Rangi Ruru’s old bell on the move

The old school bell that used to ring out over Rangi Ruru Girls’ School has returned home to Fiordland.

The bell originally came from the ocean liner, MS Wanganella, which was launched in 1929. The ship travelled between New Zealand and Australia for about 15 years before running aground in Wellington Harbour in 1947.

It was then refloated and became a floating hostel in Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound, for workers on the Manapouri hydroelectric power scheme.

Rangi Ruru deputy principal Stephanie Barnett said the bell was with the school for about 60 years.

“It is an important part of New Zealand maritime history,” Barnett said. 

“It has not been hung here at the school for a number of years, and we are so pleased to pass on the care-taking of the bell to the trust and are excited to hear the bell ring once again.”

The bell was presented to the school in 1964 by Bob Round who was an engineer while the ship was in Deep Cove and whose daughter Elizabeth was a student at the school.

It was placed in the Margaret Patrick Courtyard and served as the school bell for many years. It then went into storage and the MS Wanganella was eventually sold for scrap. 

The bell has been borrowed by Billy Williams from the Deep Cove Outdoor Education Trust and is on a long-term loan. It will be hung by Meridian Energy at the trust’s base in Deep Cove.

By Briar Allen