Watch NZ Herald Local Focus: Former Hinuera School student returns to see trees planted 80 years ago.

Eighty years ago Ethel Gray was just seven years old when she was a student at Hinuera School helping plant trees in the school yard.

This week as the school marks 125 years of education she returned to the school to visit the trees and share her childhood memories with some of the staff and students.

Mrs Gray told the year five and six students of room one and two that they nurtured the small trees in eggshell containers before planting them in the school yard in 1937.

"Mr Pound, (the headmaster at the time) was quite enthusiastic passionate about conservation I think, so he was the one, instigator, the headmaster who decided on it, we just followed on, did what he said. We just thought it was planting trees."

As Mrs Gray sat of the front of the library she told the children that the rugby field used to be the horse paddock, as children would either walk to school or come on the horse.

"Good heavens", Mrs Gray jokes as an eager-eyed girl sitting at the front says that she gets a ride in the car to school every day.

Mrs Gray says that was very uncommon back in the day.

"When I came to school, everybody walked, or they came on their horse."

All the children were eager to know about the strap and cane - and if Mrs Gray had ever been given the whip.

Shock spread to their faces and Mrs Gray told them that some children were struck on their hands for blotting the ink on the paper when writing.

"If the ink didn't go properly, you really got into trouble, you got a whack"

Back then Mrs Gray says they used to have coco at school and as she showed the children her worn-red lunchbox nine-year-old Emma Hailwood was intrigued to learn that food was wrapped in paper that was used time and time again - as paper was very expensive, and glad wrap wasn't heard of.

"I learnt about what they used to do and how they ate their food."

For Principal Dean McDonnell - Mrs Gray's visit was a reminder that while much has changed - some elements of education have remained the same.

"Trees are still a big part of school life, and we're still planting trees now, we're going to plant one for the 125th on Saturday."

Mr McDonnell says the children have been researching the history of the school as they prepare their presentations for a special assembly to be held at the school today.

"It's been a really exciting week you can see it on the children's faces as well."

Jubilee anniversary celebrations continue into the weekend - with a wine and cheese evening on Friday night and the main event - a special thanksgiving service on Saturday with lunch speeches and other formalities.

For more information http://www.hinuera.school.nz/?page_id=414

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