FAREWELLING Gael Harper Gael was born and grew up in Ōpōtiki where she was the eldest of four siblings. She went to Ashbrook Primary School and then Ōpōtiki College. Gael always knew she was going to be a teacher, so, upon leaving school, she went to Auckland Secondary Teacher’s College to study. Her first job was at Hillcrest High School, where she taught Fabric, Food and Health. She then moved to Te Puke Intermediate as a full time Fabric teacher. This was followed by a stint at Peach Grove Intermediate where Gael took on a responsibility with Kapa Haka. Three years later, Gael moved to Whakatāne and took up a position at Kawerau College teaching Food, Typing and Fabric. In 1993, Gael started working at Whakatāne High School where she worked alongside Ripeka Maui and Brenda Wycherley. During her time at Whakatāne, Gael’s role has changed many times. In the past 29 years, she has taught Food, Fabric, Textiles, Fashion, Early Childhood Education, Graphic Design and was also a Te Aka Matua form teacher. She has also been the Junior Tutor, a Dean for Year 11 and was an Assistant Principal for three years. Whilst at Whakatāne High School, Gael’s daughter, Gina, attended as a student and joined the Girls’ Hockey team. This was the slippery slope for Gael as she soon found herself to be the Teacher in Charge of Hockey, which was a position that she held for the next seventeen years. Along with this, Gael has supported students with the Fibre and Fleece competition and the Bernina Sewing Competition, winning a range of equipment as prizes. Gael has always had an interest in drama productions and offered up her services for costume design. Her first production, called “Blitz”, was in 1995 and was about the Second World War and included all the 1st XV Rugby team as members of the cast. From there on, Gael was involved in every drama production right up to 2021’s “Back to The ‘80s”. In addition to all her schoolwork, Gael has always found time to help students who have challenged the structural integrity of their school uniform, repairing and modifying pants and shirts to fit. Retirement is going to be a new adventure for Gael. She is planning to spend a lot of time with her grandchildren, but she will also be keeping her hand at sewing by working part time at Jayne’s Wool and Fabric in town - so pop in.
Whakatāne High School
|
Te Waka Kura 2021
63
