master Builders’ Association and Master Plumbers’ Association, thanked Mr. McFadyen for his help in organising classes for those trades, which were attended by 160 boys two or three times a week.

Mr. N. T. Gillespie, representing the Plutt Rotary Club and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, gave some delightfully humorous touches to his speech. He struck a deeper note, however, when he thanked Mr. McFadyen for his complete co-operation and assistance in the bodies which he represented. The Chamber of Commerce felt that in Mr. McFadyen a man of great stature had taken his place with them, while the Rotary Club’s motto of “Service before Self” was particularly applicable to him. Mr. .T. W. Lopdell spoke on behalf of the Hutt Valley Headmasters’ Association, stating that Mr. McFadyen had always been of great assistance to the headmasters and teachers of the Valley. His record of 33 years of technical education was one of which he could be proud.

Sincere Tribute

Mr. 11. N. Wansbrough impressed greatly with the sincerity oi his tribute on behalf of the College ExStudents’ Association. He said that the College .could be judged not on its buildings but on the character of the pupils turned out. Anyone who had passed through the College could have nothing but respect for their headmaster. Mrs. McFadyen, too, was held in the greatest affection. They left the College with the esteem and respect of present and past pupils. Mr. T. McCombs, Minister of Education, said that the College was a very successful one, and owed that success to Mr. McFadyen. Technical Colleges were an important unit of the education system, for the children would later take their place in industry. The attendance that night was the finest tribute to the College and its headmaster. The Scottish system of education was tiis finest, in the British Isles, and Mr. McFadyen had brought the tradition of Scottish schools to New Zealand. Mr. A. M. Macfarlane, Mayor of Petone, representing the local bodies of the Hutt Valley, said that Mr. McFadyen was a great schoolmaster,

HUTT VALLEY’S TRIBUTE TO MR. A. McFADYEN The public farewell to Mr. A. McFadyen, headmaster of the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College, who lias retired after 38 years’ service to technical education in New Zealand, was one of the most representative gatherings ever held in the Hutt Valley. Representatives of the Government, local bodies, educational and cultural organisations, and the general public were present, and all paid tribute to Mr. McFadyen’s splendid services and wished him and Mrs. McFadyen success and happiness in their retirement.

and everyone in tire Valley appreciated the influence he had exerted in the College. He would always be revered by residents, and they all hoped that he and Mrs. McFadyen would be spared long to enjoy their retirement.

Mr. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, and M.P. for Hutt, said that Mr. McFadyen was a great artisan,, and he made artistic artisans out of bis pupils. It was England’s artisans who had made her great, and the greatest Teacher of all time was an artisan. He thanked Mr. and Mrs. McFadyen for what they had done for the young people of the Hutt Valley.

In returning thanks for the tributes paid him Mr. McFadyen acknowledged' the help that his wife had always been to him, and said that his work had been lightened by the co-operation he bad received from the staff and other people. When lie started at Petone he set out with one aim and ideal—to make the school something of which Petone would be proud. 'Now the Mayor said that Petone was proud of it—“the first time I have heard that,” added Mr. McFadyen humorously. Although, in going to Petone from Timaru, he dropped £l2O a year in salary, he took that step because be beard that Petone was a coming industrial centre and he had faith in the industrial development of the' Hutt Valley. His faith had been proved. Mr. Nicholson, the manager of the Board of Governors, had always been a tower of strength to him, and he had received great assistance from the staff. The College could not be anything but a success with such a staff through the years. He was also pleased that everyone who had been connected with the College said, “What a fine set of pupils you have.” He sincerely thanked all who had taken part in the farewell, whicli would always be remembered by Mrs. McFadyen and himself.