Celebrations, sadness at Church College reunion

KELLY HODEL/Waikato Times

FULL HOUSE: A variety show on Saturday night was the highlight of Church College's 50th reunion over the weekend, which attracted more than 3000 former students.

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More than 3000 past and present students of Temple View's Church College partied well into Saturday night at the school's 50th birthday bash.

Reunion committee chairman Richard Ball said the three-day reunion, held at the college on the outskirts of Hamilton, was an "absolutely amazing experience".

"We have laughed, cried and laughed some more," he said. "We've heard stories after stories. The shows have been mind-blowing with all the talent from overseas and round the country."

There was a formal ball and variety show and a massive fireworks display before midnight on Saturday as well as sports games and market stalls.

The only Mormon college in New Zealand, Church College was founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and built by volunteers from the US and New Zealand in the 1950s and '60s.

It has schooled generations of families and during the weekend more than 3000 of those people, some from as far away as London, Afghanistan, Hawaii and Utah were at the celebrations.

"It was just incredible," Mr Ball said.

He admitted the reunion was tinged with sadness due to next year's closure of the school but said it made for a very special, final reunion. "It is with a sense of positiveness that we as a whole look forward to the next chapter."

Deputy principal Ken Williams described the weekend as "absolutely marvellous".

While the college had held reunions every five years, Mr Williams said there was extra significance to this one the 50th and the last before the school closes.

"I started school here in 1961," he said. "My children have come to school here and I've been teaching here for a number of years so it's been a big part of my life."

The first head girl of the school, then Jeanette Going, was present and said: "It's been pretty full-on since Thursday."

One of the events was a memorial to college members who had passed away over the years. The reunion was to finish today with a formal closing ceremony.