A thriving Horopito recalled at reunion

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 573, 14 February 1995, Page 1

A thriving Horopito recalled at reunion

By

Amiria

Teki

Some 200-plus people gathered at Horopito School over Waitangi Weekend for its only reunion. \ For most it was more than a "wonderful to medt you again" feeling — it was a good old walk down memory lane, the way it was way back then — a more than busy, thriving community. Although the Saturday was drizzling at times and a little chilly, the weather did not dampen the spirits of those attending the day's activities. Hobo Alabaster opened the ceremonial part of the event and recalled how he and his sister Elwin 'Bubbles' Pratt

had " a bit of an idle chat" about the possibility of a reunion around 1988. "However nothing got cracking until last year." Barbara Ball and her sister Lorna Jefferies, and Mrs Pratt got their heads together and after long hours and hard work finally Friday 4 February 1995 arrived and so were the 205 ex-pupils, teachers, family and friends. They came from as far south as Timaru and as far north as Tapu in Coromandel and also Gisborne. A plaque was unveiled by Bubbles Pratt, inscribed: "Horopito School 1 908- 1 966, Reunion Celebrated FebTurn to Page 2

Horopito recalled at reunion

FROMPAGE1 ruary4&5, 1995." A reunion cake was cut by two of the oldest past pupils, Dorothy Henderson (nee Kerr) 1915, and Myrtle Smith (nee Burnett) 1916, along with Toni Kui (nee Snowball) who was one of he youngest pupils when the school closed. Decade photos were

taken and following lunch, a walk about for those interested took place — a chance to recollect where homes were, places of interest such as shops, dance hall, and post office. Some of the others attending were Nora Gabby (nee Haddock), Maij Scott (Drake), Winnie Freeman (Haddock), Sefton Browne

and family, Betty Barrett (Alabaster). Pat Stanish (nee Plunket) reminisced: "Well, my mother and father Ike and Mary Plunket left Taihape after the war started. Dad had a fish shop there. We went to Horopito about 1915. Trixie was at school and I started there about a year later. Funny how things stick out in your mind. Mum grew big blue irises and I was told 'babies come from under there'." "My father managed the mill near the school, opposite was Patterson's (mill), that had its own shop. There were two shops, Faggs General Grocery and Butler's Drapery, side-by-side somewhere near the Post Office. When those shops bumt down we moved up to Number One Mill — Lofty Larsen and his family were living there then. We moved from there a couple of years later. We were in Wellington for six weeks and then moved back up to Pakahi. Dad was manager for Carter's then, and the mill was known as Plunket' s Mill but it was really Carters." Hobo recalls "Winnie

Freeman used to play the piano during the silent movies in the local dance hall. There was a boarding house and blacksmiths shop near the railway crossing. Others at the reunion remembered the woman who went around always in a dressing gown and nothing else, or the odd bloke who wore nothing but a funny old hat! So the memories went on. A dinner was held on Saturday night at the Ohakune Primary School hall.

Following the Sunday service which was held at the old school hall and conducted by Pat Olds, Walt Christison, ex-principal (1958-1962) gave the closing words. FOOTNOTE: For those who know him it is easy to picture Hobo Alabaster (event organiser) at the reunion: walking stick in hand, tweed cap tilted forward and best well-worn "Wellington" gumboots and a grin large as life. "Can you imagine such a kid back when?" was the question.