Hira celebrates two decades, farewells teacher

There’s been lots to celebrate at Hira Rural Kindergarten recently.

Despite losing most of their gardens and play area during the August storm event, the community mucked in to help the kindergarten get back on its feet and it’s now looking “spick and span”, says head teacher Trish Cooper.

“Everyone pitched in, even those who were the worst affected turned up with their wheelbarrows and spades to help.”

Trish is especially delighted to see everything back to normal as she prepares to bid farewell after 19 and a half years as head teacher.

“It’s been a fascinating career. I’ve loved every moment. It’s so rewarding.”

Nelson Tasman Kindergarten Association senior education advisor, Margie Meleisea, says that Trish’s energy and passion for Hira Kindergarten and community will be greatly missed.

“Trish creates a space where everyone has a place, and everyone has a space to contribute.”

Trish’s career has spanned 42 years including 10 years in England, but she says that Hira Kindergarten is a “very, very special place”.

In fact, she’s come the full circle and is now teaching the children of some of the children she used to teach when she first started.

But she says that “family and community involvement make it such a joy to work here”.

Trish says that community has always been the key to Hira Kindergarten’s success.

Hira Kindergarten celebrated its 20th birthday last month, and invited the “famous five” – Jan Fryer, Rachel Smith, Carol Kearns, Helen Gerry and Sally Jamieson – to join them in their celebrations.

“It started 23 years ago,” says Jan. “Rachel and I were both pregnant with our second child and she thought that it would be really good if there was some childcare in Nelson North.”

After a community survey showed strong support, Rachel talked Jan into helping her.

"‘I just need some help presenting this to council and the Ministry of Education’, she said to me.”

It wasn’t quite that easy, but every obstacle that was put in her way made her even more determined, and eventually council gave them a 5-year lease and the Ministry of Education approved funding to establish a kindergarten.

However, they didn’t provide all the funding needed so Carol, Helen and Sally joined in and soon the whole community was behind them helping to raise funds, donating materials, and providing services for free.

Designed by local architect Aiden Pykett, Jan says that it was “everything we imagined and more”.

Opening day, 3 November 2002, the five children of the “famous five” started kindergarten together, “just to iron out any bugs”, and a week later another five started.

From there the roll grew and, 20 years later, Jan’s thrilled that it’s still going as strong as ever.

Jan is also delighted that working in with the community continues, from working bees to tennis lessons, samba dancing, learning musical instruments, “the community is here to back us up,” says Trish.

By Judene Edgar.