Success of Taupo Young People

Te Ao Hou, December 1967, Page 54

Success of Taupo Young People Two girls in the Taupo area have been successful in winning their sections of the Ngarimu V.C. Essay Competition. Eva Wall, a 12-year-old pupil of Waitahanui Maori School, won the Form II competition in English with an essay on ‘Kumara’. The sixth-form essay, also in English, was won by 16-year-old Ursula Storey of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College. Both are members of Ngati-Tuwharetoa, Eva through her father Marama Wall who is chairman of the Waitahanui Tribal Committee, Maori Warden and chairman of the school committee. Ursula's connection is through her mother, née Maria Emery, sister to the late Sam Emery, businessman of Rotorua, about whom there was an article in the last issue. This is the first time that Waitahanui Maori School has had a success in the Essay Competion and Mr Frost, the Headmaster, enthusiastically gives credit to Eva who spent much time at home studying on her own for the essay, as well as working hard at homework and taking part in sports competitions. This year, Eva was a representative player in the Taupo Ursula Storey being congratulated by Mr N. F. Tritt. Principal of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, and Head Boy, Ross Smith. Eva Wall, of Waitahanui Maori School. Primary Schools' basketball team. She enjoys writing and has even tried her hand at poetry. Ursula Storey also spent much of her free time reading widely for her essay on Modern Maori Culture and ways in which it should influence the lives of all New Zealanders. For Ursula this has been a very busy year, as she has been studying for her U.E. as well as being senior girls' athletic champion at College, a member of the College team at the Waikato Secondary Schools' annual sports for the second time, and a school prefect. Ursula intends returning to College next year as she is keen to gain the highest qualifications possible for her career. Both of these girls owe much to the example and encouragement of their families. As well as Eva's father being very active in the local community, her mother, Mrs Addie Wall, néc Addie Waititi of Ngati-Whanau, a full-time teacher at Wairakei, and the mother of seven children, also gives generously of her time to local affairs. Eva certainly seems to be following in the footsteps of her family and her uncle John Waititi. Ursula hopes eventually to take up some type of welfare work. In this respect she has been influenced by Mrs Szazy (néc Mira Petrice-

vich), who is connected to the family by marriage, and also by her uncle, Robert Emery, who is a welfare officer at Te Kuiti. Kia ora korua kotiro ma, mo tenei honore nui kua uhia ki runga i a korua.