No more free snacks for Meg

Kaitaia Intermediate School is going to miss Shirley Ogbourne, home economics/food technology teacher there for the last two decades, and her four-legged teacher aide Meg. And the emotion at Thursday's farewell was mutual, although the full import of the occasion clearly hadn't hit Meg.

Mrs Ogbourne, who roughly calculated that 10,000 children had used her tea towels over the last 20 years, said she was leaving only because of her health, and was determined to return to teaching when she was able, perhaps setting up a cooking school of her own.

Meg, meanwhile, who had as firm a hold on the affections of children and staff alike, would no doubt miss the constant flow of snacks.

The Bichon-cross was very good at sweeping up after classes, Mrs Ogbourne said, and had developed a real skill that guaranteed a second source of sustenance.

"She sniffs the children's bags to work out who's got the best food, then sits beside them when it's time to share," she said, adding, quietly, that perhaps a diet wouldn't be out of order.

Mrs Ogbourne and whaea Dorothy (Bootsie) Rivers, who had been at the school for the last four years in support of special needs student Lennox Tatana (bound next year for Blomfield School), were farewelled by staff with a lavish morning tea and high praise from colleagues. Fellow teachers spoke warmly of both for the contributions they had made to the school, although one of the cleaning staff said she and Meg had had many an argument over the vacuum cleaner, broom and mop.

Mrs Ogbourne, who had "survived" four principals (including incumbent Sue Arrell), said she had enjoyed her years at the school, including those spent in the old home economics block built in 1956.

"It had a back door, which was handy if I wanted to nip outside at lunchtime for a smoke," she said. And she had always enjoyed the children.

"I love teaching, I love my subject, and I love teaching children to love it as much as I do," she said.

"I can't do it any more though. It wouldn't be fair on the children."

The on-going effects of a stroke she suffered earlier in the year had put paid to her career, temporarily at least, but she took pleasure from knowing that children she taught were still cooking at home. And she made no apologies for leaning towards baking, which she used to draw children into cooking.

She had also been gratified to see children from other schools running to her classroom when they arrived.

Meg had been an important part of Team Ogbourne too.

She enjoyed going to school, she had enjoyed the children, and she had given Mrs Ogbourne and her pupils something in common, something that she could use to get to know them and to enthuse them.

Mrs Rivers, meanwhile, had not seen the last of Kaitaia Intermediate according to Ms Arrell. While her 10-year relationship with Lennox had come to an end, the school would be calling on her when she was needed, and in the short-term she had agreed to relieve as a cleaner.