GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 11 August 1942, Page 4

GIRLS’ COLLEGE

ARBOR DAY OBSERVANCE COM M KMOIIATIVE T R EI; S PLANTED At the Girls’ College this morning six silver birch trees were planted in the grounds to commemorate the six decades in the history of the school. Before the planting ceremony the present girls and the staff gathered in the gymnasium where the Principal, Miss J. Stewart, gave a short address and introduced the Old Girls present, who each represented one decade in the life of the College. The Old Girls of the first decade were represented by Miss M. A. Boor, who was a pupil on the first day the college opened in 1883. Mrs E. R. M. Childs represented the second decade, Mrs Davis, on behalf of Lady Scott, represented the third decade. Mrs H. Atkinson, the fourth, and Miss Savage the fifth decade. Two of the present girls, Joelle Halley and Phillippa Lorlmer, both of whom had been pupils at the College for the past ten years, represented tho last decade. In addition to the six silver birch trees two ornamental flowering cherry trees presented by Mr P. C. Hurst were also planted. One of these, in memory of the principals of the school, was planted by Miss J. Stewart, assisted by Laurine Evans, a grand-daughter of Mrs Evans (Miss K. M. Edger), the first principal of the college. The other cherry tree was planted on behalf of the present school by Miss M. Garland and the Head Prefect. Pixie Smith. In her brief talk to the ;Vrls Miss Stewart spoke of other historic trees which had been planted in the college grounds. She mentioned a pink chestnut tree planted in memory of John Henry Burns, who for 27 years was gardener at the college, a scarlet oak tree planted at the time of the coronation. and a silver birch tree planted by Miss R. Karsten when she left her position on the teaching staff of the college. Miss Stewart spoke of the lasting memorial which the planting of a living and flourishing tree made to the life and work of those pupils of the passing years whose memory was revered in this way.