To the Committee,
KWT Jubilee (2010),
Although I have already posted a copy of this same photo on the “Old Friends” website, I thought that I would also email it to you just in case you are interested in having it added to your School Jubilee website as well.At this stage, I am still undecided as to whether or not I am able to make it to the Jubilee. I did attend your last one in 1985, partly as my late father (Fred Harsant) also attended the reunion (he had attended the school for a year in the late 1920′s when he stayed with some relatives, the Bruces, who lived near Taotaoroa). Also as I myself (though not from the area) had also a connection with the school having worked at the former School Dental Clinic at the Karapiro School in the 1970′s.
The clinic was worked as a part-time Sub-Base Clinic (with my main posting being at the Base Clinic at the Cambridge Primary School). This involved a spending few weeks every 6 months working at the Clinic at Karapiro School. The era that I was working there was in the third school term of 1974 & the first school term of 1975.
I remember the surgery being somewhat basic with having to operate using just a hand-held bowl for the children to spit into when working on them as there was no basin plumbed in for them to spit into. I also had to use a portable (but electric) drill which I would have to convey out from my Base Clinic at the start of each twice-yearly round of treatment at the School. It was not many years after I worked there that the Clinic was closed & the children then started going into the clinic at Cambridge Primary School for their treatment (where the equipment used to operate with was much less rudimentary than at Karapiro).
This photo is taken in 1974 outside what was then the Dental Clinic (I believe it later became a library). Several of the children of that era are lined-up out the front. Perhaps, someone else may recall who each of them are. Those that I do remember in this photo (from left to right) are ? (possibly one of the Krippners), ?, David Roigard?, Angela Roigard? (partly obscured), Nicola Smith, ?, Vicki McCaskill & ?.
At the time, it was a 3-teacher school with Mr Hickling being the Principal.
Trusting that this photo is of help to your “reunion display” collection.
All the best for a great & successful weekend.
Regards,
Alison Harsant.
1974 September-October Children outside Dental Clinic at Karapiro School
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