Raetihi school teacher returns to 'mainland'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 268, 20 December 1988, Page 16

Raetihi school teacher returns to 'mainland'

Raetihi teacher Mike Hogan says he hasn't regretted leaving the 'mainland' for his four and a half years at Raetihi Primary School. Judging by his farewell - where he was "wedded" to nearly a dozen women - he'd have no right to complain! Mike left yesterday for Garston, near Queenstown, to take up the job of principal of the two teacher school there. He says the move is a good opportunity to get back to his mainland, having been brought up in Christchurch. Mike has become well known in Raetihi because of his enthusiasm for the job. He has been the instigator or one of the instigators of a number o f school activities including yearly camps at Mangatepopo, the school skiing programme and various school sports and cultural activities. He's been a well liked member of the Raetihi community, which he says has potential. He thinks Raetihi is

suppressed by other things such as the economy, and the lack of opportunity for the young, but that it is a caring community. "People here rally round when there is a problem," said Mike. "And most really care for their kids." Among the highlights of his stay has been the Mangatepopo school trips. He says parents seeing their kids in an alien environment is good - seeing kids born and bred in the Waimarino on the mountain for the first time. The most important side of those trips for many, says Mike, is the social side. Seeing kids learning to live in close proximity with others. « Mike had a lot to do with the school ski programme, which is now very successful. He said initially they had difficulty getting the idea approved because skiing wasn't an accepted "national sport". He said the school still has to get permission each year. "It would be crazy not to be able to do it with the mountain

right there," says Mike. He gives a lot of credit for the success of the programme to Turoa, who help with transport and instruction as well as with very generous discounts on ski passes. Mike has also been active in other sports areas. He has been the convener of the Waimarino Sports Association which co-or-dinates school sports activities such as inter school sports days. Another highlight for Mike was "The Wizzard of Oz" operetta that the school produced in 1985. He said that was a good cultural experience for the kids and the town that was well supported by parents, "and a lot of fun". His new school is in an affluent, small rural community, with "very old established families". The town has about a hundred people and the school draws on an area from Walter Peak Station to Te

Anau. Mike's new ski programme will be at the Remarkables. He said the Garston school has already set up a ski programme.

Asked about the "lowlights" of living in Raetihi, Mike tells of his introduction to the town. He said during his

first week here he went to the Cossy Club "to sample the local brew", and sampled it well. He left the club on his push bike to

ride down to Mangaeturoa where he was living, in broad daylight, and fell off three times before the Post Office!