Over there
Otago Museum needs friends
Sydney, July 30: There is a distinct American flavour about Sydney just now — in the shops, in the streets, in the trams, in fact, wherever one moves. The American sailors, like our own British tars, appear to find one of their chief delights in wandering about the streets and establishing chance acquaintances. The procession of American sailors and marines through the crowded city streets was frankly disappointing for the comparative lack of cheering. In a big procession like this the crowds look for the martial air, for the rousing music of bands at short intervals, and for that something that stirs the blood. In this big march there were only two bands, which set such lively American tunes that the tars rushed through the city rather than marched with that clock-like, disciplined step which is one of the glories of British marching. Again, the entry of the fleet lacked something of the spectacular because of the very slow progress of the ships, at long intervals, up the harbour. But it was a fine pageant, nevertheless, especially with the great flock of aeroplanes and seaplanes (the latter from the visiting ships) circling about. It was the greatest air pageant Sydney has seen. — by ODT Sydney correspondent
At the present time the Museum is confronted with two problems. First is the provision of accommodation for the large and rapidly-growing collections that have in existing circumstances to be housed in the basement. There are thousands of articles which are lying on shelves. A very great increase in the annual income is required. Fortunately the Museum has a number of warm supporters, and the creation of an Association of Friends of the Museum will assure additional revenue. The whole of the subscriptions of members will be available for the purchase of material in clearly defined fields, and, though for a period the proceeds may not be great, they will be highly welcome. A grant of £200 is made by the City Council, but although the payment of such a sum involves a distinctly inadequate recognition of what the existence of the Museum is to the citizens, there is no absolute certainty as to the continuance of the revenue from this source. The establishment of an endowment fund, from which an assured income will be obtained, is greatly to be desired if the Museum is to be supplied with the finance that will enable it to be furnished and equipped in a manner that will admit of the effective exhibition of the wealth of collections of the greatest possible interest of which it is the repository. Substantial support must be offered by residents of ample means who realise the importance, practical as well as scientific, of the maintenance of a museum of high standing in the city. The Otago Museum is fortunate in the possession of a number of collections of rare value. The limitations of its finance prevent it from housing and displaying these collections advantageously.
Trees felled on trunk road
A start has been made on cutting down the large trees in the plantations which run between the two tram lines on the Anderson's Bay road. Only small shrubs will in future be grown on the plantation. It was found that the high-growing trees were a source of danger, as they prevented a clear view being obtained of vehicular traffic at the various intersections. — ODT, 8.8.1925
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Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Julie Andrews dances to her own tune
At 93, Julie Andrews is the oldest of about 100 dedicated volunteers at Christchurch's Transitional Cathedral on Hereford St. She has been a volunteer with the Anglican diocese for more than 50 years, and admits sometimes people get her confused with her more famous namesake. 'They look at you twice sometimes. Often, when we get American tourists, they would get a photo with me and then go home and say they got a photo with Julie Andrews.' As a young girl, Julie dreamed of joining her school choir. 'I was turned down. I couldn't sing,' she said. Her decades of selfless service earned her a nomination for the Canterbury Volunteer Recognition Awards. The Christ Church Cathedral has been central in Julie's life. 'I went to St Michael's Church School in the 1930s. We used to walk hand-in-hand down to the cathedral.' All five of her children were baptised there. Julie trained as a nurse before starting a family, then shifted her focus to voluntary social work – spending about 30 years helping at Christchurch Women's Hospital and the City Mission. She also served as a verger at the cathedral, assisting clergy during services. 'I got too old, so I volunteered to work in the gift shop.' It's the friendships she has formed through volunteering that Julie values most. 'It's been my life really, supporting people, making wonderful friends.' Two friends in particular have become especially dear – fellow volunteers Allison Blackler and Thelma Willett. 'We call ourselves the Wednesday girls,' Julie said. The trio have volunteered together at the cathedral gift shop for the past two decades, and they're not shy about ribbing each other. 'She keeps us on the straight and narrow, and tells us if we do something wrong,' Blackler said. 'Are you saying I'm bossy?' Julie responded. The Wednesday Girls love their voluntary roles. 'We get to meet people from different cultures all around the world, it's great,' Blackler said. Still, they miss the old days in the original cathedral. 'It was always busy back then, before the earthquake. So many people just wandered in, regardless of what time of the year it was. 'People still stop by (the Transitional Cathedral), just not as many. But we do get tour buses full of tourists quite often,' Julie said. Tourists are often fascinated by the cardboard design of the building, but Julie has a more practical favourite feature. 'I love the underfloor heating.' Among her fondest memories is the royal visit in 2014, when Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, visited the Cardboard Cathedral. 'It was so lovely to see them, they smiled at me.' She also got to talk to Prince Charles, now King Charles and Duchess (now Queen) Camilla when they visited the Cathedral Square site in 2019. 'He said he'll be back again in 10 years when the cathedral is rebuilt.' Julie suffered a stroke a couple of years ago, which has slowed her down slightly, but she has no plans to stop volunteering. 'I'm heading for 100, but as long as my health holds out I'm going to keep coming in as long as I can.' When asked how she feels about the many lives she has touched over the years, Julie simply said: 'I don't think like that, no. It's just a way of life.'
