New Zealand - Greymouth High School - Form 4D - 1978 - Greymouth High School has experienced many triumphs and tribulations over the past 90 years. Established as a technical high school in 1923, this first decade under Principal James Hutton OBE laid the school’s foundations. During the 1920s the school pushed forward largely under its own steam through fundraising efforts such as the first school fete in 1924. The school also established a formidable sporting reputation with victories in rugby, netball and soccer. In these early years, the school’s Tribal system, prefects, the “Mawhera Gazette” yearbook and the school’s drama club were first established alongside the completion of the school hostel in 1928. - The 1930s saw the arrival of two new principals, Robert McLaren (1932-36) and William Stewart (1937-1951). In 1939 a new engineering and woodwork block was completed followed by a domestic science block in 1940. Like all of New Zealand, the school suffered the loss, austerity and shortages during the war years which resulted in the death of 37 old boys. Alongside war, the school also had to deal with polio outbreaks in 1937 and 1948. - The 1950s saw the roll increase from 410 in 1950 to around 700 in 1960, causing building and staff numbers to grow rapidly to keep up. In 1951, the school’s fourth principal Earl Coxon arrived. In 1954 Coxon hall was completed with the MacFarlane gymnasium completed in 1957 alongside the swimming pool in 1960. These were accompanied by twelve new classrooms and several prefabs. During this time the school’s former blue and gold shield was introduced. Coxon’s untimely death in 1957 led to the appointment of Arnold Muirhead in 1958... (Reference: https://www.greyhigh.school.nz/history/)