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FAHS-Feilding High School Centenary
“ Kia toa kia ngakaunui ”
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Feilding Technical School (the present Community Centre building) was the local high school but provided no ability to teach agriculture. So, with the teaching of agriculture at a low ebb nationally, a local farmer and businessman, Harry Tolley, visualized a new school. He became the driving force and “threw the whole of his energy and vigorous personality into the ‘Agricultural High School’ idea ” . It was due to Harry that the foundations for Feilding Agricultural High School were laid.
However, it wasn ’t plain sailing for Harry and progress was slow as there was strong opposition to this revolutionary proposal. So, in 1920, Harry formed a sub-committee with other local farmers and business owners; Hugh Atkinson, Archibald Campbell and James Knight. The Hon. Harry Guthrie was a former teacher and MP for the Oroua electorate who held the Ministry of Lands portfolio. He also worked closely with the other four founders.
This newly formed committee raised funds and Kiwitea, Oroua and Manawatū County Councils also provided financial assistance. A site was selected for the proposed school and the Feilding Borough Council permitted the purchase of 20 acres on North Street. In 1921 a brick building of four classrooms and a Chemistry lab were erected and the new Feilding Agricultural High School came into being.
Dr L. J. Wild was appointed the first principal of Feilding Agricultural High School.
Dr LJ Wild
Dr Wild asked local Feilding resident, Sir Hector Booth, to provide a school motto in the Maori language. Sir Booth, immediately said “Kia Toa Kia Ngakaunui” which, when translated, means “Have courage, desire greatly. ”
It was Sir Peter Buck (Te Rangihiroa) who gifted the school’ s crest, made up of huia feathers representing chieftainship and honour. In 2000 the school changed its name to FAHS – Feilding High School.
Nathan Stewart is the current Principal and welcomes everyone to join in celebrating the school turning 100.
Nathan Stewart
Pictures from the past at Feilding Agricultural High School
The school clock tower.
1926 sports cap - believed to be one of the first used.
The opening of the school hall in 1934.
Work being done up at the top farm - Manawanui.
First day pupils taken at the 50th reunion.
Shearing back in the day.
Pictures of the modern day Feilding High School
The modern day school frontage.
The clock tower today.
The hockey turf
Renee Biggs-winner 2020 house shearing competition.
Inside the newly renovated gymnasium.
Our All Blacks, Black Ferns and international sports people.
The new entrance to the bottom farm- Ngakaunui.
The 100th celebration project is the upgrading of the oldest existing building still at the school – the school pool.
FAHS-Feilding High School pool.
" A C O M M U N I T Y C E L E B R A T I O N "
The Centenary celebrations for FAHS – Feilding High School are taking place over the weekend of 26-28 March, 2021. The celebration has been organised by a committee of ex-students, current teaching staff and the school principal and will be a time to enjoy a tour of the school, the school farms and the Feilding township. The weekend offers a wide variety of events to allow everyone to celebrate the school’ s milestone.
CENTENARY PROGRAMME:
Friday 26th March 2021
10am: Commemoration Assembly followed by morning tea in the Don Chambers lounge in the hostel . 11.30am- 4pm: Tours of school. 4pm-9pm: Registration collection in FAHS Hall. 5pm-9pm: Meet & Greet (FAHS Hall).
Saturday 27th March 2021
The school will be open for further registration collection and to enjoy continued socialising with friends. The following are the organised timetable events for the day. Decade photos: 10am – 11am: 1960 - 2021. 11am - 12pm: 1920 – 1959. 10am– 2pm: Tours of school, farms and Feilding township. 10.30am– 2pm: Sports games and cultural entertainment. 1pm – 2pm: Ex and current staff gathering. 6.30pm: Dinner (Feilding Civic Centre).
Sunday 28th March 2021
1 0am: Church Service. 10.30am: Cake cutting and tea/coffee. 1am: Tree planting.
