Barbara Maxwell, Joan Michelle, and Shannon McDougall, all
of Roxburgh, after the farewell ceremony for the Roxburgh
Health Camp School. Mrs Maxwell was a teacher and served
several stints as principal. Her connection spanned 32
years, while Mrs Michelle's connection has spanned almost
50 years. Mr McDougall has been principal for the past
seven years. Photo by Linda Van Kempen.
Laughter, rather than tears, marked the end of an era
yesterday, as the school at the Roxburgh Health Camp was
farewelled, 70 years after it opened.
Reminiscing was the order of the day, peppered with funny
anecdotes, as about 40 people - former and current staff and
board members, Ministry of Education representatives and
health camp staff and supporters, attended a ceremony at the
school.
The facility has always formed part of the camp and has been
operated as a state school, under the Ministry of Education,
but that will change in 2012.
The health camp organisation -Te Puna Whaiora Children's
Health Camp, will take over the education contract for five
of the country's health camp schools next year, including
Roxburgh. The school will close on January 27 in its current
form and reopen the same day under the changed governance
structure.
Former education minister Anne Tolley told the Otago Daily
Times last month the change followed a review of health
camps.
The change was opposed by the Roxburgh camp school's board
and chairwoman Bernadette Hannagan told yesterday's function
the board "tried hard to persuade her [Anne Tolley] it was
not a good idea".
"This school is very precious to us."
She said the board had received messages of goodwill from
many other schools within Otago and Southland, and from
various education groups.
"It's one thing to have dreams and another to make them be
realised. We've achieved great things here and leave with our
heads held high," Mrs Hannagan said.
The school's final Education Review Office report was an
excellent one and she paid tribute to the leadership of
Shannon McDougall, who has been principal for the past seven
years.
The four-classroom school on the health camp grounds caters
for 14 pupils in each camp intake. Nine school staff,
including teachers, teacher aides and support staff, have
been made redundant.
Staff and people with a long connection to the school were
presented with trees yesterday, to mark their contribution.
Camp residential services team leader Dwight McDowell said a
good relationship between the school and camp was vital to
the success of both.
"The legacy of the work you've done, will remain," he told
the school staff and board.
lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz
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