Lake Rotoma - Lake Rotoma School

Lake Rotoma School

The first school was opened on 2 February 1928 in the old tearooms building with Mr. E.G. Sutherland teaching the 8 students. Mr Sutherland stated that it was "probably the worst building in New Zealand. However, when the weather was too bad we just declared a holiday - and nobody seemed to worry" A new school was built and opened in its present location on Soda Springs Road on May 25, 1936 with 29 students. The roll fluctuated due to numerous residents living at Rotoma on a temporary basis, but was The mills in the area, Tunnicliffe's Mill and Rendall's Mill, helped establish a more stable population at Rotoma and caused further overcrowding at the school. In 1973 the roll reached 55 and there were appalling working conditions for staff and children. On August 14, 1973 the majority of parents kept their children at home as a protest against the lack of action to improve standards. There was widespread media coverage and in October the Minister of Education ordered that a new school be built, and it was opened on 16 November 1974. From 1948, Mr Tam Pilbrow operated the first bus service to the school, using a Hillman car. In 1952 the service was taken over by George Graham, and Mr. Pilbrow's son Ken, who operated a Bradford van from the Kettle Store. Mr Gavin Wyllie bought the Kettle Store and Garage, and in 1958 he commenced transporting children to the school in his V.W combie van, but when Rendall's Mill closed at the end of that same year, there were not enough children for him to continue the service.