School thrilled with support after theft

A month after someone made off with their orchard plants, the kids at Omata School have had new plants donated from the rest home of a former teacher.

The kids were disappointed to show up for planting last month to find $600 worth of plants stolen.

Thornleigh Park rest home activities coordinator Helen Baverstock said they had seen the article in the paper about the plants being stolen.

One of their older residents, Jan Aitkens, who is 93, had done some of her early teaching at Omata School and also been a keen gardener, and had also taught Omata principal Karen Brisco at Devon Intermediate.

‘‘We encourage our residents to keep giving as much as they can in the community.

‘‘We’ve got three plants, one avocado and two feijoa trees.’’

The residents were very excited about it, she said.

‘‘These people have grown up with gardens as just part of normal life so to see children being encouraged to do that, they think it’s wonderful.’’

Thornleigh Park resident Dennis Treanor said he loved the school’s orchard.

‘‘It’s good for the kids. Most kids are interested in gardens.

‘‘They might say that’s what I want to do when I grow up.’’

Noah Glasgow, 9, thought the feijoa and avocado trees were good options.

‘‘It’s cool and a good place for the school.’’

Principal Karen Brisco said they had been ‘‘overwhelmed’’ with community support once people found out about the thefts.

‘‘We had a lot before, just helping with the orchard and then when everyone heard that the plants had been taken, we were overwhelmed with offers of money and plants and ‘anything I can do to help’,’’ she said.

‘‘It was good for the children to see that and know that people care about what they’re doing and what they’ve got at school.’’

The kids should be able to start using the orchard next term.

"It was good for the children to see that and know that people care about what they're doing."

Omata School principal Karen Brisco