Setback for Harold

WAIPA King Country Life Education’s educator Nicky Wise with Harold and trustee Ken Miller in the torched classroom. TC211008SP06

On the eve of the exciting launch of Waipa King Country Life Education Trust’s new fundraiser— ‘Harold’s Cookbook’— their mobile classroom was extensively damaged by fire in a suspected arson attack.

The Fire Brigade and Police were called to the scene around 9.30pm on Wednesday after a neighbour saw flames at Te Awamutu Intermediate School where the unit was parked.

The classroom’s office was gutted by fire and the rest of the mobile unit sustained severe smoke damage. Damage to the classroom and loss of resources is estimated at $250,000.

Police believe there was evidence of arson and were quick to respond and arrest a local 15-year-old boy. Evidence was recovered nearby and the youth was charged with arson. He appeared in Youth Court and has been remanded on bail with a strict curfew.

Sessions were just about to start at Te Awamutu Intermediate. Life Education Trust educator Nicky Wise was devastated by the incident, which has destroyed the handmade resource material she’s created over the last four years. She says children have a very personal connection with the classroom and Harold, so she hosted a special assembly at the school on Thursday to reassure Harold’s friends that he’s okay. In fact Harold was back as guest of honour at the launch of his cookbook at Maungatautari Lodge the next night.

Waipa King Country Life Education Trust chairman Bruce Carey says plans were immediately underway to source a substitute mobile classroom until they know whether the existing classroom can be refurbished or will need to be completely replaced. Mr Carey says that decision is in the hands of the assessors, but if they opt for refurbishment the Trust is likely to launch another major fundraiser to pay the difference to provide a replacement classroom.

The replacement classroom, which is held by the National Office, arrived Saturday and Ms Wise is currently preparing new resources to begin teaching again next Monday. The classroom visits more than 60 schools in the Waipa King Country area annually and relies on community support to do so.

‘‘Every year we face the challenge of fundraising to keep our local Life Education programmes going— this incident really sets us back,’’ says Mr Carey.