Pareora prepares to farewell school after 111 years
Sale of the school ‘‘could take a couple of years’’, due to the legislative process the ministry would have to go through, O’Sullivan said.
When contacted by Stuff for comment, head of education infrastructure service Kim Shannon said ‘‘the ministry can only acquire and retain land needed for the delivery of education’’.
‘‘If the site is no longer required for this purpose, it will be declared surplus and processed for disposal, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Act.
‘‘This process provides other agencies, local authorities, and iwi with an opportunity to signal their interest in properties, before they are put to market for sale,’’ Shannon said.
While preparing for the evening’s prizegiving, pupils showed mothers of past pupils around the school, so they could have one last look before it was gone.
One mother, Jenny Mills, said it was the end of an era.
‘‘It’s a shame but it’s a sign of the times,’’ while another mother said the closure was also sad for the community.
Teacher Kaye Johnston-May felt the same, having transferred from the Timaru campus 31⁄2 years ago.
‘‘I think it is just devastating for the community. A place like a school is the hub of a community,’’ Johnston-May said.
The playground was central to this, as she had seen children from both the school and Pareora come and play after school and at the weekends.
Some of this year’s pupils will go to high school next, a couple to the Timaru campus, and the majority will be going to St Andrews School. me . . . You could catch me flying an air tractor doing chemicals and fertiliser, or eventually find an airline. I’m not too fazed either way.’’
Holly said she was thrilled to be chosen for the Waypoints scholarship.
‘‘It means I can just pursue and do extra things,’’ she said.
Holly said flying for an airline is her long-term goal.
South Canterbury Aero Club chief flying instructor Aaron Pearse said the group are ‘‘very driven’’.
‘‘It’s the second year in a row we’ve taken out a large number of scholarships.
‘‘They’re just a really driven bunch of kids.’’ The Overseas Investment Office has approved the sale of 10 hectares of land in the Geraldine area to Sunshine Glory New Zealand, a berryfruit growing company owned by Chinese nationals Xiao Li and Qiming Sheng. The OIO decision said the land on Downs Rd – sold for $425,000 – had been owned by William Paul Fitzsimons and Angela Mary Veale. The OIO said: ‘‘Xiao Li and Qiming Sheng are current resident visa holders and they have satisfied the OIO that they intend to reside in New Zealand indefinitely. Overseas persons intending to reside in New Zealand indefinitely are not required to show that their investment in sensitive land is likely to benefit New Zealand. This supports migrants in the process of moving to New Zealand to make New Zealand their home.’’ The Aigantighe Art Gallery and WuHoo Timaru are launching a new project to get artworks out into the community and the environments that inspire it. Five signs will soon be installed on the Timaru coast, mainly at Caroline Bay and Patiti Point, which will feature artworks from the gallery’s permanent collection, relating to the location of the sign and its surrounding. Gallery exhibitions curator Hamish Pettengell said the project is a great way to get the collection into the community.