HAPPY FUNCTIONS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7147, 19 December 1949, Page 7

HAPPY FUNCTIONS

TEACHERS ENTERTAINED BY SCHOOL COMMITTEE SUCCESSFUL END OF THE YEAR SOCIAL The Te Awamutu Primary Schoo] Committee last Thursday night entertained the teachers and other members of the staff with their wives and friends in the supper room of the Town Hall. Mr L. Spence presided over the gathering which was quite a large one. In his opening remarks he stated that the function was a little thought on the part of the committee for the teachers. It had been inaugurated about four years ago and had been a success from the start. He had not arranged any programme but had left the social to arrange itself and to the gathering to make a good convivial evening to their own taste. Mr Spence then proposed the Loyal toast while Mrs Atkinson played the National Anthem on the piano. The social was a distinct success from the start as everyone arrived with the object of having a good time and throughout, the whole event was imbued with the wholesome spirit of fun. Mr Spence was rather erroneous in stating that nothing had been arranged for the tables were well decorated and some artists had been invited to attend and help the evening along. Mr Lloyd Lees was introduced as being one of New Zealand’s foremost cornet players and he was called on to render some items. Accompanied by Mrs Atkinson, he played “Bless This House” and “Loves Old Sweet Song” which at the request of Mr Lees, everyone joined in singing the choruses. Both items were • well received and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. After Mr Spence had told a short anecdote, Mr G. M. Wall was called on to propose a toast to the health of the Headmaster, Mr N. F. Rigby. Mr Wall said that he-, like everyone else, held Mr Rigby in high esteem. He considered that there was no need to eulogise on Mr Rigby’s capabilities as everyone already knew them. He knew that it would be a sorry day for Te Awamutu when Mr Rigby relinquished his post as he was so well liked by the staff, pupils and parents alike. The toast to Mr Rigby was drunk with vocal honours. Mr Rigby replied to the toast in a few suitable words. “Higher Leaving Certilcate” A welcome was extended by the chairman, Mr L. Spence to Mr and Mrs L. G. Armstrong. Mr Armstrong was at one time, chairman of the school committee. Welcomes were also extended to Mr and Mrs Sherley, who Mr Spence said had done a large amount for the district in many ways. ’An old committeeman, Mr J. Waters was presented with a “Higher Leaving Certificate” for serving for more than ten years on the committee. The certificate was awarded by the Auckland Primary School Committees’ Association. A toast was drunk to the health of Mr Waters and carried in the time honoured manner with honours.

Miss D. Henderson was then called on to sing and in a lovely mezzosoprano voice she sang two popular numbers. “Brush Those Tears From \ .s„ and “Galway Bay.” At her request, everyone joined in the choruses while she harmonised beautifully. Mrs Atkinson accompanied her and both items were received with well merited acclaim. Mr Waters was asked to reply to his toast and to t-sll how he had won the certificate. He stated that during his time on the committee he had sat under three chairmen. There were not many members on the present committee who had sat with him, but then as now, the committee had always worked harmoniously.

In a few words, Mr Spence congratulated the committee of nine members whom he said came from many trades and callings which were vary hejpful to the ,successful accomplishment of the committee’s projects. If such representatives of varied trades had not been members of the committee, said Mr Spence, there would have been some difficult periods, but as it was, those periods had always been successfully negotiated. He then called on Mr T. Short to propose a toast to the Committee. Mr Short eulogised on the capabilities of the members in proposing fhe toast which was unanimously supported with vocal honours. In a pleasant baritone, Mr Atkinson, when called upon to give an item, sang “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” and “Thora” both of which numbers were well received. Mr Atkinson waJs by his wife at the piano. Mr Short was also called on to reply to the toast to the School Committee. The job he said, was made very easy by the co-operation of the staff. The committee, he said, felt that it was not doing all that it could but it hoped that it would be able to do more in the future. Mr Lloyd Lees was called upon to again to give an item accompanied by Mrs Atkinson. He played “For You Alone” which was heartily applauded. Mr Lees played “Tear Drops in My Heart” as an encore which was also very much enjoyed. Supper complete with savouries and other delicacies was served next and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Following supper, everyone talked and reminiscenced for a period before the programme was continued with the proposal of a toast to the dental nurses by an old committeeman and ex-chairman, Mr L. S. Armstrong. Mr Armstrong, in his opening remarks thanked the committee for the invitation to attend the social. He and his wife had learnt to look forward to the event, he said, and they very much appreciated the gesture on the part of the committee. Speaking of the work done by the dental nurses, he said that he had appreciated the great work done by them in the past. They had done a good job during the years and he hoped that they would be able to continue to do so for many more. The toast was drunk in the conventional manner with honours and the element of sincerity was most marked.

Farewell to Mr G. M. Wall Following the toast, a presentation was made to Mr G. M. Wall, a member of the committee who is retiring

to take up farming. Mr L. Spence stated that he had had many pleasurable moments during the evening, i but there was one item which he did not relish doing, and that was having to say farewell to Mr Wall who had resigned from the committee. Mr Wall had served faithfully on the committee, for a good number of years and the “Higher Leaving Certificate” which he was entitled to in recognition of his long service had not come to hand, said Mr Spence with regret. Mr Spence stated that he was very sorry that Mr Wall was leaving. On many occasions he had acted as deputy chairman when he (Mr Spence) had been unable to attend the committee meetings. MY Wall had very capably performed all duties, especially that of the chairman of the Works Committee as which he had done commendable work. On behalf of the committee he wished Mr Wall success in his new vocation. As a token of esteem and appreciation from the committee and the teaching staff, he presented Mr Wall with a wallet with suitable contents.

