The Girls of ‘63

In 1963, 43 very young and naïve twelve and thirteen year olds started life as “House Girls” at Timaru Girls’ High. In April 2013, 21 of the original group returned to The House to celebrate “fifty-years on” with a weekend reunion.

Gathering in the former Senior Common Room the now mature girls reminisced over former hostel days and shared memories and life experiences. Saturday Dinner and Sunday Brunch were provided by Thomas House, the current hostel caterers, and unanimously accepted as being of higher standard than the food of the sixties!

Travelling from as far away as Western Australia, as well as areas across both the North and South Islands, the girls recalled old times, remembered absent friends, and lit a candle for those who had passed away.

A “sleepover” in one of the original dormitory buildings highlighted the weekend and even the very wet weather didn’t dampen their spirits.

Organiser Helen McCaul said all the girls left with wonderful memories of camaraderie and rekindled friendships and agreed the weekend was “just perfect”.

A follow up get-together is planned in five years’ time.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/8582119/Get-together-time-for-catch-up

Timaru Girls High School Students Boudine Brown and Cassidy Weavers (Pictured) and Dahna Penty enjoyed the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the recent Oceania Speed Skating Championships in Brisbane, Australia.  The competition was very tough, with many athletes from Malaysia, Germany, Australia and China-Taipei making for tense and close races. The sport is very fast and not without peril as Dahna found when she tripped and broke her collar-bone.  Boudine, who has been skating for 4 years now, enjoyed considerable success in her grade and Cassidy also achieved some impressive results in a grade that hosted a number of World Champs competitors who dominated that grade.

Boudine with her haul of four Silvers (500m, 5,000m Points Race, 10Km Elimination and 1000m) and a Bronze in the 21km event.

Well done girls!

For these new Year 9 Pupils, starting at Timaru Girls' High School School was a day for fun and making new friends rather than the over-whelming and anxious time many pupils go through on their first day a a new school.