Donations buoy school after burglary

PRESENTATION: Imogen Wall, 11, Maddie Stewart, 12, accounts clerk Cherie Butler, principal Russell Thompson, Shaun Malone, 12, general manager Brent Stewart, caretaker Mike Clarke, Harry McCartney, 13, teacher Ellie Francis, and Liam Searle, 12. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

A Masterton school has received a generous donation and a loan to help it replace expensive gear stolen in an early-morning burglary.

Two Masterton businesses have stepped forward to aid Masterton Intermediate School, which lost a chainsaw and a quad bike when the caretaker's shed was raided in July.

Mitre 10 Mega has donated a new chainsaw and Fagan Motors has lent caretaker Mike Clarke a quad bike until the school can sort out a permanent replacement.

Mitre 10 Mega general manager Brent Stewart yesterday presented the Allpower chainsaw worth $399 to MIS principal Russell Thompson, Mr Clarke and a group of pupils.

Mr Thompson said the school was highly appreciative of the gift of the chainsaw and the loan of the quad bike.

"We were delighted when we heard the message last Friday. It was a great way to end the week. It was just fantastic to get to the end of the week and find that they were willing to make this generous gesture.

"It just shows what sort of strength there is in the Masterton community."

Mr Stewart has a strong family connection to the school, being a former pupil and the father of a current pupil - his daughter Maddie.

He was alerted to the theft by colleague Cherie Butler, whose daughter Imogen also attends MIS, he said.

"Cherie came to us last week and said the school lost a chainsaw, would we be willing to donate something, and my daughter goes so we've got a connection to the school."

It was not the caretaker the thieves had stolen from, but the children, Mr Stewart said.

"It was our children, it's our connection."