Postkiwi

It’s not every day you go to a high school reunion. Last time for me was in 1990 for the 25th anniversary of Central Southland College, Winton, New Zealand. This time it was the same school celebrating 40 years. I started in the third form as a twelve year old back in 1975, ten years on from the start.

It’s interesting to see who turns up to this kind of do. First thing I noticed was the number of people who were at school in the five years before me. There were six people from 3H, my original form class at the reunion. The class stayed together for all core subjects for two years and then as a maths class in the fifth form. Somehow there was a high percentage of that group still there in the seventh form. So it was good to get together again and compare notes on the range of educational experiences we shared.

Walking around the buildings brought back many many memories. But there wasn’t really time to experience the memories, let alone process them.

I wasn’t there for the dinner and dance, or for the Sunday morning school assembly. But I felt there were some things missing for me, apart from absent friends. It would have been great to connect with the talent as it had developed.

So what would make the fiftieth anniversary in 2015 a stand-out event for me? A reunion of the avant-garde Synthesisers? Or perhaps a reunion of performers from the stage musicals. Maybe I should volunteer for the organising committee. I’ll see where we’re living before making too many suggestions…

In the meantime, if you’re reading this and you attended Central Southland College, make sure you sign up at www.oldfriends.co.nz