Lifetime of education in SC
Michael Wilkinson, instrumental in helping establish Mountainview High School and its first principal, has been remembered as a gentle man, and the ‘‘best father in the world’’.
He died, with his family at his side, on September 11, at Strathallan Life Care, aged 89.
The second of his three sons, Paul Wilkinson, said his father very much lived for his family.
‘‘As a younger man Dad loved walking up mountains, and he continued walking daily along Wai-iti Rd until recently,’’ Paul said.
He remembers family holidays snow skiing where Michael, and a friend, would put skins on their skis and go above the ski lifts and ski back down as the kids pottered on the main slopes.
‘‘I don’t remember him being harsh even when as teenagers we all did what teens do. He was very understanding.’’
Chalmers Church was a big part of the Wilkinsons’ lives. When it shut in 2015 he attended Trinity Church in College Rd or St Mary’s on Church St.
Michael met his future wife Margaret when both were teaching at Timaru Technical College.
‘‘Dad fell in love with her, but it took some time for her to agree to marry him. She had eight siblings who had to approve, and he had to win them over.’’
They were married for 57 years, and in her past few years Margaret suffered from dementia and Michael was her fulltime carer.
‘‘When she died four years ago it left a big hole in his life. He loved being with people and giving back. I will miss his friendship, we spoke every day,’’ Paul said.
Michael wrote a 95-page book for his family on his life growing up through the depression.
His parents were forced to sell their Leeston farm as the price of stock and crops fell in the 1930s.
To keep himself occupied Michael made kites from flax, newspaper and string, as well as collecting sparrows’ eggs to sell for three pence a dozen.
Sent to Cathedral Grammar boarding school in Christchurch was a miserable experience for Michael as he battled homesickness from a cold dormitory with few blankets, and had one hot shower a week; the other days it was a cold shower each morning.
He was relieved to become a day pupil at St Andrew’s College for his high school years.
All his life experiences led him to value education, and he went on to study geography at Canterbury University and then Teacher’s College, supporting himself by picking potatoes and working in the shearing shed at Lake Coleridge Station.
He studied alongside the late Timaru history writer John Button, and former colleague Bruce Leadley, remaining friends with them throughout his life.
After graduating Michael took up a teaching position at Timaru Technical College in 1956. Then followed two years at Fairlie High School (now Mackenzie College) and returned to what had been renamed Timaru College in 1962 climbing the ladder to deputy principal and then principal.
A lack of high schools at the northern end of Timaru led to Timaru College’s relocation to Pages Rd, renamed Mountainview High School.
Michael spent the rest of his career as principal of Mountainview High School from 1982 to his retirement in 1989.
Leadley said he and Michael trod parallel career paths.
‘‘He was very friendly and gentlemanly. He was quietly efficient as a principal.’’
Michael’s funeral was held on September 18.
He is survived by his three sons, Graham, Paul, and Peter and nine grandchildren.