![]() ![]() Alice Madge* Griffin was b: 20 Jan 1897 in Kaponga, Taranaki to parents Arthur and Helena Maria Griffin ; she d: 15 Sep 1992 in Hawera Hospital, Taranaki aged 95Y"My School Memories"
Written by Madge Wren
in 1984 (Madge's
father Arthur
Griffin served on the Riverlea school committee) My name was Alice Madge Griffin but always called Madge at school (and I still am). I was born at New Plymouth in 1899. With my parents Mr and Mrs Arthur Griffin and small brother Ernest, I came to live on the Upper Mangawhero Road in 1898 where my father bought a farm of 125 acres. I went to the Riverlea School in 1903 or 1904 as far as I can remember with my brother Ernest. I was taken by a May Harnerchley ( a neighbour) on her pony the first day. My brother was
killed in the First World War when he was 20. My father also went to war
and was awarded the Military Medal.
I became the eldest of
eleven children and at one time, seven of us went to Riverlea School. The
road on which we had our farm was very rough and the men who worked always
had bullock teams. My father often went out and helped them besides doing
a lot of work on the farm as it had to be cleared of scrub, trees etc.
However we always had a good garden.
We rode two or three
ponies to school when we got older and took turns at riding. I had a pony
of my own and she was a broken down race horse and took a lot of holding.
Once she galloped up to the Riverlea store and while I was there I was
bitten by another school pony and pulled off on the road - I shall
never forget this happening. This horse was taken off the school grounds
as it was considered dangerous.
My father was a teacher
of boxing and my brothers, especially one brother was picked on for fights which took
place at the bottom of the school grounds after school - most embarrassing
for me - sometimes they won, other times lost.
Another time at school
one of the senior boys was given the strap by the teacher (Mr Armstrong)
and hit him after putting it away. The pupil was expelled straight away.
After this happening, a slate was hung on the wall called the "bad conduct
slate" and when pupils got into trouble, their names were put on it for
inspectors to see when they came. No one liked this and I think it was
worse. My name was put on it once for writing poetry about a boy which was
found in my desk. I got on well with my teacher and was often called upon
to look after his little daughter Mary.
I left school when I
passed into the 6th Standard. I cried for days. I went
back for another month then I had to leave as my mother was going to have
a baby and I had to help with the work. I was 14.
However my father bought
a piano and I was taught music and used to ride my pony for lessons at the
Riverlea Hall by a Miss Robinson from Kaponga. My brother also had lessons
and we were both preparing for a concert when we had to leave the district
as my father sold the farm and bought one at Inaha - this happened when I
was 16.
I lived there until I
married Harold Wren who also had been to the First World War. He
died in 1962 and I have been a widow for 22 years and now live at
Hawera.
I can remember a Miss
Shantall and a Mr Ewart who were teachers.
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