Iris Woodcock
I began my schooling at Tauranga Primary School in 1935, the only school available at the time. Remarkably, the original buildings still stand at the junction of Cameron Road and 5th Avenue.
Learning to swim was an essential part of our curriculum, and we would all march down to 6th Avenue when the tide was in. There, beneath a sprawling pōhutukawa tree—which remains to this day—we changed in the dressing shed and swam before returning to school. Our swimming lessons advanced to the sole swimming pool in Tauranga, located at the end of 1st Avenue. A wooden structure extended into the sea to enclose the tidal baths near the Matapihi railway bridge. Unlike today's concrete and chlorinated pools, these baths were open to the public and cost 6 pence per swim, accessible only from the top of 1st Avenue.
Growing up by the sea meant swimming was a skill one had to master. Our playground was the 'back beach,' which is now bisected by the Tikatemu Expressway. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 prompted drills for school children on what to do in case of bombings, instructing us to stick close to the hedges on our way home—precautions that, fortunately, were never needed. Seasonal rituals included receiving hot cocoa in winter, albeit watery and bland, and in summer, small bottles of sun-warmed milk—neither particularly palatable. Each day began with outdoor exercises, lining up for jumping jacks and claps overhead before classes.
By the time I was of school age, our family had an Austin car. On rainy days, my mother would pack the car with her children and any others she encountered along the way, dropping us at school and returning for us at day's end. The rides to school in Mrs. Woody's car were fondly recalled at my mother's funeral. One wonders what today's health and safety standards would make of those times. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the era of my upbringing.
I fondly remember one of my favorite primary school teachers, Mr. Rawston, who taught us history and geography. The lessons he imparted stayed with me and enriched my travels later in life. After school, I often visited my paternal grandparents on Cameron Road, next to Dr. Mark. My grandmother, wheelchair-bound, always looked forward to our time together.
In those days, family friend Stewart Coulston managed the donkey rides on Mount Beach. Outings involved packing swimwear and food before catching the boat from Strand Wharf to the Mount. We'd trek over the hill to the ocean beach, hoping for a donkey ride. As we aged, day trips to Ōmokoroa became the norm, where the ferry dropped off the women and children for a beach day while the men stayed on board to fish.
Nicknaming teachers was a typical childhood pastime—our headmaster, for instance, was dubbed 'Mousey Bell' due to his squeaky boots. It was a reliable cue to behave. Cooking classes were a delight, especially since we got to consume our culinary creations.
I was a founding member of Tauranga College, which was co-educational back then. My academic journey was brief, and upon leaving school early to support my family, I was offered a job by the Social Security Department. The 'Old Post Office' building on Willow Street, which housed several government departments, still stands today, having been refurbished.
Unfortunately, the Town Hall, constructed with local beach sand, had to be demolished after the salt eroded the iron within its structure. It had been a community hub for events and movies. I earned extra money by ushering at the two local cinemas, The Regent and the Town Hall, and working at the associated dairy shops. During intermissions, young boys would hawk ice creams.
Teenage social life revolved around the strictly supervised dances at Haymans Hall on Cameron Road, with no exits permitted until the evening's end and no alcohol allowed inside. Undine Clarke, a renowned local name, gave ballroom dance lessons, providing us with the skillset needed for the dance floor.
Tauranga was an idyllic place to grow up. Although I spent a few years away in Taumarunui, I eventually returned to Tauranga, where I married and raised a family.
