Long-serving staff farewell local school

Roger and Sarah Frost, two of Murchison Area School's longest-serving staff, were farewelled at the school's prizegiving last night.

Dr Frost, whose varied roles during his 20 years at the school have included principal, deputy principal, maths teacher, languages teacher and relief bus driver, said he came to Murchison because he wanted to be in the mountains and the bush.

When he moved to the area, he didn't really care what the school was like – he just wanted to come to Murchison – but his time at the school had been great, he said.

"If I had to do it again, I certainly would, with relish," he told The Nelson Mail.

Mrs Frost has also worked at the school for 20 years.

"I started relief teaching and took over the responsibility for the distance learning at the school," she said.

The Frosts will continue to live in Murchison but plan to go travelling and trekking overseas next year.

"We are going to get on with some things we've wanted to do in the mountains and in the bush while we still can," Dr Frost said.

Principal Liz Wooster said the Frosts' contribution to the school would be greatly missed.

Mrs Wooster said she was very proud of the students and the standards they had attained.

She was also proud of the way the students conducted themselves while on school trips. People often phoned her and told her how nice the students were, she said.

Guest speaker, kayaker Mick Hopkinson, had a simple message for the students: travel.

"Murchison is a wonderful place to come back to, it really is. But you will never know it is unless you get out there," he said.

Mr Hopkinson runs the New Zealand Kayak School in Murchison. After competing in kayak slalom racing, he switched to exploratory boating, completing several first descents of rivers around the world.

He was inducted into the International White Water Hall of Fame last year.

Mr Hopkinson told the students about his exploits paddling through waters infested with crocodiles up to six metres long on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia.

He said the descent took place in 1972, the year the Munich Olympics were held, which in theory meant that the world's fastest paddlers were competing at the games.

"The truth of the matter is the fastest people in the world were on the Blue Nile being chased by crocodiles," Mr Hopkinson said.

He said he had met Kiwis wherever he travelled, and that Kiwis, with the skills they had, were sought-after workers.

Mr Hopkinson urged the students to travel and then come back to tell Murchison about their experiences.

"Maybe in 30 years, you will be standing here with this microphone in your hand."

- © Fairfax NZ News