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
NCEA overhaul: NZ principals predict short-term Cambridge boost amid curriculum changes
His school allows senior students to study either the local NCEA programme or the British-headquartered Cambridge exams, taught in schools around the world. He expected uncertainty caused by the NCEA's scrapping could lead more parents to choose Cambridge's 'stability' in the short term. That was until the new NZ Certificate of Education qualification was fully up and running. 'I think our students will keep opting into Cambridge probably in slightly bigger numbers for the next few years at least,' Hargreaves said. The overhaul, which could affect students for decades to come, is open for public feedback for the next six weeks. Macleans College principal Steven Hargreaves says parents may opt for the Cambridge exams in the short term while the details of New Zealand's education overhaul are being thrashed out. Photo / Macleans College via RNZ It follows years of criticism that the NCEA's flexibility meant students across the country were being held to different standards and learning varying lessons despite supposedly studying the same subjects. It also led some schools to abandon the NCEA entirely. More than 40 schools over the past year offered the Cambridge curriculum either in place of the NCEA or alongside it as another alternative. Popular inner Auckland school, Epsom Girls Grammar, was among the latest, telling parents it would be offering it as a choice from 2026 after 'overwhelming community demand'. Auckland Grammar offers students the NCEA and Cambridge pathways, with headmaster Tim O'Connor a long-time critic of the homegrown system. Epsom Girls Grammar is offering a pilot Cambridge exams pathway in 2026, with a full rollout to follow after that. Photo / Alex Burton He said many students had coasted under NCEA rather than striving for excellence, which 'tarnished' it as a 'flexible anything qualification' and led to more than 250,000 skipped exams last year. Despite that, O'Connor questioned whether the Cambridge pathway would be needed if the homegrown education system was revamped. 'We're a proud state school and we would support a nationwide qualification if it was going to be rigorous enough,' he said. Hargreaves, who was on the Government's reform advisory group, said moves under the proposed reform to have all assignments and exams marked by outside assessors rather than teachers was a positive step towards ensuring fair grading. He also backed a homegrown pathway but thought it would take time to convince parents to have faith in it. Mike Waller, principal of private secondary Pinehurst School, which only teaches Cambridge, was another to back the reforms. However, his school was firmly established in the Cambridge system and had no plans to change. He believed it was rigorous and as an international pathway serving schools in many countries, was more stable and less susceptible to political changes that homegrown curriculums could be. The proposed NCEA changes The Government proposes axing NCEA Level 1, giving students respite from high-pressure exams in Year 11. They will instead focus on literacy and numeracy in a 'Foundational Skills Award' to build a base for their senior studies. Year 12s will then seek the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) and Year 13s the NZ Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE). The Government said common-sense grading, such as As and marks out of 100, will be clearer for parents, employers, and universities. The changes kick in for Year 11s in 2028, who will then move into the new senior qualifications in 2029 and 2030. It comes as the Cambridge pathway's popularity hit a high point last year with 8000 Kiwi students sitting its November exams and scoring 25 Top in the World awards for being the best in their subject anywhere in the globe. Despite Cambridge's success at his school, Hargreaves believed that in a perfect world all local schools would be delivering a national qualification rather than international. That made the current feedback period critical, given it was concerns over education two decades back that led to the arrival in the country of the Cambridge system. 'If there'd never been any concerns about it 25 years ago, Cambridge would never have arrived on our shores,' he said.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
History buffs seek family of intriguing military man
Hidden away under a giant, spreading pine tree in a steeply sloping section of the Southern Cemetery lies the grave of an intriguing military man. Major-general Alexander Irvine, whose long and storied career in the British Army included service in India during the time of the British Raj, is a person of great interest for the Otago Military History Group (OMHG). Group co-chair Peter Trevathan said Maj-gen Irvine's grave, which had slumped due to the weight of its marble top slab, was in need of restoration and repair. "We would also be keen to tell the story of Maj-gen Irvine's career during an interesting period of British history," Mr Trevathan said. As planning begins on the project, the group is keen to contact descendants of Maj-gen Irvine to get their support and input. As he had three sons and four daughters, it is hoped there might be a large extended family. Alexander Irvine joined the British Army's 24th Regiment in 1844 and was sent to India in 1845, where he quickly earned a field commission to the rank of lieutenant. He was involved in the army's response to the Indian Mutiny in the 1850s and 1860s, rising further in the ranks to captain (1857), major (1867), lieutenant-colonel (1871) and colonel (1875), before retiring as major general in 1877. "It was very unusual in those days for men to become officers on merit — officer commissions were usually purchased," Mr Trevathan said. After his retirement from military service, Maj-gen Irvine moved to Hobart in Tasmania, where he and his wife raised their family. In 1884 he came to Dunedin, and died in 1890. "So Maj-gen Irvine was definitely an interesting character, and it would be good to learn more from family members," he said. OMHG co-chair Marlene Pooley said the grave project would be a focus for the group next year, so it would be good to gather as much information as possible in the meantime. The group had been involved in several projects so far in the year, including the design of the new Hillside Workshops memorial and presenting an event as part of the Otago Medical School 150th anniversary celebrations. The group was also in discussions with family members of Leading Signalman Campbell Buchanan, who died from wounds received during the sinking of the Japanese Submarine I-1 by HMNZ ships Moa and Kiwi in the Solomon Islands during World War 2, she said. • Any interested members of the Irvine family are invited to contact the OMHG by emailing Mr Trevathan at petebond058@
