Lawrence 150th celebrations committee co-chairman Wayman Roughan said a member of the community phoned the committee and made an anonymous donation to enable children in the Lawrence and Waitahuna areas to each receive a 150th commemorative coin.
About 150 pupils from Waitahuna Primary and Lawrence Area School were each presented with a coin commemorating the150th anniversary of the discovery of gold in Gabriel's Gully.
One side of the coin features the official logo of the 150th celebrations - a pick and shovel above the words "Gabriel's Gully, 150 years, Lawrence New Zealand", with an image of Gabriel Read on the other.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said he hoped the coin would be a reminder of the very special history of Lawrence and the wider community.
"I challenge you to come back in 50 years, in time for the 200th anniversary celebrations," he said.
