On the 5 and 6 April hundreds of Past pupils and staff, some traveling from as far as Australia and the North Island, attended a special weekend of celebrations to farewell Linwood College’s old school buildings.
Kicking off with a Conversazione held on the Friday evening, this was attended by over 350 past pupils, including guest speakers Leonie Freeman, NZ Housing Strategist and Marg Foster MNZM ex-Silver Fern.
On the Saturday alumni filled the halls and classrooms to have one last look at their old school, viewed photos taken over the past 65 years and caught up with old teachers and classmates.
At Saturday’s Closing ceremony Past pupils and staff were held spell bound by retired History teacher, Ken Bye’s speech “If these walls could talk” and equally so by retired HOD of music, Tony Ryan’s epic rendition of Tarakahi and the Linwood March. To conclude the ceremony, Past pupil, Dean of Nelson’s Cathedral, Mike Hawke, took the audience for a trip down memory lane with his insightful recounting of a familiar journey for students attending Linwood High School – College.
“The closing ceremony was stunning – and so emotional” said Past pupil Marion Coxon.
During the weekend the school launched its newly established Linwood College Foundation. “The Farewell was the perfect time for the launch said Linda Rutland Past pupil and Inaugural Chair of the Foundation, “as never before have our alumni or our local community been asked if they would like to contribute to the school’s social and financial well-being”.
Principal Richard Edmundson says, “the Foundation is a tremendous idea. It allows a way for many people to support the college financially and with their time and energy”.
In mid-2019 the school will be demolished. Children enrolled at the school will be temporarily relocated to the former Avonside High School’s site for the full duration of the 44M rebuild.
Any reader wanting to find out more about the Foundation can email [email protected]
Contact: Linda Rutland 021 2398946 [email protected] OR
Principal Richard Edmundson 027 622 1090 [email protected]