Ruapehu soon 'Castless'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 566, 13 December 1994, Page 7

Ruapehu soon 'Castless'

Ruapehu College principal Harry Cast and his wife Bronwyn were fondly farewelled last Friday at an informal gathering of friends and colleagues at the school hall. The Cast family are leaving Ruapehu to live in Waitara where Mr Cast is to take the job of principal of the 500-plus-pupil college there. Many people spoke of experiences shared with Mr Cast, relating how he had supported them, the school and the community. Che Wilson spoke on behalf of the school' s Maori cultural group, saying how Harry had "really nurtured"

the group. He said Ruapehu College had once had a bad name but that Mr Cast had worked to change that image. "At this time I am proud to leave Ruapehu College." Ritchie Akapita thanked Harry for his help with the Maungarongo Marae. Retailer Peter Berry paid tribute to Harry for his support of the commercial sector of the community, though he joked that, after hearing Board of Trustees chairperson Margaret Horne say that Harry could always "screw the best deal", he was starting to wonder. "Thanks to Harry the

strong community spirit at the College has overflowed into the commercial sector of the community," he said. Teacher John Laurenson paid tribute to Bronwyn Cast and her ability to instil enthusiasm for maths into her pupils. He said she "lives maths, loves maths", to the extent that pupils had been known to say to him with surprise, "oh, are you the head of maths?". Other teachers thanked Harry for his help with their professional development, one saying that he was unique in showing honesty . One said some college principals mistakenly believed honesty was a sign

of naivety and that to play politics with a school was sophisticated. Waiouru Primary School principal Tauri Morgan thanked Mr Cast for his efforts on behalf of the area's school principals, quipping that the college would soon be a'Castless' society. Mr Cast was also thanked for his contribution to the Swimming Club, to the principal' s support group, the hockey team, to the local primary schools. Also leaving are Richard Lindsay moving to Palmerston North Boys High School, and Kerry Robinson, moving to Taupo. Mr Lindsay was thanked for his help in getting college rugby back on track, and Mrs Robinson' was

thanked for her help and support to many of the girls at the school. Mr Cast replied that a lot had been achieved at Ruapehu College but that it was never done by one person. He paid tribute to the Board of Trustees, staff, parents and students for the positive changes at the school. "I'm the idiot who sits in the office and drinks coffee. If you think I' m the one who did all the work, then I' ve had you all fooled," he said in his inimitable wise-crack-modest style. He said a good advertisement for a school was its pupils. "I get a buzz out of seeing the success of our students."