Nor'West News: January 30, 2018

NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday January 30 2018 3
News
Chapel surprise for St Margaret’s
• By Julia Evans
AFTER 20 years without, St
Margaret’s College has a new
chapel.
And the building’s
connection to the school is
almost 90-years-old.
Waiau’s Satterthwaite family
moved a chapel from their farm
to the Merivale college grounds
in the early hours of Wednesday
morning, as a gift to departing
executive principal Gillian
Simpson.
“My mother-in-law, Diana
Satterthwaite, went to St
Margaret’s and she’s 90 now
. . . there’s a lot of history,”
chapel owner Gina
Satterthwaite (nee Gough) said.
Before the chapel was moved
to Waiau, it was the local
church in Rotherham, where
Diana Satterthwaite grew up,
she said.
Mrs Satterthwaite said there
had been a girl from her family,
or her husband’s family, at St
Margaret’s every decade since
her mother-in-law began.
“Literally, people in the
family from five-years-old to
90-years-old have been a part
of the school,” she said. That
included herself, her daughters,
her mother and aunts.
The Waiau chapel was also
where she and her husband
were married.
“But the main reason is that
it’s just nice to know that it’s
going to be enjoyed
. . . it’s so important to me
that St Margaret’s gave me the
opportunity to help like this,”
she said.
The college has been without
a chapel for more than 20 years.
One of Mrs Simpson’s goals was
to get a chapel back on school
grounds before she left at the
end of term two.
“I have been looking for a
small chapel for 10 years and
since the major rebuild we had
put the project on the backburner,”
she said.
But the school organised the
chapel to be moved without
Mrs Simpson’s knowledge; she
didn’t know until it arrived.
“This was a complete surprise
RELOCATION:
The chapel
spent more
than an hour
on the back
of two trucks
driving from
Waiau to St
Margaret’s
College on
Papanui Rd. ​
and presented to me as a fait
accompli,” Mrs Simpson said.
The building had to be split
in half and loaded onto two
separate trucks before being
reassembled on site.
She said it was an “immense
honour” to see her dream
become a reality right at the end
of her tenure.
It will be renamed Te Whare
Hauora (The House of Wellbeing).
Local
News
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In Brief
Fire rages, homes at risk
RADIO STATION CELEBRATES
On January 27, Radio Redwood
celebrated 21 years on the airwaves.
The self-funded, commercial-free
station on 107.5fm is run from a
converted garage in Casebook by
three volunteer staff. The station
was founded by Redwood local John
Downy who is still the manager.
AWARD FOR WALKER
The Fendalton walking group
presented an award to its longest
serving member. Pat Williams has
been with the group since day one,
17 years ago. Ms Williams said
being part of the group helps keep
her active and provides valuable
social contact. The group meets
every Thursday morning.
PROBLEMS AT PARK
The Friends of Abberley Park group
is urging users of the park to take
their rubbish home after bins are
often left full and overflowing.
The group is also disappointed
after someone tagged the bin with
a profanity. It comes following a
recent spate of flower thefts.
GARDEN JUDGING STARTS
Judging has begun on the Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
garden
awards. Judges take into account
effort, overall tidiness and impact of
the garden on the street. Certificates
and trophies will be presented in
March.
FREE
Summer Theatre
THE LITTLE PRINCE
1–18 February, 7pm Weds–Sun;
1.30pm Sat, Sun and Waitangi Day
Murray Aynsley Lawn, Botanic Gardens
Two productions bring life to the classic French tale of The Little Prince in this
exciting, quirky and magical outdoor theatre show for all ages. Masks,
puppets, and large scale tricks will transform the Gardens into the
intergalactic journey of wildness and whimsy.
ccc.govt.nz/summertimes