INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING, 2011

Swimmers selected to represent the school in the inter-school swimming sports on Wednesday 2 March:

Harry Miller, Ryan Heywood, Will Agnew, Emma Thomas, Rosanna George, Daniel Trevurza, Fynn Roberts, Louie Hadfield, Taylor Frater, Charlie Thain, Jessica Tibbs, Amber Goodall, Boston Trewavas, Jack Miller, Jesse Thorns, Jayden Drummond, Shania Hawkins, Jenna Heywood, Lucy Jones,Hamish van der Logt, Jimi Ward, Steele Morgan,Tate Roberts, Anabelle Pollock, Angel Gardner, Jack Tibbs, Devon Lunn, Michael Tideman, Samantha Trevurza, Daniella Hadfield &Emma White

RED HOUSE winners of the house swimming relay.

Watch out for the interschool results

. For individual results go Here

HISTORY of the POOL..

The school originally had a small learner's pool, which leaked, and by 1991, the filter system was inadequate. When it was found that the Ministry of Education would supply a new system free of charge, the Board decided, in their wisdom, to go ahead and build a new 25 x 8 metre community pool.

PLANNING and FUNDRAISING.

Although the Ministry of Education provided the initial impetus, and the Lotteries Commission gave a large donation, the community had to raise over ten thousand dollars. This they did, by way of raffles, stalls, donations from the business community, and individuals.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL SWIMMING

SCHOOL SWIMMING PROGRAMME

All classes have daily swimming instruction as it is considered a priority in this district of swimming, surf, sand and sail. The recent purchase of a rollup pool cover ensures that the water temperature is conducive to swimming instruction, and also extends the swimming season at both ends

Deep water and survival skills are taught, as part of the programme..

We must acknowledge the sound daily instruction by the class teachers, which has made almost all of our students confident in the water.

OPENING DAY, 1991

Blast from the Past

Source, Videotape taken at the ceremony.

(see below)

UPKEEP

Chris and Chelsea interviewed Mr Van der Velden

It's a complicated business, caring for a pool with such a lot of use. Arend has to vacuum every week, test the water twice a day for chlorine level and pH balance. Baking soda has to be added, to keep the balance right, and hold the chlorine in the water. Every day the filters have to be backwashed, to remove collected dirt.

Mal Roberts is now the caretaker and keeps the pool in mint condition. Innovations have been:

Solar heating, paid for by the Community Trust, a new suction system for a new vacuum cleaner, and a storage shed, paid for by our Board of Trustees.

Every four years, the pool is repainted.

SCHOOL SWIMMING SPORTS DAY, 2011

A beautiful day saw excellent participation and a large gathering of parents and friends.

Click to view

The official party was welcomed by a Karanga, followed by a haka and school singing, written and conducted by Paul Bond. SPEECH BY CAROL FOWLER, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES She welcomed guests from the Ministry of Education, School Support, the TDC Mayor, and the MP for Tasman, Mr Nick Smith. "We knew we only had 18 months to do the job.We did it in 15 months thanks to the community." John Buckland from the Ministry of Education started the idea, when they provided a new filter system. They donated $22000 to start the project as well as providing the changing sheds. She thanked the business community, the finance committee, the Heslops, who did the designing for free, and Low and Heal, the builders. "We promised you a pool by Christmas and here it is".

CHRISTINE SUTTON, PRINCIPAL

She admitted to running out of energy trying to keep up with this community--but she had learned--and had a long list of other things for them to do now that the pool was finished. She then thanked all those concerned,and called for three cheers for Carol Fowler.

TDC MAYOR KERRY MARSHALL

He handed his hat to a pupil to hold, as it was a windy day. He then did an Elvis act with the microphone. He thanked the school for a great welcome and said they all deserved a swim. He was going to have a swim with Nick Smith. He also presented Mrs Fowler with a cheque for $1000.

JOHN BUCKLAND, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PROPERTY SUPERVISOR

The Ministry's aim is to get all pools up to this high standard eventually. In his school days, on the West Coast, there was no electricity, no pool, no flush toilet. Pupils had to go to the river to swim and the bravest pupils had to go in first and scare the eels away. He hoped that the pupils used the pool to its fullest, and swim with a smile on their faces.

NICK SMITH, MP

Nick promised not to speak for long, firstly because it had already all been said and secondly because all the kids looked as if they would rather be swimming than listening to long speeches. He said that this project is what tomorrow's schools is all about--a project for the school by the community. He congratulated all concerned, including the Ministry for making such a good choice of how to spend their money .

MR HARRY DRUMMOND, THEN THE OLDEST LIVING EX-PUPIL OF RIWAKA SCHOOL

Mr Drummond hoped that the pupils appreciated the work that their parents and teachers had done for them. He hoped that they would be sensible in the water, and stay out of trouble.

After some amusing stories about Mr Drummond's school days, the official party was piped to the pool, where three ribbons were cut, by:Rochelle Martin, the oldest girl in the school, and Jamie Hannan and David Van der Velden, the two youngest pupils.

The SWIM followed. Swimmers of note were: Mrs Sutton, Mrs Fowler, Nick Smith and the mayor, who created an undignified splash as he entered the water.

Back to top of Page