Javia saying it to music

Students rarely expect to leave a school assembly with $750 in their pocket, but Javia Maheno did just that on Tuesday afternoon.

The Year 10 Kaitaia College student was the winner of an essay competition organised by the Kaitaia War Memorial Restoration Group, and received her cheque from representatives (and Vietnam veterans) David Russell and Richard Taaffe, a college old boy, both of whom said they were proud to be there.

The competition, which is likely to be an annual event, was designed to raise awareness of the impact of World War I on the Mangonui County, and of this period of history generally, amongst the younger generation. Entries were invited in the forms of a speech, poetry, music, multi-media or an essay.

Javia's winning entry was in the form of a song entitled Please Remember.

She said she was "absolutely shocked" when she heard her name announced as the winner.

"I had butterflies in my stomach. It's awesome," she said.

She enjoyed writing songs in her spare time, she added, and writing this one had not been "too hard".

Kaitaia College head of music Lisa Chuck had used the competition as a class exercise, her students having three lessons, and homework assignments, to work on their entries.

Mr Russell also announced that Javia was invited to perform her winning song at Kaitaia's civic Anzac service, which left her a little nervous.

"We'll help her work on it in class, and maybe get a few fellow students to perform it with her on the day," Mrs Chuck said however.

Meanwhile Tuesday's audience included Javia's proud mum Shona Stephens, who nipped away from work to see the presentation.

"It was so hard to keep it secret from her. I'm so proud," she said.