The 175th Trust has been impressed with the number of entries from local primary schools for a competition which required pupils to either draw or write (in 500 words) a story, poem, diary or letter telling how life may have been in Howick 175 years ago.
The broad parameters provided a broad range of entries that delighted, amused and excited the judging panel.
Convenor of the judging panel, Judy Parr, said “the imaginative approach taken by teachers allowed the curiosity of their pupils to lead the project resulting in a high standard of carefully considered entries.
From letters ‘home’, horrified diary entries concerning the long days at sea, the excitement of discovering a new place to live and concerns the Fencibles lived without ‘Nike shoes – only gumboots’, the entries showed an active interest in history.”
Students from year 1 through to year 12 took part with the majority of entries from years 4, 5 and 6. The topic was relevant to the Aotearoa/New Zealand History Curriculum which is due for full implementation in 2023 and provided wide scope for young minds.
One of the most creative entries came from Bucklands Beach Primary students who chose to colour in the numerals 1, 7 and 5 as the past, present and future, an exercise designed to make the children think of what was not available to the Fencibles, what we have today and where we may go tomorrow.
Interestingly enough, most of the future seemed to involve heavy traffic.
Merit awards and a family pass to Howick Historical Village will be awarded.
Entries will be on display in the Howick Information Centre on Saturday October 8 from 9am to 12 noon.
