Tolaga Bay School Jubilee

Approximately 650 past pupils, ex-staff members, and friends, gathered in the playground of the Tolaga Bay District High School on a recent Saturday morning to celebrate the school's 75th Jubilee.

Among those who were present for the official roll call were two first-day pupils, Mrs L. Gazley (nee Martin), and Mrs N. Somerville (nee Dobson), the oldest living pupils, Mr Ernest Reeves, 94 years, the oldest living teacher, Mrs D. Nelson (nee Spackman), and three former headmasters, Messrs S. M. Kemp, T. G. McCullough, and H. R. Hawthorne.

Other events staged by the Jubilee committee to celebrate the occasion were a ball, cocktail party, and an open-air church service.

Established in February, 1888, the Tolaga Bay School superceded an existing native one, which was founded many years before by a Maori tohunga.

Assembled in the playground for the roll call

Farmer headmaster Mr T. G. McCullough waves to a past pupil while calling the roll

First-day pupils Mesdames Gazley and Somerville

Past pupils who attended the school from 1888 to 1897 are, from left, back row: Messrs W. Hale, J. Lincoln, A. Lincoln, and J. M. Lockwood. Front row: Messrs J. Hale, J. McNeil, Mesdames Gazley and Somerville, Messrs E. Reeves and S. Tautau.

The second decade group, from 1898 to 1907, comprised, from left, back row: Messrs J. Lockwood, T. Lockwood, P. Maddock, F. Smith, H. Hindmarsh, ------------ Front row: Mesdames Y. Smith, K. Ball, E. Beattie, A. Smith, and A. Jonasen.

Members of the first-decade group watching the Maori concert party which entertained the gathering

Mr S. M. Kemp, the oldest headmaster present, calling the roll

Mrs F. Maidens, the oldest female past-pupil present, is congratulated by Mr W. Smith, the chairman of the Hawkes Bay Education Board.

Three generations who attended the school between 1888 and 1927 are Mrs Eileen Seattle (nee Farrell), Mrs Lottie Gazley, and Mr Roland Croskery.

The school's first assistant teacher, Mrs D. Nelson

The chairman of the jubilee committee, Mr Sam Thornton, speaking at the ceremony

The two oldest living pupils, Mr Ernest Reeves and Mrs Florence Maidens, recapturing some distant memories. Mr Reeves attended the original native school before the establishment of the Tolaga Bay School.

Chairman of the function was the present headmaster, Mr H. T. Rimmer

Mrs J. Pickett (centre), a resident of Tolaga Bay for 60 years, with her family, all of whom attended the school. They are: Jack Pickett (Tolaga Bay), Mrs Gladys Howell (Hamilton), Mrs Doris MeCreedy (Gisborne), and Mrs Connie McGuiness (Gisborne)..

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 104 : February 21, 1963

Tolaga Bay School Jubilee