Mr N. F. Rigby concurred with the chairman’s remarks. He was sorry to see Mr and Mrs Wall leaving as they had both been “towers of strength in doing work for the school inside and outside of the committee.” Mr Wall, he said, had always been “on deck” whenever he was required and he had taken a huge interest in the welfare of the school.

Mr L. S. Armstrong spoke as one who had been associated with Mr Wall over a number of years and he concurred with all the remarks of the previous speakers. Mr Wall and also Mrs Wall had both dope great work, he said.

Mr Waters spoke as a member of the Works Committee on which he had been associated with Mr Wall for a number of years and he maintained that no one knew better than the committee how much Mr Wall had done.

Messrs D. Edgecumbe and E. Menary both concurred with the remarks which had been made by other members of the committee and the teaching staff. Miss C. Montefiore stated that the aid which had been given to her at the No. 1 Dental Clinic by both Mr and Mrs Wall was very deeply appreciated. A toast to Mr and Mrs Wall was very enthusiastically drunk with all the honours.

Miss Montefiore was then called on to reply to the toast to the dental nurses. She jocularly stated that the children would not agree that the nurses were as good as had been stated.

A period was taken up with a community sing lead by Miss J. Pickering at the piano. Several of the more popular numbers and one or two old favourites were sung with gusto by the who.e company. After the singing Mr Wall was called on to reply to the speakers who had so heartily endorsed his worth as a member of the committee and the good work that he had done for the school. Mr Wall stated that he was' bewildered and felt tongue-tied, but on behalf of his wife and himself he thanked everyone for the manner in which they presented the token of their esteem. Modestly, he stated that a lot of credit should have gone to other members of the committee. Now that the time had come to say good-bye to so many old friends, he could not help but feel a little sad. However, he had cheered himself up for a while by thinking that perhaps there would be some who would be pleased not to see him back. His statement was denied unanimously. The school had been fortunate in having good committees and chairmen who at all times had inspired the other men. He had always looked forward with pleasure to the meetings which were always conducted in an atmosphere of goodwill and fellowship combined with the spirit of cooperation. He recommended that other young men should join the committee if they could for they would gain valuable experience besides doing something for the benefit of the community. Perhaps of all the things he had looked forward to, the sort of “Brian O’Brien” session at the end of the meetings was the best. It was there that many humorous little anecdotes were told and enjoyed. He well remembered a really good anecdote which Mr Rigby had told of a small boy who had not had a bath for so long that he smelled rather strongly. The teacher could not stand the smeJ any longer so she sent the boy home with a note saying that he smelled and asking that he should be given a bath. The next day the teacher received the same note back with a message on the back of it saying that the boy was sent to school to be taught not to be smelled. There had been a period when the biggest worry of the committee was finance, but he had lived to see that position improve to where the committee was better off. He thanked the teachers for the co-operation which they had given him in the past. He was not worried as to whether the committee would miss him or not, he said, fort he knew that there would be others spring up to take his place. The school had seen many improvements during the past few years and it was indeed fortunate in having a site which was easily beautified. The dental clinics had always given wonderful service in a kindly manner to the children.

Many people did not recognise the wonderful job done by the teachers but never-the-less they were a hardworking band which never failed to give of their best in a manner of unfailing courtesy. Mr Wall concluded by once again thanking everyone sincerely. Mr Palmer then gave a toast to the press which was replied to by the Courier representative who was present. Mr D. Edgecumbe then proposed a toast to the school caretaker, Mr F. Scott, whom he said had set a standard of work at the school which would be hard for others to emulateIn reply Mr Scott thanked everyone for the sincere manner in which they had drunk the toast.

The school had many well-wishers who had assisted very materially towards the financial welfare of the school during the past years, said Mr Spence. Mr and Mrs J. Ansell were some of the best of those for they had given picture benefits when the committee was in severe financial difficulties and it was largely through their aid that the committee was as well off as it was to-day. The toast to Mr and Mrs Ansell was drunk in a very sincere manner with unanimous vocal honours.

The last item of the evening was;, given by Mr. Atkinson who . sang ‘Still is the Night” accompanied by

his wife at the piano. The item was very well applauded. In reply to the toast which had been given to himself and his wife, Mr Ansell thanked everyone for the sincere manner in which it had been drunk. He hoped that in the future more people would take in interest in the welfare of the childen. If they did so, he felt sure that the committee would never have to scratch for money again. He believed that the children in the town had not had a fair deal. A while ago he had tried to obtain permission for a special train to take the children to Auckland where they could see some of the fleet was in harbour at the time. The request had been refused on the grounds of coal shortage at that time but now the Railways had oil burners and the position should be improved. The Australian fleet was due into Auckland in the near future and he would like to see the children taken to Auckland to see it. It would be an education for them and he felt that the parents and citizens of the town should get behind the committee and help them to arrange a trip for the children. It was a worthy suggestion and he felt that it would be supported wholeheartedly it if received some publicity. Following the chairman’s toast to the artists and a toast to the chairman, proposed by Mr Rigby, the evening was concluded by the singing of Auld Lang Syne.