St Hilda’s Collegiate marks 125 years

If you walked past St Hilda’s Collegiate School in Dunedin yesterday, you may have done a double take.

A hippie, a 1920s flapper, an Olympian from the 1980s Moscow Olympics and even pioneering New Zealand suffragist Kate Sheppard could be seen walking around the school grounds.

They were actually pupils dressing up to celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary.

St Hilda’s development director Amanda Burke said the event, which allowed pupils to dress in clothing from across the decades since the school opened, was a part of week-long celebrations to mark the milestone.

"They have been quite excited about this — it has been quite fun."

Pupils had raided their mothers’ wardrobes and hit the op shops to pull their outfits together, she said.

"There are some quite interesting outfits going on and I have to say, actually, the staff have really outdone themselves."

Mrs Burke said a big reunion of about 550 people, mostly St Hilda’s old girls, would be held at the weekend.

"It is a big milestone event for the school."

Several other activities and events would be held throughout the school week, including a service at St Paul’s Cathedral and the cutting of an anniversary cake by the school’s senior old girl, who is 100.

Former National MP Katherine Rich, a St Hilda’s old girl and now New Zealand Food and Grocery Council chief executive, would visit, along with other guest speakers.

Mrs Burke said about 18 months of planning went into the celebrations, so Covid-19 alert level changes had been "stressful" and she was pleased everything could go ahead.