Brunswick School is superb when it comes to commitment and energy.
The women on the PTA run a catering service and cater out for weddings, club functions, birthday parties, in fact any big do that needs great food on the table.
The women have huge cook-ups at their homes then
load up to feed the masses at that day's celebration.
All the money goes to the school and those parents who don't cook donate ingredients. There is no school bus so not only does principal Jan Clark pick up six students from Wanganui City every morning and take them to school, her teachers and the office administrator ferry kids to school from the middle of town as well.
All of the staff and most of the school's students live in the city.
Ms Clark admits it's a bit unusual but says where Brunswick was once a farming community, it's now an area of mainly lifestyle blocks.
``And there are very few local children who come to Brunswick School,'' she said.
``Our parents have chosen to send their children out here from town rather than have them go to an inner-city school.
``The mothers all car pool. After school is very funny because the mums all pull up and spend about 20 minutes chatting to each other in the carpark. Everyone knows everyone so there is a great family atmosphere here.''
The tiny school of Brunswick first opened in 1873. In the centennial history book it says: ``... it was open without fee or payment to all children not under the age of five years, nor above the age of fifteen.''
And though the actual date of the school's establishment is not recorded, the booklet says it must have been the first school in the district and was in use within 20 years of the first settlers arrival.
``During those early years, the district had been harassed by Hauhau raiders so the establishment of a school was not only a remarkable achievement, but a sign that Brunswick was to become a permanent settlement,''it says.
The original old school building was burned to the ground just a month after a deputation of board members had asked the Government for a new school building, the book says.
Whether the fire was accident or design remained a questionable point.
It was said that it had been caused by a fox terrier belonging to the teacher, being inadvertently shut in the building.
``It was a cold winter's night, the dog had scratched out the embers from the fire grate in an endeavour to keep warm, thus causing the tinder dry timber to ignite.''
The following months must have caused enormous discomfort for children because the committee got the school immediately operational again by hiring a large tent and wooden flooring.
But sadly the tent leaked and parents stopped sending their children to school to sit in a ``damp atmosphere'' and a measles epidemic in the district hadn't helped either.
Today the little school painted blue and white is a picturesque cottage-style building set among native trees, large fields with an up-to-the minute adventure playground.
Ms Clark says the children are eager to be outside during breaks.
``They love being outside as much as possible.''
The playground was certainly buzzing with action when we were there. It was great to see kids running, laughing and having a good time. One girl was sitting on a swing with her nose buried in a book. ``She's never without a book ... but she's always out here too,'' Ms Clark said.
A small circle of girls were sitting in the middle of the school field chatting and making daisy chains.
The negatives plaguing many schools, such as bullying and truancy, are unheard of here.
The children all know each other, they look out for each other. Brunswick School has a team spirit shared by the teachers and students alike.
``We are the best kept secret in Wanganui,'' smiled Ms Clark.-->-->-->-->
BRUNSWICK 15 Campbell Rd, RD1 Brunswick. Staff: 7. Principal, 3 teachers, 1 office administrator, 2 teacher aides. Pupils: 53. Decile 7. Principal: Jan Clark.
