As has become tradition now, the first item on the weekend
of poetry is a programme for schools.
This year we decided to kick off the programme on Thursday
with the McGregor Waldorf Primary
School. David Magner went down to the school and read poetry to the group of
children. The children enjoyed classics like Jabberwock, The Owl and the
Pussycat and The Highwayman. It was a most successful session.
Friday the 28th was the big day.We welcomed over
700 children from local schools, including Farm Schools within a 20 kilometre
radius of McGregor. The children range in age from Reception Year to Grade 7,
with a few Grade 8 pupils from McGregor Primary. The event this year was
generously sponsored by Graham Beck Wines- a huge thank you to them! The buses
rolled in soon after nine o’clock, and the children gathered outside the NGK
Hall to be welcomed. They then split up into various groups to attend different
sessions.
Reception Unit and Grades 1 and 2 headed into the church to
enjoy a Puppet Show. The grade 3 children went to the Breede Centre where
Katleen and Gwyn read them stories which Gwyn has specially written for
children- including a new story written just for the day, and set in McGregor!The
Grade 4 and 5 children headed off to the local library where librarian Soretha
and a group of volunteers including locals Ilana, Marinda and Corle read them
poetry. The grade 6, 7 and 8 pupils were treated to a show called “Ons Ko Vandaan”, presented by a Drama
Group from Wellington.
To wrap up the morning, everyone assembled in the NGK
McGregor for the final show. Our local Dance Stars- The Next Step Dance Company
and First Step Ballet, McGregor- put on an exhilarating performance of Poetry
and Dance that had the delighted audience smiling, singing and dancing. The
children were provided with a small snack to finish off the morning, and they
left a very happy group.
A very big vote of thanks to all the volunteers who gave so
willingly of their time to assist with this programme. I could not have done it
without you! And another thanks to Graham Beck for their assistance. You are
just great!
This programme is, I believe, one of the most important
aspects of the Poetry in McGregor Weekend. We are giving these children, who
come in the main from seriously underprivileged backgrounds plagued by social
problems, an opportunity to look past all of that and see that there is an
opportunity to fly in this world. We want them to see the potential, and not be
afraid to grasp it. And who knows? There just might be an Antjie Krog, an
Ingrid Jonker, an Adam Small or James Matthews amongst them, just waiting for
the chance to unfurl his or her Poetic Wings!
David Magner
Programme Co-ordinator
You can see all the pictures of this event at the following link
