VALEDICTORY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 278, 7 March 1929, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

MR. AND MRS. J. G. GASPARICH. The Putaruru Town Hall was full to capacity on Tuesday night when a farewell evening was tendered by residents to Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Gasparich. Mr. Gasparich, who has been headmaster of the Putaruru school for four years and eleven months, has been appointed to the Stanley Bay school, North Shore, Auckland, which school he takes over to-morrow.

The hall had been tastefully decorated for the occasion, and the first portion of the evening was devoted to social converse, during which musical and other items were given, and the latter portion to dancing. Mr. S. J. Parker occupied the chair and items in a splendid programme were given by Mesdames C. G. Alcorn, J. R. O. Lochhead, Shine and J. G. Gasparich, and Misses Clair, Turner, Wells and Hawse, and a quartette consisting of Messrs. Clair, Reid, G. Brown and Gasparich. Just before supper valedictory speeches were made by representatives of different organisations in the town with which Mr. Gasparich had been associated. Mr. J. F. Wells, headmaster of Matamata High School, stated the evening was a momentous occasion. He had met Mr. Gasparich in Egypt, France and on the football field, and everywhere, even throughout the teaching profession, he had been known as “ Joe.” His enthusiasm in all he did was wonderful, more especially his work with the boys. In the teaching profession they recognised that a man’s wife supplied half or threequarters of his make-up. A woman’s instinct was his guiding light, and though he had not known Mrs. Gasparich very long, he felt sure she was a most worthy inspiration.

Mr. J. W. Barr Brown, on behalf of the school committee, stated the local school had gone ahead by leaps and bounds under Mr. Gasparich. The present condition of the school grounds was due almost wholly to his efforts, and he thought that sometimes boys and girls did not quite realise how much their teacher had their welfare at heart. The last examination which the school passed with honour was a fitting mark or Mr. Gasparich’s work and he appealed to the public to take more interest in the school and to back up the efforts of the new head. It was the parents’ duty to come along to all functions, for their presence not only encouraged the school committee, but also the children. He wished Mr. and Mrs. Gasparich every happiness in their future sphere. Mr. Barr Brown apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. F. C. Barnett and the Rev. H. Ashworth, chairman and secretary, respectively, of the school committee.

Mr. A. C. Thompson, on behalf of the sports bodies of the town, congratulated Mr. Gasparich on his wellearned promotion. He had always given the district a helping hand in all sports, and on many occasions his advice had been sought and the wisdom and value of his counsel had been greatly esteemed. Mr. Gasparich had practically managed and controlled the inter-schools Rugby matches on his own, and would be greatly missed by his expupils, as he would by those who had played under him either as captain cr referee.

On behalf of the Putaruru Rugby Union, Football Club, Tennis Club and Bowling Club, lie wished both Mr. arid Mrs. Gasparich the best of success and happiness in their future home. Their impending departure had caused widespread regret, especially in social circles, in which Mr. Gasparich had the able and cheerful support of his wife. The meeting was simply the genuine expression or the feelings of citizens towards a valuable citizen who would leave In Putaruru a host of friends. Mr. T. F. Snell, on behalf of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, said that during their five years’ residence, Mr. and Mrs. Gasparich had been closely connected with all branches of church work and both had been ready to come to the assistance of the Vestry when asked. The amount of work they had accomplished in this direction had been remarkable, and they would be greatly missed. He wished them every success for the future. Mr. S. J. Parker emphasised that the town was losing valuable citizens in the sports and social side. Many were also losing good friends about whom anything said in public would be totally inadequate. The large audience present that night was a fine tribute to the work of their guests, and marked in a more satisfactory manner than any mere words the respect and esteem in which they were held. On behalf of-the whole of Pu-

taruru he had been asked to present a cheque as a token of this esteem and regard, and in saying farewell he wished them all good luck and a good future. (Loud applause).

Musical honours were then accorded Mr. and Mrs. Gasparich. In reply, Mr. Gasparich .stated that he had been trying to make up his mind what to say for about a week. —(laughter)—for it was about that time ago that he first became suspicious that something was afoot. It was very difficult to say “ good-bye ” for they had made many fine friends during their stay, which was five years all but one month. In the expressions of regret and the feelings engendered thereby they had been consoled by the evident sincerity of what had been said. He personally did not want to go, but he had made it a rule in his work never to stay more than three years in one place while he had been nearly five in Putaruru.

He wpuld like to take the opportunity of giving some inside information about the school which was theirs and not his, or the school committee’s. The school was staffed according to the attendance and the figure needed for the present grading was an average of 161 over a year. The roll was 179 and the av- ■ erage for the first few weeks about 159. This meant that some 20 to 23 children were absent every day. That was not good enough, and it was not fair to the school or to the children.

