Nor'West News: December 17, 2020

8 Thursday December 17 2020
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NOR’WEST NEWS
03 349 5050
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Fred Adams with the Super Rugby Trophy, and in his army uniform in 1952
as part of his compulsory military training.
‘You meet some wonderful
• From page 1
“I thought, oh no, what’s
coming next? But then she
said ‘no, he’s my very best
friend,’” said Fred.
“You meet some wonderful
children on the way
which keeps you going. It
brightens them up in the
morning, and it brightens
us elderly people too.
“It’s rewarding to be
acknowledged by the
children. It’s important to
connect with them – it is a
school after all, that’s what
we’re there for.”
Fred played a crucial role
in making sure the school’s
facilities were up to scratch
ahead of the learning day.
At nearly 90-years-old, he
would work four hours
each day; two in the morning
and two in the evening.
The pupils saw him in the
morning just as he was finishing
his morning duties
before 9am and were often
eager for a chat.
A usual lap around the
school involves checking
each classroom and can
take upwards of about 40
minutes. It was a chance
to sneak in some exercise
– an aspect of the job he
considered to be one of his
favourites.
In this time he ensures
the heaters are switched on,
the printers have paper, the
wheelie bins are emptied,
or to check “whether the
cleaners have done a good
job overnight.”
At night, he is in charge
of making sure the windows
and doors are locked
while keeping an eye on the
school hall area.
Fred has been a friendly
face at the school since
1990. It was only his second
job ever, having worked at
a number of post offices
in the South Island for 40
years prior.
Born in 1933, he hails
from Arrowtown, Central
Otago, where he grew up
with his parents and four
siblings.
His father was the last
official town baker from the
“olden days,” and his original
oven was now incorporated
at the Lakes District
Museum and Gallery.
For Fred, life was not
always rosy in the pictureperfect
town. Part of his
childhood was during a
time when the world was
engulfed in war.
His neighbour, along
with his cousin, Bobby
Jones, were both killed in
Italy, when a stray shell
landed and exploded where
they were.
“I was born in the Granny
Jones’ Cottage. During
my time I used to go out
chasing rabbits on hills at
some of the farms where
there were rabbit holes, so
I would put my ferrets in
[them],” said Fred.
“We never had a lot, so it
was quite a struggle in the
early days.”
Soon after leaving high
school in Queenstown at
15-years-old, he secured
a job at the post office in
Arrowtown working at the
counter and the telephone
exchange.
Wanting to further his
skills in the field, he went to
morse school in Trentham,
Upper Hutt, a year and a
half after he started his first
job.
Soon after that he was
also called up for compulsory
military training.
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