'Put your left arm up ... ' for old teachers

BLOWING the whistle on his former colleagues took on a whole new meaning for Bill Smith as he lead an impromptu exercise session at Mount Maunganui College's 50th reunion.
The 70-year-old former PE and art teacher who taught at the college from 1967 to 2000, overseeing the physical education programme for hundreds of pupils, was one of 500 people who took the chance to meet with former colleagues and students.
"I spent almost 40 years of my life at this school and have very fond memories of my time here. I attended the 25th and the 40th reunion so I wasn't going miss out on the 50th," he said.
Mr Smith said he joined the college after a stint with the then-Education Department helping introduce physical educational programmes in a number of schools including kindergartens and training colleges.
After the Friday night at the meet and greet part of the reunion programme, it was definitely a more relaxed affair on Saturday afternoon as past teachers congregated in the staff room sharing special memories.
Life may be a bit more sedentary for some of the college's former guardians but that didn't stop Mr Smith who put some of former colleagues through their paces in readiness for Saturday night's celebrations.
Mr Smith said over the years he had witnessed huge changes at the college. When he first joined there were a small number of buildings with some teaching staff housed in prefabs, possibly 400 students and just over 20 teachers.
"In those days it was like belonging to one big family and I knew every kid but by the time the role had grown to 900 you tended to lose track of a few."
Over the past half century, thousands of students and staff have passed through the college gates leaving their mark on the school in a variety of ways, including a number who benefited from Mr Smith's approach to physical education.
Included in that list is former All Black Eddie Stokes who earned the coveted black jersey when he toured Argentina in 1976.
A humble Mr Smith, who helped introduced a whole raft of different sports and recreational activities at the college during his watch, said a large number of his students had done very well both in sports and academic fields.
"I like to think that I was able to make a difference in their lives and helped guide them to strive to reach their full potential," he said.
"My students tell me I was a firm but fair teacher and it's been great catching up with some of them this weekend."