Part 1: Gloriavale School – Where were you When…?
Opinion piece: Liz Gregory.
(Thoughts, opinions and views expressed here belong to Liz Gregory and may or may not represent the views of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust, former or current members of Gloriavale.).
Part 1: Gloriavale School – Where were you when ….?
Where were you when you heard the Gloriavale School closure had been announced?
I ask that because there are some things in life that are ground-shaking significant, and this is one of them. Obviously it’s significant for those still in Gloriavale, but also for the leavers who have advocated for better educational provision for the children who remain.
I was completely inappropriately attired in togs, politely talking to a resident of a quiet bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Our plans for a quiet birthday for Graham were disrupted entirely with the bold declaration from the Secretary of Education saying…
“I remain concerned that these students are not being educated within an emotionally and physically safe school environment. After a period of engagement with the school and community, and consideration of the evidence, I have decided that cancellation of the school’s registration is necessary.”
The school will be closing on the 23rd of January. Just like that six years of leavers’ advocacy efforts for improved schooling provision for Gloriavale children were over.
The irony was that we were standing right in front of a road sign that said World’s End Road.
And oddly enough right next door nestled on the bank was Wit’s End Road…!! I reckon I’ve been there one or two times before…
Honestly… the juxtaposition couldn’t have been stronger!
Ah yes fishing! That’s what we had come to do. We had borrowed a kayak, and set off for a whitebait fritter lunch at the Bay, before attempting to fish the sounds dry.
Lunch was delicious, and then we decided a little wander was in order. And then THAT message came in. But I had to keep it to myself for a few minutes longer. We were with the neighbour discussing the big tree that had fallen over last year and how much we were enjoying the Malborough Sounds…
As we wandered off I quietly shared the news with Graham and we headed back to the kayak.
Why set the scene? Well I personally think what unfolded next was quite interesting!
Within minutes my phone was flooded with calls. Literally every media outlet in NZ wanted a comment. Some requested leavers’ details, Leavers also called. That isn’t an unusual occurrence when something significant occurs in the Gloriavale space.
But this time I was literally on a kayak and my husband behind me was catching fish (this was an extremely rare occurrence!). As I spoke to various people and scrambled together a statement for the media, hubby was having the best fishing time OF HIS LIFE!! Every now and then he’d dangle a fish in front of me, or tap my back to indicate I should turn around and see him scoop out another catch with his net. It was actually quite insane. I was trying to be professional and give sensible comments to the media, but I was also trying to take piccies and capture his success on video.
Graham managed to paddle us all the way back to shore (I barely noticed). I think I was still on the phone when we lifted the 50kg boat out of the water and took it onshore for a clean.
The rest of the night passed in a daze off phone calls, and entries into the calendar for early morning radio slots. He filleted the fish, and then proceeded to cook it for us – delivering up a splendid birthday meal (I did find my manners and stop talking on the phone for a few minutes to enjoy the succulent flavour of snapper!)
He said it was the best birthday that he can remember. I admit I didn’t mind it either.
All-in-all it has been a week of mixed and conflicting emotions for leavers and us – with Howard Temple’s prison van turned around after his sentencing, and subsequent bail request, followed up by the news of the school. We have been anticipating an announcement from the Charities Registration Board to say they would be deregistering the Gloriavale Charity (CCCT) – but it appears we’ll be waiting a while longer for that. I doubt they’ll drop that news the day before Christmas…
Meanwhile, we are still on holiday. The phone has quietened down a little. We moved to a camping ground. Christmas is on Thursday. I still have a long list of work to finish before I can really sign off for the year. But I just want to say, it’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to take time off work to reflect on what has come before and what will hopefully come ahead.
I have some optimistic hope that sometime really soon the children at Gloriavale will be receiving a better, safer education, with top quality nurturing staff, and that the parents (who I am sure actually do care about their kids) will have their eyes widely opened to the wonders of a suitable education.
Cults deliberately isolate and restrict information. They deliberately squash little minds and fill them with fear. Well here’s hoping for a brighter future where fear is replaced with hope. And anxiety is replaced with calmer waters. Perhaps this time next year some of the families might be able to head away on their very own fishing adventure, in their own car, to a camping ground of their own choice – and not feel guilty about it.
Part Two of this series will focus on the never-ending marathon for suitable education provision in Gloriavale. Click here to read.