Western News: July 27, 2023

Thursday July 27 2023 5
HISTORIC: The bell
was collected from
Rangi Ruru by
Billy Williams from
the Deep Cove
Outdoor Education
Trust with deputy
principal Stephanie
Barnett on hand to
see it off.
Right – The bell has
presented to Rangi
Ruru in 1964 by
Bob Round who
was an engineer
on the MS
Wanganella and
had a daughter at
the school.
Rangi’s old bell on the move
• By Briar Allen
THE OLD school bell that used
to ring out over Rangi Ruru Girls’
School has returned home to
Fiordland.
The bell originally came from
the ocean liner, MS Wanganella,
which was launched in 1929. The
ship travelled between New Zealand
and Australia for about 15
years before running aground in
Wellington Harbour in 1947.
It was then refloated and
became a floating hostel in Deep
Cove, Doubtful Sound, for workers
on the Manapouri hydroelectric
power scheme.
Rangi Ruru deputy principal
Stephanie Barnett said the bell
was a part of the school for about
60 years.
“It is an important part of
New Zealand maritime history,”
Barnett said.
“It has not been hung here at
the school for a number of years,
and we are so pleased to pass on
the care-taking of the bell to the
trust and are excited to hear the
bell ring once again.”
The bell was presented to the
school in 1964 by Bob Round
who was an engineer while the
ship was in Deep Cove and whose
daughter Elizabeth was a student
at the school. The bell was placed
in the Margaret Patrick Courtyard
and served as the school bell
for many years. It then went into
storage and the MS Wanganella
was eventually sold for scrap.
The bell has been borrowed by
Billy Williams from the Deep
Cove Outdoor Education Trust
and is on a long-term loan to the
trust. It will be hung by Meridian
Energy at the trust’s base in Deep
Cove.
SAIL: The MS Wanganella
was anchored at Deep Cove,
Doubtful Sound, where it
was used as a hostel for
workers on the Manapouri
hydroelectric power
scheme.