Story by Merv Taiaroa

Although a number of the seventeen students who went away in 1955, on their return in 1956, were involved with AFS committees, with chaperoning end of year tours of hosted students or met from time to time in small numbers to all intents and purposes we went about our various careers, some to university and some overseas, quite separately.

Left to right Back row: Merv Taiaroa, Glen Silvester, Bill Rowntree, Peter Arnott, Guy Cooper, Barry Spring. Left to right Front row: Margaret Davis, Margaret Britten, Bernadette Cheyne, Alison Bell, Daphne Roberts, Beverley Bourke, Jennifer Jones, Tuhi Barclay Sally Lund, Marcus Melvin--Captain Blake

 It was nearly forty years later, in the 1990’s, when Sister Bernadette Cheyne was appointed as Director of Catholic Education for Otago and Southland and started to travel to Auckland for meetings that we started to get together usually about Xmas time. These gatherings were usually held at the home of Mrs Zella Roberts, Daphne’s mother, who often reminded us how lucky we were to have enough friends to have a reunion with. At that stage, Mrs Roberts was in her nineties—she is now nearing 105 and continues to enjoy our get togethers. From time to time others such as Basil Kings and Elizabeth Francis who were running AFS in 1950’s also joined us…

In 2005 we decided to go further afield to Sydney where three of our number—Guy Cooper, Alison Fleming and Margaret Davis now reside. Bill Rowntree also came back from France. Bernie arranged for us all to stay at the Mary McKillop Centre, a Catholic Retreat in North Sydney; Guy, CEO of Taronga Zoo arranged for a tour of their facilities, and a coastal walk; Alison arranged a harbour cruise and a bus tour which included views of Margaret’s husband’s bronze sculptures; we took in a show at the Opera House and spent the rest of the time reminiscing, eating, drinking and singing.

When AFS New Zealand celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007 we welcomed back some of the 1957 US students to NZ—Bev Bourke and Bernie had both been host sisters to members of that group. And over the last couple of years we have celebrated various members’ 70th birthdays including Bernies’ in Colac Bay, Barry Spring’s in Auckland and Margaret Britten’s in Devonport.

So Bernie’s recent Golden Jubilee celebration at St Patrick’s Cathedral was yet another get together—albeit a unique and very special occasion for some of our group.

Group at reunion in Sydney, 2005

Left to right: Bernadette Cheyne, Merv Taiaroa, Beverley Bourke, Barry
Spring, Margaret Davis, Alison Fleming, Beverley Tichbon, Bill Rowntree.
Absent: Guy Cooper