THIRD BIRTHDAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19509, 8 June 1933, Page 14

THIRD BIRTHDAY

SOUTH SCHOOL EX-PUPILS’ ASSOCIATION. SUCCESSFUL AISJIUAL DINNER. The South School Ex-pupils’ Association celebrated its third birthday on Tuesday, with an enjoyable dinner and dance at the School. At the official dinner, the president of the Association (Mr A. H. Wyatt) presided over an attendance of approximately 70 ex-pupils and friends. The toast of “The School” was entrusted to Mr G. Hughes, who said that all would agree that, for the majority, school days were the happiest, and they would join in thanking those who had been in charge of their education and who had fitted them for the battle of life. The school had been fortunate in its headmasters and staff, and the present staff compared favourably with those of the past. There had been many changes in the school during the past 50 years, but the spirit remained the same, and Mr Mottram was to be congratulated on keeping the school in the first rank of primary schools in South Canterbury. In reply, the headmaster (Mr F. J. Mottram) expressed gratification that they had gathered to do honour to the old school. All children, teachers, and committeemen of the school, when they passed, left a reputation, and on that reputation was built the school traditions, which he was sure they would all strive to maintain untarnished.. Years ago, when a child went to school, teachers set out to lay a foundation on which the child could build. To-day children were educated not so much from a point of view of work, but from the standpoint of education to employ leisure time. The speaker appealed to the ex-pupils to give the school the support it deserved and needed. A sincere wish that the Association’s sphere of influence might be extended was expressed by Mr W. Gibb, in proposing the toast of “The School Association.” He considered the South School Ex-pupils’ Association a fine organisation, and one which should have a larger membership than it had. In these days of curtailed Government grants, committees were experiencing a very trying time, and it devolved on the Ex-pupils’ Association to come to the assistance of the school.

Mr Wyatt, in reply, said that the Association worked in conjunction with the School Committee, and had been able to assist financially, > and it was hoped that in the future they would be able to go a further step by donating swimming trophies for boys and girls. The war had claimed its quota of ex-pupils, many of whom lay in graves in the battlefields of the world, but they had laid down their lives in the cause of civilisation. In conclusion, the chairman expressed a hope that the Association would prosper with the passage of years.

Other toasts honoured were: “Kindred Associations,” proposed by Mr W. Duncan, and responded to by Messrs A. Thoreau (Main), and J. Lobb (West); “School Committee,” proposed by Miss C. Davey and responded to by Mr W. J. Dickson; “The Chairman,” proposed by Mr W. Duncan; and “The Press.”

During the evening items were contributed by Mrs A. Riley, Mrs H. Naylor, Miss N. McKenzie, and Mr A. Wheeler. Mrs A. Wheeler acted as accompaniste.