I feel greatly honoured to have been asked to write the introduction to this book, marking as it does the centennial celebrations of the Aokautere school and its community. We all have reason to remember those who went before us.
At the time of our celebrations, we will look back, and we will look forward. The School, Aokautere, and its people form a very special part of the lives of many New Zealanders.
The district and its people have very special memories for my family. We discovered your caring and your sense of community on our first day in your midst in May 1965. From that day, until we left 4 years later, and to this day, a quarter of a century later, we cherish those friendships and relationships and we maintain them.
That sense of caring and community is one of the great features of Aokautere. A climate of co-operation always prevailed. It has been exhibited in so many ways. People shared their time, their skills, and their resources for the good of others and the community. I recall the occasion when School Committee Chairman and Forest Hill dweller, Graeme Scott, was passing time in his maimai early in the duck shooting season. The wildlife was avoiding him but a river in flood had brought down a large totara log which lay jammed against the bank. Sitting there, cold, alone, and contemplative, Graeme Scott thought momentarily of the school. The log had a use. It was retrieved by a team of 10 on a grey May morning. It was milled by Mr. Brill at the local mill and finally, a team used that timber to construct the filter shed for the school pool. There are many illustrations of that kind of co-operation and resourcefulness.
Some things have changed in the community and others will continue to change but these human values have always prevailed and will continue.
There were demographic changes in the 60s as urban workers came to live in Aokautere. They became part of a changing community.
I was part of the passing of an era in the mid-60s for I spent half of my time as Principal in the original building and half in the new one. There were certainly moments of sorrow at the demolition of the 'old school house'. But it had to be. I recall the words of Hon. Arthur Kinsella, Minister of Education who spoke at the opening ceremony of the fine new building. He regarded schools like ours as among the strongest in the country. I agreed then as I do now for several reasons.
Teachers at the school worked in close cooperation with the community; the community was vitally involved in the life of the school in activities ranging from organising the annual Lamb, Calf and Pet Day through to being on an active School Committee and even to docking the Principal's pet lamb. We all, parents, teachers and children had a clear understanding of our expectations of each other. Authority was derived from the way in which the school functioned and not by being imposed from above. This created a climate in which children were keen to learn. They were motivated to learn.
The school was a reflection of its district. And today as we undergo major changes in educational administration in this country, we are seeking to put in place many of the values which existed in Aokautere then and I am sure still do today.
In a sense, our little school, and many others like it in rural New Zealand, were scene setters, or in the language of today, 'state of the art' institutions. Aokautere has experienced other changes, not the least of which was a name change from Fitzherbert East to Aokautere School. That too was during my time and it was achieved again in a spirit of cooperation between the staff, the School Committee, the Education Board, and the Automobile Association. It was fully accepted as an appropriate thing to do and it happened without fuss or debate.
At this time of celebration, we will recount many memories. We will meet friends from the past and we will remember those who are not here to celebrate with us. That is life. We have some common heritage to share.
We have all dwelled on the land on the upper banks of the Manawatu River, on the flats and on the hills, and we have seen the sun sparkle on the buildings of nearby Palmerston North.
We may have known grey days in our farming and in our lives but I believe that the sun has always shone on our little school standing proudly and beautifully in the centre of that strip of land stretching from Massey and Tiritea in the South almost up to the Manawatu Gorge in the North. It is the common experience of that school and that place which will unite us again.

WALTER HIRSH
Principal 1965-68.
Race Relations Conciliator
Auckland 1988.