Wanganui is a city replete with history, and the Chronicle wants to reflect that and share this vibrant past with readers. Whanganui Regional Museum has contributed this item, and we would love readers to share their stories. If you have any old photographs or memories of significant events that shaped
our city that you would like to share, email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz or post to "Memories", the editor, Wanganui Chronicle, PO Box 433, Wanganui.
School uniforms are the bane of some parents' life. Some parents like the convenience of a uniform, while others despair at the cost of fitting out children at the beginning of each school year.
It is a little-known fact that school uniforms were introduced to New Zealand in 1890 by Wanganui Collegiate School. In that year, the school adopted a uniform that has since become a standard throughout the country.
Walter Empson was appointed headmaster of the school in 1888, and one of the things that concerned him was the dress of the boys. He was concerned at the lack of uniformity of the majority of clothes worn. Some of the boys wore knickerbockers strapped below the knee, some wore an Eton suit made from velvet with a stiff, starched collar that rubbed on the wearer's neck.
Mr Empson had been impressed by the uniform worn by pupils of Loretto School, in Scotland. He introduced blue shorts and grey flannel shirts, claiming they were neat, inexpensive and hygienic. This new uniform caught on, and it was not long before many of the secondary schools in New Zealand had adopted this new uniform.
Two further uniform innovations he brought in were the school cap and sports clothing.
Long before awareness of the dangers of the sun, he encouraged the boys to wear sun protection. The original cap was black with light blue braiding and adorned in the front by the school badge. Compulsory sports resulted in the introduction of sport clothing. Up till this time, any clothing was accepted for sport, apart from rugby.
Once again, Wanganui innovators were leading the way for NZ.
