Walking down memory lane
Teachers who taught at Woodlands High (Secondary) School in the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's will rekindle memories of their teaching days and re-establish old friendships at a planned reunion this Saturday (April 27) at Club Woodlander in Pietermaritzburg.
A large contingent of these stalwart teachers from Kwazulu-natal and other parts of the country will grace this memorable and grand occasion. They will no doubt recall the good times within and outside the classroom and pay tribute to their mentors and role-models who played defining roles in shaping their careers.
It is not often that teachers gather to share special moments 30 to 50 years later and the planned get-together will no doubt offer the possibilities for reflection of time spent together and reminisce about the good old days. In another first, the combined teaching experience of those attending will be in excess of a thousand years.
According to Kasa Pillay, the convenor of the organising committee, the purpose of the event is to honour and remember this band of teachers for their invaluable contribution in providing quality education to the community leading up to the dawn of the new millennium. It will also honour and celebrate the lives and contributions of teachers who have since passed on.
Woodlands High (Secondary) School, established in 1902, is one of the oldest high schools in the northern areas and has an extremely rich history. Over the years (including this era), it became well-known for producing outstanding examination results and produced pupils of the highest calibre who went on to reach the apex of their professions in all sectors of the corporate world. This can be attributed to the exceptional crop of teachers who left a lasting legacy on the pupils who passed through their skilful hands. They are still remembered by these pupils for their professionalism, dedication and inspiration. These distinguished teachers made a significant contribution to the school and the community and played a significant role in enhancing the lives of all pupils across the academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular spheres of education.
As part of this celebration, the organising committee, consisting of Pillay, Professor Cecil Seethal and D.V. Pillay, invited former colleagues to contribute to an electronic bulletin that captures their time at Woodlands. More than 47 responses were received, including one from a former colleague in New Zealand and two from former colleagues in Australia. The initiative to launch the bulletin will hopefully pave the way for the documentation of the lives and works of all colleagues at the school.
The organising committee is grateful to Anwar Peroo, chairperson of the Woodlands High School 1972 Committee, K. Chetty and Jay Rangiah of the Sports Veterans’ Association for their assistance in producing the bulletin as well as the contribution of Nash Narrandes who will capture some of the special moments at the function.