Waipukurau class of '44 still best of friends with plenty of memories to share

Glenda Hawke from Hastings reunites with her friends from Waipukurau Primary School class of '44 every year to reminisce cherished childhood memories. Photo/Paul Taylor

While the phrase "friends for life" is often bandied about at graduation ceremonies, eight students from Waipukurau have taken the pledge quite literally.

Glenda Hawke from Hastings spends one week a year with her Waipukurau Primary School classmates Trish Topham, Patti Carr, Diana Edwards, Myrna Siffleet, Maxine Brown, Judy Kingi and Claire Lansdown.

The group all started primary school together at the age of five in 1944 and now in their late 70s they've decided to make the most of their time left and spend a week every year with one another.

"We were getting older so we do it every year now," Mrs Edwards said.

"We don't know when one of us is going to fall off the branch," Mrs Topham laughed.

The women travel from as far as Auckland for their annual week of pleasures, treating themselves to restaurant meals, coffee dates and shopping sprees.

Mrs Hawke said they often reminisce about the "good old times" growing up in Waipukurau; from Saturday night dances at the Waipukurau community hall to the local dentist's feared "torture chamber".

Blackberry picnics, river swims and hopscotch games were all staples in their childhoods and though things have changed the ladies say they still have much in common.

"We talk a lot about the old days, the old times," Mrs Carr said.

The women all married and had children and six of them moved to other parts of the country which made it difficult to keep in touch.

Now, with the time on their hands, they count themselves lucky that they are all still "young at heart" and in good enough health to gather every year.

"Since technology came in it's been a lot easier to keep in touch," Mrs Topham said.

"You feel as though you've known each other forever." Mrs Edwards said.

This special bond has seen their friendships span their entire lifetime, which they all put down to the "good memories" they made with one another growing up in Waipukurau.

"The only thing we argue about is where we're going to have tea," Mrs Hawke joked.

While the ladies gather annually, this year was extra special as it coincided with Waipukurau Primary Schools' 150th anniversary which is set to be celebrated in October this year.