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“School Work In Fiji - Or Is It All Work ?”

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Description: These images were taken for the August 27th 1978 edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper – the first of which was published with the caption: “Pupils and staff of the Palmerston North Girls' High School embark on a two week educational trip to Fiji.”

The article read: “How best to learn all about Fiji? Going there and experiencing the place is about the best way. That's what 28 pupils and five of five staff of Palmerston North Girls' High School are now doing. But their two weeks in Fiji sounds more like a holiday than an education trip. It's the first expedition the school has arranged to Fiji, said one of the teachers going along, Mrs Yvonne Prebble.

Planning for the trip began last October, although the girls didn't actually get away until last Wednesday (August 23). Each girl individually raised 50 raised $500 to pay for their trip. How they raised the money was up to them, she said. No particular age group was specified those participating ranged from participating ranged from third to seventh formers, she added.

None of the girls had been out of New Zealand before. They are due to return to Palmerston North on September 9. "It's to be a lazy holiday, with education on-site, Mrs Prebble said. The girls will be meeting the British High Commissioner in Fiji, Mr D. McDowell, himself an old boy of Palmerston North Boys High School. They'll also be inspecting the Lautoka sugar mills, seeing the process of sugar refining in all its stages. As well, they'll be studying an impressive mural in a Roman Catholic church by a contemporary French artist, and will be travelling all around the island. They'll be visiting the regular tourist spots as well as places not normally visited by tourists so that they can experience different cultures from their own.

‘The Palmerston North community has been absolutely marvellous in giving us contacts,’ Mrs Prebble said. Teachers accompanying the 28 girls are Mrs Prebble, Mrs Gaye Fergusson, Miss Shena Henderson, Miss Megan Stace and Mr R. Wishnowsky, who is being accompanied by his wife.”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.