Mamaku School to mark 120 years since opening

Mamaku School pupils Zara Holdem, 12, (left) Genevieve Farrell, 11, Reece Osborne, 11, and Jacob Fredricksen, 12, with the sign commemorating the school's 100th anniversary.

In September 1899 a one-room building by the Mamaku railway station was opened.

With a roll of just 16, it was Mamaku's first school.

Now the school is gearing up to mark 120 years since that day.

Principal Gary Veysi said they were hoping to mark the occasion on Labour Weekend and open a brand new pool to mark the occasion.

"There used to be 12,000 people living up here, it was bigger than Rotorua. But it's seen a lot of change.

"The worst thing for a community to do is to lose the history."

To fundraise for the jubilee the school is holding a twilight gala tomorrow and the pupils have spent the last few weeks making goods to sell there.

"The kids make projects knowing what the purpose is behind the money."

In preparation for the jubilee, which coincides with 125 of Mamaku as a whole, the school pupils had been visiting key parts of the community such as the cemetery, memorial hall, blueberry farm and canopy tours.

"Looking at what's in our community for kids to get an understanding of what's changed in 125 years and what's going to change in the next 125 years."

The details of the jubilee are yet to be finalised but Veysi said they would invite past pupils, board members and people involved in the school over the years to celebrate.

The school's current swimming pool was built in 1955 over 10 weeks by volunteers. It is made of pre-cast concrete panels collected by women in the village during the war.

But now it's unusable and the school has been fundraising for the $600,000 needed to get it replaced.

"The old pool is 63 years old. It's rusting out and breaking. We can't fix it so we have to build a new complex."

Veysi said without a pool Mamaku School pupils had to travel to town to use the Aquatic Centre and that was too far. It was also used by the community.

"The school is the hub of the community."

Even though it's unusable, the school plans to keep the old pool and pupils had been brainstorming ways to repurpose it. They had suggested turning it into a skate ramp, greenhouse and amphitheatre.

Veysi hoped the new pool could be used all year round by being enclosed and solar heated.

The twilight gala, raising money for the pool and celebration will be held tomorrow. at the school from 5pm.

It will feature food stalls, games and activities, a bouncy castle and country-themed activities.

About the school
Opened on September 6, 1899 with a roll of 16 pupils from infant to teenagers.
The roll grew to 29 by the end of the year.
In 1902 a new school was built on its current site. It was originally a one-room building.
The school pool was built in 1955.
In 1990 the community raised $35,000 for a school hall.
By 1949 the school roll was at 190.
There are currently about 120 pupils at the school.