Fay Olive Ward

Seeing your pic writing on the blackboard brought the following memory back to me. The year was 1963 - 63years ago at Green Island School. I was a pupil in your class but only for a short time. I was lucky enough to go for a trip overseas to Scotland with my Mum. We returned abt October/November. When I returned to school you insisted I tell the class all about my trip. Not keen on Public Speaking at that time I did as you. Morning after morning armed with souvenirs I told the class of my travels. 1964 came along and you had a new class and you decided they should hear all about my trip also and arranged it with my new teacher who I think was Mrs Manning. I suppose having an overseas trip back then was a novelty. Having respect for teachers back then I did as you requested. Regardless of that you were an inspiration to every pupil you taught at G.I. I am sure expupils who saw the notice in the ODT had fond memories brought back to them. May You Rest In Peace dear lady. To Mr Ward and Family please accept my Condolences. Treasure the Memories as they will live on with you always. Regards Glenda R.

I streamed in to Fay's funeral today and memories of her teaching days at Green Island School came flooding back. Fay made a huge impact and great connection with my late brother, David. She then became a family friend and then she and Grant became friends of the District Rd families... Hays, Cormicks and Hendrys. One Easter she took my two older brothers and me to her parents in Waimate. We travelled from Dunedin by train. Our family also helped out at a school camp, now Camp Armstrong. I sniggered when I heard of her love of parties. At Green Island School she organised a Halloween Party (unusual back then) and she had Mum make large girdle scones that she hung from string and coated with golden syrup. We had to try to take a bite without touching them. We also had to try to bite an apple bobbing in a bucket of water. Much later in life, she met up with Mum again in the Chatsford Choir. What an amazing, cheerful lady she was!! Kindest Regards, Pat Shanks (nee Hendry)

E te whānau, e kā hoa, e kā manuhiri, tēnā koutou katoa. Haere, haere, haere atu rā, e Fay. Moe mai rā i tō moe roa. Ka nui te aroha ki a koe me tō whānau. When I heard that Fay had passed away, I found myself thinking not just about the lessons she taught, but about the person she was and the lasting impact she had on so many of us. I was lucky enough to be in Fay's Year 8 class at Tahuna Intermediate in 1985. Looking back now, I realise that what made her so special wasn't just that she was a great teacher. It was that she created something much bigger than a classroom. Within what felt like no time at all, she built a culture where we genuinely cared about one another. We became a class that looked out for each other, celebrated each other's successes, and supported each other through challenges. That sense of belonging was so strong that, two years after we had left intermediate school, we organised a class reunion. I don't think many teachers can say their class wanted to come back together years later. That speaks volumes about what Fay created. As a teacher myself now, I appreciate even more just how remarkable that was. Building a classroom community like that doesn't happen by accident. It takes intention, compassion, and an unwavering belief that relationships come first. Fay had all of those qualities in abundance. She also had an extraordinary gift for making learning unforgettable. She didn't just teach the curriculum; she brought it to life. I still remember the incredible school assembly she organised around the dangers of greed and the pursuit of money. It was so ambitious and so brilliantly produced that it rivalled any local musical theatre performance. We were all dressed as pigs dancing to ABBA's Money, Money, Money. When we learned about responsibility, we didn't just talk about it. We each cared for an egg for a week as though it was alive, learning that responsibility comes through actions rather than words. She even organised the students in the adjacent class to become police officers, issuing "indictments" for any breaches of our egg's welfare. Suddenly, responsibility wasn't an abstract concept—it mattered. And perhaps most powerfully, when we studied prejudice and injustice, Fay didn't give us a worksheet or ask us to read a chapter. She divided the class so that one half experienced being treated as inferior to the other. It was uncomfortable. It challenged us. It made us think. More importantly, it made us feel. It taught us something that no textbook ever could: that prejudice isn't just an idea—it has a human cost. Those experiences have stayed with me for my entire life. Fay inspired me in another profound way. She was a major reason I wanted to become a teacher. She showed me what teaching could be. She demonstrated that education isn't just about delivering content or preparing students for tests. It's about inspiring curiosity, building confidence, creating community, and helping young people understand both the world around them and the people they share it with. Teachers rarely get to see the full extent of the seeds they plant. They may never know how many careers they inspired, how many lives they quietly changed, or how many acts of kindness can be traced back to the culture they created in a classroom years before. Thank you, Fay, for believing in us, for challenging us, for inspiring us, and for showing us what great teaching looks like. Your influence did not end when we left your classroom. It lives on in the people we became, in the lives we touch, and in the classrooms of those, like me, who chose to follow the path you so beautifully modelled. Fay, your legacy is not measured in awards or achievements, but in people. It lives in every student whose confidence you nurtured, every life you quietly changed, and every teacher you inspired to be better because of your example. I count myself incredibly fortunate to have been one of those students. Moe mai rā, Fay. Thank you for creativity, your wisdom, and your belief in us. You will be remembered with deep gratitude, great affection, and enduring respect. Haere, haere, haere atu rā. Gareth

Dear Fay you were a great friend and colleague for so many years. I shall miss your hearty laugh and beautiful, bold singing voice. You were an inspirational teacher to so many. All my love and sympathy to your loving family. Kaye

Fond memories of a supportive and passionate colleague at Tahuna Intermediate. We could always have a laugh. Fay inspired and guided many young people to achieve at a high level, both in the classroom and in school productions. My thoughts are with your family.

Thank you Fay. I remember my early days at Tahuna. Assisting you with choirs and watching you teach. You taught me so much and always had a clear vision of how a performance should sound and what it would look like. We had so much fun along the way! An amazing teacher. Thinking of you and your beautiful family. RIP Fay xx

Grant, Both Kath and I were very sorry to read about Fays passing . Whilst its been some time since we have spoken we will, never the less cherish memory's of time spent in Fays company.

With heartfelt sympathy. Faye was a devoted choir mistress, guiding the Chatsford Lifestyle Village Choir for several years with grace, humour, and a deep love of music. Her kindness enriched the lives of countless choir members, her leadership brought harmony to our community, and joy to all who sang under her direction. We will cherish her memory. John Barr (President) Chatsford Residents Committee

Brilliant work with hundreds in musicals and choirs. Remembered and appreciated performances with Tahuna Intermediate choirs. Top quality. Fay loved the students in her classes and always advocated for them strongly. Thanks for all your efforts Fay. RIP