The High School roll was 35 and an average of 31 was needed for an extra teacher, which they were aiming at. He hoped parents would realise their great duty in the matter and send their children regularly. Anything he and his wife had done for the town brought its own reward for it had been a keen pleasure to them, and the greater the appreciation the greater was the reward. He thanked them heartily for their kind remarks and expressions cf goodwill and also he would like to publicly thank the staff of the school for their loyal co-operation and help. (Loud applause). Supper was then provided, and dancing was indulged in till about an hour after midnight. ( Tennis Afternoon. A very enjoyable combined doubles tournament was held at the local courts last Saturday in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Gasparich. About 40 members of the club participated and some very keen play was seen in the eliminating rounds. The final was an exciting set between R. Dunlop and Miss M. Allwood, who just succeeded staving off a great challenge by A. H. Dukeson arid Miss Semple i by 7—5. The guests of the afternoon were in the running right up to the semi-finals. A very enjoyable afternoon tea was dispensed by the ladies of the Tennis and Croquet Clubs and Mrs. Burman during an interval in 1 the play. At the conclusion of the tournament Mr. J. S. Reid briefly expressed the regard in which the guests were held by all the members of the club, and Mr. Gasparich presented the Yandle racquets to the winners. At the School. On Thursday afternoon Mr. Gasparich bid good-bye to his scholars by going round to each of the six classrooms and saying a few words of fare veil. Later the school assembled in the school playground, the school committee having granted the final hour for this purpose. The affection of the scholars for their “ head ” was plainly evident, the girls especially bearing traces in their faces of their regret, many of them weeping openly. Mr. J. \Y. Rarr Brown, a member of the school committee, again spoke, his remarks following along the lines of those made at the public farewell. On behalf of the school Joe Yandle, one of the senior boys, then stepped forward and in a carefully thought out speech testified to the love and respect with which the scholars regarded Mr. Gasparich. He stated that they felt that his face could never be replaced by any other and that his personality had made a deep impression on those he taught which they would carry with them throughout their lives. As a token of their esteem they asked his acceptance of a complete toilet outfit, buthe had to apologise for an unavoidable delay in its arrival. On endeavouring to address his scholars Mr. Gasparich broke down completely, and had to hastily seek the shelter of the school.

Mr. A. G. Edmonds, acting-head-master,. then took charge of the school, and the scholars and teachers were grouped for photographs. Returning later, Mr. Gasparich emphasised the regret he felt at breaking his connection with the school, which he had helped to build up. He had spent hanpy hours with them in Pntaruni and keenly appreciated the assistance given hy the

Mr. Barnett : It is not fair to expose my business. Mr. Griffiths : Then it is not fair to introduce such a thing. Mr. Sneddon said he blamed the Matamata County Council and the chamber for hindering the sale of his property. Mr- Griffiths said a definite charge -bad been made, and he challenged Mr. Sneddon to allow a member and .the Press to go. into the whole question ih confidence. Mr. Sneddon: I prefer to let the thing drop. Mr. Griffiths : Yqu let it drop when things are brought to a head. Some further discussion resulted in a motion for the proceeding to new business and the question was dropped.

staff and also the scholars. He sincerely hoped that all would be as faithful to the next -headmaster as ■they had been to him. Amidst ringing cheers the school -then broke up, Mr. Gasparich chatting to various groups before taking his final leave. “ JOE. - ’ An Appreciation. The late headmaster of the Putaruru school always seemed to the -writer to typify all that was best in the Digger spirit. Without being outstandingly brilliant in any particular line there was a thoroughness -about all his work and a genuineness about all his dealings which impressed. He was “ Joe ” the worker, ever aiming high, with an enthusiasm which was contagious. It was as an all-round character of sterling worth that he stood out from among his fellows. A striking illustration which impressed itself on the writer’s mind occurred some four seasons ago at a Rugby match. Being new to the dis--trict, precautionary measures had been taken beforehand to ensure that a working knowledge of the players and officials was gained. For instance, one learned of “ Tommy ” Thompson, the bank manager, who Rad played for Ponsonby, Charlie Brown, the hairdresser, whom ru-mour-lying jade—stated was in the Tiabit of leaving his customers unshaven so that he could enjoy a game, Gasparich, the headmaster ana -ex-Auckland captain, and so on. The game started and the usual mote book was being utilised when an urchin’s voice exclaimed “ Ooh, did you see Joe ? ” A few minutes later another such voice remarked enthusiastically, “Joe got that fellow a beauty,” and “ Ain’t he a pearl.” A running comment in this strain was kept up which caused thd writer to wonder who “ Joe ” was. The first thought was that he was the father of one of the boys, but as the group grew to about a dozen this theory was knocked on the head by its very absurdity. The enthusiastic regard for their hero kept on. Joe seemed to be the only player oh the field. He was here, there and everywhere, according to the youthful spectators who plainly- worshipped him. With some misgivings lest there should be a “ star ” who was escaping official notice one boy was asked, “ Who is this Joe ? ” Instantly 12 pairs of eyes were directed to the questioner, the expressions varying from curiosity to pity, with a touch •of withering contempt. At last the questioner’s ignorance was dispelled. ■“Joe” was identified as “Mr. Gasparich, our headmaster.”

To the mid-Victorian mind such familiarity, is of course shocking. Nor is it to be encouraged on the whole even to-day, for few men can be “ Joe ” to the younger generation and yet command that discipline which is essential for the well-being of the race. It was an attribute possessed in a remarkable degree by the late head of the local school, however. Close observation at the school revealed that there was a strict discipline, but it was a true discipline based on love, loyalty and respect as against the Prussian type which owes its success to blind fear. “ Joe ” typified the man, and he was “ Joe ”to everyone. Many may have attained higher scholastic degrees but few have surpassed him for those essentials which go so far in inculcating all that matters in the youth of to-day. As one of his scholars remarked, he has left an impression, and what more need be said when that impression has commanded love and respect and an ideal regard for work, which "the same speaker held would last throughout a lifetime.