Leading from the front issuu

chapter ten
HAWKE’S BAY
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
IT WORKED! SO WHAT HAPPENED?
A TIME OF ENLIGHTEN-
MENT — HB COMMUNITY
COLLEGE 1975 — 1985
John Wise, the former head of Community Education
at the Hawke’s Bay Community College
from 1976 until 1990, says the decade between
1975 and 1985 was an exciting period of “learning
and prototyping”. At the time, he said the college
was the first of five such pilot tertiary institutions
and the college’s clear mandate was to give life to
the fundamental belief that learning is a life-long basic
human right for all.
“It was an era of proud community ownership and
courageous educational innovation with unparalleled
community participation. Individuals, organisations
and communities across Hawke’s Bay were
discovering (or rediscovering) both the potential
and the pleasure that comes from learning”.
Below, John recalls the story of the college during
this significant time.
Image above: Hawke’s Bay Community College, Otatara,
outskirts of Taradale, Hawke’s Bay. 1976 — fresh pastures
for building a new way in community education. Image
courtesy Whites Aviation Ltd; Opposite: Artwork courtesy
Tamatea High School Art Department.
A UNIQUE DRIVING
FORCE
by dr john harré —
first hbcc director of the hbcc
From the very beginning
of the establishment of
Hawke’s Bay Community
College I worked closely
with Pat Magill, recognising
that he was a unique driving
force in the development
and implementation of programmes
to support disadvantaged
youth — particularly
Māori.
He was the inspiration for much of the innovative work
undertaken by the college in supporting the needs of
youth in Hawke’s Bay. The Downtown Y, The Pub With
No Beer and the creation of Napier as a Pilot City were
all initiatives of Pat’s which transformed Napier into a
place which cared about its youth and their problems.
Pat committed his all to the well-being of Napier’s youth
and he set us all an example of unparalleled community
service. Thank you Pat.
Hawke’s Bay Community College – it worked! So what happened? 91