Milestone for St Peter’s College
St Peter’s College in Palmerston North is 50 this year. The school is calling past students, staff and anyone who has been associated with the school to attend the 50th jubilee during Labour weekend, October 25-27. The college was opened on August 18, 1974, by then-Prime Minister Norman Kirk. The opening roll was about 700 students, made up of pupils from secondary schools Marist Brothers School and St Joseph’s High School, plus St Patrick’s Intermediate School. Today the college is a state-integrated Catholic co-ed with more than 730 students from Year 7 to 13. The jubilee will begin with a meet and greet on the Friday evening, a school open day and a cocktail evening with music on Saturday, and mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Sunday. “We’re looking forward to welcoming back past students and staff to the school,” principal Margaret Leamy said. “We have some great events planned, which will be an opportunity to catch up, see how the school has changed, and connect with old friends and teachers.” To register visit stpeterspn.school.nz/50-jubilee.
Six Extinctions exhibit deemed roaring success
The Six Extinctions exhibition at Palmerston North’s Te Manawa Museum attracted more than 35,000 visitors. The exhibition, which opened in December and ran for 15 weeks, is estimated to have had an economic impact of $6 million. An economic impact study commissioned by the museum estimates that more than a third of visitors were drawn to the region solely by the exhibition, with many extending their stay. Six Extinctions, developed by Australian-based Gondwana Studios, brought visitors face-to-face with some of history’s most legendary creatures including the dunkleosteus, a giant armoured fish, and the inostrancevia, a tiger-sized sabre-toothed beast. The most prominent was a life-sized cast of the largest tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. Te Manawa added items from its collection to the exhibition, including a moa skeleton and casts of moa footprints at the Manawatū River. Chief executive Susanna Shadbolt said visitor feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the exhibit’s educational value, engaging presentation, and sensory experience. “Visitors also shared their appreciation over free admission and we’re very grateful for the support of Palmerston North City Council to make this possible.”
