Rangataua reminiscences

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 556, 4 October 1994, Page 11

Rangataua reminiscences

By Celeste Ventura (then Vera Brailey). I was unable to attend the gathering of ex-pupils on the final day of the Rangataua school, but the sadness of the event didn't elude me. It brought back countless memories also. I lived in Rangataua and attended the school in the mid-50's when no-one thought playing on the road or in the rivers was unsafe and 10-year-olds could count on earning enough picking a bag of carrots to get them onto the Friday night picture train to Ohakune Junction movies. One of the most sensitive teachers I ever had was also a Headmaster at the school. One morning, in 1 95 6 my father, hearing news that Egyptian fighter planes had taken to the air in the Suez crisis said "That's it, we have another war on our hands" (or similar). I was in Form One. I went to school as usual but was barely able to contain my emotions. Shortly before morning 'playtime' it all spilled over. I couldn't imagine how I

could possibly get our whole family together and safe before the war began that morning. Mum was home with Nola - a toddler; Joyce was a new entrant; Rona was in the middle class and while Ron was in Form Two, at least we were in the same classroom. Dad was at work miles away up the main road at the Carter's settlement.. The crying, once started, was unstoppable. I explained to Mr Ennis I wanted to take my brother and sisters and go home before the war started. He

was very tender towards me and said we'd go into the staffroom and talk about it first. We went to the staffroom where there was a world map and he rang the bell 10-minutes early for morning break: Mr Ennis quietly explained where Egypt was, in relation to Rangataua and explained all the issues until I understood we were unlikely to see war in Rangataua (that morning anyway, and not from the Middle East at least!). At no time did he allow me to feel silly or embarrassed for my imaginings. I bless him

to this day for his sensitivity. Thirty years later at the school reunion I reminded Jack Ennis about the incident and thanked him for his understanding, which I'd never forgotten. In return, he replied that he was equally touched by a 10-year-old' s concern for what war could mean to her and her family. No - Rangataua school was not filled with a flock of angels. We were all country kids; (I was a recent transplant from a city) healthy, practical, fun-lov-

ing; real, naughty, adventurous, unsure of how clever we all really were, but quite confident in our families, the community and an environment groaning with places to play and things to do Rangataua was the whole world. I wish all the very best things to all those kids who sat in the classrooms of the Rangataua school over the years and to the few memorable teachers who contributed so positively to children' s lives by little acts of kindness and concern.