Badges mark multigeneration attendance
INVERCARGILL
CELEBRATING generations of families who have attended Southland Girls’ High School has inspired the school to create new badges to acknowledge the legacy of former pupils.
The badges, which featured the school’s distinctive red shoes, were presented to year 7 pupils who were the third generation or more of their family to attend the school, at an assembly yesterday.
SGHS former pupil and teacher Judith Scully said the badges were a lovely way to mark her family’s involvement with the school.
‘‘It’s a great honour.’’
Mrs Scully attended the school from 1957 to 1961 and then taught from 1965 to 1966, her daughter, Victoria O’Connell, also attended from 19871991 and Mrs Scully’s granddaughters, deputy head girl Breea Scully and prefect Pippa O’Connell, were year 13 pupils this year.
Mrs Scully’s mother attended the school.
‘‘So there have been four generations go through the school,’’ she said.
SGHS social media and marketing director Megan McKenzie said she believed the school was the first in the country to acknowledge family involvement in this way.
‘‘History is a living thing. We hope this is going to be the next legacy for Southland Girls’
also
High School.’’
Principal Yvonne Browning received one as she was a twogeneration attendee; her daughter had attended too.
Next year, all pupils who were the second generation or more of their family to attend the school would would be presented with a badge, Mrs McKenzie said.
Badges were available to purchase for former pupils who had left school.