Waiting list for kindergarten

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 37, 5 March 1985, Page 10

Waiting list for kindergarten

Ohakune Kindergarten began the year with full rolls, and a longer than usual waiting list. The kindergartens new relieving teacher, Glenys Newbitt, from Wanganui, will be staying until the end of term. By then it is hoped a permanent staff member will have been appointed. At the kindergartens A.G.M. last week, Helen Cook, from the Department of Social Welfare, gave a talk on foster care. .She explained the aims of foster eare and how foster parents are chosen. When fostering children, social welfare aims to bring the foster child and the original parents back together as soon as possible. Intending foster parents are firstly given a booklet on the meaning of foster parenting and are subjected to questioning by a social welfare officer. Mr Graham Cole was reelected president at the meeting and Mrs Paulette Richards was re-elected Vice President. Mrs Margaret Weir was elected Secretary and Mrs Laureen Hays as Treasurer. Children enrolled with the kindergarten start regulai. sessions at 3'/2 years of age. Children can be enrolled on the waiting list at two years. Sue Kumeroa, a teacher at the kindergarten believes there is now a need for a play group in the area as well as the kindergarten. The kindergarten is in need of a small fridge and bookcase or shelving at present. Anyone who could help with either of these items should phone the kindergarten or the secretary, Margaret Weir.

Mr Barber was attending the official reopening of the Owhango Lodge — his second social function of the afternoon. Earlier he had attended the 75th jubilee celebrations at Kaitieke School. Born in 1892 at Waituna West, near Feilding, Mr Barber left school at 14 and went to South Island three years later, where he did farm work. In 1 9 1 2 he moved to T aumarunui and in 1914 to Owhango.

He has remained in the town ever since, apart from his time fighting in France with a machine-gun section of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade during the First World War. Between 1919 and his retirement, Mr Barber did a number of jobs including farm management and opossum trapping. Before retiring he worked as a rabbit inspector. Although he will be 93 in September, Mr Barber is an active member of the Owhango Bowling Club and a regular player. "Bowling is the way to stay young," he claims!