Families with links to Whangaparāoa School are being offered the chance to take home a piece of the school’s history as part of the refurbishment of its community hall.
For 20 years, the old hall walls have been adorned with large square panels painted by students to mark the school’s centenary in 2002. However, with the hall newly renovated, there is no longer space to display them all, so they are being offered to former pupils and parents who have fond memories of the centenary, or who were involved in their creation.
School admin Karen Adams says she has saved one that her own son helped to paint – he is now 30 – so there are 19 remaining. They depict key events and historic milestones from each decade between 1902 and 2002, such as Sir Edmund Hillary climbing Mount Everest, the building of the Harbour Bridge and the Rainbow Warrior.
“These paintings are in great condition and many people in the past have mentioned wanting them if they are ever removed,” she says. “I really don’t want to see them going in the rubbish bin.”
The panels will not be forgotten, however – they have been professionally photographed and these shots will be framed and displayed in the refurbished school hall.
Anyone who would like one of the original paintings, which measure around 1.5m x 1.5m, can contact Karen on 021 705 804 or email pa@wgp.school.nz.
