Robyn Edie / Stuff
The contents of a time capsule buried in Southland’s Hedgehope School in October 1986 and exhumed last week are under investigation by Alistair Burnett [student in ‘86]Keith McKenzie, principal in ’86, and Lisa Anderson (née Getty) and Sharon Hampton (née Buchanan), both students in ’86.
Student love was rife at Southland’s Hedgehope School in 1986, a time capsule has revealed.
The time capsule was buried on the grounds of Southland Central Elementary School in October 1986 and was exhumed this week.
The letters from 1986 from senior students then, about 12 years old, revealed who their boyfriends and girlfriends were and what their dreams for the future were.
Among them, Hamish said he wanted to travel to California with golden beaches and beautiful girls, while his favorite band was Dire Straits. Glenn Sinclair said he wanted to be an All Black prop; Natasha Muirhead said they had a video and a microwave at home; and Judith Walker said she hoped the world wasn’t blown up before the capsule unveiling.
READ MORE:
† Taranaki’s rural community digs up time capsule of centennial celebrations
† WWI memories collected, made new ones, at Wellington College
† Purua School heralds 125 years of education
Not all student love in ’86 was reciprocated. Lachlan’s letter mentions Lisa as his girlfriend, but Lisa’s letter says he is a plague.
The capsule also contained period newspapers, a tape of the talking students, coins, pens and school newsletters.
Keith McKenzie, who was the principal from 1983 to late 1986, said that in ’86 the students were studying the history of the local district and decided to do something for the future, so put together a time capsule.
Robyn Edie / Stuff
This container was used as a time capsule buried by Hedgehope School in 1986. It contained student letters and other artifacts from the day and was excavated this week. It would be reburied on Friday, with the artifacts from ’86 and more memorabilia from today’s school.
They buried it on the school grounds, and 36 years later, Henderson returned to excavate it.
Henderson, who remembered his time as director, said he still owned the belt from that era.
“There’s still a little bit of my skin on it,” said Alistair Burnett, a student of the day.
Another student from ’86, Sharon Hampton [nee Buchanan]said she remembered the capsule going into the ground and thought how cool it would be to bring it out one day.
Robyn Edie / Stuff
Contents of a Hedgehope School time capsule, buried in October 1986 and exhumed last week.
Her memories of Hedgehope School were of school camps, barbecues, and dances in the hall.
Current school principal Sue Rogers said excavating the time capsule had led to former students from around the world contacting and reconnecting with the school.
The contents of the ’86 capsule are now being put into a new time capsule and reburied, but not before letters from today’s students and other memorabilia have been added for future generations to enjoy.